The Cost of Becoming a Professional Pickleball Player
Have you ever thought about becoming a professional pickleball player? I have talked to many professionals in the game and many aspiring professionals. They all say that becoming a professional is hard work, and it can now take two years to grind your way onto the medal stand.
While the physical and mental challenges of the game are always present, have you considered the financial cost? Professional player Rob Nunnery, who I have previously interviewed on the Pickleball Fire podcast, recently wrote a Facebook post documenting the costs of going to tournaments and entering professional events.
To keep this in perspective, he is not able to disclose his sponsorship and endorsement deals due to non-disclosure agreements. However, he did detail the costs of going to a tournament.
Entry Fees for Pickleball Tournaments
First and foremost are the entry fees for the professional events. Rob has mostly played men's doubles and mixed doubles in tournaments, and he says the minimum entry amount for these two divisions is $325. When he does add singles to his events, the cost goes up to over $400. If he does not get to the podium, then he cannot recoup the entry fees.
Transportation and Lodging Costs
Rob estimated domestic flights run $250 and rental cars $250 (although both costs have been significantly higher since his post).
Rob also estimated spending $85-$100 per night for three to four nights of lodging and $100 for food.
Rob’s estimates that the cost of going to a tournament is about $1,000 out of pocket conservatively. His estimate also assumes you are sharing lodging and a rental car. If you’re a single player or prefer the privacy of your own hotel and car, the costs are significantly higher.
Estimated Annual Out-of-Pocket Costs
If we take Rob’s numbers at face value and assume 25 tournaments are entered annually, the minimum out-of-pocket amount would be $22,562. This cost does not include the cost of regularly replacing high-level pickleball gear, including paddles, balls, or other necessities, which can add $1k - $2k.
So, how many professionals actually cover the $22,562 yearly tournament cost through sponsorship and prize money? Rob estimates 15-20 players on the men's side. Most of these players are coaching clinics and/or work full-time on the side of their pickleball career to earn a living.
So, if you are thinking about becoming a professional pickleball player, remember that being a pro means more than just having next level skills to compete at the professional level.
What Pickleball Rating is Required to be Amongst the Top Players?
Experienced players such as Rob Nunnery, Ben Johns, and Tyson McGuffin are among the best players in America. To go pro, one would need to have a level higher than 5.0.
To put it into perspective, most pro pickleball players have a DUPR rating between 6.9 and 7.13. Other player rating systems include the USA Pickleball UTPR rating and official PPA tour rankings. It is difficult (but not impossible) to reach the skill level where pros play.
How to Become a Professional Pickleball Player
The first step to becoming a professional pickleball athlete is to become fit enough and skilled enough to compete with the best. This may mean joining a pickleball club or ladder league, playing against better players to improve your skills, and working one-on-one with a pickleball coach.
The road to becoming a pro pickleball player begins by participating in USAPA-sanctioned tournaments. If you’re good enough to advance through the tournaments and reach the championship level, you will compete against the pros in pickleball games.
If you can show the world that you can beat the best of the best players, you may gain followers on social media and attract sponsorship opportunities. The PPA may also take notice and offer an exclusive long-term contract to exceptional players with a proven track record of excellence.
Of course, to get started, the cost and footwork is up to you. While the pickleball community is accepting of new faces, it takes incredible dedication to play pickleball professionally. Best of luck out there!
