Adidas Ups the Pickleball Game: Adidas is expanding its role in pickleball by launching a new paddle line on April 22, 2025. The global sports brand teamed up with pro players Federico Staksrud, Rafa Hewett, and Mari Humberg to design the paddles. The move follows major signings and signals a bigger push into the sport.
Adidas Strengthens Presence in Pickleball
Adidas has been part of pickleball for a few years, but 2025 brings a fresh approach. Earlier this year, the company signed men’s world No. 1 Federico Staksrud. Staksrud had a standout 2024, winning nine singles titles and five men’s doubles titles on the PPA Tour.
Soon after, Adidas added pro-Mari Humberg, who had a breakout season with the New Jersey 5s in MLP. Both players joined longtime Adidas athlete Rafa Hewett. This growing roster of elite talent puts Adidas in competition with top pickleball brands at the highest level.
New Paddle Line Arrives April 22
Adidas will release its new paddles later this month. The line includes several models developed with Staksrud, Hewett, and Humberg. Early feedback from pros has been positive, suggesting strong demand once the paddles hit the market.
The 2025 line features a “tight but right” range that offers options for different playing styles. Adidas has expanded the Metalbone line to four models. It also introduced two new lines called RX and MATCH to simplify its offerings.
Product Design Built on Proven Success
Adidas worked with All Racquet Sports USA to develop the paddles. That group creates gear for pickleball and other paddle sports under the Adidas name. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Bryan Ogle, Chief Commercial Officer at All Racquet Sports USA.
“Pros recognize the level of engineering and innovation that went into these paddles, and amateurs appreciate the combination of quality and accessibility. Many players have told us they’ve never seen this level of detail and technology applied to pickleball paddles before.” – (Ogle)
Ogle said players should try each model, as each one has special features. The design team used knowledge from padel, a paddle sport with similar gear.
“Padel and tennis, like pickleball, all began with products for playing the game. As time progresses there is always ongoing innovation and exploration with different types of designs and material utilization. At the outset of these sports, we were playing with wood paddles! Our group has deep experience in working with a multitude of materials and the interaction those materials have with one another. Additionally, our experience in other paddle sports has allowed us to think a bit differently about what could be possible in paddle development.” – (Ogle)
Ogle said Adidas is ready to keep up with fast changes in paddle technology.
“Pickleball is evolving at a rapid pace. Product innovations are happening quickly, and we are evolving our product line just as quick. Our group operates around an engineering first type of mindset. We want to be at the cutting edge of what is happening with products.” – (Ogle)
Focus on Pro and Amateur Players
Ogle said Adidas is focusing on all levels of the game.
“Our brand is uniquely situated to bring innovation and best in class products to every player across the entirety of their pickleball needs. The relationship with adidas enables us to fully understand the commitment needed to develop what an athlete needs. Adidas is committed to bringing that passion to every level of the game. While we all cannot play like Rafa, Fede and Mari, we can see ourselves playing with their products and furthering our own journey.” – (Ogle)
The company is growing its ambassador program to include more players who reflect Adidas’ values and mindset.
“We’re growing our ambassador program to engage with passionate players across all levels. We want a mix of top-tier professionals and grassroots influencers who can authentically represent the brand.” – (Ogle)
Adidas Committed to Long-term Investment
Ogle made it clear that Adidas plans to stay in pickleball for the long run.
“We are not just here to sell paddles and other items. We are interested in seeing pickleball continue to grow in popularity in the United States but also around the globe. Our interest is in the entire ecosystem, and I think we can all agree that having a global brand like adidas putting some chips on the table is good for all of us working in pickleball.” – (Ogle)
News in Brief: Adidas Ups the Pickleball Game
Adidas will launch a new line of pickleball paddles on April 22, 2025. Designed with top pros Federico Staksrud, Rafa Hewett, and Mari Humberg, the paddles build on Adidas’ growing role in the sport. The company aims to impact pro and amateur levels with innovation and strong support.