DALLAS, TX – Today is World Emoji Day. Yes, that's a thing, and it got me thinking: Why is there no pickleball emoji? I know I’m not the only one who’s frustrated with having to settle for the ping pong emoji because that’s the closest we’ll get right now.

Pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport with an estimated 48.3 million players, so what's the deal? I guarantee more people would use a pickleball emoji than the curling stone emoji or the handball emoji. No offense to the curlers and handball players out there, of course. 

Ever since pickleball’s boom in popularity in 2020, the demand for a pickleball emoji has skyrocketed every year. The question: “When are we getting a pickleball emoji?” is commonly asked on Apple Discussions.

The enthusiasm for a pickleball emoji is so high that pickleballers have come together to 
sign a petition. 

With every new iPhone update, we have hope. Unfortunately, we keep getting let down. 

In the latest iOS 17.4 update, iPhones got a new set of emojis: a mushroom, lime, breaking chain, phoenix, and nodding "yes" and "no" emojis. 

Great? I guess. Now I can add the salt shaker emoji with a lime emoji to make a margarita emoji, which could ease the pain of not having a pickleball emoji.

Looking ahead to iOS 18, set to release this fall, there's no mention of a pickleball emoji anywhere.

So, does Apple just hate pickleball? Is Apple run by a group of tennis players in the middle of a turf war with their local courts being converted to pickleball courts? 

That's hardly the case. 

The Apple Newsroom published an article in October 2023 discussing the health benefits of pickleball from a research study conducted using the Apple Watch. The article is incredibly supportive and complimentary of pickleball. 

What's the hold up with the emoji, then?

I mean, it seems like a relatively simple task. Just look at all the other ball emojis. Tennis, basketball, baseball, even the magic 8 ball. How unbelievably simple would it be to take a circle, color it yellowish green, add a few holes, and there you have it! A pickleball emoji.

If they really wanted to step up their game, they could model the pickleball emoji after the ping pong emoji. Design a pickleball paddle with a little pickleball making contact with it. How fun would that be?

But, I think we’ll gladly settle for a simple pickleball. 

Why is there no pickleball emoji? Let us know on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).