The History of Pickleball

When did pickleball start? How did pickleball get its name? Who’s idea was to hit a little yellow ball with paddles and name the game after pickles? And can we thank them?

Let’s unpack the story of the glorious sport of pickleball and how it rose to become the fastest-growing sport in America with international acclaim.

Here’s the history of pickleball.

History of Pickleball

Our story starts in 1965 with two friends, Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell. Little did they know on that day at Pritchard’s home in Washington that they were about to invent the greatest game.

That day Pritchard’s 13-year-old son Frank was bored. Pritchard told Frank that when he was a kid they would make up games when bored. Frank took the opportunity and challenged his dad then and there to make up a game.

Pritchard and Bell took the challenge to create a fun game for the whole family and started playing on the badminton courts with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. After some experimentation, they lowered the net to 36 inches, and pickleball was born.

Things took off quickly for the young sport. The next weekend they played with their friend Barney and soon after they made a permanent pickleball court at their friend Bob’s house. By 1972 they formed a corporation to protect the sport, and by 1975, there was an article about pickleball in The National Observer.

Other highlights in the history of pickleball include:

• 1976: The first pickleball tournament in the world at South Center Athletic Club in Tukwila, Washington
• 1984: The United States Amateur Pickleball Association organizes with an official rulebook
• 1990: All 50 states play pickleball
• 1992: Pickle-Ball Inc. manufactures pickleball
• 2003: Pickleball is included in the Hunstman World Senior Games
• 2021: The first Picklr has its grand opening in Uintah, Utah

Today, pickleball continues to grow in popularity, with people of all ages falling in love with the game. The Picklr has over 275 locations across America and plans to go international!

How Did Pickleball Get Its Name?

What about pickleball’s funny name? We have Joel Pritchard’s wife, Joan, to thank for that.

So, how did pickleball get its name? Their son Frank explained that it had to do with rowing teams. “To hear my mother tell it, they sort of threw the leftover non-starter oarsmen into these pickle boats. She thought pickleball threw bits of other games into the mix (badminton, table tennis) and decided that ‘Pickle Ball’ was an appropriate name.”

Years later, some people started to wonder if pickleball was really named after the Pritchards’ family dog, Pickles. But the truth got sorted out when it was confirmed that Pickles the dog was born three years after Pickleball the sport was born. So, the dog was named after the game.

Come Play Pickleball at The Picklr

That’s the history of pickleball. You can be part of it, too, by playing the game and seeing what the excitement is all about.

Come play at The Picklr, where you can play any time of the year. It’s a great place to have fun and improve your skills, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player. At The Picklr, you get unlimited play, leagues and tournaments, four monthly clinics, four monthly guests, nationwide access, free court reservations, and more.

Start your trial and come be a part of pickleball history.