Pickleball, by the Numbers

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve been exposed to the fastest-growing sport in America.

Pickleball, invented in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Washington, has experienced significant growth in recent years, with participation numbers soaring. For example, one report indicated a 311 percent increase in players over a three-year period. Another report highlighted a 45.8 percent jump in players from the previous year, reaching nearly 49 million active participants who have played at least once in the past year.

Florida and Arizona are the two states with the highest participation, with Naples, The Villages, Phoenix and Mesa being the hot spots for players.

Naples, Florida, is widely considered the “Pickleball Capital of the World.” This title is largely due to the city’s extensive pickleball facilities, including the East Naples Community Park, which boasts over 50 dedicated courts and hosts the annual Minto U.S. Open Pickleball Championships, the largest pickleball event in North America. Many other cities have wonderful facilities and amenities, but Naples’ great weather has made it No. 1.

The world’s largest indoor pickleball facility is Rhythm and Rally Sports and Events in Macon, Georgia, boasting 32 courts. Another large facility is the upcoming PURE Pickleball & Padel in Scottsdale, Arizona, which will feature 48 courts and is slated to open in 2026.

DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) announced in December the launch of the first-ever High School Pickleball National Pathway, established to provide high school athletes across the country with a pathway to compete at state and national levels. It aimed to host 15 state championships this year, giving varsity and junior varsity teams an opportunity for national recognition.

USA Pickleball is currently changing its membership categories to ensure the continued growth of the sport. Currently, it boasts over 70,000 members who enjoy various benefits such as updated rule changes, discounts on equipment, and the ability to compete in USAP sanctioned tournaments.

As of August 11, there were three tiers of membership you can apply to:

• Casual: This tier has a free membership and allows you to access the USAP content on its website. You’ll have the ability to communicate with USAP officials and keep up to date on everything pickleball. A great option for beginners and recreational players.

• Challenger: This tier offers all of the casual benefits and includes the monthly USAP Magazine. If you’re interested in competing in Sanctioned USAP tournaments, this tier allows you to enroll and log in your points. It has a cost of $12, and if you’re a first-time member you receive a free sleeve of Franklin X40 outdoor pickleballs.

• Champion: This tier is $60 and includes all the benefits from the previous two tiers and also includes exclusive discounts with member companies. This tier’s fee encourages development of clinics, tournaments and recruitment of new members. Most of the players who join at this level are pros, coaches and ambassadors.

Apparently, there exists a tiered point for those who participate in sanctioned tournaments. I’m not a tournament player any longer, so I’m not familiar with the particulars of this system. If you’d like more information, you can look it up: usapickleball.org.

As you can see, pickleball is still the fastest-growing sport in America. A quick look at Canada and China will reveal similar results. With the addition of the two professional pickleball leagues, many people feel it won’t be long before it will be an Olympic sport.

So enjoy — and remember to have fun.