Need new sunglasses
- Thread starter kelkat
- Start date
RickySpanish
New User
I was never a fan of sunglasses for tennis but I just picked up a pair of Oakleys with the new prizm lenses and I have to imagine the ball will jump out more than anything. Those lenses are crazy. I feel like I'm watching the world go by in high definition. Greens and yellows pop like no other. I feel like I'm seeing colors that don't exist. If I wore sunglasses for tennis I'd definitely wear them.
What model are they?
RickySpanish
New User
I'm not sure the model. The frames are definitely not suitable for sports anyway but I'm sure the lenses would be very nice.
I am looking for a pair to wear outdoors when I use my ball machine. That is why I am asking. LOTS of different ones to try and pick one out.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
I actually prefer non-polarized lenses for tennis. See this article.
www.sportrx.com
I keep a pair of Oakley non-polarized Flak Jacket sunglasses in my tennis bag - darker lens (Black Iridium - 10% transmission) for bright days when I have to serve looking into glare; lighter lens (G30 Iridium Rose coating - 26% transmission) for cloudy days or doubles where I don’t have to serve on the glare side. I’m a lefty and can choose the optimal side to serve with a righty partner.
I also have a pair of Oakley Radar EV path photochromic sunglasses (23% transmission at darkest, 0% at lightest) for sports, but I find that my sweat easily drips onto the lens and so, I use it for driving more than for tennis.
Tennis Sunglasses: Polarized or Not?
There are pros and cons to polarized tennis sunglasses. We're here to help you decide. Learn more from an expert tennis optician at SportRx.
www.sportrx.com
I keep a pair of Oakley non-polarized Flak Jacket sunglasses in my tennis bag - darker lens (Black Iridium - 10% transmission) for bright days when I have to serve looking into glare; lighter lens (G30 Iridium Rose coating - 26% transmission) for cloudy days or doubles where I don’t have to serve on the glare side. I’m a lefty and can choose the optimal side to serve with a righty partner.
I also have a pair of Oakley Radar EV path photochromic sunglasses (23% transmission at darkest, 0% at lightest) for sports, but I find that my sweat easily drips onto the lens and so, I use it for driving more than for tennis.
Every day seems to be a Bright day here! Main Goal is any Oakley Polarized. I like darker, but depends on your location.
JEDI MASTER
Professional
go to an Oakley outlet store. great prices!.. sometimes the second pair is 50% off!
Nate7-5
Hall of Fame
I use Reks light rose amber golf lens
reks.com
TRIVEX COLOR-BOOSTING SUN LENSES
TRIVEX COLOR-BOOSTING SUN LENSES Shop for performance unbreakable sunglasses and eyeglasses with high definition prescription lenses at REKS®. Polycarbonate and Trivex® Color Boosting lens options.
reks.com
I use Reks light rose amber golf lens
TRIVEX COLOR-BOOSTING SUN LENSES
TRIVEX COLOR-BOOSTING SUN LENSES Shop for performance unbreakable sunglasses and eyeglasses with high definition prescription lenses at REKS®. Polycarbonate and Trivex® Color Boosting lens options.
Quite fond of Trivex lens. Really clear optics and still insanely durable.
Hotpockets
Rookie
I wear Oakley with Transition lenses, never been happier!
EzekielTennis
Rookie
I use Reks light rose amber golf lens
TRIVEX COLOR-BOOSTING SUN LENSES
TRIVEX COLOR-BOOSTING SUN LENSES Shop for performance unbreakable sunglasses and eyeglasses with high definition prescription lenses at REKS®. Polycarbonate and Trivex® Color Boosting lens options.
I'm deciding between the light rose amber golf lens and the photochromic lens which darkens in the sun and lightens in the shade. Which would you recommend?
I need to put a prescription in them for distance and I plan to wear them for day and night matches.
Nate7-5
Hall of Fame
I've only used the rose amber after doing some reading about that tint being good for sports. They mostly block blue light (ball still pops) and they arent too dark.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Go with photochromic - it goes from 0% to 23% transmission when it goes from darkest to brightest conditions. The rose G30 is constant at 26% transmission - it will be too dark at night and not as good at stopping bright glare.
2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
Are any of these really better than Bolle kickbacks?
EzekielTennis
Rookie
Great, thank you.
As a fan of Photochromic Lenses two things to consider...
1) How dark they will get depends on temperature. The warmer the temperature the less dark they tend to get.
2) Most brands will not darken while driving a car.
I have prescription polarized glasses I normally use ...switch to transitions when it gets dark. Another option is to add a small tint to your transition glasses.
EzekielTennis
Rookie
Decisions decisions. I could add a small tint. It would have to be fairly light as I would use them at night. @Lorenn says the rose would be too dark though.
Depends on the average temps in your area how much I would tint...The other option might be transitions XTRActive lenses. They don't need UV to darken and work well even in hot weather. Not sure if other brands have the same features.
Most transitions get to almost really dark, but not quite. I have not tried a very modern pair recently. I normally buy more generic.
Ok First round of Research...
Transitions Xtractive...Will tint indoors, inside cars, when wearing a hat...try to keep it constant. You would be able to play a night I believe. Nice for people who like a constant like level. Might try a pair myself.
Sensity(Hoya) are designed to work well in all temperature ranges.
Transitions Vantage as a slight natural tint, but has increased polarization the more glare it detects.
Transitions Drivewear really kinda always sunglasses(not surewhat lowest level is) but like above they adapt to make glares less noticable while driving.
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EzekielTennis
Rookie
So many choices
Transitions Xtractive and Sensity are great if you live in an area that gets over 80 regularly. If you like sunglasses in your car Xtractive works well. I also like Anti reflective coating.
Second option would be regular photochromic with 15-20% tint.
Polarized is an interesting issue... by reducing glare sometimes people don't notice things they would otherwise pick up normally. Example would be Skiing you might not notice Icy patches. While driving a motorcycle you might miss an oily patch. Some will still notice others won't because of the reduced glare.
Ryebread
Hall of Fame
Bolle Bolt
With phantom Court lens
#12623 model number for the S version which is for a small face, they are marketed for women.
www.tennis-warehouse.com
non S version is regular adult size for majority of adults. the link above is for the S version, small. so be careful.
This is specifically designed for tennis. Ball and lines are highlighted.
With phantom Court lens
#12623 model number for the S version which is for a small face, they are marketed for women.
Bolle Bolt S Sunglasses Matte Black
www.tennis-warehouse.com
non S version is regular adult size for majority of adults. the link above is for the S version, small. so be careful.
This is specifically designed for tennis. Ball and lines are highlighted.
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socallefty
G.O.A.T.
I used to own Bolle sunglasses with the tennis-specific lenses that made the ball look brighter. What I found is that on really bright days when I needed the sunglasses to block most of the sun glare especially if I was serving looking at the sun, the Bolle glasses were not dark enough. So, keep that in mind if you buy only one pair for tennis. That why I keep two glasses in my bag as I listed in an earlier post on this thread.
bluejay205
New User
I took the advise on this board and ordered the REKS rose-amber lens sunglasses at a really good price but they hardly made it onto the court. They boggled up and down as soon as I put them on, so they immediately went back into the case and will be returned. I've had great experience with SolarBat but they were kind of pricey and cracked quite easily. I stuck with them and paid over $50 for lens replacement and processing fees but after a couple of years at trying to be a loyal customer (I tend to like to find and stick with a product that works well) realize that if they can't last a year they aren't worth it. I'm going to try Oakleys next, since they have a black friday deal going on...
EzekielTennis
Rookie
What do you mean by "boggled" up and down? Were they loose fitting?
bluejay205
New User
they were snug, they fit comfortably around my face but when I moved they moved also
It could have been me...but I haven't had that experience before.
It could have been me...but I haven't had that experience before.
EzekielTennis
Rookie
smboogie
Semi-Pro
I bought a pair of cheap, polarized sunglasses online (Amazon) and they are great. I typically did not play with sunglasses but sometimes the glare is crazy. They are blade style glasses, very lightweight, came with a hard case for my bag and the best part is if I drop or break them I'm not out $100+ they were under $30.
Nate7-5
Hall of Fame
Who wants to try these and report back?
riaeyewear.com
RIA Eyewear: Tennis, Pickleball, and Golf Sunglasses | RIA Eyewear
RIA makes performance sunglasses engineered for tennis, pickleball, golf, padel, squash, and more. Our Italian-made frames and lenses are developed with pro athletes to ensure the best possible optical performance.
riaeyewear.com
BobbyR
Rookie
I now test all the sunglasses I buy with a UV flashlight. Many are labelled that they have UV protection but do not. A UV flashlight is a good way to ensure they do have it. Without UV protection you can damage your eyes as although the lenses are dark they will be letting in wavelengths that they should not. Most sunglasses you buy from street vendors say they have UV protection but don't. There are even some on Amazon that are labelled incorrectly and are just cheap Asian knockoffs.
t-swede
Semi-Pro
How do the phantom court lens compare to the old bolle competevision lens from bolle?Bolle Bolt
With phantom Court lens
#12623 model number for the S version which is for a small face, they are marketed for women.
Bolle Bolt S Sunglasses Matte Black
non S version is regular adult size for majority of adults. the link above is for the S version, small. so be careful.
This is specifically designed for tennis. Ball and lines are highlighted.
Can you share the link?
Ryebread
Hall of Fame
No idea sorry
smboogie
Semi-Pro
I can't find the order on Amazon but a search for sport glasses shows what look to be the same ones I have for about $25. Plenty of options
str33tspirit
Rookie
I just play with my Ray-Ban polorized Aviator and it works fine
Live in South Florida play 9:00am - 12:00pm.. 5 to 7 days a week. Due to the sun and cloud cover that moves through during the day I started wearing Bolle (blue lens) and then later switched to Solar (gradient on top part of lense) Bat to block out the Sun when serving or hitting smashes or returning high lobs..I noticed when the clouds started coming in covering the sun both glasses no longer served their purpose. I also tried (Ray-Ban) polarized sunglasses. Since I wore prescription glasses to begin with a friend suggested transition lenses. I knew they came in different colors but did not know they came in different strengths (low, medium, max)..I bought several pair with 3 different colors (black, brown, green) plus different strengths (low, medium, max)..The "max" was good with an all blue sky and I had no problem looking into the sun while hitting. It was also good for driving. It wasn't good if clouds started rolling in covering the sun (too dark). The others (low, medium) I use when there is cloud cover and the sun is playing "hide and seek". If you wear prescription glasses I would recommend looking into transition lenses for playing tennis..I did not find the various colors having a effect one way or another with or w/o cloud cover or sun issues. Just my two cents..
RickySpanish
New User
Just wanted to update anyone who is interested. I accidentally wore my Oakley prizm casual sunglasses for warmup one day and was shocked that it was actually easier to see the ball. Traditionally, I HATE sunglasses for tennis as it makes it harder to track the ball. But these lenses really make yellow and green stand out amazingly well. I went out and bought a sport frame with prizm to give it a try and I was so impressed after playing a match. All of my polarized lenses just make it harder to track the ball, but these were the complete opposite. The guy at the store was extremely knowledgeable and apparently there are different shades of prizm. But the one that makes yellows and greens pop are the field prizms apparently. The lenses look absolutely ridiculous (bright orange with a strong mirror effect) and I don't recommend them for anyone who cares about looking cool. My casual prizm glasses don't have that ridiculous mirror effect. I definitely lose points with my wife by wearing them, but tennis is way more comfortable. After a few sessions I can't imagine playing outside without them.
