(Mostly) useful bits of racket information around the world

PTR has more Pickleball members than tennis members

“In early 2018, I went to the PTR board and said we need to get into pickleball, and they said go for it. So I created the PPR [Professional Pickleball Registry] and it’s been unbelievable. Now, after five years, we actually have more PPR members than PTR members.” Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) CEO Dan Santorum in Part 2 of an interview posted in the April issue of Racquet Sports Industry. (Here’s Part 1 of that same interview.)

Delray Beach Open

“Many of the pros take them and the rest are given to local tennis pros for their clinics, lessons, etc.” Tournament Chairman Ivan Baron on what happened to the 5,000 tennis balls used at the 2024 Delray Beach Open.

Pickleball Viewership

“Viewership at the second “Pickleball Slam” — which included former tennis stars Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and John McEnroe — at 596,000, down from the inaugural edition of the event last April (669K).” SportsMediaWatch

Women in Sport

“For every $1 corporate sponsors invest in women’s sports, they see an average customer value return of $7.29.” IMG’s Women in Sports report. Download the report here.

String Ping Text Marketing Service

“StringPing allows you to upload your entire club's database into the software and then you can organize the contacts into groups based on their interests or abilities.  Provided they're opt-in, you can text the entire database or the smaller groups. And unlike a smartphone, when one person replies, the rest of the group doesn't see the reply, only the pro sees it.  Pros can also set up automated reminders for group clinics and events...just set it and forget it.  Also great for weather cancellation notices and tournament updates.
The database needs to be imported in a CSV file format, we can help the client with the installation.” StringPing.net founder and CEO Rick Kerpsack when asked “What is the problem you are solving?”

U.S. Sports Betting

‘Maximizing the in-play sports betting opportunity in the evolving US market’
White paper created by SportsRadar. Read it here.

TCB  Survey March 2024 - What is your racquet sport of choice?

Do you and/or your clientele play only tennis as your racquet sport of choice?

142 Replies

69 Comments…

My people play almost exclusively tennis when it comes to racquet sports and I only teach tennis.

Sport of a life time and helps me live 10+ years longer than any other sport

Doug F__k Pickleball Hofer, USPTA

PB and Tennis

Never had an interest in taking time away from tennis with another racquet sport.

Tennis is preferred by far, but we will play pickleball.

POP Tennis

I have made a 42 year career from the tennis industry. Pickleball is fine if that's what you like, but I'm old school and it's not for me.

Tennis is the best racket sport

Yes

Only tennis

i have a unique take on pickleball, do i like it personally? no. but i would rather have people exercise doing ANYTHING, than not playing.

Pickleball and platform tennis and tennis are all on the schedule regularly.

I’m a tennis player and coach . Tennis is the sport of choice above any other sport . I do play and coach a little pickleball but it’s only after tennis or on bad weather days or rain since it’s inside.

Some people play both I don't care really just don't want to share courts

WHY ?…Tennis is only sport that adds 9.7 years to your life… LOVE IT

Tennis

I only play and coach tennis! 🎾

Tennis Badminton Squash plus the paddle sports in Laguna Niguel , CA

Pickleball is where tennis players go to die

Pickleball is for those who don't want to learn a real racket sport. Some.will actually play.ping pong over Pickleball.

I play both tennis and pickleball, tho tennis is first choice.

Yes-I would rather play tennis than other racquet sports...but.

Pickleball and Spec Tennis

I feel that pickleball lacks the feel and nuances that tennis holds.

But I want to try pickleball soon!

Dick Kantenberger, former USTA and USPTA and professional coach, but at 90 I am really “former”.

mostly golf these days

squash, racquetball, pickleball,

Tennis is a life enhancing sport

Forced to play pickleball due to no indoor tennis courts!

some of them play pickleball too.

Pickleball 1, tennis 2, Padel 3

We play Squash as there are courts nearby.I like Tennis but with Squash one can get a 30 minute high intensity work out.

Dick Kantenberger, former USTA and USPTA and professional tennis coach

tennis almost all the time but padel or pickle as cross trainer

pickelball rarely

I like the game of tennis, but i also play ping pong and smash ball on the beach.

Rich, If you’re going to promote paddle sports, you really ought to consider the fact that great paddle sports have existed for a long time before the advent of pickle. It would be great to see these other paddle sports receive the attention they deserve. I grew up playing Padel tennis and platform tennis, both of which are far more interesting than pickle. The ball actually bounces & you can use varying amounts of spin. Pop tennis is also huge not just in Venice Beach, but there are pockets all over the nation where it’s been big for a long time. There’s no kitchen in these paddle sports, so you have players playing the whole court, using different court positions, formations & therefore layers of strategy. With pickle, the kitchen kills all of that, so you end up with 4 immobilized asses sticking out & people standing around squatting & swatting.

Padel is booming and platform tennis continues to be steady in the fall and first trimester of the year

I as some of my tennis students also play Pickleball and Platform Tennis

No

VR Tennis and Table Tennis

Pickleball exclusively.

touchtennis is a more enjoyable tennis experience for most tennis players.

A few of Them Playing Pickle Ball

It’s safer to play tennis than pickleball!

I play pickleball Oput of social necessity I sum it up like this " TENNS IS A SPORT PICKLEBALL A GAME"

I just teach pickleball and certify other pros to do so. don't play tennis or p ball anymore. tennis was my sport

Play Platform Tennis in Winter as well as indoor Tennis!

Still haven’t tried that interloper-Pickelstuff

Also play racquetball. Tried pickleball but don't care for it.

I recognize that pickleball is a rapidly rising sport. It's a sport that accomodates the recreational needs of many that for whatever the circumstances don't have the skills necessary for tennis. Someday, Iwill play it.

Tennis often but pickleball on a rare occasion...

Dabble once in a while with padel.

Padel and Pickleball don't appeal.

I LOVE tennis and can't get enough of it!!!!!! :)

Most of us play Pickleball and Tennis

I also play touchtennis!

we play touchtennis only

We have four tennis courts and 8 pickleball courts at our facility. We offer Spec Tennis on the pickleball courts.

We ONLY play tennis!

Under 10% of my club's customers play pickleball in addition to tennis. Personally, I have played PB about 4-5 times over the last half dozen years. Hated it every time. :-)

I play pickleball about once every 6 weeks.

Babolat (Puredrivr)

Tennis and pickleball

I could enjoy pickleball every now and then, but I would not play PB on tennis courts that used to be only for tennis. PB now dominates some of the tennis courts.

A lot of our clientele play both tennis & pickleball now

Most of my clientele play tennis as their racquet sport of choice. Some dable in pickleball. I only teach tennis, Not enough time to take on adding pickleball .

Thank you, everyone, for participating!