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You’ve probably heard of pickleball (one word, not pickle ball), but do you know where it got its name?
It’s a question that has puzzled people for years. Why is this sport called pickleball?
We did some digging and found the most likely explanation for how pickleball got its name.
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Who invented pickleball?
First off, who invented the game of pickleball? Three friends, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell (William Bell), and Barney McCallum, began playing the first iteration of the game in 1965.
Why not just play tennis, or badminton, or even ping pong, for that matter?
The answer is simple: their families were bored, needed something to do, and as with many activities, they had to use what items were on hand at the time. (The first pickleball paddles were wooden paddles. Paddles made of other materials were yet to come.)
Thus, on Bainbridge Island, Washington State, the new sport of pickleball was born.
Why is it called pickleball?
There are multiple theories out there about how the sport got the name pickleball, but the two that rise to the top are as follows:
- Pickles, the family dog story
- Pickle Boat in crew (rowing), the boat story
Joel Pritchard’s family had a dog named Pickles. It has been said that the newly invented game was named after the dog Pickles, supposedly a cockapoo puppy (not a cocker spaniel). This theory has possibly been debunked, however, as pickleball came into being a few years before Pickles the dog became part of the Pritchard family.
The more plausible story seems to be that the game was named after the Pickle Boat in crew (rowing). Whereas in sailing, the “pickle boat” is the last boat to cross the finish line in a race, in crew, the “pickle boat” is one where the crew is just thrown together with whatever rowers are available. Thus, Joan Pritchard (Joel Pritchard’s wife) compared the new game to the pickle boat in crew, because it was a bunch of sports thrown together with whatever was available!
Whichever story is true about the origin of the name (or if it’s a combination of both), one thing is for sure: pickleball is here to stay.
Pickleball is a combination of what sports?
Pickleball is a combination of different sports, including elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong (or table tennis).
Some similarities and differences are:
- Pickleball players use a solid paddle (*not* a racquet), similar to table tennis
- Pickleball uses a plastic ball, similar to a wiffle ball, with 26-40 holes
- Pickleball’s net is similar to a tennis net
- Pickleball’s court is similar to badminton & smaller than a tennis court
- Pickleball game can be played with either 2 or 4 players
Why is pickleball so popular?
I didn’t hear about the sport of pickleball until around 5 years ago, but it seems like it’s taking the world by storm! It’s now being played by people of all ages, both sexes, and all skill levels.
There are many reasons for its popularity:
- Can be played by people of all ages
- Easy to learn, but offers a high degree of complexity, making it perfect for people who enjoy strategy and competition
- Great social activity – perfect for getting friends and family together!
- Can be played indoors or outdoors
- Fast-paced and exciting
- Offers a good workout
When did pickleball become popular? (A Bit of Pickleball History)
Of course, the history of pickleball began in 1965, when it was created and played for the first time.
The popularity of pickleball grew mainly in the Pacific Northwest during the 1970s and 1980s.
By the 1990s, pickleball was played in all 50 United States.
By the late 2000s, pickleball could be played at over 400 locations throughout North America.
Due to the pandemic of 2020-2021, pickleball’s popularity increased, since it could be played outside and has minimal startup costs.
By the late 2010s, pickleball is played by millions of people at thousands of locations throughout the world. There’s even a pickleball tournament played in Indian Wells, California, every year, with oversight by the USA Pickleball Association.
Pickleball could be the fastest growing sport in the world!
So, how did pickleball get its name?
As with many sports, the story of how pickleball got its name is full of folklore and mystery. But, what we do know for sure is that this game with the funny name has become a popular sport and is here to stay – so grab a paddle and get ready to have some fun!
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