Apple Research July 2023 - Apple Watch Data Shows Interesting Tennis vs Pickleball Health and Participation Findings

The Apple Heart and Movement Study reveals tennis and pickleball are a win for overall health, as pickleball’s popularity continues to rise:

​"After analyzing more than 250,000 pickleball and tennis workouts recorded on Apple Watch by study participants from 2021 to 2023, researchers found pickleball workouts were slightly longer than tennis workouts on average — 90 minutes versus 81 minutes, respectively — and saw greater variability in time played...

Sumbul Desai, M.D., Apple’s vice president of Health said "research is a vital component to our work in health at Apple, and it’s important to see the science behind the mental and physical benefits of activities like pickleball and tennis on Apple Watch users. Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a number of other chronic conditions. Finding an activity that someone enjoys partaking in can help build a routine, whether that means picking up a paddle or a racket.”

Some other interesting take-aways from this study:

1. Not everyone with an Apple watch knows that there is a pickleball app in "Workout" activities to track heart rate and calories amongst other things (depending on model)
2. As per the chart below, pickleball participation surpassed tennis participation for the first time in July 2023 and has steadily grown over the period of study starting in 2021. Seasonal variations effect tennis, with a similar number of players at each apex, whereas pickleball growth was more consistent across seasons with consistent growth
3. "Paddles and Racquets" both offer mental and physical benefits!
4. Participants in either sport averaged a peak heart rate within 70 percent of their estimated max heart rate during recorded workouts

“We are pleased to see pickleball-related findings included in the Apple Heart and Movement Study, in collaboration with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the American Heart Association. There are numerous benefits for individuals of all ages and backgrounds on the pickleball courts as part of a healthy, social, and active lifestyle,” said Mike Nealy, USA Pickleball’s chief executive officer.

Editor's PS: This is NOT an advertisement for Apple watch - just an interesting study that we think our PBC members would be interested in :)

Researchers from the Apple Heart and Movement Study saw a steady increase in the popularity of pickleball workouts, with pickleball workouts surpassing tennis workouts for the first time.

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