The new 2025 SFIA participation report is in, and the numbers confirm what many around the sport already suspected - pickleball continues to dominate growth across all other sports. An estimated 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025. We break down all the numbers below.

One of the players who has been part of that rise is Vivienne David, a longtime fan favorite and one of the brightest personalities in the game. But this week on Pickleballers, she joins Roscoe and Jared to talk about why she’s stepping away from pro pickleball and what life on tour actually feels like.

Also in this issue:

• Viral lowlight of the week 👎

• The new paddle brand everyone is talking about 😍

• Why pickleball players overestimate their skill level 🧠

• HOT TAKE: You might not need a third-shot drop 🥵

Let’s get cookin’. 🧑‍🍳

LOWLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Woman avoids serious injury after guy throws paddle across courts (500k views)

There are always plenty of epic highlights each week - but this time it’s something very different. This viral video shows a player launching his paddle (maybe 200 feet?) and almost hitting a woman in the head.

A. That legit could have killed her. B. She handled it like a champ. C. Dude should never be allowed on a court again. 😡

🔗 Check out this scary video here

PICKLEBALLERS

Vivienne David: The Real Story Behind Her Retirement

Speaking of fan favorites, this week on Pickleballers we are joined by one of the most beloved players the sport has ever had: Vivienne David.

In this episode, Vivienne sits down with Roscoe and Jared to talk about why she’s stepping away from pro pickleball - what life on tour actually feels like after years of grinding, why she’s at peace with the decision, and why she’s still playing more pickleball than she expected now that she’s free from the constant travel and pressure.

She also shares her full backstory - growing up 1 of 7, being homeschooled, burning out from tennis young, working in her family’s tennis/pickle shop in Florida, and accidentally getting hooked after getting “whooped” by older players on a demo day.

🔗 Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify

BY THE NUMBERS

24.3 Million Americans Played Pickleball in 2025, SFIA Report Says

The latest participation report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) confirms what many around the sport already suspected - pickleball’s growth is still surging.

According to the 2026 report, 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025, a 22.8 percent increase year over year. Over the past three years, participation has skyrocketed 171.8 percent, with 4.5 million new players picking up a paddle in 2025 alone. The SFIA even called pickleball the dominant multi year growth leader across all tracked sports.

What started as a niche backyard game has quickly become one of the most widely played recreational sports in the country. With new courts being built across the U.S. and millions of players discovering the sport every year, the momentum behind pickleball still shows no signs of slowing down.

🔗 Read the full report here

QUICK HITS

• Fascinating: What Anna Leigh’s paddle looks like after a match. (500k+ views)

• Highlight of the week: Pro pickleball exhibition doesn’t disappoint

• Very sad: Man shot and killed at pickleball court.

• Pickleball emoji? Apple makes it’s decision.

PADDLES

The new gritty paddle everyone is talking about.

If you haven’t heard of the 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2, it’s a paddle that’s quickly getting serious attention in the gear world. The big reason is its new HexGrit surface, which is designed to hold its spin far longer than traditional carbon fiber faces. Early testing shows the grit maintaining its bite even after heavy play - meaning you’re still getting that extra spin weeks later when many paddles start to wear down.

At the same time, 11SIX24 as a brand is on a major rise. The company recently signed top pro Dekel Bar, adding more momentum to a paddle lineup that more players are starting to take seriously. If you value spin and durability, the Vapor Power 2 is definitely a paddle worth knowing about.

Also, at $209.99, it’s a steal. 

🔗 Read our full review of the popular Vapor Power 2

THE KITCHEN MERCH

Buy a JOOLA paddle, get a FREE Kitchen hat. That simple.

Right now on The Kitchen website only, if you purchase ANY JOOLA paddle (including the Pro V), you can choose any Kitchen hat for FREE. 👊

🔗 Check out our JOOLA x Kitchen Bundles

INSTRUCTION

HOT TAKE: Do you actually need a third-shot drop? Maybe not

That might be a controversial headline, but hear us out.

Through video review and statistical analysis, well-known online coach Tony Roig has concluded that the third-shot drop does not have a major impact on matches at the 3.5 level and below. By comparison, the return of serve has a much bigger influence on the outcome of points at lower levels.

He argues that the third-shot drop is of limited use until you know how to use it and can take full advantage of its strategic value. It's only one piece of the puzzle on your way from the baseline to the kitchen line.

If you fall into the 3.5 or below camp, here are 3 areas you can work on that will yield more immediate results than working on your third-shot drop.

1. Return of serve: In Roig’s analysis of multiple 3.5 tournament matches, about 30% of points were the result of missed returns of serve. This should be a huge focus.

2. Get good at reading and attacking short returns of serve. You do not have to hit a fancy shot. Recognition and timing are more important than shot quality.

3. Learn to stay alive longer. Extending the rally often has more to do with your court position than the precision of the shot you (or your partner) hit. Focus on maintaining a strong defensive position until the opportunity to move forward is clear. Keep in mind that navigating the transition zone is the single most difficult thing we do in pickleball. With that in mind, give yourself grace whenever you are unable to successfully navigate it.

🔗 Learn more about why the third-shot drop isn’t as effective as you think

PICKLEBALL PSYCOLOGY

The science behind why pickleball players overestimate their skill level

It’s a chronic issue that almost every player has been guilty of at some point on their pickleball journey: Overestimating your own skill level.

It’s an easy trap to fall into and one that’s not unique to pickleball – although there are certain aspects of pickleball that make this phenomenon more common in the game.

It’s called the Dunning-Kruger effect. You might have learned about it in a psychology class in high school (if you were paying attention).

The theory in simple terms is this: People with low ability in a specific area tend to overestimate their competence and see themselves as more skilled than they actually are. Sound like somebody you know from pickleball?

There are four “stops” along a journey to learning a skill that are described in teachings of the Dunning-Kruger effect:

MOUNT STUPID: A lot of pickleball players gather here. Because the basic skills of the game are relatively easy to learn compared to other individual sports like golf or tennis, players can catch on quickly and be fairly competitive at their local open play in no time. That lulls many into a false sense of security – “Hey, this is pretty easy.”

THE VALLEY OF DESPAIR: While pickleball is an easy game to learn, it is a hard one to master. That usually becomes apparent to players as they start to play competitively. If you enter a tournament in the wrong division, it’s usually not pretty. But hey, somebody has to go 0-2 at these tournaments.

THE SLOPE OF ENLIGHTENMENT: You’ve seen what a good 4.5 player looks like up close, and now you know what you need to do to get there. Maybe it’s time for a lesson with a local pro.

THE PLATEAU OF SUSTAINABILITY: Congratulations — you’ve reached the final stage of your pickleball journey, and this one continues forever. You’re still improving, just at a slower pace than you were when you first started playing.

🔗 Learn more about why pickleball players overestimate their ability here