Best Pickleball Shorts 2026: 10 Men's and Women's Shorts, Checked for Ball Pockets, Liners and Inseam

Quick Answer: The best pickleball shorts for men are the Selkirk Essentials 2.0 Men’s Performance 7” Pickleball Shorts ($48): a 4-way stretch woven fabric, six colors, and a 9-inch version at the same price. The best for women are the Selkirk Women’s Pro Line Woven Pickleball Shorts ($58), with a supportive under layer and a pocket built to hold a ball. If a ball pocket is the point, buy the Six Zero Performance Short ($70, men’s 7” or women’s 4”), the only pair here whose maker says both pockets fit a ball. On a budget, Baleaf’s lined 7” men’s short costs $31.

A pickleball is bigger than most people think. USA Pickleball’s equipment standards require a ball of 2.87 to 2.97 inches in diameter, while the International Tennis Federation sets a tennis ball at 2.57 to 2.70 inches. That 0.3-inch difference is why the “ball pocket” on a pair of tennis shorts can leave a pickleball riding high or popping out when you bend for a dink. It is also the one spec most “pickleball shorts” listings never mention.

We compared more than 30 shorts on the makers’ own stores, checked every price and size chart on October 31, 2026, and read each spec list for four things that matter on court: inseam, a liner, the pockets (and whether the maker says one holds a ball), and fabric stretch. With 24.3 million Americans playing pickleball in 2025, according to the SFIA’s 2026 Single Sport Report, nearly every paddle brand now sells shorts, but not every pair is built around how the game is played. Shopping for the whole outfit? Our pickleball apparel guide covers the rest of the kit.

Pickleball shorts by the numbers

• 2.87 to 2.97 inches. The legal diameter of a pickleball under USA Pickleball’s equipment standards, about 0.3 inches wider than a 2.57 to 2.70 inch tennis ball under ITF rules.
• 4 of 10. The number of shorts in this guide whose makers say in writing that a pocket holds a ball: Six Zero (men’s and women’s), Selkirk’s Women’s Pro Line Woven, and Recess’s Baseline Short.
• $10 for a liner. Ten Thousand charged $88 for its Interval Short unlined and $98 lined in black on October 31, 2026.
• 50% off, final sale. Every PB5star short we checked was listed at half its compare-at price and tagged Final Sale on October 31, so sizing mistakes cannot be returned.

Best pickleball shorts at a glance

Best pickleball shorts for men

1. Selkirk Essentials 2.0 Men’s Performance 7” — Best Overall for Men

Selkirk designed the Essentials 2.0 short around pickleball’s side-to-side movement rather than adapting a running short, and it shows in the fabric: a light woven shell with enough 4-way stretch for a full split-step without the clingy feel of a knit. At $48 it costs less than most shorts from paddle brands, it comes in six colors, and the 9-inch version means taller players do not have to switch brands to get more length. On October 31 the 9-inch version had more sizes in stock (21 of 36 size and color combinations) than the 7-inch (9 of 36). The trade-off is what Selkirk does not tell you: the spec list on selkirk.com does not describe the pockets at all, so if you need a ball pocket or a zip pocket for keys, the Six Zero or JOOLA below are the safer choice. Selkirk’s older Essentials 9” Performance Shorts ($44) do list two front pockets and a zip back pocket, if that matters more than the newer fabric.

2. Six Zero Mens Performance Short — Best Ball Pocket

Six Zero is the only brand in this guide that puts the ball in the spec list, and it does it on both its men’s and women’s shorts. That matters more than it sounds: if you play doubles and like to keep the second serve ball in your pocket, a slant pocket sized for a 2.97-inch ball is the difference between reaching in once and chasing the ball across the court. The light 150 gsm fabric and side splits suit hot outdoor sessions, and the 7-inch inseam is the length most men default to. The downsides are price and stock: at $70 it costs $22 more than the Selkirk, and only 6 of its 20 size and color combinations were in stock on October 31. Six Zero also lists no liner, so bring your own compression shorts if you want one.

3. JOOLA Men’s Woven 9” Shorts — Best Longer Inseam

JOOLA’s 9-inch woven short is the pick if you want a longer, more classic tennis-style short that still moves. The hem vents at the side seams stop a 9-inch leg from binding in a lunge, the interior infinity drawcord adjusts the fit without a bulky outside tie, and the invisible back zip pocket keeps a key or a card secure. White is a smart color for summer outdoor play, but check the ball color before a sanctioned event (see the rulebook section below). JOOLA’s shorts range is in flux: most of its 5-inch and 7-inch woven shorts were clearance-priced and sold out in most sizes on October 31 (the Men’s Woven 5” was $26.97, down from $44.95, with no sizes available), so the 9-inch is the one JOOLA men’s short you can reliably buy right now.

4. Ten Thousand Interval Short — Best for Training and Pickleball

Ten Thousand’s Interval Short is not a pickleball short, and that is the point: it is the brand’s best-selling training short, and it is the pair to buy if you want one short for the gym, the run and the court. The liner option is the most flexible in this guide. In black, the unlined version was $88 and the lined version $98 on October 31, while colors such as Stone were $98 either way, so check the price after you pick the color. The catch is price: at $88 to $98 it costs nearly twice the Selkirk, and Ten Thousand does not say whether its pockets fit a ball, so it is a better fit for players who keep the spare ball on the fence.

5. Baleaf Men’s 7” Running Shorts with Liner — Best Budget

For $31 the Baleaf gives you the features most men actually use on court: a 7-inch inseam, a built-in brief so you can skip underwear, a zip pocket for your phone and two side pockets. It is a running short with less stretch than the woven Selkirk or JOOLA (5% spandex against 10% to 11%), so it feels more like a classic gym short in a deep lunge. Baleaf does not size the side pockets for a ball, so test one with a pickleball before you rely on it for a serve. If you want a pickleball-brand short at a similar price, PB5star’s lined Signature Court Short was $34 on October 31 (see Also considered), but it is final sale.

Best pickleball shorts for women

6. Selkirk Women’s Pro Line Woven Pickleball Shorts — Best Overall for Women

Selkirk calls these “shorts designed specifically for pickleball and for women,” and the pocket design backs that up: the ball pocket opens from the bottom so a ball does not fall out when you crouch, and the phone pocket loads from the top so the phone does not slide out either. The two-layer build gives you the coverage of a lined short with the drape of a woven one, which is why they work for players who find biker-style liners too hot and full skirts too fussy. Selkirk does not publish the inseam on its product page, so use the size chart or try them on before a long tournament day. On October 31, 12 of the 24 size and color combinations were in stock at $58, $4 more than Selkirk’s lined 3.5-inch Essentials Sport-Wik short.

7. Six Zero Womens Performance Short — Best Ball Pocket for Women

The women’s Six Zero short is the same idea as the men’s: a light, stretchy shell with side pockets the maker says fit a ball, now with a 4-inch inseam. It had the best stock of any $70 short we checked (24 of 30 combinations on October 31). Two things to know before you order: it is sized in numbers (6 to 16) rather than letters, and Six Zero’s spec list does not mention a liner, so most players will want their own compression shorts underneath. If you want everything built in, the Recess Baseline below is the better pick.

8. Recess Baseline Short — Most Pockets

Recess Pickleball designed the Baseline as a short you can play in and then wear for the rest of the day, and its pocket design is the most complete in this guide. The four pockets on the compression shortie face in opposite directions, which Recess says “holds a phone, a ball, or both without losing either,” and the two zip pockets on the outer shell take keys and cards. At $78 it is the most expensive women’s short here, the size range stops at XL, and Recess does not publish the inseam on the product page. It is the right pick if you are tired of choosing between a phone and a spare ball.

9. CRBN Women’s CourtIQ Performance Shorts — Shortest Inseam

CRBN’s CourtIQ short is for players who want the least fabric between them and the next lunge: a 3-inch inseam, a light shell with 12% spandex and a built-in liner, from the brand behind the CRBN TruFoam paddles. It was fully in stock in both colors on October 31, which is rarer than it should be in this category. The trade-offs are the color choice (two) and the spec list, which does not mention any pockets at all, so plan on a ball clip or the fence. CRBN’s men’s CourtIQ short ($74.99, 6.5 inch) does have side pockets and a zip back pocket.

10. Free Fly Women’s All Day 6” Pocket Short — Best Value for Women

If you prefer a fitted bike-short style to a flowy short, the Free Fly All Day Pocket Short is the best value we found: a soft, smoothing fabric, a high waist that stays up, and phone pockets, for $44.99 to $49.99 depending on the color you pick (Agave Green and Baltic Amber were the cheapest on October 31, though XXL in Agave Green was still at the $64 list price). It is the longest women’s inseam here at 6 inches, which helps with chafing on hot days. Free Fly positions it for “medium-impact” activity, though, and it is final sale, so order your usual size only if you know Free Fly’s fit.

Also considered

• CRBN Men’s CourtIQ Performance Shorts ($74.99): 6.5-inch inseam, 88% polyester and 12% spandex, side pockets and a zip back pocket. A good short, but $27 more than the Selkirk.
• CRBN x Florence Marine X Airtex Utility Short ($75): perforated Airtex fabric, 6.5-inch inseam, a sunglass or key loop, front slash pockets and a back zip pocket. Built for heat, but priced like a premium short.
• Selkirk Men’s Pro Line 5” and 7” Shorts ($44.80, down from $64): 4-way stretch, a light inner layer and zip pockets, but only 4 of 35 combinations of the 7-inch and 8 of 30 of the 5-inch were in stock on October 31.
• PB5star Men’s Signature Court Short ($34, compare-at $68): a 5-inch short with a built-in liner; PB5star says to size up. The 8-inch Vented Court Short is $37. Both are final sale.
• tasc Vital 7” 2-in-1 Short ($78): a woven shell over a knit liner with phone pockets on the liner’s leg; the unlined version is $68. Tagged for tennis, not pickleball.
• Selkirk Women’s Essentials Sport-Wik Pickleball Shorts ($54): a lined 3.5-inch short with a zippered waistband pocket and an internal phone pocket.
• Baleaf Women’s 6” High-Waisted Biker Shorts ($28): deep side pockets for a 6.5-inch phone, but the listing is titled 6 inches while its feature list says 8-inch inseam, and stock was thin.

Will a pickleball fit in your pocket?

A pickleball is not a tennis ball. These are the official limits, and what they mean for pockets:

Only four of the ten shorts in this guide say in writing that a pocket holds a ball: the Six Zero men’s and women’s Performance Shorts, the Selkirk Women’s Pro Line Woven Shorts, and the Recess Baseline Short. The rest may well take one, but their makers do not promise it. The simple test at home: drop a pickleball in, do a deep split-step and a lunge, and see whether it stays.

The rulebook part: ball color and your shorts

Recreational pickleball has no dress code, but sanctioned tournaments do. The 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook (Rule 18.B.3) says a player must change apparel that the Tournament Director considers inappropriate, which includes clothing that approximates the color of the ball, and Rule 18.B.4 lets the director impose a forfeit on a player who refuses. In practice: if your event uses yellow or neon balls, leave the neon shorts at home; if it uses white balls, think twice about white shorts. Our pickleball shirts guide covers the same rule for tops.

How to choose pickleball shorts

• Pick the inseam first. Seven inches is the default for men; 9 inches if you are tall or want coverage. Women’s pickleball shorts usually run 3 to 5 inches, with 6 inches for a fitted bike-short style.
• Decide on a liner. If you want to skip underwear on court, buy a lined short (Baleaf, PB5star, CRBN women’s, Recess) or pay Ten Thousand’s $10 liner premium. If you already own compression shorts, unlined is cooler and cheaper.
• Check the pockets against a real ball. A pickleball is 2.87 to 2.97 inches across. Prefer shorts whose makers say the pocket holds a ball, or a liner pocket, if you keep a second ball on you.
• Look for 10% or more spandex. The pickleball-brand shorts here use 10% to 12% spandex for 4-way stretch; a 5% blend feels stiffer in a lunge.
• Read the return policy. Several of the best prices on October 31 (PB5star, Free Fly, JOOLA clearance) were final sale, which matters in a category where sizing varies between brands.
• Mind the ball color for tournaments. Rule 18.B.3 applies to shorts as much as shirts.

Shoes matter as much as shorts for lateral movement; see our best pickleball shoes guide. Women who prefer a skirt layer should read our best pickleball skort guide.

The bottom line

For men, the Selkirk Essentials 2.0 Men’s Performance 7” ($48) is the best pickleball short for most players: pickleball-specific stretch fabric, six colors and a 9-inch version. Pay $70 for the Six Zero Mens Performance Short if you want a pocket that is sized for a ball, $49.95 for JOOLA’s 9” Woven Short if you want length, or just $31 for Baleaf’s lined 7” if you want the basics. For women, the Selkirk Women’s Pro Line Woven Short ($58) is the best all-round pick thanks to its bottom-up ball pocket and supportive under layer, the Recess Baseline ($78) has the most pockets, and the CRBN CourtIQ ($58.99) is the pick for a 3-inch inseam. Whatever you buy, test the pocket with a real pickleball, not a tennis ball. Then pair your shorts with a pickleball hat and the best pickleball socks for the rest of the kit.

Sources

• Maker stores, prices and specs checked October 31, 2026: selkirk.com, sixzeropickleball.com, joola.com, tenthousand.cc, baleaf.com, recesspickleball.com, crbnpickleball.com, freeflyapparel.com, pb5star.com, tascperformance.com.
• USA Pickleball equipment standards (ball diameter 2.87 to 2.97 inches) and the 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, Rules 18.B.3 and 18.B.4.
• International Tennis Federation, Rules of Tennis (ball diameter 6.54 to 6.86 cm).
• Sports & Fitness Industry Association, 2026 Pickleball Single Sport Report (24.3 million US players in 2025).