Pickleball growth soars 223%

When to step AWAY from the kitchen line.

November 14, 2024

Here’s a mind-blowing figure: the total number of pickleball players in the USA right now is larger than the population of Los Angeles AND New York City combined.

At least 13.6 million Americans play pickleball, according to the SFIA’s latest participation study. Maybe that’s not so shocking...in fact, it seems a little low. But that still represents a 51.8% growth rate in 2023 alone, or 223.5% over the past 3 years.

While we love to see high participation numbers, there is a negative side to this influx of players. We break it down below.

Also in this issue:

  • The World’s best pickleball (at Worlds)

  • When to evacuate the kitchen line

  • What pickle newbs say

  • DUPR’s origin story

Let’s cook. 🧑‍🍳

HIGHLIGHT(S) OF THE WEEK

Learn from the Worlds’ Best

Last week’s PPA Worlds was, in a word, astounding. Some of the biggest upsets we’ve ever seen in pro pickleball and some great talent emerging who will surely change the competitive landscape in 2025.

(Another incredible thing happened: we brought a bunch of our own merch to the event, and it sold out before the final game. More on that below).

That said: it also gave us some great highlights to film from the sidelines.

But this one? This is going straight to our “best points of 2024” list (coming in a future send).

Just watch it and be amazed…then check out our Worlds Recap for some more stunning moments.

INSTRUCTION

When to Step Back

We love to break down common tropes that new & intermediate players have drilled into their heads because there’s room for more nuance to these “rules.”

One rule that needs nuance: getting to the kitchen. Yes, you should get there, but you should also know when to step back:

  • Covering the middle: If the ball is cross court from you & you feel a middle attack coming, it may sometimes be best for you to move to cover that in a backwards, diagonal direction.

  • Anticipated attack from your own corner: If your a left sider and the ball is in the right side corner in front of you, it could be a good idea to take a step back.

Of course, there is another situation where stepping back might be best. Pro James Ignatowich explains it here.

FEATURED STORY

Pickleball’s Boom Continues, But Can Courts Keep Up?

For the third year running, pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport. No surprises there.

It saw a staggering 51.8% growth rate in 2023 alone, amassing 13.6 million players and closing in on outdoor soccer’s popularity.

The backbone of this expansion? “Core” players—those who play frequently—more than doubled, signaling a shift from casual to committed play.

Pickleball’s demographics are also changing. Once considered a retiree’s pastime, the sport now draws the largest player base from the 25-34 age range. Plus, pickleball gained over a million new players under 18 last year.

Key Stats Driving Pickleball’s Surge:

  • 111% increase in “core” players (frequent participants) year-over-year

  • $855 million estimated investment needed for 24,500 new courts

  • 2.8 million players in the South Atlantic, showing the biggest boom in players, marking a 50% regional growth

What Needs to Happen Now

The biggest takeaway from SFIA’s research: demand continues to outstrip supply.

We may need upwards of $850 million to fund at least 24,500 new courts to keep up with demand in the USA alone.

  • 24,500 courts = 1,080 acres

  • 1,080 acres = ~1.7 square miles

  • 1.7 square miles = ~Central Park in NYC

That’s a lot of courts, and a lot of space needed for them. If we don’t solve that problem soon, it may put future growth at risk.

Want to see the full impact of pickleball’s popularity surge? Read the report here.

THE KITCHEN MERCH

Rep The Kitchen in Style

People are loving our new merch so much, we sold out of what we brought to Worlds. We’re not surprised, though — we spent a lot of time finding the highest-quality threads and perfecting the designs. We hope you like them, too.

We have plenty more in stock here.

ORIGIN STORY

The Story of DUPR: Not Just for Competition

If you’ve heard of DUPR, you might think it’s only for hardcore tournament players. But the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating app is designed for everyone.

Think of DUPR like a golf handicap: once you’re rated, you can find players at your level, track your progress, & know exactly where you stand.

Even close losses can boost your rating—making it less about “winning” & more about growth:

  • For non-competitive players, DUPR helps you find matches at your skill level, no matter where you are.

  • For the competitive types, a strong rating is an entry point into tournaments, where the new Reliability Score helps verify your rank.

We recently spoke with them to learn more about how their algorithm works and why 5,000 clubs and 250+ college programs are using the app.

Find their origin story here.

COMMUNITY

How to Spot a Pickleball Newbie Instantly

Some phrases just scream “beginner.”

Recently, a post in The Kitchen Pickleball Facebook group got people talking: “What’s the one sentence that immediately gives away a pickleball newbie?” 

Hundreds chimed in, sharing those classic comments that anyone who’s stepped on the court can relate to.

The top newbie giveaways from our community:

Calling a Paddle a “Racket”

We get it—tennis habits die hard.

One person shared how every time they hear, “I just got a new racket for pickleball,” it’s like nails on a chalkboard.

Kitchen Confusion

“The kitchen” is one of pickleball’s quirkiest terms, and the rules surrounding it throw most new players off. But when they’re not stepping into it, they’re poking fun at it.

Our community members shared comments they’ve heard like, “Are snacks allowed in the kitchen?” or “Do I cook in there?”

We love a good pun, but let us assure you: there’s no good puns found there.

QUICK HITS

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