What Does Google Trends Reveal To Be America’s Most And Least Popular Pickleballing Areas?
Pickleball stands proudly as one of today’s most swiftly growing sports. Its accessibility and versatility allow almost anyone to engage and has fueled an astonishing progression in the last few years with clubs, tournaments, and celebrity interest popping up everywhere.
A Pickleballing Hotspot
The USA stands out as a particular pickleballing hotspot with its enthusiastic and widespread embrace of the sport. However, an intriguing question lingers: which states harbor the deepest investment and most ardent feelings for pickleball?
Joey Mistretta from RotoWire utilized Google Trends to dissect data, unveiling the states within the USA that boast the keenest pickleball aficionados.
Pickleball Paradise
In this section, the information analyses all U.S. states’ pickleball interests over the past 30 days,12 months, and five years.
Pickleball’s momentum is steadily increasing, and this table shows which states were the first to take a concrete interest and also which ones have been moving the fastest over the last few months.
| Past 30 days | Past 12 months | Past 5 years |
| 1. Utah | 1. Utah | 1. Utah |
| 2. Arizona | 2. Arizona | 2. Arizona |
| 3. Hawaii | T3. Minnesota | 3. Hawaii |
| 4. Minnesota | T3. Florida | T4. Idaho |
| 5. Florida | 4. Hawaii | T4. Minnesota |
There was little doubt about which state was the pickleballing paradise of the U.S. as Utah led all three categories in search interest for the game. Arizona checked in at second for each category as well.
Hawaii finished third in pickleball search interest over the past 30 days and past five years but was fourth over the past 12 months.
Minnesota also made an appearance in each category, checking at No. 4 over the past 30 days, No. 3 over the past 12 months, and No. 4 over the past five years.
Florida and Idaho were the only other states to make appearances on the table.
Again, pickleball is growing all over the country, but it is clear which states have shown the most interest in pickleball based on the analysis.
Utah Blazing A Trail
A key factor in Utah’s clean sweep is the abundant array of venues available for play, catering to players of diverse skill levels. Notably, Utah boasts a substantial base of both professional and recreational players, as remarked by Lea Jansen, an expert in pickleball, who emphasizes the state’s vibrant pickleball community.
The proliferation of professional tournaments has further stoked interest in the sport, akin to how viewers of football may be inspired to take up the game themselves.
This surge in interest paints a promising landscape for pickleball enthusiasts and players, especially in Utah.
The Least Interested States
Google Trends also told us which states were the least interested in pickleball:
| Past 30 days | Past 12 months | Past 5 years |
| 1. North Dakota | 1. Mississippi | 1. Mississippi |
| 2. West Virginia | 2. North Dakota | 2. West Virginia |
| T3. Mississippi | T3. West Virginia | 3. Louisiana |
| T3. New York | T3. Wyoming | 4. North Dakota |
| T3. Wyoming | T3. New Mexico | T5. Alaska/New York |
North Dakota, Mississippi, and West Virginia are rock bottom, featuring in all three categories.
Mississippi has gathered the fewest pickleball search requests over the past year and five years, while North Dakota had the fewest over the past 30 days.
While these states harbor their own contingent of pickleball enthusiasts, they do not reflect the same enthusiasm witnessed in other regions.
However, amid pickleball’s escalating popularity, it wouldn’t be surprising to witness an upsurge in interest within these regions as well.
The Broader Landscape
The broader landscape showcases a substantial uptake in pickleball participation, with over 36 million individuals reported to be engaging in the sport, according to an article by Jessica Golden of CNBC back in January.
The endorsements from professional athletes like LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes have notably bolstered pickleball’s standing, elevating its allure among a wider audience.
Tom Webb, the Chief Marketing Officer of the Association of Pickleball Players, underscored the growing interest from professional athletes and corporate entities:
“When you look at the number of people that are now picking up a paddle and playing for the first time, the investment market is inevitably going to look at that and say, this is something worth us investing in.”
A Passing Trend
While some skeptics may dismiss it as a passing trend, the overwhelming interest and investment in pickleball suggest a trajectory that defies such assumptions, making its future trajectory an intriguing prospect.
The sport appears poised for sustained growth, with the potential for burgeoning professional leagues and heightened marketing opportunities, while anticipated expansions in pickleball court infrastructure stand to impact state economies significantly.
