Pickleball has Increased Media Coverage and Helped Promote Its Appeal to A Wider Audience

Introduction

According to Pickleball Statistics, Pickleball is a fusion of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, is played on a court smaller than a tennis court, divided into service courts and a non-volley zone. It is widely played in the United States.

Players wield solid paddles and a plastic ball, aiming to score points through rallies. The underhand serve diagonally initiates each point, requiring clearance over the net and into the opponent’s court.

Volleys are permitted after the double bounce rule except within the non-volley zone. Doublesplay emphasizes communication and court coverage, while singles demand individual court mastery.

Good sportsmanship and self-regulation are core to pickleball’s ethos, fostering a welcoming and inclusive community.

Editor’s Choice

• The global pickleball market is projected to reach approximately $3,859.0 million by 2032.
• As of the latest data, offline channels hold a slight majority, accounting for 51.80% of the market share.
• Pickleball, a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum on Bainbridge Island near Seattle, Washington.
• The annual growth rate of pickleball continued at a strong pace in 2021, with a rate of 14.80%.
• By 2023, the number of players had surged to an impressive 13,600,000, indicating a robust and expanding interest in pickleball across the United States.
• Florida leads with 1,071 locations, closely followed by California, which boasts 1,048 places to play pickleball.
• The gender distribution among pickleball players reveals a significant disparity, with males comprising 60.50% of the participant base, while females account for 39.50%. 
• In 2023, injuries related to pickleball are projected to lead to $377 million in healthcare expenditures in the U.S., representing 5% to 10% of all unanticipated medical costs for the year.

Global Pickleball Market Overview

Pickleball Market Size

• The global pickleball market has demonstrated robust growth, with revenue increasing significantly over a ten-year forecast period at a CAGR of 11.30%.
• In 2022, the market was valued at approximately $1,322.9 million.
• This figure rose to $1,472.4 million in 2023 and is projected to further escalate to $1,638.8 million in 2024. By 2025, the market is expected to reach $1,823.9 million.
• The momentum is projected to carry forward into the next decade, with the market expected to achieve $3,115.2 million in 2030, $3,467.2 million in 2031, and reaching approximately $3,859.0 million by 2032.

Pickleball Market Share – By Distribution Channel

• The distribution of the global pickleball market is nearly evenly split between offline and online channels.
• As of the latest data, offline channels hold a slight majority, accounting for 51.80% of the market share.
• Conversely, online sales channels have also captured a significant portion of the market, with a 48.20% share.

History of Pickleball

• Pickleball, a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum on Bainbridge Island near Seattle, Washington.
• Originally designed as a family game, pickleball has seen exponential growth over the decades.
• By the 1970s, the sport was formally organized with the establishment of rules and the founding of the USA Pickleball Association in 1984, which standardized the game and facilitated its growth across community centers, schools, and parks.
• The 1990s saw the creation of the first composite paddle, which significantly changed how the game was played and contributed to its popularity.
• The 2000s marked a pivotal expansion as the sport gained a foothold in retirement communities, particularly in the Sunbelt states, where it became a staple activity.
• In the following decade, pickleball’s appeal broadened to a younger demographic, contributing to a surge in its popularity.
• According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, by 2021, pickleball participation had increased to over 4.8 million players in the U.S., representing a 650% increase over the previous six years.

Annual Growth Rate of Pickleball

• The annual growth rate of the pickleball market has shown notable fluctuations over the period from 2017 to 2022.
• Starting in 2017, the market grew by 11.30%. The growth rate then decelerated over the next two years, dropping to 5.40% in 2018 and further to 4.80% in 2019.
• The most striking increase happened in 2022, when the growth rate skyrocketed to 85.70%, indicating a massive expansion in the market’s reach and consumer engagement, possibly fueled by broader adoption and heightened awareness of the sport.

Number of Pickleball Players

• In 2017, the total number of pickleball players was approximately 3,132,000.
• This figure grew moderately over the next two years, reaching 3,301,000 in 2018 and further increasing to 3,460,000 by 2019.
• A significant jump occurred in 2020, with the total rising to 4,200,000 players, reflecting a growing interest in the sport, possibly due to its social distancing-friendly nature during global health events.
• By 2023, the number of players had surged to an impressive 13,600,000, indicating a robust and expanding interest in pickleball across the United States.

Total Number of US Pickleball Courts

Pickleball Courts by State

• The distribution of pickleball locations across various states in the U.S. highlights the sport’s widespread popularity.
• Florida leads with 1,071 locations, closely followed by California, which boasts 1,048 places to play pickleball.
• Texas ranks third with 755 locations.
• New York and North Carolina each have a significant number of venues, with 586 and 525 locations, respectively, the latter being matched by Illinois, which also has 525.
• Ohio slightly exceeds these with 528 locations.

Game Courts by City

• New York, NY, leads with the highest number of locations at 58, closely followed by Houston, TX, which has 51 pickleball venues.
• Seattle, WA, also shows strong participation with 48 locations.
• Atlanta, GA, and Denver, CO, each have a robust presence with 44 and 43 locations, respectively, the latter number being matched by Chicago, IL. Las Vegas, NV, and Cincinnati, OH, each offer 41 places to play.
• Austin, TX, is not far behind with 40 locations, and San Diego, CA, contributes to the national scene with 39 pickleball venues.

Pickleball Players by Region

• The distribution of pickleball players across different U.S. regions varies significantly, with the South Atlantic region leading with 1,087,000 players, encompassing states such as Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
• The East North Central region follows with 801,000 players across Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana.
• The Pacific region, which includes California, Oregon, and Washington, also has a substantial number of enthusiasts, totaling 780,000 players.
• Lastly, the Mid-Atlantic region, comprising New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, hosts 675,000 players.

Demographic Distribution of Pickleball Payers

By Age

• The youngest group, aged 6 to 17, represents 21.20% of the total players, with 14.20% being core players and 23.90% casual players.
• Those aged 18 to 34 make up the largest segment, constituting 28.80% of players; within this group, 16.80% are core players, while a significant 33.50% play casually.
• The 35 to 54 age group accounts for 20.40% of the total, with 17% as core and 21.80% as casual players.
• Adults between 55 and 64 years hold a smaller share at 12%, but they have a higher proportion of core players at 19.20%, compared to 9.20% who are casual.
• Lastly, the 65 and older group, which forms 17.60% of the player base, has the highest percentage of core players at 32.70% and 11.60% casual players.

By Gender

• The gender distribution among pickleball players reveals a significant disparity, with males comprising 60.50% of the participant base, while females account for 39.50%.
• This indicates a dominant male presence in the sport, reflecting broader participation trends.

Income Disparity

• The income score among pickleball players has demonstrated variability over the years from 2014 to 2022.
• Starting in 2014, the score was relatively low at 1.83 but showed a slight increase to 1.96 in 2015.
• It dipped slightly in 2016 to 1.79 before rising steadily in the subsequent years, reaching 2.07 in 2017, 2.43 in 2018, and peaking at 2.83 in 2019.
• The score further decreased to 2.48 in 2021, and in 2022, it saw a significant drop to 1.90.

Professional Pickleball Players

Top Ranked Players – Mens Singles

• The ranking of pickleball players based on points features Collin Johns at the top with 16,000 points, sponsored by Electrum.
• Following him is Ben Johns, who has accumulated 14,900 points and is sponsored by Joola.
• Riley Newman holds the third position with 14,200 points under the sponsorship of Takeya.
• Matt Wright, sponsored by Onix, is not far behind with 14,000 points.
• The fifth spot is held by Dylan Frazier, who has garnered 9,075 points and is associated with Selkirk.

Top Ranked Players – Women’s Singles

• The ranking of the top 10 women’s singles pickleball players is led by Anna Leigh Waters, who tops the chart with 15,300 points and is sponsored by Paddletek.
• Following her is Lea Jansen from Joola, who has accumulated 10,930 points. Catherine Parenteau also makes a strong showing, holding the third position with 10,480 points under Selkirk sponsorship.
• Salome Devidze is in fourth place with 8,860 points and is currently not affiliated with a sponsor. Irina Tereschenko, another Paddletek athlete, is ranked fifth with 3,865 points.

Interest in Pickleball

• According to Google Trend scores, Utah leads in interest for pickleball with a perfect score of 100, indicating the highest level of online search activity related to the sport.
• Following closely behind is Arizona, with a score of 73, while Hawaii and Minnesota exhibit slightly lower but still substantial interest levels, with scores of 61 and 60, respectively.
• Florida rounds out the top five states with a score of 59, showcasing a notable level of curiosity and engagement in pickleball.

Injuries and Costs Incurred During Pickleball

• In 2023, injuries related to pickleball are projected to lead to $377 million in healthcare expenditures in the U.S., representing 5% to 10% of all unanticipated medical costs for the year.
• According to a 2021 study, pickleball injuries predominantly affect the elderly, with 86% of emergency department visits from 2010 to 2019 involving individuals over 60 years of age.
• The majority of these injuries, approximately 60%, include sprains, strains, and fractures.
• Around 20% of the injuries consist of contusions, abrasions, or internal damage, while lacerations and dislocations make up less than 10%.
• Analysts anticipate about 67,000 emergency room visits, 366,000 outpatient consultations, and 9,000 outpatient surgical procedures related to pickleball injuries within the year.