Why Women Over 50 Are Powering the UK’s Pickleball Boom

Why British Women Over 50 Are Driving Pickleball’s Next Wave
On a grey Tuesday morning at a leisure centre in Shropshire, the sports hall hums with laughter and the rhythmic tap of paddles meeting plastic balls. The courts are full. Retired teachers, former office managers, and a few grandmothers in athletic trainers are deep in spirited doubles matches. Pickleball, a hybrid sport with the bounce of tennis and the close quarters of badminton, has become a surprising anchor in the weekly calendars of women across England. And those over 50 are fast becoming its driving force.

Until recently, pickleball in the UK was largely seen as a niche activity. But over the past three years, participation has surged — and not just among the expected early adopters. According to Pickleball England, the number of registered players has more than doubled since 2022. Within that growth, women aged 50 and above represent the fastest-expanding group. Across towns from Cumbria to Kent, they are not only showing up to play. They are leading sessions, mentoring new players, and forming the social backbone of the sport.

Data from Sport England’s Active Lives Survey reveals a sharp uptick in physical activity among women aged 55–74, much of it driven by community sports. Pickleball sessions now feature regularly in leisure centre timetables in counties such as Gloucestershire, Dorset, and Hampshire. Some venues report that over 70 percent of regular participants in daytime pickleball sessions are women over 50.

For many, the sport offers exactly the blend of accessibility, joy, and connection they had been seeking. “I hadn’t played anything since school netball,” says Alison Morgan, 63, from Colchester. “But within 10 minutes of my first game, I was laughing. It felt like I had found something that belonged to me again.”

Pickleball’s appeal to this age group is not accidental. It is relatively low-impact, placing less strain on joints than sports like squash or running. The smaller court means less sprinting, but still demands balance, agility and quick thinking. The paddle is lightweight. The ball moves slower than a tennis ball. These features make the sport especially attractive to people navigating menopause, arthritis, or post-surgery recovery — concerns more prevalent in later midlife.

What stands out even more is the social magnetism of the game. In contrast to individual fitness routines, pickleball is relentlessly interactive. “There’s no hiding,” laughs Sandra White, 59, from Lincoln. “You’re in a rally, you’re laughing, and you’re learning people’s names as you go.” For women entering retirement or facing empty-nest transitions, the court becomes a new social anchor.

Health professionals are beginning to take note. Dr. Raj Gill, a GP in West London, has started recommending pickleball to older patients looking for low-impact ways to improve cardiovascular health. “It’s a brilliant option,” he says. “It ticks boxes for aerobic activity, balance training, and mental stimulation — and it keeps people coming back.”

The mental health benefits are just as profound. A 2023 study by UK Active found that regular community sport participation among women aged 50+ was strongly associated with reductions in loneliness and improved mood. Pickleball, with its inclusive and laughter-filled nature, is emerging as a particularly effective antidote to social isolation.

Many of these players never considered themselves sporty before. Pickleball allows them to reframe their relationship with movement. “At this age, we’re not looking to prove anything,” says Marion Ellis, 67, who co-founded a women’s pickleball club in Devon. “We’re playing because it brings us joy.”

That joy has led to new ventures. Women are forming clubs, selling paddle bags on Etsy, and starting pickleball meetups in parks and church halls. In places like Wiltshire and Surrey, local councils are beginning to partner with these informal leaders to organise tournaments and outreach sessions.

Crucially, many of these women are not just playing. They are coaching. They are refereeing. They are entering — and winning — regional competitions. Pickleball England’s Senior Women’s Doubles categories have seen record entries, and women in their 60s are regularly advancing to medal rounds. The traditional narrative that women over 50 are spectators, not players, is being quietly dismantled with each serve.

The ethos of the sport also seems to suit the demographic. Pickleball is widely known for its emphasis on good sportsmanship and community spirit. While competitiveness exists, many over-50 players describe the culture as “welcoming” and “refreshingly ego-free”. For players who felt alienated by the intensity of traditional sport, pickleball offers a second chance — a space to compete, but also to connect.

The economic ripple is beginning to show. Leisure centres are shifting their programming to include more women-friendly time slots. Sportswear brands are taking note of a growing demand for flattering, functional pickleball apparel that doesn’t cater exclusively to twentysomethings. And local businesses that offer wellness retreats or holiday breaks are starting to include pickleball as a featured activity.

This groundswell is not just about sport. It is about visibility. For decades, older women have been underrepresented in sporting imagery, media coverage, and planning. Pickleball offers a chance to change that — not through marketing campaigns, but through grassroots momentum.

Jane Cotter, 68, embodies this shift. A retired accountant from York, she took up pickleball at 65 and recently won her age category at a regional tournament in Leeds. “I never thought of myself as an athlete,” she says. “Now I look forward to matches the way I used to look forward to holidays.”

Her story is becoming less exceptional every month.

As pickleball continues its climb in popularity across England, it is increasingly shaped by the women who were once left out of the sports conversation. They bring energy, experience, and a sense of purpose that goes well beyond the court lines.

The next wave of English pickleball is not being driven by teenage prodigies or Instagram influencers. It is being led by women in their fifties, sixties, and seventies — and they are playing for keeps.