Club owners are hearing stories that go far beyond the court, and the research suggests they should be building their programming around it.
Pickleball’s rise has often been tied to its accessibility, social nature and low barrier to entry. But for some operators, the sport’s most meaningful impact has happened far beyond the scoreboard.
Across clubs and facilities, owners and operators are seeing firsthand how pickleball can improve mental wellness by creating community, building resilience and giving players a sense of belonging.
Stephanie Daniels, the co-owner of Pickleball Euphoria, began playing pickleball with her husband as a means of bettering their physical health. They quickly noticed the connection between the sport and mental health as well. The accessibility and ease of the sport is what drew her in, but the connections she made are what kept her playing.
As Daniels became more involved and began teaching beginners regularly, she started hearing stories that reinforced the emotional and mental benefits of pickleball.
“I had a gentleman who came to me one night in the middle of a beginner clinic,” said Daniels. “He said, ‘My wife passed away several months ago and I’ve really just been sitting on my couch eating myself to death. And I know that’s not the life she wants for me. I know she’d want me to be engaged with others and have others there to support me and lift me up. I really feel like this is the thing that can do that for me.’”
Research supports what operators like Daniels are hearing on their courts. A 2023 systematic review published in Frontiers in Psychology examined 13 studies on pickleball and mental health in adults, finding measurable improvements across a range of psychological outcomes — including personal wellbeing, life satisfaction, depression and stress. Researchers concluded the sport’s inclusive nature makes it a viable tool for improving mental health across diverse populations.
Stories like that have become common for operators as the sport continues to grow. Mitch Dunn, the owner of The Pickle Lodge, said he’s had multiple members tell him the sport has fundamentally changed their lives by helping them build community and support systems they previously lacked. One member, recovering from breast cancer, credited the pickleball community for helping her through an incredibly difficult period.
For Dunn, moments like those reinforced the idea that pickleball’s staying power goes deeper than exercise.
“I really think it’s that impact on the brain,” said Dunn. “You try the sport, and it feels good. Suddenly, your brain wants more. You start to build routines around the fact that your brain wants more and then it becomes harder and harder to stop. It’s a really healthy addiction loop.”
According to Baptist Health, the sport’s combination of physical activity, focused engagement and social connection reduces stress and builds the kind of mental wellness that keeps players coming back.
Operators also repeatedly point to the way pickleball naturally fosters connection among players who otherwise may never cross paths. Daniels described how participants who were once strangers now celebrate birthdays, travel and spend time outside of the courts. What starts as a recreational activity often evolves into deeper relationships.
“The pickleball community has a unique way of meeting people where they are and just kind of bit by bit building these really strong foundational relationships that become lifelong friends,” said Daniels.
Dunn echoed this, saying he believes pickleball allows for people to break away from the struggles and issues of everyday life. No matter a person’s background or situation, on the court, everyone is there for the same reason.
That sense of belonging is what has allowed clubs to partner with mental-health focused organizations and use pickleball as a platform for awareness and fundraising.
The Pickle Lodge has hosted the “Dinks and Drinks” tournament supporting organizations focused on suicide prevention and mental health awareness. The club also hosts an annual event for Keep Going 25, a foundation focused on giving young people tools to build resilience through difficult times. Both organizations have used pickleball as a vehicle for fundraising and community outreach, raising what Dunn described as “real money” to advance their missions. Dunn said the club’s role extends beyond simply providing courts.
“I believe we as clubs are fantastic marketing devices,” he said. “If you think of the pure number of people who walk through our doors every day, that alone makes us a really rich territory for spreading positive messages.”
That reach also has a direct business case. Dunn believes clubs that intentionally build programming around the intersection of physical and mental wellness — clinics, social events, nonprofit partnerships — will be the ones members keep returning to. The clubs with the strongest social fabric, he said, are the ones that get rewarded.
“I think the higher calling is to help people stay connected and become more resilient over time,” said Dunn. “The older you get, the faster it seems to go. And I think the important places like pickleball clubs become in their ability to connect you mentally to other people.”
Daniels sees that impact daily, particularly among people who are new to a city, caring for loved ones or simply searching for connection. Pickleball, she said, often becomes more than a game.
“Pickleball is a common language that just brings us all together,” said Daniels.
For operators, that may ultimately be one of the sport’s greatest strengths. While players may initially walk through the doors looking for exercise or competition, many leave with something more lasting — community, resilience and a support system that goes beyond the court.
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Jordan Meek is a staff writer for Pickleball Innovators, where she covers the rapidly evolving business of pickleball — from facility growth and technology to player experience and industry strategy. A graduate of Denison University with a degree in Journalism, she joined Peake Media in 2025 and brings a passion for storytelling and curiosity to every piece. Jordan is driven to spotlight the leaders shaping the sport and uncover insights that help operators thrive in the fastest-growing game in America.
