Most serious pickleball players do not wear gloves, and there are good reasons for that. But for sweaty palms, recurring blisters, cold-weather play, and certain skin conditions, a glove can be the difference between a comfortable session and a ruined one. Here is when to wear one — and when to skip it.

Heat changes how a paddle plays. Grip slips, face temperature rises, and polymer cores soften at the margins. The paddles that hold up in summer share a specific set of traits — and the right grip routine matters as much as the paddle itself.