Tennis Participation 2023

[Moon Shooter]

https://www.usta.com/content/dam/usta/2024-pdfs/national-tennis-participation-report.pdf

I do not think this research was actually done by USTA I think it was from tennisindustry.org. I think USTA just published some parts of it on their website - but I could be wrong.

About 11.8 million played tennis more then 10x in 2023. Down 2% from last year.

8.3 million core players are over 18+ 3.5million are under age 18.

I have to wonder how many students had Tennis in PE. Thus boosting the "core players" by including non-voluntary play. This is not addressed in the power point.

USTA league participation is about 220,000.

A preliminary look at some USTA League statistics for 2023 - Overall participation

It is mid-June and the calendar year is almost half over, and with it league play is in full force or even into the post-season in some area...

computerratings.blogspot.com

So about 2.65% of adult core tennis players participate in USTA leagues.

They did not break down the percentage of players participating in USTA based on Urban versus rural areas. Actually they did not discuss USTA league participation much at all.

They did not say what percentage of players or core players are male/female. But the tennis industry.org did a report last year that had men 57% female 43%.

https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.racquetindustryresearch.org/resource/resmgr/pdf/tia_2022_national_tennis_par.pdf

If that holds true for core players then 4,731,000 core players are men and only about 80,000 play usta or 1.69%.


They seem to want to somehow take credit for the tennis participation boom during Covid. They also say they are happy to simply stand still because there are so many other recreational activities. I'm not sure I buy that. Women are participating in sports more then ever and a few men's recreational activities are likely to lose popularity due to concussion concerns.

But whatever it is some data.

 

[happyandbob]

From the amount of clacking I hear around town, I think 11.8 million is the number of players signed up for my local pickleball league

 

[Moon Shooter]

From the amount of clacking I hear around town, I think 11.8 million is the number of players signed up for my local pickleball league

Pickleball is at 111million but only 9 million answer honestly on the survey.

 

[socallefty]

But whatever it is some data.

In the USTA report, they say only about 14M people play pickleball. But I’ve seen other reports which say pickleball has about 35M players. Is USTA trying to lowball the pickle ball numbers to make it seem like tennis is more popular still?

 

[silentkman]

You always always wonder how these numbers are generated. according to the report, if you have played once during 12 months you are counted as a tennis player.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Again, if you take, say, that 220,000 league players, add the yearly USTA fee ($45) and then just a single league fee ($35) together ($80 total) to multiply by the players, that is $17.6 million for leagues at a minimum, and definitely is more considering most players sign up for multiple seasons and multiple leagues. Again, I personally don't see that given back in league amenities or such. Not to mention players still bare the cost of court and ball fees, and have to schedule the actual matches themselves.

Locally there have been several indoor PB facilities that opened with AC, food, and drinks, making it an encompassing social experience. I know players that go to play for an hour, but hand around at the bars and patios for many hours after. And then are paying membership fees as well. Guarantee USTA is more focused on the pickleball players as the new cash cow.

 

[sureshs]

Did the USTA numbers account for that guy in this forum who quit tennis for pickleball? @ByeByePoly

 

[silentkman]

Did the USTA numbers account for that guy in this forum who quit tennis for pickleball? @ByeByePoly

If he played tennis once in 12 months then the answer is yes.

 

[ByeByePoly]

Did the USTA numbers account for that guy in this forum who quit tennis for pickleball? @ByeByePoly

I just quit tennis physically.

 

[Moon Shooter]

You always always wonder how these numbers are generated. according to the report, if you have played once during 12 months you are counted as a tennis player.

They talk a bit about the methodology - do you see an issue with it? The 11.8 million (8.3 million adults) is "core players" - who have played more then 10Xs per year. When you include those that played at least once per year but less then 10x it is something like 24 million.

 

[atatu]

I was talking to a friend of mine who plays pickleball and I said it was a good sport for most people because it's easy to pick up. He got a little defensive and said "If it was easy, everyone would be doing it..." Um, yes, exactly.

 

[silentkman]

I was talking to a friend of mine who plays pickleball and I said it was a good sport for most people because it's easy to pick up. He got a little defensive and said "If it was easy, everyone would be doing it..." Um, yes, exactly.

Orthopedic surgeons love pickelball.

 

[silentkman]

They talk a bit about the methodology - do you see an issue with it? The 11.8 million (8.3 million adults) is "core players" - who have played more then 10Xs per year. When you include those that played at least once per year but less then 10x it is something like 24 million.

I have a issue with someone who has played tennis once being a called a tennis player. The point is data can manipulated to do what you want it do.

 

[Moon Shooter]

I have a issue with someone who has played tennis once being a called a tennis player. The point is data can manipulated to do what you want it do.

As long as they are clear how they define things (which they are) I don't mind. The survey breaks people into groups
1) That are planning to play or very interested in playing tennis
2) Have actually played tennis 1-9 times in the last year
3) Have actually played 10 or more times in the last year

We can quibble with these breaks but overall I think they are pretty reasonable.

I am not sure what agenda this outfit would have to manipulate data. But they seem to be selling research that the tennis industry might be interested in. People who actually played tennis 1-9 times per year are more likely then people in group 1 to buy a racquet and tennis shoes and balls. People in group 3 likely own their own racquet and may be on some sort of racquet replacement/year average. USTA is not so interested in that as they are just the overall interest in, and participation in, tennis.

 

[silentkman]

As long as they are clear how they define things (which they are) I don't mind. The survey breaks people into groups
1) That are planning to play or very interested in playing tennis
2) Have actually played tennis 1-9 times in the last year
3) Have actually played 10 or more times in the last year

We can quibble with these breaks but overall I think they are pretty reasonable.

I am not sure what agenda this outfit would have to manipulate data. But they seem to be selling research that the tennis industry might be interested in. People who actually played tennis 1-9 times per year are more likely then people in group 1 to buy a racquet and tennis shoes and balls. People in group 3 likely own their own racquet and may be on some sort of racquet replacement/year average. USTA is not so interested in that as they are just the overall interest in, and participation in, tennis.

If you've played tennis one time in 12 months, you should never be part of any tennis survey. Any organization will do what it can show it's product in a good light. I don't agree with Core Tennis player definition. The only issue that I discussed was the playing one time a year. I'm not quibbling.