Sun sleeves for pickleball: arm cover for long sessions on outdoor courts

Pickleball is easy to love and easy to lose track of time at. Open play turns into a round robin, a round robin turns into "one more game," and before you know it you have spent the whole morning on an outdoor court. Your arms are out in the sun the entire time. Sun sleeves are a simple way to cover your forearms while you keep the short-sleeved shirt you like to play in. This page covers fit, colors, the rest of your sun plan, and what sleeves will and will not do.

Why pickleball arms catch so much sun

A lot of pickleball time is spent standing, not playing. You wait for a court, watch the game before yours and chat at the fence. Many outdoor courts have little or no shade. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says the sun's UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., which is exactly when plenty of open-play sessions run.

The court itself matters too. ARPANSA, Australia's radiation protection agency, notes that hard surfaces like concrete reflect more UV than soft surfaces like grass or soil, and lighter colors reflect more than darker ones. On a pale hard court, some sun reaches you from below as well as from above.

Sunscreen helps, but on your forearms it can run down onto your hands as you warm up, and nobody wants a slippery paddle handle. Sleeves go on once in the parking lot and stay on for the session.

What UPF 50+ means, in one plain line

UPF tells you how much of the sun's UV gets through a fabric, and UPF 50+ blocks 98%+ of UV.

IceRays come from Australia, where sun protection is taken seriously. The fabric was tested by ARPANSA in 2015 (black sample) and rated UPF 50+, the top "Excellent" category. UPF ratings are measured on fabric that is dry and not stretched, so a comfortable fit matters. You can read the 2015 test details (PDF, opens in a new tab) and what they cover.

Check the fit with your paddle swing

Try the sleeves on with the shirt you play in, somewhere with room to move:

• Bunch the sleeve into a ring, slip your hand through and smooth it up your arm with a flat palm. Do not pull it up by the top band.
• Get low for a few slow dinks, then reach wide for a volley. The top of each sleeve should stay under your shirt sleeve.
• Reach up for an overhead and swing a two-handed backhand if you use one. Check the band does not slide down.
• Settle the cuff at your wrist bone. A wristband or glove can sit over the cuff.

Avoid stretching the sleeve hard to make it fit, because stretching a knit fabric opens it up and lowers its protection. One size fits all adults. If the top band pinches or leaves a deep mark, contact us and we will help.

IceRays are sun sleeves, not compression sleeves or braces. They are not a treatment for a sore elbow, wrist or shoulder, and they will not prevent an injury. If something hurts, see your doctor or physical therapist.

Colors and club shirts

IceRays come in six colors: White, Black, Beige, Light Blue, Light Grey and Charcoal. Some players match their sleeves to a club or league shirt. Others keep it simple with White or Black. Cancer Council Australia notes that darker colors of the same fabric generally absorb more UV than light pastel shades. The 2015 test was on the black sample.

The rest of your sun plan

Sleeves cover your forearms. The EPA recommends a full approach to sun safety, and a few parts of it need extra thought on a pickleball court:

• Check the UV Index before you play. The EPA publishes it, and many weather apps show it too.
• Think about your hat. Visors are popular, but Cancer Council Australia says caps and visors do not give enough protection. A wide-brimmed or bucket hat covers your ears and neck as well.
• Put broad-spectrum sunscreen on your face, ears, neck and the backs of your hands, and top it up during a long session.
• Wear sunglasses that stay put when you move quickly.
• Rest in the shade between games, even if it is only a pop-up canopy by the fence.

UV is not about temperature. A cool spring morning can still have strong UV, so go by the forecast rather than how warm it feels.

Hot days on the court

The fabric is light and breathable. Some people find it comfortable to wear on warm days, especially when it is a little damp from sweat and there is a breeze. That is a comfort feeling, not a change in your body temperature. On hot days drink plenty of water, rest in the shade, and call it a day when the heat gets too much.

Getting your sleeves in the US

A pair is two sleeves, one for each arm. A single pair is US$29.95. Build a four-pack and four pairs come to US$100. That works out to $25 a pair, and $19.80 less than four single pairs. A four-pack is a neat way to cover your regular doubles group, with a pair each. US orders of US$90 or more get free standard shipping, and checkout confirms the options for your address.

If the sleeves are not right, you have 30 days from receiving your order to ask for a change-of-mind return, as long as they are unworn and unused with tags and original packaging. Contact us first, and read the refund policy for the details.

Sleeves are handy off the court as well. On the drive to the courts, your left arm by the window catches the most sun. (In Australia, where IceRays began, it is the right arm.) Our driving page covers sun through the car window. If you also play tennis or golf, see our tennis and golf pages. When you are ready, choose your colors and pack.