Pickleball’s Surprising Market Trends: Pickleball, a hybrid of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, is played on a smaller court compared to tennis. The court is divided into service areas and a non-volley zone. Players use solid paddles and a plastic ball, aiming to win points through rallies. Points are initiated with an underhand serve that must clear the net and land in the opponent’s court. While volleys are allowed after the double bounce rule, they are restricted within the non-volley zone. Doubles play focuses on communication and teamwork, while singles require mastery of individual court coverage. Pickleball’s ethos emphasizes sportsmanship and self-regulation, fostering an inclusive and welcoming community.
Global Pickleball Market Overview
The global pickleball market has shown impressive growth. The market was valued at approximately $1,322.9 million in 2022, increasing to $1,472.4 million in 2023. Projections indicate a rise to $1,638.8 million in 2024, with further growth expected to reach $1,823.9 million by 2025.
The upward trend is expected to continue, with the market anticipated to hit $2,030.1 million in 2026 and $2,259.5 million by 2027. By 2028, revenues are forecasted to surpass $2.5 billion, reaching $2,514.8 million. The market is projected to expand to $2,798.9 million by 2029, with expectations to achieve $3,115.2 million by 2030, $3,467.2 million by 2031, and approximately $3,859.0 million by 2032.
This growth underscores the sport’s rising popularity and commercial potential worldwide.
Market Share by Distribution Channel
The distribution of the global pickleball market is almost evenly split between offline and online channels. As of the latest data, offline channels lead with a 51.80% market share, reflecting the strong presence of traditional retail and physical store sales.
Conversely, online channels hold a 48.20% share, indicating significant consumer preference for the convenience of online shopping and the increasing importance of digital platforms in the distribution of pickleball equipment and related products.
Annual Growth Rate
The annual growth rate of the pickleball market has varied from 2017 to 2022. Starting at 11.30% in 2017, growth slowed to 5.40% in 2018 and 4.80% in 2019. However, a notable surge occurred in 2020 with a growth rate of 21.40%, likely driven by a shift in consumer behaviors and a heightened interest in socially-distanced sports during global health events.
Growth continued robustly in 2021 at 14.80%, and a dramatic increase was observed in 2022 with a rate of 85.70%, signaling a significant expansion in market reach and consumer engagement.
News in Brief: Pickleball’s Surprising Market Trends
The global pickleball market has surged, with revenues rising from $1,322.9 million in 2022 to a projected $1,638.8 million in 2024. The market is expected to exceed $2.5 billion by 2028 and $3.8 billion by 2032. Distribution is nearly evenly split between offline (51.80%) and online (48.20%) channels, reflecting strong traditional retail presence and growing digital sales. The annual growth rate fluctuated, peaking at 85.70% in 2022, driven by increased consumer interest and market expansion.
