Whether you’re in the batter’s box or chasing down fly balls in centerfield, one piece of equipment that is critical to upping your game is a great-fitting pair of prescription softball sunglasses. In this buyer’s guide, we’ll go over all the different components involved in finding the perfect frame for you and your gameplay. Join SportRx as we share what to consider in sports sunglasses and which features are essential in your sunglasses for softball.
If you’re ready to jump into frame recommendations, check out our lineup of the Best Softball Sunglasses or scroll down for our top picks.
Table of Contents
A. Frame Technology
1. Grip
2. Coverage
3. Fit
B. Lens Technology
1. Color/Tint
2. Contrast-Enhancement
3. Transitions
4. Day vs. Night
5. What About Polarization?
C. Best Sunglasses for Softball
D. Prescription Softball Sunglasses Online at SportRx
Frame Technology
There are three main frame features to a great pair of softball sunglasses – fit, grip, and coverage. For softball-specific frames, these three allow you to dedicate all your focus on throwing the runner out at first or laying off the change-up. The goal of your sunglasses? Functioning so perfectly, they disappear during the game.
Grip
When picking a pair of softball glasses, keep an eye out for rubberized grips on the temples and nose pads. This feature is key for keeping your frames in place and optically aligned. Hydrophilic rubber also increases its grip when introduced to water and skin oils.
Grip is also achieved through a wrapped design, meaning the frame is curved to contour your face. When combined with straight temples, the wrap around design provides good grip performance without the headache.
Coverage
There are two ways to achieve coverage – lens size and frame curvature. A larger lens keeps the sun out of your eyes, while the curvature provides optimal protection. Wind, dirt, and debris are prevented from reaching your eyes, while airflow is not cut off. Your visibility will remain unobstructed, allowing you a better view of the field.
Fit
Fit is especially important in softball, especially for hat and helmet-compatibility. Straight temples are recommended because they fit easily underneath any headwear without compromising on performance or causing discomfort.
Lens Technology
With support from top-notch frame technology, the lenses in your softball sunglasses will truly shine and take your game to the next level. There are many lens aspects to consider – color, contrast-enhancement, Transitions®, and day vs. night lenses. Ultimately, lens technology comes down to providing you with pristine, enhanced vision and uncompromised eye protection.
Color/Tint
With so many lens colors and tints out there, you may be unsure which one is right for you. For your softball sunglasses, steer clear of a grey base tint, as it will darken the game’s colors and make details appear less clear.
Instead, opt for a medium to light rose or copper color. The rose complements the green of the field and enhances details. By controlling the light that reaches your eye, you’re able to react faster and improve your performance.
Contrast-Enhancement
With lens colors that enhance contrast, you will be able to better differentiate between textures out on the field. This will give more detail to the shadows and light areas.
If you’re looking for a well-rounded lens, Field Day, a SportRx prebuilt lens, is an unpolarized transition lens starting as a light rose copper. When in the sun, it transitions to a dark rose copper tint that functions well throughout the day. This versatile lens is ideal for softball glasses because of its ability to adjust according to the lighting conditions. Additionally, SportRx lenses are hyper-customizable, so you have the control of optimizing your look and performance.
Transitions®
That brings us to the benefits of transition, or photochromic, lenses. Transitions® change with exposure to UV light, adjusting automatically with the changing light. The greater the UV light exposure, the darker the lens becomes. Inversely, as UV light exposure lessens, it becomes lighter.
Day vs. Night
There are a few different ways to go about day and night lenses in your softball glasses. First, you could choose a transition lens that can effortlessly go from daytime to evening. Second, you could pick a lens for each. If you primarily play at night, a yellow or clear lens will enhance your vision when playing under bright stadium lights. If, however, you are mostly playing during the day, choose a medium to dark brown tint that will give you better sunlight protection.
What About Polarization?
The short answer: no.
The goal of polarized lenses is to reduce glare that comes from light shining off flat surfaces. On a softball field, there is little opportunity for glare, and more importantly, polarization is known to distort your depth perception. For this reason, we recommend avoiding polarized lenses in your softball sunglasses.
Best Sunglasses for Softball
Ready to start looking for a pair? Check out our blog on the Best Softball Sunglasses, or keep reading for a couple of our top picks for softball frames!
Tifosi Vero
With value and performance at the forefront of design, the Tifosi Vero are an impressive pair of sports sunglasses that will be with you from the first pitch to the final out. The adjustable temples and nose pads allow for a comfortable and customized fit, while the frame ventilation keeps the lenses fog-free. Crafted from TR90 Grilamid, the Vero is lightweight, durable, and resistant to UV damage.
Tifosi Vero in Gloss Black with Smoke/AC Red/Clear Lens
Shop Tifosi Vero
Vero Key Features:
- Lightweight frame is easy to wear into extra innings
- Interchangeable lens capability allows for fine-tuned sports experience
- Ventilation increases airflow and minimizes lens fogging
- SportRx Frame Width: 130 (Women’s M) (What is SFW?)
Oakley Half Jacket 2.0 XL
The Oakley Half Jacket 2.0 XL is the ultimate pair of sports sunglasses. The semi-rimless, wrap around design offers unobstructed visibility and peripheral protection, while the PRIZM™ lenses increase color, contrast, and detail definition. Unobtainium® grips get tackier the more you sweat, and the lightweight O Matter™ frame material can stand up against any slide or tumble. And if you’re playing in varying lighting conditions, the interchangeable lens capability allows you to easily change out lenses for the best optical experience.
Oakley Half Jacket 2.0 XL in Polished Black with Black Iridium Lenses
Flak 2.0 XL Key Features:
- PRIZM™ lenses provide unmatched color and contrast-enhancement
- Seamlessly swap out lenses with interchangeable capabilities
- Unobtainium® grip keeps the frames in place
- SFW: 132 (Women’s M)
Prescription Softball Sunglasses Online at SportRx
Need prescription softball sunglasses? Done. When you shop with us, you’ll find video guides and tool tips throughout the build process as 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 softball sunglasses.
Ditch risky online shopping with our See Better Guarantee™. Try your softball sunglasses for 45 days and if you’re not completely satisfied, send them back. Get a full refund, exchange, or credit towards a better pair. And return shipping? Covered. Get your pair of prescription softball sunglasses online at SportRx today!
PRIZM Field will still give her great contrast on the field. She will be able to track the ball easier and read her environment better to improve her reaction time. If for any reason they are not exactly what she is looking for, you can always return them for a full refund or exchange within 45 days. Hope this helps!