Understanding the Fundamental Reasons for the Growth of Pickleball

Abstract

It’s no secret that Pickleball as a sport has been rapidly increasing in popularity. Sometimes called “mini tennis”, this newer sport, incorporating the use of a wiffle ball and smaller plastic paddles, has reached record numbers in 2022 with participation growing 85.7% since 2021. Pickleball has surpassed sports such as soccer, tennis, and even basketball in the US. This paper seeks to analyze the reasons behind this rapid growth, as pickleball remains the fastest-growing sport in America for the fifth consecutive year. The results of this analysis conclude that the rapid rise in Pickleball is due to three main reasons: the sharp increase in pickleball participation due to the Covid Pandemic, where sports involving social distancing were more sought-out; the fact that people see Pickleball as less competitive and therefore more inclusive and enjoyable; and because the risk-benefit ratio works in favor for most recreational departments.