Pickleball: The Fastest-Growing Sport in America

While tennis has been all the hype surrounding the 2024 Olympic Games, a different racket sport has been making its own waves in the sports world.

The activity in question? Pickleball.

Pickleball is a racket sport involving a net, paddles, and a ball—think a less physically demanding version of tennis.

The game dates back to the 1960s when it began as a makeshift badminton game. Today, pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in North America, with over 50,000 courts and 13.6 million players in the US, according to the 2024 Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Topline Participation Report.¹

The game has taken the US by storm, and for good reason. Read on to learn everything there is to know about pickleball and why it's so popular...

Jump to:

• Pickleball: A Brief History
• The Rules of the Game
• Set-Up and Equipment 
• The Rise of Pickleball's Popularity
• The Appeal of Pickleball
• Are There Pickleball Tournaments?
• How to Get Involved

Pickleball: A Brief History

Pickleball was invented in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island in Washington State. Three dads—Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum—created the game in an attempt to entertain their children.¹

Lacking the proper equipment for badminton, they made some adjustments to the net, paddles, and ball and began the game now known as pickleball.

For the rules of the game, the men took inspiration from other racket sports. One initial rule they created was the "no-volley" zone so that players couldn't hit the ball too close to the net. This is one aspect of pickleball that makes the game more strategy-oriented and less physically dominated.

As for the sport's name, there are two theories surrounding the choice of "pickleball". One origin story is that the game is named after the Pritchards' family dog, Pickles, because he used to chase the ball and run off with it during play.

An alternative explanation, shared by Joel's wife Joan, is that she thought of the name because the game reminded her of a "pickle boat" in rowing, where leftover rowers from different teams are thrown together— similar to how pickleball combines elements from different sports.

In essence, pickleball is a combination of tennis, badminton, and table tennis (ping pong).

Set-Up and Equipment

Pickleball is set up similarly to other racket sports but with unique dimensions. The court is 40 x 20 feet, which is significantly smaller than a tennis court but similar in size to a badminton court.

Additionally, the game uses a net that is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches in the center—shorter than a tennis net. The smaller court and lower net make the game easier to play, especially for beginners.

The equipment used for pickleball includes paddles (made of graphite, wood, fiberglass, etc.) and a hard plastic ball. The paddles used are bigger than ping pong paddles but smaller than a tennis racket. The ball used contains holes, similar to a wiffle ball.

The game requires minimal equipment and is fairly easy to set up.

The Rules of the Game

The rules of pickleball are fairly straightforward, drawing inspiration from other racket sports while incorporating a few distinctive features.

In pickleball, players serve the ball underhand and diagonally across the net. The serve must clear the non-volley zone and land in the opposite player's (or team's) service area to be valid.

After a serve, the ball has to bounce on each side of the net before either player can start volleying. This promotes longer rallies and reduces the dominance of power serves.

After the double bounce, the ball can either be volleyed (hit before bouncing) or played off of the bounce. Rallies continue until one player or team commits a fault, like hitting the ball out of bounds or into the net.

Only the serving player or team can score a point. The receiving side can't score, but if they win a rally, they gain the opportunity to serve.

In doubles, both players on a team get to serve before the other team's turn (except for the first serve of the game).

The first side to reach 11 points, while leading by at least two points, wins the game. In certain tournaments, games can be played to 15 or 21 points.

A prominent feature of pickleball is the non-volley zone or "kitchen"—this area extends seven feet from either side of the net. Players aren't allowed to volley (hit the ball out of the air) while standing in the non-volley zone.

They can enter the zone to play a ball that bounced but have to exit before attempting to volley again. The purpose of the non-volley zone is to give players more room for strategy and skill rather than power plays.

Overall, the rules of the game are simple enough for anyone to learn, but at the same time, they leave room for growth, strategy, and advanced play for those who want to be competitive.

The Rise of Pickleball's Popularity

Although pickleball has been around for several decades, in recent years, the pastime has seen a remarkable surge, becoming one of the most popular sports in the US.

The sport has grown 51.8% from 2022 to 2023 and remains the fastest-growing sport in the US today.¹

Pickleball is a hit amongst men and women—avid players are 62% male and 38% female while casual players show a closer balance at 57% male and 43% female.²

Reflecting its real-world appeal, the fun activity is also trending on social media— the hashtag #pickleball has a whopping 1.1 billion views on TikTok.

You can find videos on everything from gameplay highlights to funny moments, and this social media attention has helped introduce pickleball to a younger audience.

While many previously believed that pickleball was a sport played by middle-aged or older adults, the research shows that the average player is just 35 years old.²

Additionally, many celebrities, public figures, and athletes are involved in the sport, including the likes of Will Ferrell, George Clooney, and Michael Phelps. Athletes like Lebron James and Tom Brady have even invested in professional pickleball teams.

So, where do people play this fun sport? You can find pickleball virtually anywhere in the US, but the top three hot spots for the sport are New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas.²

The Appeal of Pickleball

It's obvious that pickleball is here to stay for a while, and you may be wondering why the sport took off so rapidly. Well, there are many factors contributing to pickleball's significant growth and popularity.

Unlike many sports, pickleball is easy to pick up and you can play it at any age or fitness level—this makes the activity a good option for families, older adults, and beginners.

Pickleball's smaller court and gameplay make it less intimidating than tennis, yet the sport still provides a great workout, enhancing agility, coordination, and cardiovascular health.

Additionally, pickleball is more about strategy than power, giving more opportunity for growth for those who aren't super athletic.

Another reason why people love pickleball is it offers a social opportunity. The game fosters a community atmosphere, with players often joining leagues, playing doubles matches, and using the sport as a way to connect with family, friends, co-workers, or new acquaintances.

This combination of fitness and fun has made pickleball a go-to sport for many looking to stay active without the intensity of more physically demanding sports like tennis or basketball.

Plus, with minimal equipment and courts just about anywhere, access to pickleball is easy.

Are There Pickleball Tournaments?

Yes, pickleball does offer tournaments, like other major sports, and for those who are competitive players, tournaments offer an opportunity to grow and excel in the sport.

Just last year, USA Pickleball sanctioned 195 tournaments, including a National Championships and National Indoor Championships.¹

The 2023 National Championships were held in Texas and drew in nearly 3,500 registered players and 50,000 attendees. Over 2.6 million people viewed the tournament from home, which was covered by major channels including ESPN, Tennis Channel, and PickleballTV.¹

In 2023, the National Pickleball League became the first league sanctioned by USA Pickleball, hosting six events at Chicken N Pickle locations nationwide, with the Championship held in Arizona in October.¹

How to Get Involved

If you want to get involved in pickleball, you can now find the sport in every U.S. state and all Canadian provinces. Common areas where you may see a pickleball court include senior residence communities, YMCAs, recreation centers, schools, and parks.¹

Additionally, many tennis courts are now being converted to accommodate pickleball and a growing number of schools and community centers have integrated the activity into their sports programs.

Many fitness centers and country clubs have also begun to offer pickleball courts, leagues, and clinics. The sport is accessible year-round, with indoor and outdoor courts available in many regions.

For all the know on where you can play pickleball, visit USA Pickleball Pickleheads.

Take Home Message

Whether it's for community, fun, or a low-impact workout, pickleball offers something for everyone.

With its simple nature, minimal equipment, and a growing number of courts, the sport has never been easier to get into. If you’re looking for a new way to stay active and connected, join the picklers and give the sport a try, you may end up loving it.