Source: Texas Health
Pickleball has experienced significant growth in popularity in recent years. According to the 2023 Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Single Sport Report, there are over 8.9 million pickleball players in the United States, a substantial increase from previous years. The sport has seen an average participation growth rate of 158.6% over the past three years, with an estimated 36.5 million enthusiasts in 2023.
The popularity of pickleball doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon, and what’s not to like? Thanks to its smaller court and slower pace, for many, the sport is more easy-going and approachable than tennis. To boot, it’s often centered in a fun atmosphere with great food, drinks and music, as well.
Now, new stats from the Apple Heart and Movement Study, have shown pickleball’s health benefits may even match that of its more competitive older brother, tennis.
The ongoing study compared the health metrics between nearly 5,000 pickleball and 8,000 tennis players, as recorded on their Apple Watches during more than 250,000 games over the course of 32 months. The study revealed that, on average, pickleball sessions lasted slightly longer than tennis sessions (90 minutes versus 81 minutes, respectively), with greater variability observed in the duration of playtime.
In terms of intensity, analysis of heart rate data from the Apple Watch showed that the peak heart rate during tennis averaged 152 beats per minute, compared to 143 beats per minute during pickleball, indicating a difference of nine beats per minute. Additionally, tennis participants spent 9% more time in higher-intensity heart rate zones compared to pickleball players.
Consistency-wise, the study noted a greater seasonal fluctuation in the frequency of tennis games played across the year, whereas the number of pickleball workouts exhibited a consistent upward trend throughout the entire duration of the study period. Notably, pickleball sessions surpassed the number of tennis games starting in July 2023, indicating a sustained increase in pickleball participation over time.
Lastly, every study participant was requested to complete a mental health survey on a quarterly basis, incorporating a depression screening tool. The analysis of average scores revealed that both frequent pickleball and tennis players exhibited a lower likelihood of experiencing depression compared to the overall population within the study.
These metrics may not come as much of a shock to Travis Frantz, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon and physician on the medical staff at Texas Health HEB and Texas Health Orthopedic Specialists, a Texas Health Physicians Group practice, who believes the core of pickleball’s popularity lies in the approachability and social aspect of the game.
“Whether it’s pickleball or any other fitness activity or sport, I will always encourage people to go do it and be active and participate — and not just for the physical side of it,” he says. “There are a lot of things you can do to stay healthy and stay in shape and I think the main reason so many people continue to go back to pickleball is, yes, the physical side, but also the fun, social environment surrounding it, as well.”
