Pickleball Clout Is Real—And That’s Not a Bad Thing
You don’t have to scroll far to see it: a 30-second dink drill on TikTok racking up 300K views, a tournament recap with more comments than a celebrity post, or a pro casually posting their gold-medal selfie between brand shoots.
That’s pickleball clout. Over the past five years, a wave of pickleball-only influencers has turned this sport into a constant presence in our feeds — and they’re shaping how we see, talk about, and play the game. The question isn’t if they have influence. It’s how they’re using it.
The Rise of the Pickleball Personality
In 2020, “pickleball content” was grainy phone clips, a couple of YouTube tutorials, or your doubles partner live-streaming to their personal Facebook page for an audience of 486 friends. Now there are hundreds of dedicated creators in the U.S. alone, with audiences from a few thousand to over a million. TikTok’s #pickleball tag has surged past 500 million views, and Instagram engagement rates in this niche rival other lifestyle sports.
They’re not all doing the same thing:
Tyson McGuffin blends competitive swagger with behind-the-scenes coaching tips.
Kyle “That Pickleball Guy” Koszuta is a strategist at heart, posting approachable reels on everything from third-shot drops to mindset shifts.
Sydney Steinaker mixes tournament life with relatable humor that makes you feel like you’ve played with her before.
Shea Underwood brings trick shots and tutorials with the same energy, balancing flash with actual how-tos.
Danea Zeigle (All Things Pickleball) focuses on drills, Q&As, and building an audience that feels like a club you’d want to join.
Michael Oakson (The Pickleball Chiropractor) connects gameplay with injury-prevention advice so people can keep playing without burning out.
The variety is part of the appeal — there’s someone for every game style, personality, and goal.
Clout and Ego: The Fine Line
Influencers need confidence to do what they do. You don’t put yourself in front of thousands of strangers without it. But confidence can tip into ego fast.
Healthy confidence looks like sharing a win and thanking your partner, or posting a tip because you want followers to get better.
Ego-driven clout looks like highlight reels with zero context, brag posts that never mention anyone else, or subtle “I only play with my level” vibes.
Social media rewards the loudest, flashiest content, which makes it tempting to post for engagement over value — endless trick shots, hot takes, and click-bait wins. Fun? Sure. But without the balance of useful, community-oriented content, the sport loses some of what makes it great.
The Influence That Actually Matters
Influencers don’t just teach people how to play — they make people want to start in the first place.
Inspiration to try the sport: A beginner who’s been nervous to join open play sees Sydney’s recap from a women’s retreat or Danea breaking down serve basics and thinks, “I can do that.”
Keeping players engaged: Kyle’s tactical posts give intermediate players a reason to hit the court tomorrow. Michael’s tips on shoulder health keep regulars from burning out after a tournament weekend.
Shaping pickleball’s image: Hannah Blatt’s blend of high-level play and off-court style makes the sport look competitive and modern. Evan Slaughter’s comedic skits remind everyone it’s still supposed to be fun.
Driving the market: From Tyson’s paddle deals to Shea’s giveaways, influencer recommendations move product — sometimes selling out models in days. Brands have taken notice, and authentic partnerships now fuel much of the sport’s marketing.
The Numbers Behind the Names
TikTok reach is massive: 1M+ followers for the biggest creators, with viral clips pulling millions of views.
Instagram is a close second, with top accounts like Tyson’s and Kyle’s clearing 100K followers and averages 2-3% engagement per post.
Micro-influencers (5-20K followers) often outperform on engagement, especially when they focus on a specific audience like women’s leagues or adaptive players.
Product launches tied to influencer campaigns have shown direct sales spikes — paddle companies, apparel brands, even footwear lines credit creators with measurable boosts.
Through the Empower Lens
We champion influencers who:
Invite everyone in, no matter their level.
Use their platform to spotlight others, not just themselves.
Balance fun, lifestyle, and instruction without letting ego take over.
Stay authentic when working with brands.
We side-eye the ones who:
Treat their audience like a fan club instead of a community.
Gatekeep — on the court or online.
Chase clicks over substance until there’s nothing left to offer.
Why This Matters
Pickleball is still in a formative stage. The culture we build now — on and off the court — will stick. Influencers have an outsized role in shaping that culture, for better or worse.
Right now, most are doing more good than harm. They’re pulling new people in, keeping current players engaged, and showing the sport’s range. The balance holds only if clout stays grounded in the values that made pickleball grow in the first place: connection, accessibility, and fun.
Follow the voices building that version of the sport, and we’ll keep the future looking bright. No ego required.
