Surge in participation since 2019 has led to burgeoning market for specialist rackets, paddles and balls
Padel and pickleball are the hot racket-sport mashups, combining elements of tennis, squash and badminton, but the kit is a whole new ballgame, with sales of specialist rackets, paddles and wiffle balls rocketing as Britons make for the nearest court.
The sports retailer Decathlon is reporting huge demand for padel rackets, balls and accessories, plus a parallel explosion of interest in the less established pickleball, spurring it to develop its own paddles. The rise of these “non-traditional” sports is one of the main themes in its inaugural UK sports trends report.
