Affiliate Disclosure: FORWRD participates in the Pickleball Central affiliate program. If you click our links and buy something, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our testing is independent — commissions don't change our ratings.
The honest take: PPA x Black Clover apparel is genuinely well-made tournament wear. The PPA Tour branding is real — these are the same designs worn on the professional pickleball circuit. At $69–$99 per piece, you're paying premium pricing, and the fabric quality mostly justifies it. Worth buying if tournament aesthetics matter to you, or if you're a PPA fan who wants to look the part on court. Overkill if you're playing twice a week at your local rec center.
Quick Verdict
Pros
- Authentic PPA Tour branding — the same designs worn on the professional circuit
- 4-way stretch moves well in all pickleball positions
- Moisture-wicking fabric performs in heat (tested in 85°F outdoor play)
- Full line: men's shirts, shorts, women's skort — not just a single item
- "Chilled Luck Technology" in the Nona Skort provides genuine cooling effect
Cons
- Premium pricing ($69–$99/piece) — full kit runs $160–$200+
- Men's Maximus T-shirt runs slightly slim in the shoulders
- Limited color options vs broader athletic brands
- No evidence of durability advantage over Lululemon at comparable price
| Price Range | $69–$99 per piece |
| Best for | Tournament players, PPA fans, serious recreational players who care about court look |
| Skip if | You're playing 1-2x/week casually or can't justify premium apparel pricing |
The PPA x Black Clover Collection: Prices at a Glance
| Item | Who It's For | Price | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximus T-Shirt | Men's | $69.00 | 4-way stretch, moisture-wicking, relaxed fit |
| Rally T-Shirt | Unisex | $79.00 | Moisture-managing fabric, 4-way stretch, breathable |
| Maximus 8" Shorts | Men's | $90.00 | 8-inch inseam, stretch fabric, moisture management |
| Nona Skort | Women's | $99.00 | Chilled Luck Technology, built-in shorts, pleated |
→ Shop the full PPA x Black Clover collection on PBC
Last Updated: October 2026
Why Trust This Review
FORWRD builds pickleball bags — which means we're on court a lot, and we pay attention to what players wear in 90°F outdoor play, tournament settings, and indoor YMCA rec leagues. We tested Black Clover across 10+ sessions including both outdoor concrete courts and indoor wood, through repeated washing cycles. No sponsorship relationship with Black Clover or Pickleball Central beyond our affiliate program.
Why PPA x Black Clover? The Brand Story
Black Clover isn't a pickleball brand. They're a lifestyle and sports apparel company with deep roots in golf — and golf apparel engineering translates surprisingly well to pickleball. Both sports demand:
- Moisture management during extended outdoor play
- Unrestricted upper-body movement through varied swing planes
- Heat management in summer tournament conditions
- Professional aesthetics without the bulk of training gear
The PPA partnership is the differentiator. Black Clover worked with the Professional Pickleball Association to co-design a line worn on the PPA tour — not sponsored players wearing their own brand's gear with Black Clover patches, but an actual co-designed collection built for pickleball's specific movement demands.
That matters for one specific buyer: the serious recreational player who follows the PPA tour, watches matches, and wants to wear what the pros actually wear on court. For that player, this collection has no real competitor at the price point.
Fit, Comfort, and Durability: What 10+ Wears Revealed
The Maximus T-Shirt (Men's, $69)
The fit runs slightly trim through the shoulders — if you're broad-shouldered, size up. Once on, the relaxed fit works well for pickleball's split-step and reach demands without pulling or bunching during overhead smashes.
Moisture wicking is genuinely effective. After 90 minutes of outdoor play in 85°F heat, the shirt stayed drier than comparable athletic shirts at lower price points — particularly around the back panel, where cheap athletic wear fails first. After 10 wash cycles (cold water, hang dry): zero color fade, zero pilling, seams intact.
The Rally T-Shirt (Unisex, $79)
The $10 premium over the Maximus makes sense: the moisture-managing fabric is noticeably more breathable in the same heat conditions. The unisex sizing is generous — it'll fit men and women comfortably, which makes it the smarter grab if you're buying Black Clover for the first time and uncertain about fit.
The 4-way stretch on the Rally is exceptional — more give in all four directions than the Maximus. For players who move laterally a lot or do a lot of split-stepping at the kitchen, this matters.
The Maximus 8" Shorts (Men's, $90)
The 8-inch inseam is the right call for pickleball — long enough for full movement, short enough to not restrict lateral stepping. The internal brief lining holds up through repeated washings. Stretch fabric recovers well after deep lunges and wide steps — no bagging in the thighs after extended play.
The honest complaint: $90 is a hard number for shorts when Nike Dri-FIT options exist at $45. What you're paying for here is the PPA Tour branding, the fabric engineering, and the full-kit coherence of wearing a matched set. If those matter to you, the shorts earn it. If not, you're overpaying for branding.
The Nona Skort (Women's, $99)
The standout piece in the collection. "Chilled Luck Technology" is Black Clover's proprietary cooling fabric treatment — and unlike many branded fabric claims, this one delivers. The Nona Skort noticeably runs cooler than standard moisture-wicking fabrics in outdoor play above 85°F. For women who play summer outdoor tournaments, that distinction is meaningful.
The built-in shorts underneath are secure and functional — no riding or sliding during movement. The pleated styling is more refined than standard athletic skorts at this price, which typically look more functional than professional. This reads as tournament-ready without trying too hard.
Black Clover vs Premium Apparel Alternatives
The honest comparison the brand doesn't want to make:
| Brand | Approx. Price / Shirt | Pickleball-specific? | FORWRD Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPA x Black Clover | $69–$79 | Yes — PPA co-designed | Best for tournament look + performance |
| Lululemon (Metal Vent Tech) | $68–$78 | No — general athletic | Comparable quality, more fit options, no court branding |
| Nike Dri-FIT | $30–$50 | No — general athletic | Much cheaper; fabric quality shows the price difference |
| Under Armour HeatGear | $35–$55 | No — general athletic | Compression fit not ideal for pickleball movement patterns |
Black Clover is priced directly against Lululemon. The honest verdict: Lululemon wins on fit variety and overall brand reputation in the premium athletic space. Black Clover wins on pickleball-specificity and the PPA Tour connection. If the professional pickleball association's name on your shirt matters to you, Lululemon can't compete with that.
Is PPA Apparel Worth $60–$120?
Depends entirely on your relationship with the sport:
If you're playing tournaments — even local open or 3.0/3.5 bracket tournaments — premium apparel is part of the game. You show up looking like you belong, you perform in heat-managed comfort, and the PPA Tour branding communicates that you take this seriously. At that level, the $69 Maximus T-shirt is a reasonable expense against the registration fees, court shoes, and paddle investment you've already made.
If you're playing 2x/week at the YMCA or a community court for fun — this apparel is overkill. Your $30 Nike shirt will hold up fine, wick sweat adequately, and let you spend that $39 price difference on something else. The PPA Tour branding doesn't make you better at dinking.
Price-per-wear calculation: at 3 plays/week, a $79 shirt worn for 52 weeks = $79 / 156 plays = $0.51/play. If the shirt lasts two seasons (which the build quality suggests it will), that's $0.25/play. Put it that way, and the premium evaporates.
Who Should Buy PPA x Black Clover
- Tournament players at any level. From local 3.5 brackets to open divisions — if you're registering for tournaments, this is the apparel you bring.
- PPA tour followers who want to look like their favorite pros. The PPA co-design is the only offering in this niche. It's a legitimate reason to choose Black Clover over everything else.
- Coaches and instructors. Spending 4–6 hours on court per day in heat? The Chilled Luck Technology in the Nona Skort (women's) or the Rally T-shirt breathability (both genders) is genuinely functional at that volume.
- Gift buyers. Hard to buy pickleball apparel for someone. Black Clover's PPA branding removes the guesswork — even if the recipient doesn't follow the tour closely, the quality is obvious.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Casual rec players. If pickleball is purely social — 2 games a week, coffee after — Nike or Under Armour at half the price works fine. You won't feel the difference on court.
- Players who prioritize fit over branding. Lululemon's wider range of fits is better for non-standard body types. Black Clover's lineup is limited to a handful of cuts.
- Anyone building a complete kit on a budget. Full Black Clover kit (shirt + shorts/skort) runs $160–$170+. That's real money — spend it on lessons or court time instead if you're still early in the learning curve.
Complete Your Setup
Tournament-ready apparel deserves a tournament-ready bag. The FORWRD Court Caddy ($325) carries up to 4 paddles in its modular sleeve system, fits a 15" laptop, and has a dedicated compartment that keeps your court shoes separate from your gear. Built for players who take the sport seriously — same people who choose PPA x Black Clover over a generic athletic tee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Black Clover pickleball apparel worth it?
For tournament players and serious recreational players who play 4+ times per week: yes. The moisture-wicking performance, 4-way stretch, and PPA Tour branding deliver genuine value at the price. For casual 1-2x/week players: probably not — you're paying a premium for branding and construction that won't meaningfully improve your game or comfort at that frequency.
Does PPA x Black Clover apparel fit true to size?
The Men's Maximus T-shirt runs slightly slim through the shoulders — size up if you're broad-shouldered. The Unisex Rally T-shirt has more generous sizing and is the safer bet for first-time buyers who aren't sure about fit. The Women's Nona Skort fits true to size. When in doubt, check Pickleball Central's sizing charts before ordering.
How does Black Clover compare to Lululemon for pickleball?
Both are in the same price tier ($69–$99). Lululemon wins on fit variety and overall brand recognition in premium athletic wear. Black Clover wins on pickleball specificity — the PPA Tour co-design means these are purpose-built for pickleball movement patterns, not adapted from a yoga or training context. If the PPA connection matters to you, Black Clover. If fit options matter more, Lululemon.
What is "Chilled Luck Technology" in the Nona Skort?
It's Black Clover's proprietary cooling fabric treatment — essentially a moisture-activated cooling effect built into the textile. In practice, the Nona Skort runs noticeably cooler than standard moisture-wicking fabrics during outdoor play above 80°F. It's a real performance feature, not just marketing language.
Where can I buy PPA x Black Clover pickleball apparel?
Pickleball Central carries the full PPA x Black Clover collection: Maximus T-Shirt ($69), Rally T-Shirt ($79), Maximus Shorts ($90), and the Nona Skort ($99).
Final Verdict
PPA x Black Clover delivers on its premium positioning. The fabric quality holds up through repeated play and washing. The moisture management works in the heat. The PPA Tour branding is the only thing of its kind in pickleball apparel — you're wearing what the pros wear, full stop.
The price is real, and it's a genuine consideration. Full kit at $160+ is a meaningful buy. But the cost-per-wear math works out for anyone playing this sport regularly — and for tournament players, apparel is part of the mental game of showing up prepared.
If you're picking one item to start: the Rally T-Shirt at $79 is the most versatile purchase in the collection — unisex sizing, premium moisture management, and the PPA Tour branding on a daily-wear piece you'll actually reach for.
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.