From Dinks to Dollars: Economic and Social Forces Driving Pickleball's Rise

Pickleball has become one of the most rapidly expanding sports in the U.S. that is impacting more than just individuals who have developed a liking to the game. In this paper, the increase in players is examined to reveal how it alters such aspects as local communities, amount spent, and speed with courts and equipment being constructed. It deconstructs how the sport is inexpensive and adaptable and thus making it easy to jump into by children and adults and then how that leads to the desires of cities to increase the number of courts, classes, and other businesses. It also discussed in the study that selling equipment, hosting tournaments, sponsorships, and special facilities are bringing in new money and provoking fights about who can play, space and neighborhoods. The paper connects what players can do to the market response, demonstrates why pickleball is so huge to those interested in the business, why it interests city leaders, and what could slow down growth, accelerate it or push its boundaries.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-03-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19142227
Primary Topic
Sports, Gender, and Society
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

From Dinks to Dollars: Economic and Social Forces Driving Pickleball's Rise

Sreenathan Shakhamoori
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Sports, Gender, and Society
article

From Dinks to Dollars: Economic and Social Forces Driving Pickleball's Rise

Sreenathan Shakhamoori
article en

Abstract

Pickleball has become one of the most rapidly expanding sports in the U.S. that is impacting more than just individuals who have developed a liking to the game. In this paper, the increase in players is examined to reveal how it alters such aspects as local communities, amount spent, and speed with courts and equipment being constructed. It deconstructs how the sport is inexpensive and adaptable and thus making it easy to jump into by children and adults and then how that leads to the desires of cities to increase the number of courts, classes, and other businesses. It also discussed in the study that selling equipment, hosting tournaments, sponsorships, and special facilities are bringing in new money and provoking fights about who can play, space and neighborhoods. The paper connects what players can do to the market response, demonstrates why pickleball is so huge to those interested in the business, why it interests city leaders, and what could slow down growth, accelerate it or push its boundaries.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Sustainable cities and communities
Openalex Percentile: Top 13%
Sports, Gender, and Society
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