At The Open Play Post, we’re proud to be the leading media company focused exclusively on the recreational pickleball player and the pickleball lifestyle.

We’re not chasing pro tours or tournament stats (though we love a great rally). We’re here for the everyday players — the morning crews, the evening drop-ins, the weekend warriors, the “just picked up a paddle and I’m already obsessed” crowd.

Pickleball isn’t just a sport. It’s a movement — and it’s moving fast. Courts are filling up, new players are flooding in, and the culture is evolving in real time.

That’s why we created this Annual Trend Report: to make sense of what’s shifting, what’s sticking, and what’s next for the community that makes this game so special.

This report isn’t about speculation. It’s grounded in what we’re seeing — across courts, clubs, communities, and conversations — from coast to coast.

Whether you're a player, a venue owner, a brand, or simply someone curious about where this thing is headed, consider this your insider’s guide to what’s really happening in recreational pickleball.

Ready? Let’s play.