2025 Mid-Year Sports Participation Report: Pickleball Leads the Growth Wave Once Again

According to the latest data, overall sports participation in the U.S. continued to climb in early 2025. While fitness, running, and basketball remain popular, pickleball’s growth rate far surpassed all others. Compared with the same period in 2024, pickleball participation grew by over 22%, making it the fastest-growing sport in the country.

• Age expansion: Once seen as a pastime for older adults, pickleball is increasingly popular among younger players. Participation among the 25–40 age group surged, now making up 38% of total players.

• Gender balance: Women now account for 46% of participants, showing growing inclusivity.

• Geographic spread: Beyond Florida and California, states like Texas, New York, and Illinois are witnessing rapid adoption.

In just the first half of 2025, over 1,200 new pickleball courts were added across the U.S. Many tennis clubs have converted courts to meet demand, while real estate developers and sports investors are accelerating their investments. Pickleball infrastructure is entering a new boom cycle.

Pickleball’s accessibility is at the heart of its success. With a gentler learning curve than tennis and moderate physical demands, it attracts players across all ages. Beyond fitness, pickleball has become a social activity that builds community connections.

Organizations like the PPA (Professional Pickleball Association) and MLP (Major League Pickleball) are expanding their tournament offerings. Viewership of pickleball events grew by 35% year-over-year in early 2025. Social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok further amplify pickleball’s reach, presenting it as a trendy, modern sport that appeals to younger audiences.

Technological progress in pickleball paddle design has accelerated. Advances such as carbon fiber faces, 3D textures, and foam cores are enhancing performance. Leading manufacturers are leveraging ODM and OEM services to help brands differentiate their products, catering to both performance-focused athletes and style-conscious newcomers.

• Dual-track growth: High-performance paddles for seasoned players and cost-effective entry-level paddles for beginners are both in demand.

• Niche markets: Lightweight paddles for women, kid-friendly paddles, and eco-friendly materials are emerging as growth areas.

• Complementary products: Pickleballs, apparel, and accessories are seeing rising sales.

• Certification hurdles: USAPA’s testing and certification fees raise barriers for new product launches.

• Lack of differentiation: Many entry-level brands rely on similar suppliers, leading to homogeneity.

• Supply chain complexity: Procurement managers face tighter demands on inventory, delivery timelines, and shipping costs.

When choosing a pickleball paddle manufacturer, procurement managers need to evaluate:

• Capacity and delivery: Can the supplier ensure on-time shipments during peak season?

• R&D and innovation: Do they offer new materials and customization options?

• Consistency and quality: Can they maintain uniform standards across large orders?

By mid-2025, the U.S. pickleball player base had grown to 14.5 million, representing a 22% increase compared to 2024. Forecasts suggest it could surpass 17 million by year’s end.

A rising pickleball brand doubled its sales within three months by launching a Kevlar-based pickleball paddle and using viral social media marketing to highlight its unique material advantage.

One U.S. brand successfully balanced affordability and innovation by partnering with Asian manufacturers. Through OEM, it launched cost-effective beginner paddles, while ODM allowed the brand to offer high-end, performance-driven designs.