PXG, Pickleball, and the Golf Crossover You Didn’t See Coming

Big golf names like Invited and PXG are embracing pickleball. Will the other big honchos in golf soon follow suit? 

Traditional tennis brands like Head have long since made the foray into pickleball, and iconic names like Adidas are partnering with pickleball stars like Federico Staksrud. Even Scottie Scheffler is jumping in on the action! Could big-name golfers getting in on the fun be what finally nudges golf brands to take notice?

Golf Meets Pickleball: An Unexpected Alliance

Troon, the world’s largest golf management company, announced their partnership with Selkirk Sport nearly 4 years ago to help elevate the sport of pickleball both recreationally and professionally.

Most recently, however, Selkirk has developed a close partnership with Invited, an owner and operator of private golf clubs that considers pickleball “a massive growth category in their portfolio,” according to Rachel Minucciani, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Selkirk.

Rachel offered me some intel into Selkirk’s collaboration with Invited: both companies lean on each other for growth verticals, including events such as demo days and tournaments like the Invited Celebrity Classic.

Furthermore, there's been a rapid growth in demand and subsequently expansion at Invited Clubs and members are asking for it. In Austin, Texas, for example, Invited converted two tennis courts into eight pickleball courts attracting 145 members in just a month. 

PXG Swings into Pickleball

Golf equipment and apparel brands also appear to be hopping the pickleball train. Parsons Extreme Golf aka PXG was founded in 2014 by Bob Parsons, a former Marine and self-proclaimed golf nut with a passion for technical innovation. Ever since then, the people at PXG have worked hard to create the finest golf equipment and now, the team is taking a crack at pickleball equipment.  

In speaking to PXG, they said they are always listening to their customers and that both sports share key attributes: precision, performance, and fun. For PXG, entering pickleball "isn't a departure from golf - it is a natural extension."

For their first official entry into the pickleball arena, PXG is releasing two, new paddles: the PXG XP1 and PXG XP2. The XP1 is meant for all skill levels, with a larger sweet spot. The XP2 features an elongated design more geared towards experienced and pro-level players for “enhanced reach, power, and ball speed.” 

In designing the paddles, PXG consulted with experienced pickleball players and the engineering team immersed themselves in the sport, playing and living it, and applying the same performance-first philosophy that they do with their golf equipment.

Will Titleist and Others Follow?

Golf brands are starting to dip their toes into pickleball, but will more follow suit? While companies like PXG are making their move, it’s unlikely that giants like Titleist will rush in just yet. Similarly, performance brands like On, known for their sleek tennis shoes, haven’t shown any interest in creating pickleball-specific footwear. Like Lacoste with tennis, most brands will probably stick to what they know. And let’s be honest: the paddle market isn’t exactly starving for new entries.

Golf vs Pickleball: Parallel Play or Future Fusion?

Nevertheless, although the data is limited, there’s still plenty of anecdotal evidence for crossover between pickleball and golf and there was an interesting Reddit discussion online about whether professional pickleball can learn something from pro golf to increase viewership. I'd say it's a safe bet that the relationship between golf and pickleball is definitely something to keep tabs on as we move forward.