Dylan Frazier Became One of the Best Pickleball Players: Dylan Frazier, a senior at Mizzou, has transformed from a curious newcomer to a top-ranked professional pickleball player. His journey reflects the rapid rise of pickleball as a popular sport across the United States. With its easy-to-learn rules and appeal to players of all ages, pickleball has become a national sensation, and Frazier is at the forefront of this exciting change.
A Unique Start in Pickleball
Frazier discovered pickleball at age 14 during a family vacation in Florida. “It was super easy to learn, and you could just go on the court and play games,” he recalls. Back in 2016, pickleball was often viewed as a sport for older people.
“And everyone was excited to have a younger kid in the gym playing. That was definitely not very common back in 2016. I was kind of a unicorn.” – (Dylan Frazier)
“There’s always been that sense about pickleball, that it’s silly or, especially back when I started, that it’s an old person’s sport.” – (Dylan Frazier)
However, the sport has since gained massive popularity. In 2023, an estimated 13.6 million Americans played pickleball, a significant increase from when Frazier started. He now competes as a contract player in the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), ranking in the top five for singles and doubles. Frazier also plays for the Arizona Drive team in Major League Pickleball and has endorsement deals with Selkirk equipment and Chicken N Pickle restaurants.
Building a Foundation
Frazier’s success has roots at Mizzou, where his mother, Cindy Frazier, first discovered pickleball. She played frequently at the student recreation center. After graduating, she struggled to find players in central Missouri until the sport began to gain traction. On a family trip to visit her father in Punta Gorda, they played pickleball every day, which sparked Dylan’s love for the game.
“We’d plan our whole day around it. Dylan immediately loved it.” – (Cindy Frazier)
Upon returning home, they joined the Show-Me Pickleball Club, where they began competing in tournaments. At that time, the youngest age group was typically 19 and older, so Cindy often had to ask tournament directors to allow her son to compete. Dylan thrived on the court and enjoyed practicing, developing unique skills such as his signature “speed-up” shot.
“If you saw a silhouette of someone speeding up, you would know it was me based on the motion of speeding up with my wrist.” – (dylan Frazier)
A Professional Career Takes Off
After graduating high school in 2020, Frazier played in his first pro tournament in Punta Gorda, partnering with his mother in mixed doubles. Initially, there was little prize money, so he balanced his pickleball career with full-time studies at Mizzou. As the sport grew and he established himself as a top player, pickleball became his full-time job.
Frazier expects the sport to continue its upward trend, with increasing interest from people of all ages outside the United States. “He loved the game and saw the potential in it,” Cindy Frazier states. Now, Dylan is surrounded by players his age, showing just how far pickleball has come.
“Now, he’s surrounded by people his own age playing all over the place.” – (Cindy Frazier)
Frazier’s story demonstrates that dedication to a misunderstood sport can lead to success. As pickleball continues to grow in popularity, players like Dylan Frazier are paving the way for the next generation, proving that the sport is anything but silly. With its expanding appeal, pickleball is set to become a mainstay in sports.
News in Brief: Dylan Frazier Became One of the Best Pickleball Players
Dylan Frazier, a senior at Mizzou, has evolved from a curious newcomer to a top-ranked professional pickleball player, reflecting the sport’s rapid rise in the U.S. After discovering pickleball at age 14 during a family vacation, he has since ranked in the top five for singles and doubles in the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA).
Frazier’s journey, supported by his mother, highlights pickleball’s expanding appeal and popularity, with 13.6 million Americans playing in 2023, paving the way for future generations in the sport.
ALSO READ: Dylan Frazier and Anna Bright Take the Leap, Pickleball Stars Go Viral on Instagram
