When people talk about racquet sports growth in the U.S., the conversation usually starts — and often ends — with tennis and pickleball.

But behind the headlines sits a much broader ecosystem of racquet sports that clubs, developers, brands, and investors are increasingly evaluating as part of long-term strategy.

Beyond the “Big Two”

At RacquetX, we consistently track at least six major racquet sports, plus several emerging and niche formats:

• Tennis
• Pickleball
• Padel
• Squash
• Badminton
• Table tennis
• Racquetball, platform tennis, pop tennis, beach tennis, crossminton

Padel’s Expanding Role in the Racquet Ecosystem

Padel deserves special attention. While long established in Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, it is now entering its acceleration phase in the United States.

For a deeper market analysis, read The Explosive Growth of Padel in the U.S. to understand why clubs and investors are integrating padel alongside existing racquet offerings.

What This Means for Clubs and Operators

Multi-sport facilities are no longer an exception. Operators are building racquet ecosystems that balance participation volume (pickleball), premium yield (padel), and legacy membership (tennis and squash).

Equipment, Technology, and Differentiation

Equipment spend across racquet sports now represents a multi-billion-dollar opportunity, with brands competing on performance, durability, and player experience.

For clubs and academies evaluating product strategy, Padel Rackets: What Clubs, Coaches, and Academies Need to Know breaks down how equipment decisions impact programming, coaching, and member experience.

As racquet portfolios expand, success increasingly depends on leadership, culture, and team alignment. Many operators underestimate how staffing and internal structure affect growth across multiple sports.

Insights from What Sports Clubs Can Learn from Other Industries and Investing in Your People: Tackling Workforce Challenges highlight why people strategy is now inseparable from facility strategy.

The Bigger Picture

Racquet sports are no longer siloed. Clubs that understand the full landscape — from participation trends to equipment, culture, and operations — are best positioned to capture long-term growth.

Explore the Full Racquet Sports Landscape

RacquetX brings together clubs, brands, investors, and innovators across every racquet discipline — creating the platform where the industry connects.