P
ickleball has experienced explosive growth since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, catching the attention of real estate developers. The sport saw an astonishing 51.8% increase in popularity from 2022-2023, making it the fastest-growing racket or paddle sport in the nation, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals. In the US alone, a staggering 48.3 million adults played pickleball at least once between March and last year. For Brett Drogmund, founder of California SMASH, a social club with pickleball set to open its first location in El Segundo this April, the appeal lies in combining physical activity with social connections: "It's about being healthy, burning calories, and having fun with others."