CNBC Sports Reports 36.5 M Pickleball Players Played August 2020 to August 2022

CNBC Sports January 5th 2023: Jessica Golden reports that more than 36.5 million people played pickleball from August 2021 to August 2022, according to a new report by the Association of Pickleball Professionals released exclusively to CNBC. "Earlier data pinned the participation rate of the sport at 5 million players in 2021. The latest numbers unveiled in the 2023 APP Pickleball Participation report, via a study conducted by YouGov, shows that 14% of Americans played pickleball at least once in that 12-month period. And over 8.5 million people played pickleball eight times or more."

“When you look at participation rates alongside golf, and basketball and tennis. ... I don’t think anybody would have thought a year ago that pickleball would be right up there with those more traditional sports,” said Tom Webb, chief marketing officer of the Association of Pickleball Professionals, the group that represents professional, recreational and amateur players.

Of course the participants in the 36.5M count include those who may have only played once in the 12 months, but the number that stands out is the 8.5M who played more often, compared to less than 5M in that category in 2021.

​Of note, BC and Canada's participation and growth rates are even higher as reported in our news story here.

Ben Johns, World Ranked #1, hits a backhand shot during the
​2022 US Open Pro Men’s Doubles in Naples, Florida.