PGA Show Adds Racquet Sports Section Highlighting Pickleball’s Rapid Growth

The PGA Show is featuring a new Racquet Sports section at its Orlando convention this week, reflecting rapid growth in pickleball, tennis and padel and creating a concentrated trade floor for paddles, rackets and related technology. Marketed as a "show within a show," the Racquet Sports area brings product displays, educational sessions, live demonstrations and networking events directly into a major golf industry marketplace.

Organizers point to participation jumps across racquet sports as the driver. Tennis participation is reported up 33 percent since 2020, while pickleball participation has increased 59 percent since 2022, cited at 8.9 million players. The addition of racquet sports aims to capture that momentum and expose golf buyers, facility operators and retail buyers to a broader array of racquet offerings.

More than 50 brands were slated to exhibit in the Racquet Sports area, with equipment, apparel and technology from Joola Pickleball, Paddletek and Selkirk among those scheduled. The section also partners with industry groups including RSPA, USTA and PTR, signaling an effort to tie manufacturing, retail and teaching networks together under one roof. For club owners and facility managers, that mix creates a one-stop opportunity to evaluate paddles, court accessories, coaching tools and pro-shop inventory.

Practical value for local players and community organizers is immediate. The live demonstrations and educational sessions provide hands-on exposure to new paddle designs, stringing and grip options, and court-surface products that affect play and maintenance budgets. Retailers and municipal parks departments can use the networking events to source vendors, compare pricing and line up demo programs that translate directly into lesson enrollments and court bookings. For teaching pros, the presence of PTR and USTA resources offers access to credentialing and curriculum updates in the same space where equipment innovation is on display.

The crossover with golf trade attendees may expand distribution channels for racquet sports gear. Golf course pro shops and resort operators already looking to diversify amenities can now evaluate turnkey solutions for adding pickleball and padel to their offerings. That could accelerate court builds, increase lesson programs and broaden local competition schedules.

As the PGA Show continues through Jan. 20-23 in Orlando, expect manufacturers and coaches to emphasize durability, playability and conversion strategies that matter to community programs. For players, club managers and coaches, the Racquet Sports section is a practical opportunity to test gear, meet suppliers and bring fresh options back to courtside. The move also signals that pickleball’s growth is shifting from backyard and club house courts to the center stage of mainstream trade shows.