How Much Do Pro Pickleball Players Make? Complete Analysis

In this modern era, priorities have changed, and so is the case with sports. People prefer to play new sports in which Pickleball holds great importance. Pickleball sport is played worldwide, and pro players have made good fortunes through this game. The question arises: of how much do pro pickleball players make?

A professional pickleball player can earn a handsome amount in the range of $50K to $200K per year, in which gear sponsorship is the highest contributor. Other than this, some pro players have also reported that they make around $80K per year through sponsor incentives and even through coaching.

• Top Tier Earners: $100k-$200k per year
• Mid Tier Earners: $50k-$100k per year
• Low Tier Earners: $20k-$50k per year

Gear sponsorships at the top level can make around $30k to $80k. The rest is prize winnings (usually matched by gear sponsor), clinics etc.

3 Sources of Making Money in Pickleball:

We will discuss some ways through which pro players make money in pickleball games, including the below:

1. Tournament prize money
2. Gear and equipment sponsorship incentive
3. Coaching

1. Tournament Prize Money:

Tournament prize money as set by the tournament organizers is one of the primary earning sources for players of Pickleball. The prize money is relatively low compared to other sports and games, but a player can still make a sustained career out of just playing this sport.

Most of the players have to depend on other activities and play Pickleball to support themselves in their lives. A person needs to be many pros in this game to earn a good amount. Due to much hype of this game, more sponsors are getting involved in supporting this game at national and international levels. 

If we talk about the tournament prize money, the total prize money pool asset for USA Pickleball National Championship 2019 was set as $80K. But the champions from the men and women's category got only $2.5K as a part of their winning. 

2. Gear & Equipment Sponsorship Incentive:

Sponsorship holds great importance when it comes to the matter of earning. The main chunk of professional players’ earnings comes from equipment sponsors and the total incentive purse. The success stories of various pro players of pickleball games have also explained that this sport does not receive gear and equipment sponsorship.

However, it has become much easier for pickleball players to earn through this game. For example, the leading pickleball paddle and other accessories brand manufacturer, Selkirk Sport, has increased their incentive pool for pickleball players to more than 50%, which is around $300K.

Tyson McGuffin ranked as number two in the men’s singles category in the pickleball game and a brand ambassador for team Selkirk, says that there is much chance to earn money from this game. He also explained that there were not many opportunities previously, and he had to do coaching sessions to support himself.  

3. Coaching:

One of the essential methods of making a living out of pickleball sport is coaching. There is a coaching certificate agency named Pickleball Coaching International from where pickleball players can get their certificate if they plan to combine their playing and coaching.

It is estimated that a pickleball student at a fundamental level pays about $10 per hour for coaching classes. In this case, a professional pickleball player can earn a good amount if around 10-30 students are in class. The amount earned is often used to book the courts and hire equipment and can be used as a coach's salary.

Other than this, online opportunities are also available for pickleball players to earn a good amount. A pickleball player can make their online setup of blogs and Youtube channels for amateurs and beginners. It is an excellent opportunity to earn handsome amounts of money on these platforms by sharing tips and tricks related to pickleball games and more!

On blogs, pickleball player can share their experiences in written form. Youtube is also the best medium for this purpose. A player can make a channel here to share videos related to rules and regulations for playing Pickleball.

Prize Money for APP Pickleball Tournament Calendar – 2022:

Pro Players of Pickleball Game According to Points:

In the Pickleball game, three significant tournaments are seen in the United States as this game is played majorly in the US. These tournaments are the Tournament of Champions, Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championship, and Minto US Open Pickleball Championship. 

These are probably the most challenging competitions and hold substantial cash prizes for their players. Instead of weighting medals for each player, here we had classified the pro players of Pickleball according to their points which they have won in their pro/open bracket such as:

• 1st place: 3 points
• 2nd place: 2 points
• 3rd place: 1 point
• 4th place and below: 0 points

1. Ben Johns:

Ben Johns is a young player in pickleball sport and has won numerous events, making him the first pickleball player endorsed by Franklin sports. He appeared in the following events as mentioned below:

2. Kyle Yates:

Kyle Yates is one of the kindest players in the world of pickleball who has won numerous titles in this game.

3. Tyson McGuffin:

He is considered one of the most recognized players in the pickleball world and has badged many laurels in this sport.

4. Matt Wright:

Matt Wright is considered an accomplished player in the world of pickleball sport and has won many medals in this aspect.

5. Steve Deakin:

Steve Deakin is a renowned player of tennis and has badged many laurels in pickleball sport too. He was being sponsored by Selkirk and is realized as a pickleball prowess.

Can A Person Afford A Living With Pickleball?

It is a generally asked question by the general public. If we stick to how much pro pickleball players make, then a similar question arises: Can people make a handsome living out of this sport?

If we see the rising acceptance of this sport, the answer comes out to be an affirmative one. A person can make a good living by pursuing this sport as their career. There are many methods to get professionally involved in this sport. 

Pickleball is a game invented in the late 20th century and evolved with time. The shape and image of this game we observe these days are different from its initial form and stage. This game, with time, developed great acceptance and following from the general public.

An Association of pickleball also came into existence, which helped make this sport a prominent one. Like all other sports, some pro-pickleball players pursue this sport as their career. They play this sport professionally and generate a handsome amount of revenue. 

On average, it is said that an everyday pickleball player can earn anywhere between $50,000 to $200,000 per Annum.

3 Methods to Afford a Living with Pickleball:

Method 1:

One of the main methods to make money out of this sport is that if a person has previously remained involved in this sport and has good skills and expertise, they can opt to become a pickleball coach. It has been seen that many pickleball coaches render their services through freelancing or local sports clubs.

Another method of coaching people for this game is becoming a Physical Education teacher in educational institutes. PE teachers are highly paid in almost all regions of the world; however, what is essential in this case, is that one must have a certificate of being a physical educationist.

Method 2:

Another method of pursuing this game professionally is becoming a distributor of the instruments involved in pickleball. Those instruments can be pickleball paddles, balls, rackets, net, and similar stuff.

Method 3:

The third method of earning money through this sport is getting sponsored as a pro. It is probably the most challenging and riskiest way to try and make money with pickleball. However, once you achieve a high level of proficiency with the game, you may be able to court manufacturers and see if they’ll sponsor your travels to various competitions.

Unfortunately, since pickleball still hasn’t received as much widespread attention as the likes of tennis, even the most prominent companies likely can’t fund the entirety of your income like a pro. That is why many top-level players primarily make a living through coaching and offering lessons even if they have the support of businesses.

Also Read:

What Kind of Ball is Used in Pickleball?
What is A Volley in Pickleball? All You Need to Know

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

How much amount does Ben Johns make while playing pickleball sport?

The estimated amount which Ben Johns make while playing pickleball is around $5200 and is ranked as number 2 in men pro players.

Is the pickleball game worth the money, and can players make money in it?

The players playing pickleball can earn a handsome amount of money, and there is a lot of money in this sport. The total price, which was fixed for the 2019 USA Pickleball National Championships, was around $80,000, in which both the open and senior-open players from the pro division were paid the same.

Who is considered the number one player in the pickleball world?

Jay Devilliers is ranked as the number one player in the pickleball world, having 900 points, followed by Zane Navratil with 720 points.

Is there any pro pickleball league celebrated?

Major League Pickleball was officially launched in Dripping Springs, Texas, in which the world’s best 32 professional players competed in a national broadcast competition. Sixteen men and sixteen women participated in it.

What is the average age of the oldest pickleball player?

The average age, according to USA Pickleball professional players, is 41.

How much money does a pickleball coach make?

A pickleball instructor or a coach can also make handsome money. The annual salary estimated of the top earner is around $111,500 with a weekly pay of $2144.

How much amount do pickleball pros make?

A professional and top pickleball player can earn around $50K-$200K in a year. Top players earn more through gear sponsorship which is their highest-earning contributor.

How can someone become a pro in pickleball games?

 Here are some tips which can help you in becoming a pro in the pickleball game:

• It is advisable to write down your goals specifically and keep them visible.
• Record and make your schedule for each day of the week.
• Set some small daily steps and get yourself creative with your training.
• Practice the game in a better way and master your morning.

Is pickleball considered an Olympic level game?

No pickleball is not the game of the Olympic level.

Who is the world’s best pickleball player in the women’s category?

Benjamin Johns is considered the number one player in the women’s category and holds ranking points of 20000, followed by Tyson McGuffin with 19900 ranking points.

What are the highest-ranking criteria in pickleball?

The average player holds around a 3.5 rating as most tournaments are grouped by age and rankings. The rating system of pickleball is based on 5.0, which is the highest level for players.

Which type of pickleball paddles do most of the pro players use?

Most pro players use the pickleball paddles from The Titan Pro, their signature paddle. It is a balanced paddle and provides both touch and power.

Are there any professional pickleball teams?

The Pickleball game includes professional leagues and tournaments held throughout the country and includes prize-winning competitions, including the US Open Pickleball Championships and Pickleball Masters.

Which type of balls do pro pickleball players use for the game?

Dura is an official ball used at many tournaments by the pro professional pickleball players.