Swinging rackets and taking quick steps, players send a perforated plastic ball with a soft 'pop' over the net in a smooth arc. On February 27, the JUST Pickleball Park in Chengdu buzzed with energetic activity.

Pickleball

"After 3 p.m., the courts are always full." said Liu Guangxing, the park's manager. The facility opened in June last year, and its operations over the past six months have far exceeded expectations, now boasting more than 200 regular members, primarily young people.

Pickleball is often described as "playing tennis on a badminton court with oversized table tennis paddles". Originating in the United States in the 1960s, this sport has quietly gained popularity across China in the past two years. According to the "2025 China Sports Consumption Trends Report", the number of participants could surpass 10 million within the next three years. How is it played? Why has it gone viral so quickly? And can it transition from a niche activity to a mainstream sport?

The 'Hybrid' Sport Goes Viral: Learn in 10 Minutes, Gear Costs Under $30

Dongdong, 28, happened to pass by a court three months ago and was drawn to the new sport that resembled tennis. After trying it once, he became hooked and has since trained systematically and participated in multiple exhibition matches. Pickleball is played on a court the size of a badminton court, with a net height similar to tennis, and uses hitting techniques akin to an enlarged version of table tennis. The equipment is simple: a large paddle and a lightweight perforated plastic ball.

Pickleball enthusiasts playing the game

A reporter's firsthand experience revealed that the ball is light and requires minimal force to hit, the court is moderately sized with limited running required, and stable rallies with a coach can be achieved within just a few minutes. Liu Guangxing summarized its appeal as "low barrier to entry, strong social component, and high fun factor"—less intense than badminton, easier than tennis, and offering more space than table tennis. It serves both as a new social outlet for young people and as a family-friendly activity.

Many enthusiasts have switched from badminton or tennis. With the high cost of tennis training and rising badminton court fees, demand for affordable alternatives has fueled the pickleball boom. According to Meituan, Chengdu now offers over 10 bookable pickleball courts, charging between 30 to 100 yuan per hour. Entry-level paddles on e-commerce platforms range from 40 to 200 yuan, while balls cost just a few yuan each and are highly durable.

Pickleball court

Yao Shunyu, 27, originally a tennis enthusiast, became an avid pickleball player after trying it in 2023 and now plays two to three times per week, spending 500 to 1,000 yuan monthly on the sport.

From Niche to Mainstream: How Many Steps Remain for Pickleball to Become a Mass Sport?

In the past two years, pickleball has developed rapidly in China: three major national events, including the China Pickleball Tour, have been launched, and in September last year, the General Administration of Sport of China officially included pickleball in the finals program of the Second National Fitness Games.

Pickleball enthusiasts playing the game

Businesses in Chengdu have begun converting tennis and badminton courts into pickleball facilities to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and capture emerging market opportunities. "Chengdu started promoting pickleball in 2023, and participation has doubled annually. We expect over 10,000 players citywide by 2026." revealed Wang Wenbo, Director of the Pickleball Committee of the Chengdu Tennis Association. Pickleball has already entered campuses, with Sichuan University offering related courses.

"It will still take time to go from niche to mainstream." Wang Wenbo noted, expressing optimism about its all-age accessibility. He believes that with more courts and regularized competitions, pickleball could become a widely adopted fitness activity. Industry practitioners emphasize that for emerging sports to achieve sustainable growth, the key lies in being 'visible and accessible'. requiring policy support and standardized training systems. For enthusiasts, pickleball represents more than a sport—it's a lifestyle. "Playing is easy and joyful, and I've made many new friends." Yao Shunyu said, planning to keep playing long-term. "I want to play from youth all the way into old age."

【本文部分内容由AI辅助生成，特此声明。The author(s) generated part of the content in this work with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), which is hereby declared.】