Are you a pickleball enthusiast who aspires to make a living from your passion? Have you ever wondered how much do pro pickleball players make? As pickleball’s popularity grows, the sport attracts top-level talent from around the world, and these players are earning big bucks in the process.
In this article, we’ll dive headfirst into the world of pro pickleball and investigate the earning potential of the game’s best players. From prize money to sponsorships, we’ll break down how top pros make their money and reveal the staggering sums that some players are earning.
So, whether you’re a die-hard pickleball fan or just curious about the sport, prepare to learn about how much do pro pickleball players make and the exciting world of professional pickleball with the impressive salaries that come with it!
How Much Do Pro Pickleball Players Make?
Pickleball is a sport that combines tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements. You can play on a court with a net, paddles, and a holed plastic ball. In recent years, the sport has grown in popularity, particularly among older adults who enjoy its low-impact and social nature.
Pickleball, however, is not just a hobby for retirees. It is also a competitive sport, with professional players competing in tournaments and earning money from prize money, sponsorships, equipment sales, and coaching.
Let’s dig in more and get interesting facts about various sources of income for pro pickleball players.
1. Tournament Prize Money
One of the main sources of income for pro pickleball players is tournament prize money. The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour is one of the most prominent pickleball organizations that host tournaments with high payouts for pro players.
For example, its 2022 tournament has a total prize purse of $100k that will be split between the men’s and women’s champions and other category winners.
The USA Pickleball National Championships is another big tournament with a top-position prize of $2.5k. While these numbers may seem small compared to other pro sports like tennis or golf, they are on par with other emerging sports like esports or ultimate frisbee.
However, not all pro players can earn a significant amount from tournament prize money alone, as they have to share it with their partners (in doubles or mixed doubles) and pay for their travel and accommodation expenses. Moreover, the prize money is distributed among different categories and skill levels. So only the top players can get a decent share.
2. Sponsorships and Gear Sales
Another source of income for pro pickleball players is sponsorships from various companies that provide them with gear and other incentives to promote their brands. Some of the companies that sponsor pro pickleball players to include.
- Niupipo Pickleball Brand
- Selkirk Sport
- Franklin Sports
- Engage Pickleball
- Onix Sports
- Paddletek
- ProKennex
- Vulcan Pickleball
- Gamma Sports
- Head Pickleball
- Wilson Sporting Goods
Sponsorships can vary depending on the player’s performance, popularity, and contract terms. Some players may receive free gear or discounts while others may receive cash bonuses or royalties based on sales.
According to USAPickleball “Grants: USA Pickleball awarded 72 Community Grants and 66 Youth/Collegiate Grants, with a total allocation of $41,100.“
Some pro players also sell their own branded gear or merchandise through their websites or social media platforms. This can generate additional income for them as well as increase their fan base and exposure.
3. Coaching Services
A third source of income for pro pickleball players is coaching. Many pro players offer online or offline coaching services to help other players improve their skills and strategies. There are ways to do coaching.
- Blogs
- YouTube channels
- Websites
- Apps
- Camps
- Private lessons
Coaching fees can vary depending on the coach’s credentials, reputation, experience level, etc.,
but they can range from $50 to $200 per hour or more.
Top Earning Pro Pickleball Players
While there is no official ranking of pro pickleball players by earnings some of the names that are often mentioned as top earners include:
1. Tyson McGuffin: He is widely regarded as one of the best male singles players in the world. He has won multiple titles including four US Open championships and two USA Pickleball National Championships. Also, he plays doubles and mixed doubles with partners like Kyle Yates and Andrea Koop.
He has sponsorships from Selkirk Sport, Franklin Sports, and Jigsaw Health. He also offers online coaching through his website. His estimated net worth is around $500k.
2. Ben Johns: He is considered one of the most dominant male players in both singles and doubles categories. Moreover, he has won several major titles including three US Open championships three USA Pickleball National Championships and two PPA Tour championships.
He plays doubles with partners like Collin Johns Matt Wright and Simone Jardim. He has sponsorships from Franklin Sports, Onix Sports, and Niupipo Pickle Ball Brand. His website also provides online coaching. The estimated net worth of Ben Johns is around $400k.
3. Simone Jardim: She is widely regarded as one of the best female players in both singles and doubles categories. And she has won multiple titles including four US Open championships in singles, two US Open championships in doubles (with Corrine Carr), and four US Open championships in mixed doubles (with Kyle Yates and Ben Johns).
She also holds the record for most women’s Pro Pickleball Association titles with 32. And has sponsorships from Prince, Jigsaw Health, and DUPR. She also offers online and offline coaching through her Peak Performance Pickleball Academy. Her estimated net worth is around $500k.
4. Lucy Kovalova: She is considered as one of the most versatile female players in the sport. Won several major titles including two US Open championships in doubles (with Simone Jardim and Irene Tereschenko), one US Open championship in mixed doubles (with Matt Wright), and one PPA Tour championship in singles.
She plays with various partners such as Matt Wright, Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau, etc. Additionally, she has sponsorships from Engage Pickleball, Jigsaw Health, and Onix Sports. She also offers online coaching through her website. Her estimated net worth is around $300k.
5. Anna Leigh Waters: She is considered one of the most talented young players in the sport. Became the youngest professional pickleball player in history at age 12 and the youngest tournament champion the same year.
She has won several major titles including six US Open championships, six USA Pickleball National Championships, and four PPA Tour championships. Also plays doubles with her mother, Leigh Waters, a former NCAA Division I tennis player at the University of South Carolina.
She has also played mixed doubles with Ben Johns and Matt Wright. And has sponsorships from Fila, Engage Pickleball, and Jigsaw Health. She also offers online and offline coaching through her website. Her estimated net worth is around $300k.
The Growth of Pickleball
Pickleball is not only a sport for professional players, but also a sport for millions of recreational players who enjoy its fun, social, and competitive aspects. According to various sources, pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in America and worldwide.
According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), pickleball has 4.8 million players in the United States of America as of 2021. The growth rate of the number of pickleball players for the two-year period from 2019 to 2021 is 39.3%. The number of players playing pickleball has nearly doubled in the last seven years (2014-21).
According to USA Pickleball, there are 10,724 known places to play pickleball in North America as of January 2022. Nearly 1,557 new locations were added to their database in 2021 (130 new locations per month). There are also 44,094 total known courts available for playing pickleball.
According to Forbes, pickleball is also gaining popularity among celebrities and influential people such as Bill Gates, Michael Phelps, Jamie Foxx, Sugar Ray Leonard, Scottie Scheffler, and Jordan Spieth.
Gates wrote a blog post dedicated to his favorite sport in which he said he was “stunned” but “delighted” that pickleball had become so popular. He had been playing it for more than 50 years.
The growth of pickleball can be attributed to several factors such as its simplicity, accessibility, affordability, inclusivity, and adaptability. Anyone regardless of age, gender, or skill level on a smaller court than tennis or badminton with minimal equipment and cost can play pickleball.
FAQs
Yes, many professional pickleball players make a significant portion of their income from sponsorships and endorsements. Companies that manufacture pickleball equipment and gear, as well as companies in other industries, often sponsor players who can help promote their brands.
Yes, it is possible for a professional pickleball player to make a full-time living from the sport, particularly for those who rank highly in tournaments and have lucrative sponsorships and endorsements. However, it can be challenging to achieve this level of success, and most players supplement their income with other jobs or business ventures.
With the continued growth and popularity of pickleball, it is likely that the earning potential for professional players will continue to increase in the coming years. As more tournaments and opportunities become available, top players may be able to earn even higher salaries and secure more lucrative sponsorships and endorsements.
In general, there are no gender pay disparities in professional pickleball, as both men’s and women’s events offer equal prize money. However, there may be differences in the number of events or opportunities for men and women, depending on the particular tournament or organization.
Final Words
Finally, professional pickleball players have the potential to earn substantial amounts of money from their love of the game. Top players in the sport can earn six-figure incomes and make a full-time living from pickleball thanks to opportunities for tournament winnings, sponsorships, and endorsements.
Obtaining this level of success, however, requires a combination of talent, hard work, and business skills, and it is not an easy task. The earning potential for professional pickleball players is likely to increase as the sport grows in popularity, providing even more opportunities for players to pursue their dreams and make a living from their love of the game.
Whether you’re a seasoned pickleball player or simply a fan of the sport, it’s clear that the future of pro pickleball is bright and full of exciting possibilities.