What is the best eye protection for tennis players?

June 15, 2009 1:15 PM

What is the best eye protection for tennis players?

I'll be taking my first tennis lesson in a week. I'm excited but I also want to be sure I protect my eyes as much as possible.

Is there a type of goggles available in prescription form (or that covers glasses) that would be particularly suitable for tennis? Something more fashionable than my old Rec Specs would be ideal, but safety is my primary concern.

There seems to be a fair number of options when I've searched the internet for tennis eye protection, but a lot of the racquet-sport goggles seem to be marketed for squash, not tennis. If some or all of the racquet-sport goggles are suitable for tennis, great; if there's anything specifically good for tennis, I'd also be interested in learning that.

posted by cheapskatebay to sports, hobbies, & recreation (8 comments total)

I've seen sunglasses that are tinted specifically to make the colour of the tennis ball stand out more (I think Bolle makes them; maybe others too). I imagine those could be ordered prescription. Probably not cheap though.
posted by kickingtheground at 1:24 PM on June 15

If some or all of the racquet-sport goggles are suitable for tennis, great.

You got it, they are probably all good. The balls are all about the same size--i.e., in a freak accident, just small enough to get into your orbit at a high velocity and do some damage--so any goggles just need to be big enough to cover your eyes (and any other eyewear). Rec Specs are ideal. If you don't like the ones you have, go to a big sporting goods store and check out the racquetball section; since they're practically mandatory for playing, there will be a pretty decent selection of goggles.
posted by resurrexit at 2:10 PM on June 15

I honestly believe that once you get into tennis, you will chuck the eye protection. There is time to react and avoid impact between the ball and eye, and, unlike raquetball, the bounces are less complex and, possibly slower.

Other than for sun, I never see people don eye protection in tennis.

But, you need to be comfortable also. I just think that you will find the goggles unnecessary.
posted by Danf at 2:51 PM on June 15

You're not going to be getting hit in the face with the ball. Wear some sunglasses if your lessons are outside, otherwise just focus on having a good lesson. Your teacher won't be sending balls at you head high.
posted by zephyr_words at 4:02 PM on June 15

I commend you on your desire for eye protection. I know people who have had a detached retinas from a ball impact and is something that is easily avoided using racquetball goggles. As a beginner, one of the most dangerous impacts would be a ricochet off of the frame of your own racquet. You have almost no time to react.

Regular prescription glasses will usually provide sufficient protection although you can get open goggles that go over them. Otherwise just use open or closed racquetball eye guards.
posted by JackFlash at 5:13 PM on June 15

It is very doubtful that in your first lesson that you will be doing anything that causes you to have anything more than an minute chance of getting hit in the face with the ball let alone in the eye. In all my years of playing competitive high school tennis I only got hit in the side of the head once and this was doubles with a very rapid fire series of volleys where all of us were within 15 feet or so of the net. In your first few lessons you aren't going to do much more than stand at the baseline and hit the ball focusing on proper form rather than hitting balls with any sort of scary velocity.
posted by mmascolino at 5:41 PM on June 15

Oh and depending on the court and the lighting sometimes I found sunglasses to help in tracking the ball but they weren't for eye protection purposes.
posted by mmascolino at 5:43 PM on June 15

Thanks to all for the responses. I've spoken to two long-time players recently who've suffered eye injuries, and I figured it would be better to be safe than sorry. I'll take a look at the various goggles that are out there.
posted by cheapskatebay at 6:06 AM on June 16