Pickleball Joins the Big Leagues

A plastic whiffle ball, a forgiving set of rules, a nonsensical name—it should be obvious that nothing that happens on a pickleball court was ever intended to be taken too seriously. Indeed, for many players, that sense of goofy fun has been a big part of the appeal: a sport that doesn’t demand supernatural agility to play; one that teenagers, moms, dads, and retirees can enjoy together; one in which no one has to worry all that much about hits—whether to the back, to the wallet, or to the ego. Where do we sign up?

Despite its not-so-serious roots, pickleball is enjoying a serious growth trajectory. The Association of Pickleball Professionals (yes, there is such a thing) suggests there are over 50 million people worldwide who have become avid picklers—fully 1.5 million of them in Canada alone. That number has grown by over 300 per cent in the past three years, making pickleball the fastest-growing sport in the world.

From its emergence 60 years ago as an invented-in-five-minutes game played with cast-off equipment at a backyard barbecue, pickleball is now professionally organized, internationally coordinated, and fully financed. There are sanctioned skill assessment sheets: players strive to achieve Level 5.0 with demonstrated mastery over skills, shots, and strategy. New paddle technology offers specific shapes and specialized surfaces that fit particular playing styles. Televised open-style tournaments give professional picklers the opportunity to compete for big fame and big money, with seasoned pros now earning over $100,000 (U.S.) a year. There’s even a dedicated streaming channel for those who prefer to enjoy their pickleball from the comfort of the living room.

Here in Canada, pickleball looks like to be headed for the big leagues. The U.S.-based company Picklr recently expanded its footprint to Canada. It plans to open indoor pickleball franchises in 65 locations over the next five years. Homegrown manufacturers such as Aniviia Pickleball, Manta World Sport, and Combat Paddles have all experimented with different materials (and professional sponsorships) to build next-generation equipment for the game. And Vancouver’s Hello Beautiful makes an entire range of pickle-perfect apparel and accessories.

For a sport that seemingly revelled in its whimsical gameplay and anticorporate vibe, it’s all a bit ironic. But such is the nature of growing up, isn’t it: in both life and sport, the stakes get higher, the competition heats up, and the players become more determined. And as big money takes over, even the most beloved of games turn out to be not all fun and games.

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