New York, NY – After years of explosive growth, 2025 may mark a turning point for pickleball in the United States, with new data suggesting the sport’s popularity is no longer accelerating — and may be slipping for the first time since the pandemic era.
According to Google Trends data, 2025 is the first year since 2020 that pickleball has seen a measurable decline in U.S. search interest. Overall interest dropped nearly 10% over the past year, signaling cooling curiosity after a historic rise that transformed public parks, retirement communities, and suburban courts nationwide.
At the same time, padel — a racket sport popular in Europe and Latin America — reached an all-time high in U.S. search interest in 2025. Searches for “padel courts near me” jumped roughly 30% year over year, while similar searches for pickleball and tennis courts declined.
The slowdown is also visible in how Americans are searching for the game itself. Over the past year, searches for “pickleball rules” fell by about 30%, “pickleball set” dropped 25%, and “pickleball lessons” declined 15%, suggesting fewer new or beginner players entering the sport.
Google Trends maps show Florida continuing to lead the nation in pickleball-related searches, followed by New York, Connecticut, and Virginia — states with large retiree populations or dense recreational infrastructure.
Sports analysts caution that the decline does not mean pickleball is disappearing. Instead, they say the sport may be entering a mature phase after years of rapid adoption.
“Pickleball had an unusually fast growth curve,” said one industry analyst who tracks recreational sports participation. “What we’re seeing now looks more like stabilization than collapse.”
Professional pickleball leagues, tournaments, and dedicated facilities continue to operate nationwide. Still, the data suggests 2025 could be remembered as the year America’s fastest-growing sport finally slowed — just as a new challenger stepped onto the court.
