When Did Pickleball Become Popular? A Brief History

Pickleball might feel like a new craze, but the sport has been around for decades. Its sudden rise in popularity, however, is a more recent phenomenon. From quiet backyard origins to one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S., pickleball’s journey has been long, surprising, and increasingly mainstream.

Here’s a brief look at when—and how—pickleball became so popular.

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The Origins: Pickleball in the 1960s

Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The story goes that a few families—looking to entertain their kids—used a lowered badminton net, ping pong paddles, and a wiffle ball to create something new.

The game quickly evolved. By the 1970s, informal courts were being built, and interest spread across communities in the Pacific Northwest. Still, it remained a niche activity for several decades.

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Steady Growth in the 80s and 90s

During the 1980s and 1990s, pickleball slowly gained a foothold among retirement communities and recreational centers. The sport’s appeal to older adults was clear: it was low-impact, easy to learn, and encouraged social interaction.

National organizations began forming, including the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), which was founded in 1984. These early groups helped standardize the rules and lay the groundwork for competitive play.

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The Turning Point: 2010s

Pickleball began accelerating in the 2010s. More parks and recreation departments started adding courts, tournaments became more organized, and major equipment brands entered the scene.

Two big reasons drove this growth:

1. Media attention and celebrity interest brought new eyes to the sport.
2. Millennials and Gen X players started joining in—not just retirees.

By the late 2010s, pickleball was no longer considered just a retirement activity—it was becoming multi-generational.

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The Explosion: 2020–2025

The real boom happened post-2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people turned to outdoor, socially distanced sports—and pickleball was a perfect fit. Affordable, easy to set up, and accessible to all ages, the game exploded in popularity.

By 2022:

• Pickleball had over 4.8 million players in the U.S.
• Court construction was expanding across the country.
• Tournaments were drawing national sponsors and streaming deals.

Fast-forward to 2025, and pickleball is now a regular part of park planning, school PE programs, fitness center schedules, and even professional sports discussions.

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Why It Stuck

Trends come and go, but pickleball’s continued popularity is rooted in:

• Low barrier to entry (affordable equipment, easy rules)
• Broad age appeal
• Social nature of the game
• Quick, fun, competitive play

It checks all the boxes for people looking to stay active without the intensity of other sports.

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Final Thoughts

Pickleball may have started in the 1960s, but its real popularity has taken off in just the last decade. From a backyard pastime to a national phenomenon, its rise has been anything but accidental.

Whether you’re playing casually or following pro-level matches, one thing is clear: pickleball’s moment isn’t coming—it’s already here.