After tennis and badminton, discover pickleball! This “new” sport, born in the USA in the 60s, has been growing in popularity in recent years. This success has benefited both the sport’s players and fashion brands, who have not hesitated to adopt the dress codes of this racquet game.
Pickleball first conquered America. Now it’s spreading to Asia too!
Pickleball is a trendy new sport in which two or four players hit a perforated plastic ball, slightly larger than a tennis ball, over a net. It’s a bit like playing table tennis on a badminton court. The rules are simple, the equipment required is minimal and there’s less running involved. Which makes it accessible to everyone, whatever their age or level of play.
Although pickleball has been around since 1965, it only recently gained popularity as people sought new ways to stay active while respecting social distancing measures during the pandemic. Today, it’s the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., with an increase of 158.6% over the past three years, reaching 8.9 million players by 2022 according to the Sports & Fitness Association.
The craze for the sport extends far beyond the borders of the USA, and this is reflected on an international scale. Earlier this year, the International Pickleball Federation was created to promote the global development of the sport, and is actively lobbying for its inclusion in the Olympic Games. To date, the organization has over 80 member countries.
Democratization
Before pickleball players began occupying public tennis courts in cities, the game was accessible but considered a very popular niche among the elderly. By 2021, players aged 55 and over accounted for the largest share of the player population. And some continued to play the sport well into their 80s and beyond. However, the sport is also gaining in popularity among young people, with the average age of pickleball players around 38 today, compared with 41 in 2020.
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Featured photo : © Staud
