Dinking for Dollars | 5 Pickleball Side Hustles

What’s crackin’ my ambitious hustlers!

The pickleball craze is sweeping the nation, with a market projected to reach $2.37 billion by 2028. This week, we're diving deep into the untapped opportunities that could turn your pickleball passion into a profitable side hustle.

This week's focus: "The Pickleball craze"

• Market overview and key players

• 5 Innovative pickleball startup ideas you can launch today

• Startup toolkit and potential revenue

Read time: 6 min

🏓 Market Overview: The Pickleball Goldmine

The global pickleball market is booming, it started to take off in 2022, although it was started back in the late 60’s. I just heard about this sport last year in Mexico, I walked by a court and was like OH tennis…I got corrected lol. Since I lived in the area, I began to realize how much of a demand there was.

We can see the keyword “pickleball” has over 1 million searches a month!! Insane!

• Monthly US Searches: 673.0K

• Global Monthly Searches: 1.4M

• Keyword Difficulty: 98% (Very hard to rank!)

• CPC: $0.28

• Search Intent: Informational & Navigational (People are looking for general information and specific pickleball-related websites)

• Keywords variations:11,431 Total volume: 1,490,750 Average KD:13%

70k Members on the subreddit r/pickleball

There are several key players leading the charge:

Equipment Manufacturers:

• Selkirk Sport: 2022 revenues between $138 million and $220 million

• Other leaders: Franklin Sports, Onix Sports, and Paddletek

Apparel and Footwear:

• Nike: 14.45% market share as of 2020

Market Size Estimates:

• Global market value (2022): $1.32 billion

• Projected value (2028): $2.37 billion (10% CAGR)

Paddle market estimates:

• Conservative: $600 million to $1.2 billion

• Optimistic: $900 million to $3.6 billion (based on player spending)

💡 Business Ideas

1. Specialized Pickleball Bag Online Store: PicklePack 

• Create an e-commerce store focused exclusively on pickleball bags

• Offer a wide range of bags, from budget-friendly to premium options

• Develop a signature line of women's pickleball bags to target high-volume searches

• Implement strong SEO strategies to rank for "pickleball bag" (gets 14.8k searches) and related keywords

• Create detailed product comparison guides to target "best pickleball bags" searches

• Partner with pickleball influencers and clubs for product endorsements

• Offer a 30-day trial period with free returns to boost customer confidence

2. Specialized Pickleball Comfort Gear Retailer: PickleComfort

• Pickleball players suffer from foot injuries like metatarsalgia, reducing their ability to play and enjoy the game

• “metatarsalgia insoles” gets 1600 searches with a low KD of 16

• Curate high-quality comfort products from various brands for pickleball players

• Offer paddle customization services for grip modifications and weight adjustments

• Create and sell custom "comfort kits" bundled for specific issues (e.g., Foot Comfort Kit)

• Provide expert advice and personalized product recommendations

• Source and sell carefully selected shoes, compression sleeves, and recovery products

• Set up an online platform for easy browsing and purchasing of curated products

• Develop a questionnaire or consultation service for personalized recommendations

• Implement a customer review system to help guide future purchasers

• Partner with pickleball professionals or physical therapists for product endorsements

3. Pickleball Gifts Subscription Box: PickleBox 

• Launch a monthly subscription service for curated pickleball gifts

• Offer three tiers: basic ($29.99), standard ($49.99), and premium ($79.99)

• Include a mix of accessories, training aids, apparel, and exclusive discounts

• Target active players, gift-givers, and corporate clients

• Develop an SEO-optimized website to capture "pickleball gifts" searches

• Partner with manufacturers for wholesale pricing and use a fulfillment center

4. Pickleball Content Hub: PicklePro Blog

• Develop a content-rich blog covering techniques, gear reviews, news, and trends

• Create a podcast series featuring interviews with pickleball experts, coaches, and pro players

• Produce high-quality YouTube tutorials on pickleball skills, strategy, and fitness

• Implement a user-friendly design with easy navigation between different content types

• Offer a free email newsletter with weekly pickleball tips and industry updates

• Partner with pickleball brands for sponsored content and gear giveaways

• Monetize through affiliate marketing, display ads, and premium content subscriptions

• Focus on SEO to rank for a wide range of pickleball-related keywords

• Build a community forum where pickleball enthusiasts can discuss and share experiences

Here are some SEO blog titles and long tail keywords you can use for blogs to gain organic traffic and rank for some keywords:

5. Mobile Pickleball Coaching Service: PickleCoach

• Develop a user-friendly mobile app and website for booking pickleball lessons

• “pickleball lessons near me” gets 10.5k searches/month - KD 17

• Recruit experienced pickleball players as part-time coaches

• Offer various lesson types: beginner basics, skill improvement, strategy sessions

• Implement a rating system for coaches based on student feedback

• Create a flexible scheduling system for both coaches and students

• Provide equipment rental options for beginners

• Offer group lessons and clinics for a more affordable option

• Develop partnerships with local pickleball courts and recreational centers

• Implement a referral program to encourage word-of-mouth marketing

Don’t want to start a business? BUY ONE 👇🏽

Pickleball FBA store (US-based, 1 year)

• Monthly profit: CAD $8,225 (30% margin)

• Price: USD $120,000 (reduced 20% from $150,000)

• 2.2x profit multiple, $168 AOV

• Main product: USAPA approved "Havok" paddle

Pickle Geeks - Pickleball content site (1 year old)

• 49 SEO-optimized posts, 35% monthly visitor growth

• No profit yet, priced at USD $8,000

• 2.17K keywords, 42 referring domains

• Includes domain, content, email list, social accounts

Tune PickleBall - paddle review site (10 months old)

• 300+ reviews, 419 monthly pageviews

• No profit yet, starting bid USD $1,999

• 806 keywords, 6 referring domains

• Built on Webflow, includes domain and content

💰 Show Me the Money

The potential for these ventures varies, but consider this:

🧰 Startup Toolkit: What You Need to Get Rolling

Total Estimated Startup Costs:

• Dropshipping/E-commerce: $200-$2,000 (depends on your approach)

• Blogging/Affiliate Marketing: $50-$250

💎 Pro Tips

• Focus on solving specific problems in the pickleball market rather than trying to do everything

• Test google ads. According to Semrush, CPC costs are super low 0.28

• LEARN AND PLAY the sport

• Use social media influencers in the pickleball community to promote your product or service

• Stay updated on pickleball regulations and trends to ensure your offering remains relevant

• Don't forget about the potential for corporate team-building events using pickleball – this could be a lucrative B2B opportunity

• Analyze Nike's strategy in the pickleball market for insights on apparel and footwear opportunities

The pickleball market is growing rapidly, presenting numerous opportunities for innovative entrepreneurs.

By focusing on solving real problems in the community and leveraging the right business model, you can create a successful and impactful venture.

Start small, stay agile, Stay hustling!

I welcome feedback and Ideas - If you have any ideas, suggestions submit them here it will help me give you a better value

Presley Dev