Pickleball brand OK PICKLE sees potential of game for building sense of community

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in Australia and according to new Australian pickleball brand OK PICKLE, the game offers a "tool for building a sense of community, a force for social good, and an excellent way to boost both physical and mental well-being".

Currently the sport is making use of facilities at tennis clubs, indoor centres and netball courts, with purpose-built facilities recently built in South Melbourne and Yeppoon and public courts being rolled out by Brisbane City Council.

The 2023 Australian Pickleball Championships wererecently hosted by Blacktown City at the Blacktown Leisure Centre, Stanhope from 29th September to 2nd October 2023. The Championships served up a massive range of events over four days, with contestants of all abilities and age groups from under 18 through to over 75 years old.

Pickleball combines elements of table tennis, badminton and tennis all played on a badminton-size court with a paddle and a small, perforated plastic ball (commonly known as a 'wiffle ball') and was invented by three friends near Seattle in 1965.

Fast forward almost 50 years and more than 48 million adults in the US have played pickleball in the past 12 months, and it’s fast catching on here in Australia with 25,000+ players.

Pickleball statistics

• 48.3 million Americans played pickleball at least once in past 12 months, up 35% since August 2022 (Association of Pickleball Professionals “APP”)

• Australia currently has more than 25,000 casual players

• 1 million forecasted growth of Pickleball in Australia over next three years according to The National Pickleball League

• 34.8 years is the average age of avid pickleball players (APP)

• 58 years is the average age in Australia, decreasing yearly

• 57% of players are male and 43% are female among casual players (APP)

• 4 pickleball courts can fit in the space required for 1 Tennis court

• Pickleball workouts have surpassed tennis workouts globally for the first time according to Apple Heart and Movement Study 2023.

Pure Pickleball brand OK PICKLE is adding an Australian touch to the sport with a range of colourful paddles and matching gear, which Founder Nathan Furness said focuses on the fun, mateship and thrill of the contest that pickleball delivers.

Furness shares “Pickleball has skyrocketed from relatively nothing five years ago to a global sensation thanks to the universal appeal and social nature that the small-format, easy to pick up sport offers. Popularity surged in the US during the pandemic as active people looked for ways to stay socially connected at a safe distance.

“In Australia, more than 25,000 people now play socially with a large portion also members of a pickleball club or association. Queensland leads the way with participation, closely followed by Victoria but the other states and territories are fast catching up.”

Furness said the social appeal of the sport was what got him and his business partner hooked on Pickleball adding “What began as a quest for an alternative to the pub on a Friday night quickly turned into a full-blown pickleball obsession. We're all in. So much so, we've installed one of Brisbane's few private pickleball courts in the backyard.

“We're firm believers in the transformative power of pickleball in Australia. It's more than just a game to us; it's a tool for building a sense of community, a force for social good, and an excellent way to boost both physical and mental well-being.

“We invite you to join us, get aboard the pickleball movement and experience the benefits first-hand.”

OK PICKLE offer a range of paddles and gear at okpickle.com.au. 

Image top. Credit: Pickleball Association of NSW; image above. credit: OK PICKLE