Good day, picklers.

Here’s what’s on the docket today:

• Pickle Talk: Pickleball: From Backyard Fun to Billion-Dollar Market. The Deets.

• Bite-sized: U.S. is still #1. But who is coming up to steal their spot?

• Golden Pickle: Limited edition, 100 made pickleball paddle giveaway

PICKLE TALK

Pickleball: From Backyard Fun to

Billion-Dollar Market. WOW-ZA.

The global pickleball market is going pro-gold, folks. The sport is projected to grow from a humble USD 1.5 billion in 2023 to a whopping USD 4.4 billion by 2033, according to a report from market.us.

That’s a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 11.3%, which—if you’re not a finance nerd—basically means pickleball’s going to be everywhere.

So, what’s driving this massive growth? Glad you asked so nicely.

Here’s the TL;DR version, just in case you get a headache from looking at too many numbers 🙂 

1/The Rise of Pickleball:

You’ve heard it time and time again: pickleball’s got that sweet spot of being fun and accessible, mixing elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong.

Like a nacho plate of everything on it, but light on the spicy…if you catch my drift.

You can play it at any age (because, let’s face it, it’s low-impact)…

…which is why it’s seeing major adoption across all demographics. Plus, with its easyish-to-learn rules and strong social vibe, it’s the perfect way to get some exercise while chatting with your pals.

2/ Court Crazy:

If you’ve noticed your local parks suddenly sprouting pickleball courts like mushrooms after a rainstorm…

…that’s no coincidence. Cities are racing to keep up with the booming demand, with an estimated 25,000 new courts needed in the U.S. alone. (just no residential areas please…I love my sleep)

Also, participation jumped 50% from 2022 to 2023, and North America’s expected to rake in over USD 570 million in revenue by 2024. It’s literally sprouting moneeyy.

3/ Gear Up, Paddle Up:

When it comes to gear, specialized footwear is leading the charge (shout out to your ankles). Check out Sketchers x Miller Lite newest, limited edition release below.

Footwear dominated the pickleball equipment market in 2023, making up a chunky 39.3% of sales. Like goth-girl chunky.

With most purchases still happening in-store, people want that perfect fit before hitting the court. Piece of advice: save us from your stench and wear some clean socks please.

4/ More Than a Game:

Here’s where it gets even more interesting: pickleball is becoming a social and business phenomenon. Take Chicken N Pickle, which combines food and pickleball to create an entire experience—pickleball with a side of fries, anyone?

Franchises like Life Time Fitness are getting in on the action too, converting gyms into dedicated pickleball centers. It’s a whole lifestyle now.

5/ Going Global:

It’s not just a North American obsession, either. Pickleball is gaining ground overseas in places like Europe and Asia.

Countries like China, Japan, and India are seeing annual growth rates over 12%, driven by health initiatives and community programs. Could we see a global pickleball showdown soon?

Very possible.

🚨 Big Stats Alert

• The U.S. had an estimated 48.3 million pickleball players in 2023.

• The sport grew by 223.5% in the last three years, according to the SFIA.

• North America leads the pack with 72.2% of the market share.

• Pickleball-related injuries? Yep, those are on the rise too—estimated to cost $377 million in U.S. healthcare in 2023.

🔮 What’s Next?

The sport’s future is looking bright. With pro leagues like MLP and the PPA expanding, plus tech innovations bringing VR training into the mix, pickleball is leveling up.

The challenge? Keeping up with demand.

Court overcrowding is real, and noise complaints are giving city planners some headaches. But with more investment in facilities and community engagement, these growing pains seem like small bumps on the road to global domination.

There you go—pickleball’s transformation from a casual backyard game to a serious billion-dollar industry. Catch you on the courts, baby!

BITE-SIZED PICKLE

1/ Quang Duong Grabs His First PPA Singles Title in Vegas

Quang Duong snatched his first-ever singles title 🥇 on the PPA Tour with a nail-biting 11-8, 11-9 win over No. 3 seed Connor Garnett in Las Vegas. WHAT. A. GAME. (linked below)

At just 18 years old, Duong’s agility was something to drool over as he took every chance he could to capitalize on Garnett’s every misstep, firing off quick putaway volleys from the transition zone. 💪🏻

Duong sealed the deal on his third match point, making his mark at the Darling Tennis Center, a venue he’s been visiting since childhood for tennis tournaments. Some may scream home court advantage, but nahh…he was just the pro we’ve been seeing since his start.

ALSO…Duong’s victory comes after snagging men’s doubles gold with Christian Alshon in August, making 2024 a breakout season.

DUONG, DUONG, DUONG. 🚨🔔

2/ Proton Paddles: Built to Outlast the Competition, allegedly

So you want a paddle that’s actually good and actually going to save you money, huh?

According to some other news sites👀, proton paddles have quickly become some of the most sought-after gear in pickleball. To lovers, they win with their eye-popping design, spin potential, and ridiculous durability makes them stand out in a crowded market of pickleball confusion.

While most paddles on the market degrade within months, losing grit and developing dead spots, Proton refuses to follow the crowd. For the business, great. For the buyer’s wallet, not so much. 💳

Allegedly, the paddles outlast others by 3-5 times, thanks to innovations like Nanotac technology—a NASA-derived material that enhances grip for ultimate spin without wearing down. Pros like Andrei Daescu swear by them, claiming the paddles get better with time, gripping more and delivering consistent performance.

Proton isn’t just about the pros either. With their recent partnership as the official paddle for Major League Pickleball’s AZ Drive, they’re becoming a key player in the pro scene.

3/ The United States: Still the Powerhouse. But here’s who’s catching up

As expected, the U.S. remains at the forefront of the pickleball culture, leading the charge with the highest number of players and matches.

But hold up, you snobby Americans. The top 10 countries by total DUPR users reveal a mix of established and emerging pickleball nations COMING FOR THE CROWN. 👑

So as quickly as possible, let’s see who’s catching up:

Top 10 Countries by DUPR Users:

1. United States

2. Canada, ey?

3. Australia (bong, bong)

4. United Kingdom (how bout a cupa tea with that?)

5. Malaysia

6. Puerto Rico

7. Vietnam (Banh mi, break?)

8. Philippines

9. Mexico (let the music play!)

10. China

Okay, great. Moving on…

But who is growing the fastest in the pickleball scene? India and its spiced-up players takes the top spot in growth, with a staggering 121% increase in participation over the last 90 freakin days. That’s like Cheetah fast.

Following are Thailand and Venezuela, making significant strides as pickleball fever spreads across Asia and Latin America.

• Top 10 Fastest-Growing Countries by DUPR:

1. India

2. Thailand

3. Venezuela

4. China

5. Philippines

6. Mexico

7. Japan

8. South Africa

9. France

10. United Kingdom

GOLDEN PICKLE, ANYONE?

Just a few crumbs before you go…😉

1. Hey nerds, line up. The Mathematical Association of America used their big brains 🧠 to analyze and deduce whether or not serving first in a pickleball match result in more wins. Based on multiple tests, they narrow down their conclusions to 4 points.
   

2. The mods of Reddit r/pickleball are giving back🎁 to their contentious pickleball community by giving away a limited edition Poach Pickleball Black Lotus Paddle. There will only be 100 made. To enter, it’s simple: just post your favourite pickleball memory in the comments and upvote the post.
   

3. Enhance Pickleball just released THIS video 🎥, helping you and 90% of pickleball players avoid making these 10 mistakes, costing you points. How the main guy wasn’t wearing sun glasses is BEYOND me.
   

4. Promise this is not a favoritism post, but man, 👏🏼 congrats to Quang Duong for his first ever singles title. Quickly climbing to 6th rank, Mr. Duong beats number 3, Connor Garnett in this nail biter. For the love of pickleball, just watch the last 10 minutes dude.
   

5. It’s called…FASHION 👠. Sketchers, the all-mighty comfy shoe brand, partnered up with (gulp, gulp) Miler Lite to come up with the Viper Court LE Pickleball Shoe. For $109, honestly not bad, you can get the Official Shoe of the PPA Tour.