Tyson McGuffin. Jay Devilliers. Anna Leigh Waters. Ben Johns. These names might not mean much to those outside the sphere of professional pickleball.
But the evidence is clear: Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. Findings from the 2023 Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) indicate that participation practically doubled in 2022, with approximately 8.9 million pickleball players in the United States. Communities all over the country are constructing pickleball courts or renovating tennis courts due to high demand because this social game is a game for all ages.
The myth that retirees make up the bulk of the sport is simply not true. Players as young as 6 years old learn to hit, dink, volley, and serve up perforated, hollow plastic balls to an opponent over a net measuring three feet high on a 20-by-44-foot court. The court construct is the same size as a doubles badminton court, with singles and doubles playing to a score of 11, winning by two. The rules are easy to learn, and, regardless of paddle-sport experience, everyone at every level can enjoy this new national pastime sweeping the nation.
A Nationwide Phenomenon
Pickleball is easily accessible, with courts found in practically every city and various tournaments and leagues providing competitive play. Even colleges have stepped up to offer intramural and competitive pickleball on their campuses. Of course, pickleball has its roots in senior community centers, so players can experience the health benefits of low-impact physical activity, enhance hand-eye coordination, and improve balance.
Pickleball is a social sport, with an evergrowing number of courts where people can play.
“The biggest factor in the growth of pickleball in age groups who aren’t in retirement is without a doubt the social aspect of the sport,” says Jeff Watson, vice president of communications at PPA Tour (Professional Pickleball Association). Aimed at elevating the game as a professionally recognized sport, PPA was recently founded in 2018. Because PPA arranges professional tournaments in various American cities, fans may watch in person or watch at home through broadcasts that air on networks like ESPN. A rating system was developed to separate amateurs and professionals. Most professional pickleball players earn a living through corporate sponsorships and tournament prize money through PPA tournaments.
Yet, according to Mr. Watson, “Catching the pickleball ‘bug’ takes very minimal exposure to the sport. Pickleball encourages people to come together and enjoy quality time with one another while engaging in a heart-healthy activity that easily gets the competitive juices flowing. People love pickleball for many different reasons, but it ultimately comes down to the fun factor. Once you start playing, you simply can’t stop. It’s addictive.”
With a simple introduction, players young and old are off and running in just a few games. Many, like PPA Tour player Anna Leigh Waters, were introduced to the game recreationally during the pandemic. At the age of 12, she became America’s youngest professional pickleball player. Today, the 16-year-old homeschooled pickleball star is ranked No. 1 in the world—not just for doubles, but also for singles and mixed doubles play.
Mr. Watson noted that while Ms. Waters and her male counterpart Ben Johns have dominated the sport for a number of years, there are a few up-and-coming players. “Connor Garnett is a rising star in the men’s game with silver medals in singles in two of the last three PPA Tour events and wins over the sport’s biggest stars. On the women’s side, Jorja Johnson is definitely a name to watch based on her atypical playing style, lightning fast hands, and fearless attitude on-court. She landed her first gold medal earlier this year alongside older brother JW Johnson and also has two silver finishes under her belt, with many more likely to come as her game matures.”
Here To Stay
Though pickleball has experienced significant growth since 2017, its roots were planted in 1965 when Washington congressman Joel Pritchard and his colleague Bill Bell devised a racquet-ball type of game at the former’s home for friends and family to play. Their friend Barney McCallum helped shape the rules, originally based on badminton, and the three created a whole new sport. And the story goes that the funny-sounding name originated from Pickles, the family dog who chased stray balls. By 1990, all 50 states in America were introduced to pickleball. And in 2005, the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) was founded as a nonprofit governing body to further promote the development and growth of this new sport in the United States and its territories.
Pickleball players span a wide range of ages. The sport is popular with seniors because it is a low-impact physical activity.
Melissa Zhang, director of communications and content for USA Pickleball, said: “I attribute pickleball’s growth to the fact that it’s easy to learn and get a game going, especially compared to other sports. With other sports, you may have to take lessons and receive instruction for a certain amount of time before being able to get a rally started and get up to a relatively capable playing level,” she noted. After their first time playing, people easily get hooked.
According to Ms. Zhang, the racquet sport gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only did it encourage people to leave their homes for indoor or outdoor courts, but they could spend quality time with family and friends. “It was so easy for people of all generations to play with one another. Grandparents could play with their children or grandchildren, for example, so that meant that everyone in the household could get outside and participate in a game of pickleball together,” Ms. Zhang added.
The sport has grown into a multimillion dollar industry, with expectations of growth forecasted to reach $2.368 billion by 2028. Retailers are seeing spikes in sales for pickleball paraphernalia. Investors are lining up to manage professional pickleball teams. Professional tennis players, including Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Steffi Graf, and Maria Sharapova, have switched from the rigors of tennis to displaying their athletic prowess and skill at public pickleball slams. With professional tours like the PPA Tour, fans have access to entertaining sports venues in more than 25 cities.
The sport has amassed fans because “there’s something about the camaraderie of doubles teams battling on a small court, the solid feeling of connecting with a pickleball, and the headiness of a hands battle at the net that really resonates with people of all ages,” Mr. Watson added.
And because the sport is so accessible, the community has grown quickly. “The pickleball court has also become a place to meet new people, build community, and create a sense of friendship and teamwork,” he added.
This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.
