Pickleball Statistics 2023: America’s Fastest Growing Sport
Pickleball has quickly become one of the most popular sports in America gaining huge popularity in recent years.
It is a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong whilst using a plastic ball which is very similar to a whiffle ball.
In this article, we will be exploring some of the latest pickleball statistics including history, top players and more.
General Pickleball Statistics
Here are some general facts and figures on pickleball:
- The term “pickleball” is searched 846,000 times a month according to Ahrefs.
- The United States shows the most interest in the term “pickleball” with 612,000 searches a month making up 72% of global searches.
- The International Federation of Pickleball has pickleball tournaments played across 48 countries worldwide.
- Leonardo DiCaprio has a pickleball court at his house!
History and Growth of Pickleball
Pickleball was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard and his friends Bill Bell and Barney McCallum. It was created as a way to entertain their children during the summer and it quickly became popular among the community.
In the 1970s the official pickleball rules were written and the first organized tournaments were held. Then in 1984, the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) National Championships were held and in 2005 pickleball was recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as a medal sport.
Pickleball has continued to grow in popularity with the sport being played in more than 50 countries worldwide with millions of players in the United States alone.
There is an increasing number of pickleball tournaments and competitions every year. The USAPA National Championship is now held annually and sees over 2,500 players compete with thousands of spectators coming down to watch the event.
It is also being considered as a medal sport in future Olympic Games.
Pickleball in the US
Pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport in the United States with over 10,000 places to play. Here is the latest data on pickleball in the US:
- There are 4.8 million players in the US alone.
- California has the highest number of places to play pickleball with 794 known locations.
- There are approximately 66 new locations to play pickleball every month.
- “Pickleball courts near me” is searched 58,000 per month in the United States.
- Pickleball participation has grown by 54% over the last five years.
- The number of pickleball players has grown by 11.5% on average per year.
Source: SFIA Pickleball Participation Report
Demographics of Pickleball Players
Gender
Men currently make up 60.5% of pickleball players while women make up 39.5% according to the 2022 report by the SFIA.
However, the number of women playing grew slightly faster than men at 17.6% year-over-year compared to men who grew at 13.0% year-over-year.
Age
There are currently 50,000 registered pickleball players in the United States with the majority of pickleball players being over the age of 40, with the largest age group being players in their 50s and 60s.
Players aged 55 and up made up 19.8% of total players making it the largest age group, followed by players aged 18 to 34, who were the second largest age group, making up 18.5% of total players.
Pickleball players under the age of 24 saw the highest growth in the number of participants at 21% according to the 2022 report by the SFIA.
Top Players in Pickleball
Men’s Singles Top 10 Ranked Players
Ranking | Player |
#1 | Jw Johnson |
#2 | Ben Johns |
#3 | Federico Staksrud |
#4 | Tyson McGuffin |
#5 | Zane Navratil |
#6 | Julian Arnold |
#7 | Dylan Frazier |
#8 | Hunter Johnson |
#9 | James Ignatowich |
#10 | Jay Devilliers |
Women’s Singles Top 10 Ranked Players
Ranking | Player |
#1 | Anna Leigh Waters |
#2 | Salome Devidze |
#3 | Lea Jansen |
#4 | Anna Bright |
#5 | Catherine Parenteau |
#6 | Parris Todd |
#7 | Jorja Johnson |
#8 | Irina Tereschenko |
#9 | Megan Fudge |
#10 | Callie Smith |
Men’s Doubles Top 10 Ranked Players
Ranking | Player |
#1 | Collin Johns |
#2 | Ben Johns |
#3 | Jw Johnson |
#4 | Riley Newman |
#5 | Matt Wright |
#6 | Dekel Bar |
#7 | Dylan Frazier |
#8 | Zane Navratil |
#9 | Andrei Daescu |
#10 | AJ Koller |
Women’s Doubles Top 10 Ranked Players
Ranking | Player |
#1 | Andrea Koop |
#2 | Anna Leigh Waters |
#3 | Anna Bright |
#4 | Catherine Parenteau |
#5 | Lucy Kovalova |
#6 | Callie Smith |
#7 | Simone Jardim |
#8 | Leigh Waters |
#9 | Parris Todd |
#10 | Lauren Stratman |
Men’s Mixed Top 10 Ranked Players
Ranking | Player |
#1 | Ben Johns |
#2 | Jw Johnson |
#3 | Riley Newman |
#4 | Dylan Frazier |
#5 | Zane Navratil |
#6 | Dekel Bar |
#7 | Jay Devilliers |
#8 | Matt Wright |
#9 | AJ Koller |
#10 | Tyson McGuffin |
Women’s Mixed Top 10 Ranked Players
Ranking | Player |
#1 | Anna Leigh Waters |
#2 | Catherine Parenteau |
#3 | Simone Jardim |
#4 | Jessie Irvine |
#5 | Vivienne David |
#6 | Andrea Koop |
#7 | Jorja Johnson |
#8 | Lucy Kovalova |
#9 | Lee Whitwell |
#10 | Anna Bright |
Pickleball Tournaments
There are 153 pickleball tournaments held per year in the US at the moment but that number is likely to increase. There are two pro tour circuits for pickleball in the US: The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and the American Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP).
Over $5 million of prize money was paid out in 2022 across the PPA and APP.
Major League Pickleball also paid out a record $100,000 to the first place team which consists of 4 players. This is the largest individual payout ever in the sport.
Pickleball Equipment Sales
The demand for pickleball equipment is increasing every year as the sport becomes more and more popular.
The pickleball market is estimated to be worth $145.8 million in 2021 according to Globe News Wire and is expected to reach $256.1 million by 2028 with a growth rate of 8% each year.
There are more than 40 companies making pickleball equipment with prices ranging from $29 for your basic paddles to $139 for top-of-the-line paddles making it a much cheaper alternative compared to tennis.
Source: Naples Daily News
Records and Achievements in Pickleball
Here are a few examples of some impressive records and achievements in pickleball:
- The longest recorded rally in pickleball took place in 2015 between players Mark Friedenberg and David Jones who had a marathon rally that lasted over 3,200 shots.
- The highest scoring game was between Jeff Stark and Kip Corbin in 2018 who scored a combined 74 points in a single game.
- Dave Weinbach has won the USAPA National Championship singles title a record six times.
- Tyler Osborne and Sarah Day both hold the record for the most international medals in pickleball with two gold medals each.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Pickleball?
Pickleball is called pickleball because it is named after the Pritchard family’s pet dog which was called Pickles. They said that Pickles would often chase the ball around during games which made them come up with the idea of pickleball.
And the name ended up sticking!
Where to play Pickleball Near Me?
To find the nearest place to play pickleball near you, check out the places2play official website and type in your address. They will then give you the closest place where you can play pickleball.
Who Invented Pickleball?
Pickleball was invented in the mid 1960s by Joel Pritchard and his friends Bill Bell and Barney McCallum as a way to entertain their kids during the summer.
How Big is a Pickleball Court?
Pickleball courts are 44’ x 20’ with a net height of 36’ high at the sidelines and 34’ high in the middle.
Conclusion
Pickleball continues to be a rapidly increasing sport with a great community. The sport is being recognised more and more worldwide and pickleball will likely continue to thrive in the coming years.
Whether you’re wanting to become a pro pickleball player or just wanting to find a new hobby with a fun group of people, I’d recommend giving pickleball a go.
Image Source: Unsplash
