New players keep coming to Pickleball

As pickleball continues its meteoric rise as America's fastest-growing sport, new data from Pickleball Flash LLC highlights the healthy engine behind the movement: millions of first-time and soon-to-be players who are poised to usher in the sport's most dynamic chapter yet.

In a recent national survey conducted by Pickleball Flash LLC among U.S. adults ages 18–65, 70% identified themselves as eager to learn or currently learning pickleball. Twelve percent described themselves as already avid players. Only 18% expressed no interest in learning the sport. The findings reveal a critical—and often overlooked—truth: pickleball's long-term growth lies not in its current player base, but in the massive wave of new participants.

"Whether it's self-identifying interest in learning the sport, holiday gift planning, or organic peer recruitment, the data supports an undeniable surge in growth."

"Every paddle sold, every club membership started, every apparel brand worn—these all begin with someone deciding to give pickleball a try," says Ellen Golden, co-founder of Pickleball Flash LLC. "To the extent the industry embraces the newcomer, pickleball will have a bright and enduring future."

Holiday Bellwether: Growth Indicators Continue

Strong holiday-season indicators reinforce the promise of exponential growth. When asked to look ahead to Holiday 2025, 39% of survey respondents said it's 'somewhat likely' that someone on their gift list will be ready or eager to start learning pickleball; 34% said it's 'very likely.'

Even more striking: when asked to estimate just how many friends, family members, or colleagues on that list are likely candidates to begin playing pickleball, the numbers soared.

30% said one to two people on their list

32% cited three to four people

Over 20% could think of five or more ready beginners on their gift list

These findings point to a robust and widening entry point—a holiday-driven gateway to the sport's next generation.

Social Sharing Fuels the Surge

Existing players are actively driving adoption. Sixty three percent of current players said they've encouraged others to try pickleball over the past year. More than one-third reported introducing three or more people to the game during those twelve months.

"That's a boatload of new players," says Golden. "Whether it's self-identifying interest in learning the sport, holiday gift planning, or organic peer recruitment, the data supports an undeniable surge in growth."

The Best First Step

In response to this momentum, Pickleball Flash LLC created Pickleball In A Flash—a compact, 60-card boxed set that demystifies rules, scoring, strategy, and court etiquette. Marketed as the ultimate beginner's guide to pickleball, the product is already gaining traction among new players and gift-givers alike.

"This is the on-ramp the sport has been missing," Golden observes. "We're not a paddle or a club. We're the reason people need those things—because we make the first step easy, clear, and confidence-building."

"YouTube videos can be great," she adds, "but for true beginners, sorting through them can be overwhelming—and they're definitely not giftable."