[Report] Leading Racket Sports Brand 'Head'... After Golf and Tennis, Next is 'Pickleball'

Kolon FnC Sponsors 'Head' Pickleball Tournament
A Combination of Tennis, Badminton, and Table Tennis
Singer Lee Jung: "I Like Pickleball More Than Tennis"
"Selling Pickleball Apparel and Equipment... Expanding Sports Business"

At 11 a.m. on the 26th, at the Cheongju International Tennis Court in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, men holding square rackets were busily running around, exchanging balls that looked bigger than tennis balls. They were participants in the men's doubles event of the 'Kolon FnC Head Pickleball Korea Open.' The venue was filled with cheers and sighs of both excitement and disappointment.

Pickleball is a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Players use rackets called paddles to hit a plastic perforated ball (polymer ball) back and forth according to the rules. It started in the United States in 1965 and has recently become a popular sport enjoyed by younger generations as well. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) in the U.S., pickleball was selected as the fastest-growing sport in the country. Recently, it has been spreading worldwide, centered in the U.S. In Korea, small-scale pickleball activities at the club level have been taking place since 2018.

On the 26th, the 2nd Kolon FnC Head Pickleball Korea Open was held at the Cheongju International Tennis Court in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do.
[Photo by Minji Lee]

This tournament was held for the second time following last year. It is the largest pickleball tournament, with about 500 participants. The competition runs for four days from the 25th to the 28th and is conducted in a tournament format.

Participants ranged in age from teenagers to those in their 60s, with the highest participation rate among people in their 20s this year. Singer Lee Jeong made an appearance at the event. Lee is a pickleball enthusiast who currently operates an indoor pickleball court near Aewol, Jeju Island. Lee said, "I played tennis for a long time, but now I prefer pickleball," adding, "It feels like it makes both my body and mind healthier."

Singer Lee Jeong is posing for a commemorative photo holding a pickleball paddle.
Photo by Minji Lee

Head plans to use its sponsorship of this tournament as a starting point to grow pickleball into a mainstream sport in Korea. The strength of pickleball lies in its affordability and accessibility. The necessary equipment includes paddles, balls, and a net. Entry-level pickleball paddles can be purchased for around 20,000 to 30,000 KRW. Considering that tennis rackets, a similar racket sport, cost about 100,000 KRW, pickleball equipment is about five times cheaper. Tennis requires a relatively large space, but pickleball can be played anywhere with just one-third the size of a tennis court.

It does not require advanced skills, so players do not need to learn techniques from experts. Tennis players need to practice backhand, volley, forehand, and other skills for about 3 to 6 months to enjoy the sport, but with pickleball, you can easily enjoy the game after just about an hour of rallying with a friend.

Head also plans to introduce ‘pickleball wear’ to popularize the sport. Unlike tennis or golf, pickleball does not require special clothing when playing. However, considering that younger generations value expressing their individuality even while playing sports, Head plans to sell pickleball apparel and shoes. At the Head booth set up on one side of the tournament venue, pickleball clothing proposed by Head was displayed. Hats featuring the Kakao emoticon ‘Chunsik,’ functional T-shirts, and ultra-light rackets made by Head attracted great interest from participants.

Pickleball clothes and hats presented by Head.
Photo by Minji Lee

Currently, companies producing pickleball-related apparel include Lululemon, Fila, and Sergio Tacchini, which are competitors of Head. Lee Ji-eun, Executive Director of Head’s CN Business Division, said, “Head’s strength lies not only in apparel but also in owning equipment such as rackets and nets,” adding, “We will grow into a company that can lead the pickleball culture with differentiated technology.”

She continued, “In the first half of the year, we will open a dedicated pickleball court in Seoul, and in the second half, we will expand our lineup of shoes and apparel that can be used for both tennis and pickleball,” adding, “Head will further grow its sports business with tennis, paddle (tennis + squash), and pickleball.”