Leonardo Di Caprio to Will Smith: Why Are so Many Celebrities Playing Pickleball

Pickleball has surged in popularity as the quickest-expanding sport in the US, boasting 4.8 million players last year and experiencing an average annual growth of 11.5% over the past five years. This hybrid racket sport combines elements from various games; it’s played on a badminton-sized court with tennis-style rules, using paddles to volley a plastic, perforated ball.

Pickleball also has its own fun words like “dink,” “falafel,” and “flapjack.” The game can be played in singles or doubles (with a partner). The main point of the game is to serve the ball and score points. The game is slowed down with rules that only allow underhand serves and create a no-hit zone near the net called the “kitchen,” from where you can’t hit a volley.

Especially over the past two years, with individuals seeking open-air pastimes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the sport’s craze has intensified, with celebrities and pro athletes joining the ranks of players.

The excitement peaked during Colbert’s star-studded celebrity doubles pickleball event, showcasing partnerships that include Emma Watson, Daniel Dae Kim, Luis Guzmán, and Sugar Ray Leonard, among others who are prominent backers of the quirky sport.

Following this, a wave of celebrities embraced pickleball as their leisure pursuit, with Bill and Melinda Gates, who’ve been fans since their youth, Leonardo DiCaprio, George and Amal Clooney, the Kardashians, Jamie Foxx, Will Smith, and Ellen DeGeneres among those who have recently shared their enthusiasm for the game. The COVID-19 pandemic further propelled pickleball’s popularity as individuals in the US turned to outdoor alternatives to traditional indoor recreations.

The sport has also caught the attention of athletes nearing or in retirement. Notable figures such as NFL quarterbacks Tom Brady and Eli Manning, one-time tennis top-ranked Andre Agassi, and decorated Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps are frequently spotted in pro-am and celebrity showcase matches, often favoring the doubles format.

Yet, what makes this sport such a compelling hobby for so many?

The 2021 information from the USA Pickleball Association shows that older people like the sport’s easy-going speed. On average, people who play just for fun are about 33 years old. The ones who play a lot, over eight times a year, are around 47 years old. And the biggest group of these keen players—over a third of them—are older than 65.

But even though many older people play pickleball just for fun, it’s also turning into a way to make money. Started in 2021, Major League Pickleball plans to grow from 12 to 16 teams and give out as much as $2 million in prizes. Basketball greats like LeBron James, Draymond Green, Kevin Love, and Kevin Durant, plus Tom Brady and the former top women’s tennis player Kim Clijsters, have even bought their own professional pickleball teams.

However, it doesn’t matter if you want to be a pro player in the US or if you’re just curious about why famous people like Leonardo DiCaprio and the Kardashians love it so much. Pickleball is fun because it’s like a mix of different racket sports. It has the moving around and singles or double-player options of tennis, the easy swinging of badminton, and the fast hits like in ping pong. You can play it on a badminton court with a net that’s not too high, and all you need is two to four paddles and a wiffle ball.