What's the Best Lens Color for Baseball Sunglasses? | Baseball Lens Guide

Spring is always an exciting time because it means the start of baseball season. Whether you’re in the batter’s box, scooping up grounders in the infield, or tracking down fly balls in the outfield, the best baseball sunglasses are an ideal blend of comfort and performance.

Read on to learn how to choose the right baseball sunglasses for you.

What to Look for in Baseball Sunglasses

Baseball sunglasses offer protection from the sun and stadium lights while also making the ball easier to spot. However, not all sunglasses are created equally. In this guide, we will cover what to look for and share recommendations of high-quality sunglasses that can improve your game.

Frame Technology

There are several factors to consider when choosing your frame:

• • Grip – Keeping the sunglasses in place while you’re hustling to field a ground ball or concentrating on a pitch is essential. The two primary spots where grip is needed are the nosepads and temples, since they are the main contact points with your head. Many grip technologies contain hydrophobic elements, so when you do break a sweat, the grip gets sticker and tackier to keep them in place.

• Coverage – You may have noticed that all baseball-specific sunglasses are curved to better fit the shape of the face. This is preferred in baseball for a few reasons. The wrap around style offers added protection from the elements and keeps sun from peeking in on the side of the frame. You also don’t have to sacrifice your peripheral view since the lenses are curved around the edges of the frame. In some cases, the wrap may even help to better secure the sunglasses on your head.

• Fit – Even a well-built pair of glasses won’t work if the fit is off. Finding a lightweight frame is ideal because it will be more comfortable on your face, especially when your game goes into extra innings.

• Hat and helmet compatibility – Some frames stick out too far and make contact with the curved brim of a baseball hat. Look for a frame with decent wrap so it follows the shape of your face and doesn’t interfere with the hat. Having temple arms that can be tucked underneath the hat is best, but they can also be worn with temples sitting on the outside. If the temples are going to be tucked, be sure to factor in the length so they won’t extend past your head. Sunglasses with thinner temple arms fit more easily and comfortably under a batting helmet or baseball cap.

• Semi-rimless – Semi-rimless styles have no frame at the bottom of the lens. Players have noted that full-frame designs can be a distraction when looking down, through, or past the frame. Semi-rimless frames help eliminate this problem.

Lenses

Lenses are available in a variety of colors, and some lens tints are better suited for baseball than others. These are our top choices:

• Rose – Rose and rose copper lenses (as we’re fond of at SportRx) are great tints for daytime play. These colors provide the highest contrast and separate and boost colors, so you’ll find it easier to spot the ball against blue sky or green grass. These are our favorites for baseball, so if you’re not sure, go with a rose tint. One potential downside is that these lenses may not be dark enough in very bright sunlight or if you have sensitive eyes. There are some very light rose lenses, like Oakley’s Prizm Low Light, that actually work well at nighttime too. These help to provide just a bit of contrast and glare resistance while still being light enough to see very clearly when the sun’s down.
• Brown – Brown lenses are a little denser than rose or rose copper, so they’re better for bright conditions while still providing great contrast enhancement. If you need a darker lens but still want that contrast, brown is your best bet.
• Gray – Gray lenses aren’t the best choice for baseball. This is a great tint for blocking excessively bright light, but it doesn’t provide any particular benefit. Choose a neutral tint for heightened contrast instead.
• Clear – If you anticipate a lot of nighttime games or foggy mornings (or if you’re a pitcher), you can enhance your vision with a low-light lens. Clear lenses are good options for these conditions.

Other Baseball Lens Features

Along with lens tints, there are other lens features that can enhance your vision on the diamond:

• Photochromic – These tint-changing lenses are great if you want one lens that does it all. Photochromic lenses adjust from light to dark based on the amount of UV light present. For baseball, we suggest a brown photochromic tint and anti-reflective coating.
• Anti-reflective (AR) coating – A high-quality AR coating will prevent glare and reflections from appearing in your vision. This is crucial for distraction-free play that allows you to be your best. Today, most optical brands offer various AR coatings. At SportRx, we use an advanced AR coating that is scratch-resistant, hydrophobic (water-repellent), and oleophobic (oil-repellent). To learn more about the benefits, read our blog article on why AR coatings are worth the investment.
• Interchangeable – This is another great feature if you like having one frame and different lenses for any scenario. Sunglasses like the Oakley Flak 2.0 XL are a great example of frames whose lenses can be interchanged with different tints. You can have a set of clear lenses when you’re pitching or playing late games, a different set of PRIZM™ Field lenses for practice, and so on.
• Mirror – A mirror coating on the front side of your lenses makes your sunglasses darker. Not only does it look cool, it reflects what we call “ambient glare” away from the lens. This is light you don’t get much use out of anyway.
• Contrast – Many brands have contrast-enhancing lens technology to help you pick up on the differences in textures on the field and to track fly balls easier. Having a boost in contrast will help you better perceive an incoming pitch and judge the speed of ground balls. This will elevate your performance because baseball is a game that relies heavily on split-second reactions.

Should I Polarize?

Your everyday sunglasses may have polarized lenses to prevent glare, but they aren’t recommended for baseball. Polarization can affect depth perception, which is not ideal for ball sports. Things move very quickly in baseball, and you need to see when the ball is coming at you. Dirt, other players, and grass create very little glare—if any—so a polarized lens won’t help you see better during a game.

Best Exclusive Lens Technology for Baseball

Our exclusive lens technology is designed to help you play ball with maximum clarity.

• SportRx Field Day lenses – A SportRx exclusive, Field Day is a transition-based lens technology that goes from a light to medium rose copper color in duller lighting conditions to a darker bronze rose copper color in brighter conditions. Both transition forms will help boost contrast and enhance colors. These lenses also have an anti-reflective coating with blue defense to help block negative blue light from the sun during bright conditions. SportRx Field Day lenses are an option for a wide variety of frames and are available in prescription.
• Nike Field Tint lenses – The Nike Field Tint increases your ability to track pop flies and line drives during bright and shifting light conditions. These lenses also block ambient glare so you aren’t disrupted by harsh light. The Nike Field Tint is featured in a variety of Nike frames, including the beloved Nike Show X3. These lenses are not available in prescription.
• Oakley PRIZM Field lenses – The Oakley PRIZM Field lenses are a popular choice for boosting clarity and contrast while you’re on the field. These lenses have a rose base and are specifically designed to help you track incoming baseball pitches and ground balls. The Oakley PRIZM Field lenses are available in prescription. Check out our Oakley PRIZM Field review to learn more about its unique features.
• 100% HiPER lenses – 100%’s HiPER lens technology helps boost and separate colors and sharpen contrast, so you’re playing baseball in high definition. You’ll love the enhanced depth perception and clearer visuals you’ll get with these lenses. 100% HiPER lenses are featured in many 100% frames including the S2 and S3. These lenses are not available in prescription.

Top Baseball Sunglasses Pick

The Oakley Flak 2.0 XL is our top pick for baseball sunglasses. They are lightweight, have great grip, and are comfortable for all-day wear, even when you sweat. When paired with PRIZM Field lens technology, you’re ready to take the field with the best vision possible for daytime games.

Key features:

• Oakley UnobtainiumⓇ nose pads and temples help ensure a no-slip grip
• O Matter™proprietary frame material is flexible, durable, and lightweight
• PRIZM Field lenses bring out optimum clarity
• Prescription ready

More Sunglasses We Like for Baseball

While the Oakley Flak 2.0 XL is our favorite, there are other pairs we also like for baseball.

Oakley

Oakley has other styles that are also good options. Take a look at this list of features that make a great pair of Oakley baseball sunglasses.

Frame Technology

• Coverage – You want sunglasses that provide a lot of coverage to protect you from the sun, and Oakley’s sport frames are an excellent choice. Look for a wrap around frame that covers your peripheral vision, so you don’t sacrifice any of your field of sight. If you’ve got a high prescription, you may have to opt for a flatter frame.
• Frame Materials – Oakley’s O Matter frames are so comfortable that you won’t notice the sunglasses on your face, even during long games. Oakley’s sport frames all come with Unobtainium grip, a specialized rubber that gets stickier and tackier the more you sweat. No more losing your sunglasses as you slide into first—they’ll be right there with you.
• Fit – To ensure your sunglasses stay comfortable all day, they need to be the right size and rest comfortably on your face without being so tight that they cause pain or so loose that they slide around. Oakley sunglasses all feature a Three-Point Fit system that evenly distributes weight across the bridge of your nose and your ears, so if you’ve got the sizing right, you’ll hardly want to take your sunglasses off.

Lens Technology

• Lens Materials – All Oakley sunglasses are made with Plutonite lenses, another proprietary Oakley material. Plutonite is essentially a high-end polycarbonate that provides clarity that rivals glass without the weight or risk of breaking. It’s so light, you’ll hardly be able to tell you’re wearing sunglasses at all.
• Color Enhancement – As with most sports, contrast is the name of the game in baseball. Oakley’s got an edge over other sunglass brands with PRIZM lens technology. The idea behind PRIZM is that each lens is designed for a specific environment and the colors in that environment. PRIZM Field is the lens specific to baseball, and it helps enhance colors so you can spot the baseball better against the sky. You can even get PRIZM Field with prescription lenses. For more details on PRIZM tech, check out our ultimate guide to Oakley PRIZM lenses.

Featured Oakley Baseball Sunglasses

Oakley Radar EV Path – The Radar EV Path is sure to make you feel like a pro. The single-shield lens offers an uncompromising field of view to let you see every last detail. There’s also an improved ventilation system, so you’ll never have to deal with foggy lenses again.

Key Features:

• PRIZM lens technology makes it easier to track the ball
• Constructed from lightweight, durable O Matter
• Unobtainium grips get tackier the more you sweat
• Available in prescription with limited lens options
• SFW: 140 (Men’s L / Women’s XL)

Nike Show X3

Increase your batting average with sunglasses that you can easily slip on under your helmet and comfortably wear through all nine innings. The semi-rimless Nike Show X3 offers unobstructed visibility and extra eye protection. Whether you’re playing at sunrise or sunset, you’ll have the best optical experience with the X3.

Key Features:

• Interchangeable lens capability provides a fine-tuned optical experience
• Rubber nose pads keep frames in place and optically aligned even as you run, jump, slide, or bounce
• Unique frame design allows for increased airflow, which wicks away and drains sweat and moisture
• SFW: 135 (Men’s M / Women’s L)

100% S3

Make a statement with your performance and style by wearing the 100% S3 sunglasses. An oversized shield design provides unmatched coverage, while rubber grips on the temples and nose pad ensure a snug and slip-free fit. Available with interchangeable HiPER lenses, you’ll get enhanced color and contrast and the option to easily switch out lenses for refined vision.

Key Features:

• Constructed from lightweight TR90
• Saddle nose bridge evenly distributes frame weight
• Frame and lens ventilation keeps vision crystal-clear
• Now available in prescription with a prescription insert!
• SFW: 137 (Men’s L / Women’s L)

Rudy Project Deltabeat

When you take the field, you need sunglasses that will allow you to turn double plays and make the most of every plate appearance. The Rudy Project Deltabeat does just that, with an edgy design and top-notch performance features. Interchangeable lens ability means you can easily swap out lenses to accommodate different lighting conditions. The semi-rimless frames flatter a variety of face shapes and easily fit underneath a hat or helmet thanks to the straight temples.

Key Features:

• Adjustable temples and nose pad provide optical alignment and keep the sunglasses in place
• PowerFlow lens ventilation increases airflow and minimizes fogging
• Available in high-prescription dock variation
• Not available in prescription
• SFW: 142 (Men’s XL / Women’s XL)

Best Sunglasses for Specific Positions

The right sunglasses can enhance your vision no matter what position you play.

Sunglasses for Pitchers

Baseball sunglasses are generally permitted in Little League, high school, and even for professional players. While they’re a fairly common sight among kids playing baseball, you’ll rarely see pro pitchers sporting shades during games.

Major League Baseball rules allow pitchers to wear sunglasses with some limitations. Umpires and batters need to see a pitcher’s eyes. Umpires can request that pitchers remove sunglasses if they deem that the lenses are too dark or if the mirror coating is distracting to the batter. Generally, sunglasses are allowed as long as they don’t obstruct the pitcher’s vision or create a significant distraction for the batter. Luckily, there are plenty of baseball-specific lenses like the PRIZM Field that are light enough for your eyes to still be visible.

If sunglasses are allowed in Major League Baseball games, why are they so uncommon? There are several reasons: Some pitchers believe the curvature of the lens affects how they see the ball, they’ve found the sunglass frame blocks their peripheral vision, and many don’t see the need since pitchers don’t have to look up into the sky as much as other players.

However, lens curvature affecting the ball is only an issue for some pitchers and would be more a matter of getting used to the lenses. As for the frame blocking your vision, this can be avoided if you pick the appropriate fit for your sunglasses.

Benefits of Baseball Sunglasses

Despite the restrictions on sunglasses for pitchers, you should still try wearing them while you’re on the mound. You don’t have to look up as much as fielders, and baseball sunglasses enhance color and contrast to help you track every detail of the field and make sure you can pitch with the best clarity.

Even if you keep your eyes fixed straight ahead and wear a hat, a bright day can still make you squint, causing watery eyes and discomfort. Sunglasses will darken your vision to ensure you pitch with minimal interference, but they won’t darken it so much that other players can’t see your eyes. Tints like Oakley’s PRIZM Field are specifically designed to enhance colors on a baseball diamond, and they don’t have a mirror that could be distracting to batters.

Sunglass Tips for Baseball Pitchers

Since a mirrored lens can cause your sunglasses to get pulled from the game, we recommend pitchers avoid mirrored or polarized lenses. Polarized lenses—while not necessarily a distraction to batters—can mess with your depth perception, and that’s why we don’t suggest them for baseball players in general.

Likewise, we don’t recommend a dark gray lens for pitchers. It might make it hard for others to see your eyes, and dark gray won’t enhance contrast in the same way a lighter tint would. We’ve already suggested the PRIZM Field, which has a rose tint, but any light brown or copper sunglass tint will darken your vision and brighten colors. If you usually play at night, we suggest clear lenses for those prescription wearers out there.

Sunglasses for Fielders

When a fly ball is headed for your glove, there should be nothing in your way. When you’re out in the field and the stadium lights are shining down, catch every hit and close out the game with lenses designed for infielders.

What’s the Best Lens Color for Fielders?

For fielders, contrast is king! That’s why we recommend rose or brown lenses. Both of these tints provide high contrast on bright, sunny days.

Top Lens Picks

Here are some of our favorite sunglasses for fielders:

Oakley PRIZM Field

When a fly ball gets lost in the sky, PRIZM Field lenses boost the critical colors by eliminating the distracting ones, so you can spot every stitch on the ball coming down. By manipulating the light spectrum, PRIZM Field enhances contrast to make the ball appear more vivid and helps you track it against the textures of the field or sky.

Key benefits:

• Tracks fly balls against the sky or stadium
• Identifies the pitch by enhancing red stitching on the ball
• Reacts to ground balls and line drives heading your way

100% HiPER Lenses

HiPER lenses ramp up the contrast to make colors more vibrant. Selective filtering of light rays increases contrast and definition to give you clear vision throughout any weather condition or swing.

Key benefits:

• Sharper contrast by filtering rays for greater depth perception
• Better vision by sharpening your surroundings to see the ball
• Brings colors to life with unmatched perception

Best Lenses for Baseball Night Games

You have your favorite pair of performance sunglasses for tracking the ball during a day game, but what happens after the sun sets? Keep your competitive advantage and clear vision with our lineup of the best lenses for nighttime baseball games.

For after-hours practices and games, low-light conditions and harsh stadium lights can make tracking the ball feel impossible. Don’t let poor vision get in the way of your home run or catching that fly ball. SportRx has put these glare-reducing and contrast-enhancing lenses to the test so you can feel confident the next time you step up to bat at night.

Clear Lenses

One of the best tints for baseball night games is actually no tint at all. Players need every ounce of light to track the ball once the sun goes down. Tinted lenses actively block certain light from entering the wearer’s eyes (which is why we love them during day games), but this very advantage hinders your vision during late-night practices. A clear tint allows the maximum amount of light to pass through, so you’ll have an easier time spotting and tracking the ball.

Let’s look at which features to consider for your baseball night games.

• Anti-reflective coating – Anti-reflective coating prevents glare and reflections from the stadium lights appearing in your vision, so you can keep your focus on the action on the field.
• Blue-light coating – The sun is the primary source of blue light, but it’s present everywhere. Artificial lighting such as harsh stadium lights also emit blue light. Harmful blue light lives within the 380 nm–470 nm range of the visible light spectrum, and lengthy exposure may cause retinal damage. It can also contribute to age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to an irreversible decrease in sharpness and clarity of vision. A blue-light coating protects the integrity of your vision, decreases glare, and increases visual clarity during your night games.

SportRx Sport Optimized Lenses

We understand the importance of proper eyewear and want to help you see better while doing the things you love. That’s why we’ve spent decades perfecting our Sport Optimized Lenses so you can enjoy better vision uniquely tailored to your activities and prescription needs.

If you’re looking for lenses for baseball night games, we have two clear SportRx Sport Optimized Lens options that excel out on the field:

• The Closer – Clear lenses with AR coating + BlueDefense
• The Fog Fighter I – Clear lenses with anti-fog coating

Both of these lenses will reduce glare while increasing visual clarity and sharpness. That’s a win-win in our playbook!

Tinted Lenses

If you struggle to track the ball at night, a slightly tinted lens could be beneficial. Unlike a clear lens, tints will help enhance contrast so you can more easily follow the ball’s trajectory. Light rose is an excellent option for boosting contrast and details.

For after-hours games under bright stadium lights, we recommend the Oakley PRIZM Low Light lens. This lens fine-tunes the light spectrum to increase contrast and reduce glare for your specific sport, environment, and conditions. This rose-based lens provides a true-to-color visual experience while enhancing contrast and details in low-light conditions. It’s also an excellent choice for night games under bright stadium lights.

Bonus: PRIZM lenses are made from Oakley’s proprietary lens material, Plutonite, which is a high-grade polycarbonate that is highly impact resistant.

Photochromic Lenses

When you find yourself playing both night and day games, photochromic lenses are an effortless option that works in all lighting conditions. This do-it-all lens reacts to UV exposure and delivers the perfect level of tint at all times, with no lens swapping or frame changing required.

Note: If you’re playing on a particularly sunny day, we do not recommend photochromic lenses as a replacement to your tinted sunglasses. While photochromic lenses excel at low- to medium-lighting conditions, they may not provide the level of darkness required on intensely bright days.

Interchangeable Lenses

For one of the most versatile experiences, performance frames with interchangeable lenses can provide the perfect lens for every environment. For night games, go with a clear or subtle tint to easily track the ball. For day games, select your preferred lens color that delivers extra sun protection and glare reduction.

Baseball Frame Recommendations

Now that we’ve covered the best lenses for baseball night games, let’s take a look at the frames.

Once again, the Oakley Flak 2.0 XL is our top choice, as it has everything we love in a baseball frame.

We also recommend the Rudy Project® Rydon for night games. The Rydon is one of the most popular Rudy Project frames for good reason. It combines an interchangeable lens system with photochromic options so you can get the best of all worlds. We also love the sleek construction of the frame, which fits seamlessly under helmets and face masks.

Key features:

• Patented Quick Change System allows you to quickly swap lenses for when you’re on the go
• Ventilated lenses promote airflow and prevent fogging
• Fully adjustable nose piece and temples deliver a perfect custom fit
• Impact X-2 lenses are impact-resistant
• Available with prescription

Baseball Glasses

Sunglasses are essential for professional and amateur players to keep the sun out of their eyes during day games. After the sun goes down, some players choose to wear baseball eyeglasses to play their best.

Here are some reasons to wear glasses while playing baseball:

• Protection – Having a shield between your eyes and the outside world is an effective layer of protection. Baseball glasses help keep dirt and other debris out of your eyes.
• Anti-reflective coating – Playing under stadium lights can be extremely taxing on your eyes. Anti-reflective lenses help reflect the brightness from the stadium lights away from your eyes.

Nick Sprengel is a retired pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays organization, and he wore prescription eyeglasses when he played night games. “I wouldn’t have been able to see the catcher’s signs, and it would be a lot harder to track fly balls without glasses,” Nick says. Wearing prescription glasses made a significant difference in his game.

Wearing prescription glasses while playing baseball is also a good option for people who usually wear contact lenses. Contacts reduce the amount of oxygen getting to your eyes and can cause dry eye. Irritation from dust and dirt is also common when wearing contact lenses. Wearing prescription eyeglasses during games is also quicker and easier than cleaning and applying contacts.

Baseball Sunglasses for Kids

Kids who play baseball need to see clearly and protect their eyes too. Choose sunglasses that are lightweight, cover a wide field of vision, and fit comfortably.

Safety is also crucial for kids’ sunglasses. Look for ASTM-certified sport frames. The ASTM F803 is an American Society for Testing and Materials standard for protective eyewear used in sports. Eyewear that meets this standard can withstand the impact from projectiles that are fired at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour.

Here are additional considerations for kids’ baseball sunglasses.

Frame Technology

The best frame for kids fits well, stays on, and protects their eyes. Here’s what to look for when shopping for frames:

• Grip – Look for frames with special rubberized material along the nose pads and temples. This material gets tackier with sweat and will keep glasses in place even with sudden movements. There are six innings for Little League and seven for high school. The frames need to have proper grip to stay optically aligned for the entire game.
• Coverage – Choosing a frame with good coverage ensures your kiddo is protected both from harmful UV rays but also from dirt and debris. A high wrap frame with an 8-base curve will do just that. Your children’s peripheral vision is covered and free of any obstruction from the frame’s sides, giving them a wide field of vision.
• Fit –Your kid’s baseball sunglasses should be helmet- and hat-compatible so they can focus on the play at hand. Concentration is best spent on the game instead of whether or not their glasses will fall off when they go to catch the pop fly or throw a runner out before they cross the plate.

Lens Technology

Having a great frame is only half of the equation; lens technology is the other factor you need to consider when choosing your kid’s baseball sunglasses. Look for lenses that improve color and depth perception and that can perform at different times of day and in different lighting conditions.

• Contrast-enhancing lenses – Lens tint changes the amount of color differentiation and clarity possible. A neutral or gray lens will block out the most light but darkens the colors, while a contrast-enhancing lens, typically a rose or copper tint base, improves depth perception and color visibility.
• Interchangeable lenses – Dark sunglasses can become a hindrance in games that stretch until evening. In that case, or if you expect cloudy weather, consider sunglasses with interchangeable lenses so your child can swap out the lenses based on conditions. With low-light and bright-light lens options, your child is ensured the best visibility regardless of the time of day or the weather.
• Photochromic lenses – An alternative to interchangeable lenses is photochromic lenses. The lens self-adjusts the tint based on how much UV light is present and performs well in a variety of lighting conditions without needing to swap out lenses or frames.

As with adult sunglasses for baseball, skip the polarization. Polarized lenses don’t have any benefits for baseball players. In fact, they can be a detriment, as polarization can negatively affect depth perception.

Top Kids’ Baseball Sunglasses

A player’s vision on the diamond is everything. It’s important that your kids can see well so they can play to their maximum potential.

Oakley made one of its most popular sports frames, Flak 2.0, available in a youth size, and it’s a standout. These prescription-ready baseball sunglasses are the best fit for kids 7–13 years old.

Key features:

• Proprietary O Matter frame for lightweight durability and comfort
• Unobtainium earsocks and nose pads ensure a secure fit even when sweating
• Interchangeable lenses let you adjust to any conditions
• Available with PRIZM Field lenses for the best baseball experience

Prescription Baseball Glasses and Sunglasses at SportRx

Need prescription baseball sunglasses or eyeglasses for adults or kids? Done. When you shop with us, you’ll find video guides and tips throughout the lens-building process to help you customize the perfect pair. An answer to all your questions is at your fingertips, and if you want to chat with an expert, contact us! We’ll put you in touch with one of our friendly in-house opticians who can help you build your prescription baseball sunglasses. Get your pair at SportRx today.