Why Pickleball is Australia's Fastest Growing Sport (And Why Women Are Driving It)

Over 92,000 Australians picked up a pickleball paddle in the past year. That number, drawn from the Australian Sports Commission's AusPlay report, places pickleball ahead of rugby union and baseball in participation terms. It is the fastest growing sport in the country, and the women playing it are largely the reason why.

The Numbers Behind Australia's Pickleball Boom

The growth of pickleball in Australia has been nothing short of extraordinary. In 2020, Pickleball Australia had 967 paid members. By the end of 2023, membership had grown by 99.7% in a single year alone, and today the organisation counts more than 15,000 registered members, a figure that continues to climb month by month.

Beyond formal membership, Pickleball Australia estimates that 25,000 people play casually across the country, with courts appearing in community parks, converted tennis facilities, recreation centres, and hotel gyms from Darwin to Hobart.

The sport reached a cultural milestone in January 2025 when the Australian Open hosted the first AO Pickleball Slam, a professional tournament with $100,000 in prize money broadcast alongside one of the world's most prestigious tennis events. That moment signalled something important: pickleball in Australia is no longer a novelty. It has arrived.

Why Women Are Leading Australia's Pickleball Revolution

Look around any pickleball court in Australia and you will notice something striking. Women are not just participating. They are showing up in numbers that rival and often exceed the men beside them. This mirrors a global trend, and the reasons behind it are worth understanding.

It rewards intelligence over power

Tennis rewards big serves and athletic dominance. Pickleball rewards placement, patience, and reading your opponent. The ball moves more slowly, the court is smaller, and the game is decided far more often by strategy than by brute force. For women who have spent years being told sport is a physical contest they are at a disadvantage in, this is genuinely liberating. The best pickleball players are not the strongest ones. They are the smartest ones.

It is designed around connection

Pickleball is almost always played in doubles, which means every game involves conversation, communication, and teamwork. Many social competitions rotate partners throughout a session, so within an hour you will have played alongside people you had never met before. The social architecture of the sport is essentially built-in community, and that community tends to be warm, welcoming, and genuinely fun.

It is kind to your body

The smaller court, the slower ball, and the underarm serve all add up to a sport that is significantly lower impact than tennis. A typical session burns between 300 and 450 calories per hour while placing far less strain on knees, hips, and shoulders than a comparable hour of tennis. For women navigating injury, recovery, or simply wanting to stay active for decades to come, that matters enormously.

The barrier to entry is almost zero

You do not need to be fit, young, or athletic to walk onto a pickleball court and have a good time. Most people can rally within minutes of picking up a paddle for the first time. The rules are simple, the equipment is affordable, and you do not need a partner. Courts are full of people happy to show a newcomer the ropes. That openness has made pickleball a rare thing in Australian sport: a space where beginners are genuinely welcomed.

From Tennis Court to Pickleball Court

Approximately 70% of pickleball players in Australia come from a tennis background, and the crossover makes intuitive sense. The grip, the footwork, the instinct to cover the net, all of it transfers. What surprises most tennis players is how quickly pickleball teaches you to slow down. The kitchen (the no-volley zone closest to the net) forces a patience that tennis rarely demands. It is a different game, but it speaks a familiar language.

For women who have played tennis socially for years but find it increasingly hard to commit to the time, fitness, or cost that competitive tennis requires, pickleball offers a compelling alternative, or increasingly, a companion sport. Many women now play both, using pickleball as a year-round way to stay sharp and connected.

What Makes Pickleball So Addictive?

Ask anyone who plays regularly why they keep coming back and you will hear some version of the same answer: it is endlessly fun, deceptively strategic, and socially unlike anything else.

The learning curve is inviting. You can play a passable game within your first session, but mastery takes years. The dink game, the third shot drop, the erne, the poach: there is always a new layer to uncover. That combination of instant gratification and long-term depth is the hallmark of any truly great sport.

There is also something to be said for the sheer joy of it. Pickleball rallies are long, collaborative, and often punctuated by laughter. It is a sport that does not take itself too seriously, even as the competition at the top levels becomes increasingly fierce.

Who Is Playing Pickleball in Australia Right Now?

The current average age of an Australian pickleball player is 56, which reflects the sport's origins as a game designed for older adults. But that average is dropping fast. Teenagers are competing at national level, university clubs are forming, and the National Pickleball League Australia now runs teams of three men and three women, a structure that places women's competition on equal footing from the start.

The profile of the Australian pickleball player in 2026 is far more diverse than it was even two years ago: women in their thirties discovering it through a friend, former tennis players finding it after an injury, retirees who haven't felt this fit in years. The sport's genius is that all of them can share the same court.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pickleball in Australia

Is pickleball easier than tennis?

Pickleball is easier to pick up than tennis. Most beginners can rally within a single session. However, the sport has considerable tactical depth, and competitive play demands high skill, reflexes, and strategic thinking. Many experienced tennis players find pickleball deceptively challenging at higher levels.

Do I need special equipment to play pickleball?

You need a pickleball paddle (different from a tennis racket, solid with no strings) and a pickleball, which is a hard, perforated plastic ball similar to a wiffle ball. Courts are often found at recreation centres and parks. Some venues loan equipment to beginners. A good-quality paddle typically costs between $60 and $200.

How long does a game of pickleball take?

A standard game to 11 points (win by 2) takes roughly 15 to 25 minutes. Most social sessions run for 60 to 90 minutes and involve rotating through multiple games and partners.

Can I play pickleball if I have never played tennis?

Absolutely. While a tennis background helps, it is not required. The sport is designed to be accessible to complete beginners, and the social nature of most community courts means you will quickly find experienced players happy to teach you.

The Court Is Yours

Pickleball's rise in Australia is not a trend. It is a shift in how women are choosing to move, compete, connect, and invest their time. The sport rewards the qualities that make women exceptional athletes: intelligence, endurance, communication, and composure under pressure.

At Striide Club, we were built for exactly this moment. Whether you're arriving from a tennis background or stepping onto a court for the very first time, the game is yours to play, and to play beautifully.