New report details playing and spending habits among avid pickleball players
Last Edited
Nov 17 2025
Category
News
A new study conducted through a partnership between the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and DUPR provides new insights into pickleball player behavior, including how often people play, what they buy, how much they spend and what’s motivating them.
It's the first study that looks at consumer-level spending and behavior data tied directly to highly engaged, avid players (not general participants).
Of the nearly 20 million people who played pickleball in 2024, a little over 6 million were identified as "core" players -- this study was focused on those players.
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The study -- called the 2025 Pickleball Market Playbook -- was conducted from April 22-June 3, 2025, using a random sample of the DUPR database of U.S. players ages 13 and over. There were 1,102 players included in the study.
"Over 90% of survey respondents play at least twice a week -- highlighting that this data reflects the habits and perspectives of avid or core participants, as these players are the foundation of any sport’s participation," according to the study. "They invest the most time, energy and money into the game, with more than 90% planning to maintain or increase their equipment spending over the next year, and play a vital role in spreading awareness of the sport through word of mouth."
Key takeaways from the 2025 Pickleball Market Playbook
Motivations & trends
- Health is the primary driver: Nearly 94% cited physical benefits as a key reason for playing.
- Other major motivators included the joy of the game and competition.
- More than 90% of the players surveyed plan to maintain or increase their equipment spending in the next year.
Challenges & barriers
Players point to court overcrowding, scheduling conflicts and lack of similar-skill opponents as key barriers to play.
- 44.4% of players report overcrowded courts.
- 39.2% of pickleball players report struggling to find opponents of similar skill to play with, underscoring the importance of accurate ratings and level-based play.
- 31.9% face scheduling conflicts with other players.
Gear & purchasing insights
The report provides first-ever industry data on gear usage (paddles, balls, shoes), including where players buy equipment and the factors influencing their decisions.
- Key purchasing factors include: performance, durability, price and brand reputation.
- Among those who reported their annual expenses, the highest individual cost was facility fees, averaging $913 per year. Other commonly reported expenses included lessons ($688), tournament fees ($517), and equipment, which exceeded $600 annually.
- Average annual equipment spend: $318 on paddles, $240 on court shoes, $110 on balls.
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