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WHOA: Pickleball paddle industry hitting $1/4 billion

WHOA: Pickleball paddle industry hitting $1/4 billion

PLUS: A community pissed about new pickleball courts taking over community garden

Welcome back, Kitcheners.

Read time: 4 min

Uh oh, the pickleball "Paddle Whacker" is in T.R.O.U.B.L.E.

The amateur league's top player will be taking 3 months off for taunting his opponent a little too fiercely during last week's tournament.

The lesson? Trash talk doesn't cut it in this sport.

While our pickleball friend picks up trash while his opponents rally with happiness, let's remember - good fun and friendly games are what it's all about.

TODAY’S MENU

Daily Scoop: The pickleball paddle market hoping to hit the $250 million JACKPOT
News Stash: Gardens to courts, locals pissed. Pickleball helps Parkinson's patients. From poker to pickleball gold.
Recipe of the Week: Cheesy, pull-apart bread. YUM!
Sizzling Skills: Pickleball pro skooolls tennis player 😎
Kitchen Talk: Are tournament fees scamming players?

DAILY SCOOP

The pickleball paddle industry scoring MILLIONS-the rise, explained💰

Picture this: It’s 2019, and your friends ask you to join in on this game called pickleball. Naturally, you head over to your local Dick’s Sporting Goods and pick out 1 of the 4 options available on a corner rack, all the way in the back of the store.

Easy peasy.

Now, picture this: It’s 2023, and you casually stroll back into your local Dick’s Sporting Goods, hoping to find a trusty replacement paddle as you are now a pro.

Not knowing what to expect…

The options are now more plentiful than Mohawk hairstyles in a 90s punk band. The aisles are filled top to bottom with paddles made from wood, composite, graphite, and every other material under the sun.

As you stand there in awe and paralyzed by the plethora of options you now have at your disposal, you think:

How much moolah are companies raking in on this paddle craze?

Well, I’m glad you asked. Because here is what I found:

According to a Business Research Insights report, the global pickleball paddle market (in USD) has grown from 148.5 million in 2021 to a projected —wait for it…

$253.8 MILLION by 2028.

What's fueling this cash flow? Beyond social media chatter and good old-fashioned word-of-mouth, pickleball is becoming a way for companies to expand their athletic offerings. With the push to make pickleball an Olympic event and corporate giants investing in sponsorships, it's impossible to avoid hearing about the sport nowadays.

Also, online shopping has made paddles as easy to get as a new pair of sneakers. Amazon alone hosts enough pickleball gear to potentially supply fifty retirement communities.

And it's not just a US phenomenon. Here are some juicy examples of pickleball's global reach:

In June 2023, Franklin Sports became the official ball and paddle sponsor for Pickleball Canada, eh?
A paddle-loving 38-year-old entrepreneur from China bet on pickleball, creating the Niupipo brand. It brought in $17.4 million, with 80% of his revenue coming in from overseas paddle sales.
Hugh Davis from the Netherlands now earns a living designing paddles, sold through Revolin Sports.

NEWS STASH

Turning gardens into pickleball courts, locals are PISSED 😡

Residents of Aventura, Florida are outraged after the city demolished a beloved community garden in Founders Park to make way for new pickleball courts, despite strong opposition from locals. Protesters argue the project ruins treasured green space, removes mature trees, and will create noise pollution next to homes and schools. The city cites pickleball's exploding popularity in its decision, but residents say there was no transparency, violating a decades-old covenant requiring permission for land use changes. With cease-and-desist letters and a lawsuit filed, residents continue demonstrating, hoping to preserve their oasis. Read more here—>

Pickleball provides community and relief for Parkinson's patients

Pickleball is providing relief and fellowship for people living with Parkinson's disease. At the Center for Movement Challenges in Sandy Springs, GA, a group of Parkinson's patients have formed a competitive pickleball team where they find normalcy and escape the burden of their symptoms during play. On September 9th, the No Limits Pickleball Challenge tournament will be held to raise money for the center's programs that help people with Parkinson's and other movement disorders through activities like pickleball, boxing, and yoga. Read more here—>

From pro poker play to pickleball GOLD🥇

Poker player and reporter Bernard Lee recently showcased his skills in pickleball by winning the gold medal in the 50-54 age bracket at the 2023 National Senior Games Pickleball Championship. Despite injuring his calf during the finals, Lee persevered by playing aggressively and ending points quickly to defeat his opponent. Though relatively new to pickleball after starting just a couple years ago, the 53-year-old Lee has quickly excelled at the sport, becoming head pro at a club in Massachusetts. Read more here—>

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Cheesy & Savory Party Bread

Image via Taste of Home

Recipe:

Total Time

Prep: 10 min. Bake: 25 min.

The Ingredients

1 unsliced round loaf sourdough bread (1 pound)
1 pound Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 to 3 teaspoons poppy seeds

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Cut bread widthwise into 1-in. slices to within 1/2 in. of bottom of loaf. Repeat cuts in opposite direction. Cut cheese into 1/4-in. slices; cut slices into small pieces. Place cheese in cuts in bread.
In a small bowl, mix butter, green onions and poppy seeds; drizzle over bread. Wrap in foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Unwrap; bake until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes longer.

The Review

❝

I added crispy bacon, and the bread disappeared in 3 minutes. I am making this bread again, but this time I will prepare two of them..We love the flavor.

❝

One of my most requested appetizers.

Thanks to Taste of Home for the recipe!