Shorts are the piece of pickleball clothing that people spend the least thought on and regret the most. A pair with no pockets means your balls end up in your hands or your bag, a waistband that rolls down means you are tugging at it between points, and fabric that traps heat makes a long session miserable. A good pair of pickleball shorts has somewhere to put a ball, a waist that stays put, and a fabric that does not cling.
This guide compares six pairs sold in the Philippines through PickleballPH: four men’s shorts, one women’s short and one women’s skort, from ₱2,750 to ₱4,350. It is a research guide based on the product listings, not a hands-on test, and the fabric and feature claims are the brands’. Some were out of stock when I checked, and I have marked what is available.
What to look for
- Pockets that hold a ball. A zippered back pocket or a deep side pocket is what lets you carry a spare ball during play.
- A secure waistband. A drawcord, a hidden infinity drawcord or a gripper hem keeps shorts in place when you lunge.
- Breathable, stretchy fabric. Polyester and spandex blends are standard.
- Inseam length. A 7-inch inseam is a classic men’s length, and a 3-inch inseam is a short women’s cut.
- Built-in liner or compression. Some shorts include a liner for support and to stop chafing.
- Vents and perforations. They help in the heat.
| Product | Type | Inseam / fit | Listed price | In stock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PADDLETEK Performance 7″ Men’s Short | Short | 7 in | Side pockets and zippered back pocket | ₱3,650 | Yes |
| PADDLETEK Performance Women’s Short | Short | 3 in, athletic | Center back waistband pocket | ₱3,650 | Yes |
| PADDLETEK Performance Women’s Skort | Skort | Built-in short | Right-side inner pocket, zippered back pocket | ₱4,250 | Yes |
| JOOLA Woven 2-in-1 Short | Short with liner | Athletic | Hidden zipper pocket | ₱3,750 | Yes |
| JOOLA Club Short | Short | Stretch-woven | Hidden zipper pocket | ₱4,350 | No |
| JOOLA Woven 7″ Short | Short | 7 in, athletic | Invisible zipper pocket | ₱2,750 | No |
Prices are the peso prices listed at PickleballPH at the time of writing. Sizes and colors vary by listing, so check what is available.
Paddletek Performance 7-inch Men’s Short
At ₱3,650, the Paddletek 7-inch short is the best-featured men’s pair here, and it is in stock in black and glacier gray from small to 2XL. It is made of lightweight, breathable, stretchy polyester and spandex, 90% and 10%, with on-seam side pockets, a center back zippered pocket for secure essentials, and laser perforation on the front legs for airflow. A hidden waistband drawcord lets you adjust the fit.
The zippered back pocket is the feature that matters for pickleball: a ball in a zippered pocket will not fall out when you lunge, which a side pocket can allow. If you play long sessions and want pockets you can trust, this is the pair.
JOOLA Woven 2-in-1: the supportive one
The JOOLA Woven 2-in-1, at ₱3,750, has a lightweight woven outer layer and a supportive compression liner, and it is in stock in latte in sizes extra small to 2XL. A back yoke seam pocket with a hidden zipper keeps essentials secure, a continuous interior drawcord personalizes the fit, and hem vents at the side seams give room to move. The fabric is sweat-wicking and quick-drying.
The liner is the selling point: it replaces the need for separate underwear and keeps the layers from riding up, which is helpful for players who find regular shorts chafe. If you like to wear one layer and not two, this is the most convenient option.
JOOLA Club Short and Woven 7-inch: the sold-out pair
The JOOLA Club Short costs ₱4,350 and is made of stretch-woven, moisture-wicking fabric that is lightweight and quick-drying, with a hidden zipper pocket on the back yoke and hem vents at the side seams. It was out of stock. It is the most expensive short here, and it is meant to work on and off the court.
The JOOLA Woven 7-inch Short, at ₱2,750, is the cheapest pair on the list. It has an athletic fit with a 7-inch inseam, lightweight, quick-dry, moisture-wicking fabric, an invisible zipper pocket on the back yoke seam and an interior infinity drawcord on a grown-on waistband. It comes in black and navy, and it was out of stock. If it returns, it is the best value of the men’s shorts.
Paddletek Performance Women’s Short
The women’s short, at ₱3,650, has a 3-inch inseam and an athletic fit. It has a separate waistband with a hidden infinity drawcord for a secure fit, a center back waistband pocket for small essentials, and bonding tape detail at the back style lines. The material is 90% polyester and 10% spandex stretch woven, and it comes in black, glacier gray and fuchsia from small to extra large.
It is the one for a player who wants a short cut with a waistband that stays put. The pocket is small, so it is better for keys or a card than for a ball.
Paddletek Performance Women’s Skort
The skort costs ₱4,250, the second most expensive item here. It has stretch fabric and a built-in inner short with a right-side pocket, silicone gel gripper tape on the hem to keep the inner short in place, two rows of pleats at the back, a waistband with a hidden infinity drawcord, and a zippered pocket at the back waistband. It comes in fuchsia, black and white from small to extra large.
The gripper tape is the detail to notice: it stops the inner short from riding up, which is what ruins many skorts. If you prefer the look of a skirt but need the security of shorts, this is the one in stock.
Shorts or a skort?
A skort looks like a skirt and has a short built in underneath. It gives you the look of a tennis skirt with the coverage of shorts, and a good one has a pocket in the inner short for a ball. A shorts-only outfit is simpler, cooler and cheaper, and it gives more freedom for deep lunges. The deciding factor is usually how you like to dress and how the item fits when you move, so try both if you can, and check that the inner short does not ride up when you bend.
Heat, chafing and moving in humidity
Philippine humidity makes chafing a real problem on long sessions. Sweat-soaked fabric rubs, and rubbing causes blisters and rashes on the inner thighs. A liner or a built-in short helps, since it is a smooth layer between your skin and the outer fabric. Moisture-wicking fabric helps too, because it moves sweat away from the skin so it does not sit and rub. If you have trouble with chafing, look for flatlock seams, a liner, and avoid cotton underwear under technical shorts.
Match your shorts to your game
- Aggressive net player: a pair with good stretch and vents, such as the JOOLA Woven 7-inch or the Paddletek 7-inch.
- Long sessions in the heat: a lighter fabric with perforations, such as the Paddletek 7-inch.
- Tournament days: a pair with a zippered pocket so you can carry a spare ball.
- Playing and then going out: a casual pair such as the JOOLA Club Short or the 2-in-1.
- Playing in a skort: the Paddletek skort with its gripper hem.
None of these will improve your game, but a pair that fits and stays put means one fewer thing to worry about during a rally, and that does matter at the end of a long match.
Fit and sizing
Sizing varies between brands and between men’s and women’s cuts. The Paddletek men’s short lists small to 2XL, the JOOLA 2-in-1 extra small to 2XL, and the women’s items small to extra large. Pickleball involves a lot of lunging and bending, so size for movement as well as for looks: if a pair is tight across the thighs or the waistband digs in, go up a size. The drawcords on every pair here help fine-tune the waist.
Pockets: the pickleball question
Pickleball players carry a spare ball at the baseline for serving, and the only practical places to put it are a pocket or a waistband. A zippered pocket is the most secure, which is why the Paddletek men’s short and the JOOLA shorts matter. A side pocket works but a ball can bounce out when you move quickly, and a small waistband pocket is better for keys. If you wear a skort, the inner short pocket holds a ball and keeps it out of the way.
Care
Wash technical shorts in cold or warm water and avoid hot dryers and fabric softener, which reduce stretch and wicking. Close the zippers before washing, turn the shorts inside out to protect any printed logos, and hang them to dry. Follow each brand’s care label, and rinse them soon after play, since sweat left in the fabric builds odor.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying cotton shorts. They hold sweat and chafe.
- Ignoring pockets. You will regret it the first time you need a ball.
- Skipping the liner question. If you chafe, choose a 2-in-1 or a skort with a built-in short.
- Choosing a short inseam you are not comfortable in. Pick a length you can bend and lunge in.
- Machine drying on high heat. It damages stretch.
Questions players ask
Do I need pickleball-specific shorts? No, but features like a zippered pocket and a stay-put waistband are more common on sports brands, and pickleball brands design for the pocket-and-ball problem specifically.
Is a 7-inch inseam too long? It is a standard men’s length that sits above the knee. A shorter inseam is cooler but offers less coverage, and the right length depends on your comfort and any club dress codes.
How do I stop shorts riding up? A liner or a gripper hem helps, and so does choosing the right size, since too-small shorts ride up the most.
How should I wash them? Cold or warm, no fabric softener, and no hot dryer.
My picks
- Best men’s overall: Paddletek 7-inch Short (₱3,650), for the zippered back pocket.
- Best with a liner: JOOLA Woven 2-in-1 (₱3,750).
- Best budget when available: JOOLA Woven 7-inch (₱2,750).
- Best women’s short: Paddletek Performance Women’s Short (₱3,650).
- Best skort: Paddletek Performance Women’s Skort (₱4,250).
A pair of shorts goes with a good shirt, and my shirt guide covers five. For the shoes and bag that complete the kit, see my guides to shoes and bags.
