America’s New Favorite Sport: What’s Behind the Sky-Rocketing Appeal of Pickleball?

A healthy hybrid of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, pickleball is America’s new favorite sport.
America’s New Favorite Sport: What’s Behind the Sky-Rocketing Appeal of Pickleball?
Top pickleball players Jessie Irvine and Jay Devilliers during a competition. PPA Tour
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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.
Krista Thomas
Krista Thomas
Author
Krista Thomas is a publicist, writer, and consultant. A native of Texas and graduate of Texas A&M University, Thomas is married with three children, whom she homeschooled for 20 years. She resides in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
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