Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States, with a growth rate of 222.3% over the last three years.
From 2021 to 2022, the amount of people who played pickleball increased from 4.8 million people to 8.9 million people. The number of pickleball players in the United States has also steadily increased, now standing at 36.5 million people according to data from the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP).
The APP also claims that the number of people playing pickleball is greater than the number of people participating in basketball, soccer, football, and many other popular sports.
Invented in the 1960s, pickleball became popular during the latter half of the pandemic — as it is an outdoor, noncontact sport — and has continued to increase in popularity because of three key factors: the accessibility of the sport, its large demographic and the influence of social media.
Part of pickleball’s rise in the sports world is because it is very accessible and inclusive. The only equipment necessary for playing pickleball is a paddle, which is relatively inexpensive and can be priced under $50.
Pickleball courts can be set up anywhere, including on a tennis or basketball court. California, Texas and Florida have the most courts.
These three states have warmer weather most of the year, and since pickleball is played outside, players can play during more months of the year. Additionally, these states have bigger land sizes and populations, so the demand for pickleball courts is higher.
Pickleball is readily accessible for older generations, and 19.8% of players are 55 and older. People of all ages can play pickleball together, and players range from ages 5-90. Additionally, pickleball doesn’t require a lot of motion, so people with a smaller range of mobility can play it as well. Despite not requiring much movement, pickleball is good for the players’ health and provides substantial exercise to raise the heart rate.
Pickleball also provides a way to socialize. People with varying skill levels play pickleball, from amateurs playing in low-stakes pickup games to professionals playing in pro tournaments. People who play casually can catch up with old friends or make new ones on the court.
Social media also played a significant role in taking pickleball from an irrelevant sport to a sport where millions of people are playing nationwide. In addition to influencers who promote the sport, communities also encourage people to get involved in pickleball by setting up courts and organizing tournaments.
Professional pickleball has also begun to draw more attention and become more popular. In 2023, there were 47 pickleball tournaments around the country, and the average prize money ranged from $191,000 to $234,000.
Pickleball’s fame has also risen in other countries worldwide, and many of the top professional players on the Carvana PPA Tour are international. While the top four men’s doubles players are American as of Oct. 24, Argentine Federico Staksrud and Israeli Dekel Bar are ranked fifth and sixth, respectively. Canadian Catherine Parenteau and Slovakian Lucy Kovalova are the top international women’s doubles players, with Parenteau ranked second and Kovalova ninth.
There has also been an increase in former professional tennis players transitioning to professional pickleball. American Jack Sock, who joined the PPA Tour this year, is a prime example. Sock competed in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour from 2011 until he retired from tennis in 2023. During his tennis career, he reached a career-high ranking of eighth in men’s singles and second in doubles.
Now, competing in PPA, he is ranked tenth among men’s singles. Sock follows a group of other former tennis players who have transitioned, notably Sam Querrey, Maria Sharapova and Genie Bouchard.
PPA also provides amateur players with the opportunity to play in their tour, as participants are placed in brackets based on their age and skill level. Although there is a big difference between an intermediate-level pickleball player and a professional pickleball player, intermediate-level players can always work to close that gap.
