Pickleball skirts are being hyped as the newest must-have in athleticwear, but they’re basically the same as tennis skirts, with one tiny twist: the pockets.

Traditional tennis skirts were designed with upside-down pockets built into the compression shorts, perfect for holding a tennis ball or two during a match.

But as athleticwear moved off the court and into everyday life, those ball pockets found a new purpose. Now, instead of carrying tennis balls, they’re more likely to hold your phone while you walk through the grocery store hands-free.

Around the same time, pickleball was blowing up, and naturally, pickleball skirts followed. They look almost identical to tennis skirts, but with pockets designed for pickleballs. That means they’re slightly bigger and deeper, since a pickleball is larger than a tennis ball.

Which also means more space for the things you actually care about: your phone, keys, lip balm, whatever you’re carrying that day.

Even Us Weekly has claimed pickleball skirts are more versatile and functional than tennis skirts (tennis purists probably didn’t love hearing that). But it’s hard to argue with the practicality.

Let’s be honest, women’s pockets have historically been terrible.

I still remember wearing skinny jeans in middle school that didn’t even have real pockets, just fake, stitched-on ones. Meanwhile, some kid next to me had cargo shorts with a ridiculous number of pockets, all stuffed with completely random junk.

So yes, it’s about time women’s clothing caught up. And oddly enough, pickleball might be part of the reason why.

The good news? There are now plenty of great pickleball skirts out there. Here are a few of my favorites that I’ve personally tried, loved, and definitely recommend.

CRZYoga's High-Waisted Pleated Skirt

I’ve always been a fan of CRZYoga’s pieces. The fabric feels surprisingly close to Lululemon quality, just without the premium price tag.

Us Weekly may favor their fitted skirt, but I always point people toward the pleated version. It has that classic, racket-sport aesthetic that never really goes out of style.

TASC On the Court 13in Skirt

Lululemon Align High-Rise Skirt

Of course, you can always count on Lululemon when it comes to skirts. Most players at my local courts tend to go for the tiered style in whatever color they love. But among the pros, the more fitted align high-rise skirt is everywhere, and if that’s what the top players are choosing, it’s probably for a reason.

Popflex Active Pirouette Skort

The final skirt I’m obsessed with is the Popflex Active pirouette skirt. It comes in what feels like every color imaginable. The mesh, tiered design is light and flowy, and it moves beautifully on the court, making every drop, dink, and drive look just a little more polished. It also had its moment when Taylor Swift wore the lavender version while playing pickleball, which doesn’t hurt.

So if you’ve been thinking about it, take this as your sign to grab a pickleball skirt and hit the court in style this season. 

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