Pickleball tournament kicks off at Pictona. Here's what you need to know.

Brenno Carillo, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
·2 min read

With the start of the APP Daytona Beach Open Wednesday, fans will likely be flocking to Pictona at Holly Hill to enjoy one of the biggest pickleball events of the year.

More than 1,100 players from all ages and levels will compete through Sunday, and even ESPN is in town covering the tournament.

Whether you're familiar with the sport or new to pickleball altogether, here are a few facts to know about one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

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What is pickleball?

Pickleball involves elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. Singles or doubles matches are played on a 20-by-44-foot court divided by a net.

Players use paddles to strike a plastic ball with holes onto the opponent’s court and out of their reach. The games take place both indoors and out.

Pickleball professionals Shelby Bates and Hunter Johnson play a scrimmage game at the APP Daytona Beach Open pickleball tournament at Pictona in Holly Hill, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023.
Pickleball professionals Shelby Bates and Hunter Johnson play a scrimmage game at the APP Daytona Beach Open pickleball tournament at Pictona in Holly Hill, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023.

According to USA Pickleball, the national governing body for the sport in the U.S., the sport was invented in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Who plays professional pickleball

While pickleball is popular recreationally, the sport does have its pro players.

The Professional Pickleball Association has an official rank of players, divided into singles and doubles for both men and women.

The top five Singles-Men pickleball players ranked by the association, for instance, are Ben Johns, Tyson McGuffin, Jay Devilliers (from France), JW Johnson and Federico Staksrud (from Argentina).

The association's top five Singles-Women pickleball players are Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau (from Canada), Lea Jansen, Irina Tereschenko (from Russia) and Brooke Buckner.

More rankings are available on the association’s website.

How much do pro players make?

The average pickleball player salary, according to ZipRecuiter, is around $47,000, with some going as high as $85,000.

In Florida, that average is about $39,000. The state ranks 40th nationwide for professional pickleball players.

Of the 10 cities with the highest average pro salary, six are in California (Santa Clara, San Francisco, Fremont, San Jose, Oakland and Sunnyvale), alongside Marysville, Washington; Jackson, Wyoming; Alexandria, Virginia; and Maple Grove, Minnesota.

Florida pickleball tournaments

While pickleball tournaments take place nationwide, here are a few more scheduled in Florida this year:

  • Pickleball Veritas in the Ancient City: St. Augustine, Feb. 24 to 26.

  • PPA Florida Open: Holly Hill, March 9 to 12.

  • Delray Beach Pickleball is Life Challenge: Delray Beach, Mar. 17 to 19.

  • PicklePlex of Punta Gorda: Punta Gorda, March 23 to 26.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Beach Open pickleball tournament underway this weekend