Pickleball has cast a wider net, expanding its demographics beyond the retirees who first put the sport on the map, according to SFIA’s 2026 Single Sport Report for Pickleball, which finds more teens and younger adults participating. Overall growth is still robust, up 23% last year to 24.3 million participants as the trade association previously outlined in its Topline Participation Report. But pickleball’s expansion has slowed somewhat from the explosive 46% gains in 2024 and 53% growth in 2023.

Diving into the demographics, total participation (at least 1+ times per year) skewed ... Log in to view full article.