Why is pickleball the fastest growing sport to ever exist?

Why is pickleball the fastest growing sport in 2023? Each year it grows by 50 percent or more in casual player usage. Pickleball tournaments and viewership for top matches continue to exceed past years records.

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport because it is fun to play, great for exercise, and easy to get started. Pickleball courts are smaller than tennis courts and you only need two players to get a game going.

As pickleball is becoming more well known, the demand for everything pickleball is increasing. In this review, we’ll take a look at the main reasons why pickleball is surging in popularity and why it remains the fastest growing sport year over year.

Related – Need a NEW Pickleball Paddle? See the TOP picks here!

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Why is pickleball the fastest growing sport?
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Here’s a great video showing why pickleball is the fastest growing sport

Why is pickleball the fastest growing sport?

One of the questions that naturally arise is, “Why is pickleball considered the fastest growing sport?’ Below are the top 10 reasons why pickleball has grown in popularity and why you may be hearing a lot about the fastest growing sport in the U.S.

Simple to play

The mechanics of pickleball are simplistic. Generally speaking, pickleball is a scaled down version of tennis with a few tweaks. It only requires two paddles and a pickleball assuming there enough space to fashion a court to play.

Due to the limited equipment involved, reduced space needed compared to a tennis court, and high learning curve, pickleball is the fastest growing sport.

Fast-paced, action packed sport

If you have ever seen a good tennis match where the back and forth is continual, pickleball is like that after almost every serve. Players stand closer together which means quicker volleys, fast paced returns, and an environment where the ball never leaves the air.

Even watching a pickleball match can be intense as everything happens quickly and there’s never a dull moment. These high paced action-packed games draw lots of attention and it’s no surprise why pickleball is a fast-growing sport.

Budget friendly

Pickleball does not require a large investment to be able to play. Assuming a pickleball court or open space is available to play on, two pickleball paddles and pickleball are all that are required. Pickleball sets can be purchased cheap that have everything needed to play pickleball.

The sport does have expensive equipment available, but for beginner pickleball players, it’s not a necessity. Because budget pickleball sets are available and even a driveway can be used as a court, pickleball continues to rise in popularity each year.

Pickleball rules are easy to learn, even for the casual player

Pickleball rules are similar to tennis with a few tweaks. The main rule being that volleys can’t originate above the naval. After the serve, players tend to congregate near the front of the net where fast paced back and forth battles take place.

Additionally, pickleballs are small whiffle balls that react differently than a tennis ball. Especially due to a pickleball paddles hard surface which isn’t as forgiving. Since most people have a general understanding of the rules of tennis, pickleball is easy to learn and another reason why it’s America’s fastest growing sport.

Pickleball courts don’t require a lot of space

A regulation pickleball court measures 44 feet long by 22 feet wide and is essentially a miniature tennis court. Due to its small size, it can easily be set up in a driveway or larger court settings.

Pickleball can even be played on courts smaller than regulation if needed. Since most of the action occurs near the net, 20 foot long courts can suffice. Due to the ease of creating or finding a surface to play on, pickleball is growing fast.

You only need two people to play Pickleball

Pickleball can be played with 2 or 4 people. These are the standard participant sizes with a 2 player match having 1 person on either side of the net and a 4 person match having 2 on each side.

Not having to rely on large teams of players to play the sport propels pickleball over others that are more involved. Because of this, pickleball games can be quick to set up on the spur of the moment. Fast to set up, fast to play, and the fastest growing sport in 2021.

Great source of exercise

Everyone is looking for an excuse to be more active and pickleball provides that outlet. It’s a new and exciting sport that draws attention wherever it is played and the exercise it provides is one major advantage.

Related – Need a NEW Pickleball Paddle? See the TOP picks here!

Pickleball helps work the calves, hips, arms and upper body providing almost a full body workout. It can be compared to some high intensity workouts. Fastest growing sports tend to provide a wide range of benefits, and pickleball is no exception.

It’s new and different

The world of sports can often grow stale and for people looking for the next best thing or rush of adrenaline, pickleball can provide that outlet. It’s also different enough with a weird sounding names that it draws interest from even the casual observer.

Pickleball is a niche sport that meets the needs of someone looking to transition from tennis to something that requires the same intensity, but less court to cover. It provides the foundations for new dynamics and skills that can be mastered. When you hear someone ask, “what is pickleball?,” the allure of something new and different is usually what grabbed their attention to the fastest growing sport in America.

Pickleball has different levels based on player skill set

Pickleball has four different levels which include beginner, intermediate, advanced, and pro. This wide range of skill levels makes it perfect for pairing up players of all different skill sets.

Since tennis and other sports can have some transitional skill aspects, not everyone starts out at beginner, but most causal players progress up the skill tree as far as their ability will allow them. Due to the wide range of skill sets available, anyone can play pickleball and due to this it’s growing quickly.

It’s just fun

Pickleball is just a game, right? Some pros might say it’s a lifestyle, but in the general sense it is just a game and games are meant to be enjoyed. The gaining popularity of pickleball is largely due to it being fun to play.

Related – Need a NEW Pickleball Paddle? See the TOP picks here!

Pickleball is becoming mainstream since people can play it just about anywhere. The local bar might have a pickleball court to go with other games such as cornhole or horseshoes. It’s easy to have fun playing pickleball and it’s rise in popularity is a big reason why.

Bottom Line

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. Each year the demand for pickleball courts, gear, and knowledge rises beyond what we’ve previously seen or expected. The newness of pickleball combined with it being different is one of the biggest factors that are drawing people in.

Pickleball is also extremely fun to play so once you are introduced to it, it becomes part of the routine. It’s a great way to get exercise and can be played on a budget. Pickleball rules are very similar to tennis so it’s easy to pick up quickly.

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport and with good reason. Try it today, you may just get hooked!

About Me

Hi! I’m Marie Spentel. I’ve been an avid Pickleball player for over 2 decades. I worked in several Pickleball leagues and climbed my way up to a 4.5 level rating. These days, I can usually be found practicing court techniques, consulting with others in the industry, and blogging about Pickleball! Read More

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