Pickleball Apparel & Equipment: A Consumer Growth Story for Investors

For investors, particularly those in consumer-focused private equity or M&A, this represents a compelling case study in how lifestyle sports can fuel outsized market expansion.

Market Size and Growth Outlook

The pickleball apparel & equipment sector was valued at ~$2.0 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach ~$5.8 billion by 2030, with a robust 15.1% CAGR. This trajectory places pickleball among the fastest-growing categories in the sporting goods ecosystem, outpacing many mature segments such as tennis or golf.

Two factors underpin this growth: (1) the rapid increase in the player base, and (2) a shift toward product innovation and lifestyle integration. As more consumers pick up the paddle, the need for specialized shoes, apparel, bags, paddles, and accessories grows—both for performance and as expressions of identity.

Player Participation Fuels Equipment Demand

The sheer increase in participation has been staggering. In the U.S. alone, pickleball grew from 3.1 million players in 2017 to 19.8 million in 2024, marking a 34.8% average annual growth rate among all the period, but strongly driven by the growth of recent years.

This expanding player base is diverse across age groups, with two notable drivers:

• Younger demographics (ages 25–34) now represent the largest share of players, signaling strong future demand for high-performance, stylish apparel.
  

• Older adults remain core adopters thanks to pickleball’s low-impact format, driving demand for ergonomic paddles, lightweight shoes, and comfort-focused apparel.
  

As participation broadens across gender and generations, the equipment and apparel categories are evolving to meet varied needs—from high-fashion performance skirts and vibrant tops for younger women, to ergonomic paddles with vibration-dampening for senior players.

Annual Growth Dynamics

From 2017 to 2024, annual pickleball growth rates fluctuated significantly, peaking at 85.7% in 2022 as the sport became a post-pandemic lifestyle trend. While rates have normalized, they remain extraordinary by industry standards, at 45.8% in 2024.

For consumer investors, this is critical context. While growth will naturally decelerate from pandemic-era highs, the category is stabilizing at a high baseline with secular tailwinds: social connection, health & wellness, and accessible recreation.

Apparel: Fashion Meets Function

Pickleball apparel has shifted from repurposed tennis gear to a fully-fledged fashion segment. According to industry reports:

• Apparel was the fastest-growing product segment in 2023, already accounting for nearly $2 billion in revenue.
  

• Fashion-forward designs are reshaping the market. Unlike tennis, which emphasizes tradition, pickleball apparel embraces bold colors, prints, and relaxed fits. This opens the door to lifestyle crossover—gear that transitions seamlessly from the court to casual wear.
  

• Women’s apparel is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 16.2% through 2030, driven by rising female participation and demand for design tailored to performance and aesthetics.
  

As Inside the Rise of Pickleball Fashion notes, modern pickleball clothing blends breathable fabrics, paddle-pocket skirts, and vibrant designs. This convergence of function and flair mirrors broader athleisure trends, positioning pickleball apparel as not just sportswear but lifestyle wear.

Equipment Innovation & Consumer Upgrades

On the equipment side, manufacturers are leveraging advanced materials like carbon fiber, fiberglass, and hybrid composites. Players frequently upgrade paddles to match new designs, fueling recurring revenue opportunities.

Notable trends include:

• Paddles: Ergonomic grips, customizable weight distributions, and “Propulsion Core” technologies designed for precision play.
  

• Footwear: Specialized pickleball shoes are a fast-growing subsegment (15.4% CAGR projected), designed for lateral stability and injury prevention.
  

• Accessories: Bags, visors, and compression gear are gaining traction as players seek complete kits.
  

With paddle prices reaching $250+ at the high end, equipment is moving upmarket, creating a premiumization opportunity attractive to strategic investors and brands alike.

Distribution Shifts: Offline to Online

While sporting goods stores captured nearly half of all pickleball sales in 2023, digital channels are poised to grow fastest, at 18% CAGR through 2030. For younger demographics, online marketplaces provide not only convenience but also community validation through reviews and influencer-led product recommendations.

The rise of social media and micro-influencer ecosystems around pickleball further accelerates this trend. Brands that can build digital-first strategies stand to capture disproportionate share.

Regional Insights & Expansion Potential

• North America remains the largest revenue contributor, accounting for 55.5% of the global market in 2023.
  

• Asia Pacific is projected to grow fastest (17.5% CAGR), led by China, where exhibition events have drawn millions of streaming viewers and infrastructure investment could add 10,000 courts in five years.
  

• Europe is also emerging, with dedicated facilities being built across major cities, driving demand for apparel and equipment.
  

For global investors, the opportunity is twofold: (1) consolidation in the U.S. where growth remains strong, and (2) early-stage entry into international markets where adoption curves are steep.

Investment Landscape: M&A and Brand Growth

The pickleball apparel & equipment space is fragmented, featuring both legacy sporting goods companies (Wilson, HEAD, Franklin Sports) and niche innovators (Selkirk, Paddletek, Stack Athletics). M&A activity is moderate but increasing, with players seeking scale, distribution leverage, and product portfolio expansion.

Recent examples include:

• Selkirk’s AMPED Pro Air launch with advanced tech.
  

• Reebok’s entry into pickleball footwear.
  

• Stack Athletics’ new performance apparel line, signaling the emergence of pickleball-specific lifestyle brands.
  

For private equity and strategic acquirers, consolidation opportunities abound in mid-market brands that have strong consumer traction but limited global distribution.

Conclusion: A Category in Motion

Pickleball’s rise is no passing fad. With nearly 20 million players in the U.S., explosive participation worldwide, and a global apparel & equipment market heading toward $6 billion by 2030, the sport is reshaping the consumer athletic goods landscape.

For investors, the opportunity lies not only in scaling equipment innovation but also in capturing the cultural energy of pickleball fashion, where lifestyle and sport converge. Whether through acquisitions, brand-building, or channel expansion, pickleball apparel and equipment represent one of the most attractive growth stories in today’s consumer landscape.

Sources & References

Freshpickle. (2025). Inside the Rise of Pickleball Fashion. https://freshpickle.com/blogs/news/pickleball-clothing-and-apparel-market 

GVR. (2024). Pickleball Apparel & Equipment Market Size. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/pickleball-apparel-equipment-market-report 

Pickleheads. (2025). Pickleball statistics - the numbers behind America's fastest-growing sport. https://www.pickleheads.com/guides/pickleball-statistics