Key Facts About Pickleball

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Invention of Pickleball
3. The Founders: Pritchard, Bell, and McCallum
4. The Evolution of Pickleball Equipment
5. How Pickleball Got Its Name
6. Key Milestones in Pickleball History
7. The Rise of Competitive Pickleball
8. Pickleball's Global Expansion
9. The Future of Pickleball
10. Conclusion

Introduction

Pickleball, the sport that’s sweeping the nation, has a cool story that started on a summer afternoon in 1965. What began as a backyard game to entertain bored kids has turned into a global phenomenon with millions of players of all ages. In this post we’ll go back in time and explore the history of pickleball, the founders, the equipment and how it got its name.

The Invention of Pickleball

Pickleball was born on a warm Saturday afternoon in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, WA, just outside of Seattle. The game was created when Joel Pritchard, a congressman from Washington State, and Bill Bell, a successful businessman, returned from a golf game to find their families sitting around with nothing to do.

They decided to cure their families boredom and set out to create a new game the whole family could play together. They went to the old badminton court on Pritchard’s property but couldn’t find a full set of rackets. No problem, they improvised with table tennis paddles and a perforated plastic ball.

As they started playing they realized they were onto something good and different. The game spread to their families and neighbors and over the next few weeks they started to fine tune the rules and equipment.

The Founders: Pritchard, Bell, and McCallum

While Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell get credit for the original idea, a third man played a key role in developing pickleball into the sport we have today. Barney McCallum, a neighbor and friend of Pritchard and Bell, joined the duo a week or two later.

Together these three men - Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum - are the founding fathers of pickleball. They worked together to create the rules, the court dimensions and the equipment for the game.

The Evolution of Pickleball Equipment

When pickleball was invented the equipment was rough at best. The original paddles were just plywood cutouts, a far cry from the high-tech composite paddles we use today.

Barney McCallum took on the task of improving the paddles. He used a band saw in his basement to fashion new paddles out of plywood, experimenting with different shapes and sizes. These early wooden paddles are the foundation for the paddles we see today.

The ball also went through several changes. The founders settled on the Cosom Fun Ball, a lightweight plastic ball with holes that bounced well and could be used indoors and out.

Another big change was the net height. The founders lowered the badminton net from 5 feet to 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the center. This changed the game dynamics, allowing for more aggressive play and volleys.

How Pickleball Got Its Name

The origin of the name pickleball is disputed and has become part of pickleball lore. There are two popular theories:

1. The Pickle Boat Theory: Joan Pritchard, Joel’s wife, said she called the game pickleball because “the combination of different sports reminded her of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats”.
2. The Dog Theory: Some say the game was named after the Pritchards’ dog, Pickles. But the Pritchard family insists Pickles didn’t come along until a few years after the game was invented and was actually named after the sport.

Regardless of which story is true, the name has certainly added to the sport’s charm. As Barney McCallum once said, “It’s just a funny story that adds to the fun of the game.”

Milestones in Pickleball History

Pickleball’s journey from a backyard game to a global sport is marked by:

• 1967: The first permanent pickleball court was built in Bob O’Brien’s backyard on Bainbridge Island.
• 1972: Pickle Ball Inc. was formed to meet the demand for pickleball equipment.
• 1976: The first pickleball tournament was held at the South Center Athletic Club in Tukwila, Washington.
• 1984: The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) was formed to promote the sport.
• 1990: Pickleball was played in all 50 states.
• 2003: Pickleball was included in the Huntsman World Senior Games for the first time.
• 2005: The USAPA Rules Committee was formed and published the official rulebook.
• 2009: The first National Open Pickleball Championships were held in Surprise, Arizona.
• 2013: Pickleball was included in the National Senior Games Association, recognizing its popularity among senior athletes.

Competitive Pickleball

As pickleball grew in popularity it was only natural that it would become a competitive sport. The first official tournament in 1976 was the beginning of organized pickleball competition.

 

The formation of the USA Pickleball Association in 1984 was a key step in standardizing the rules and promoting the sport. The USAPA published the first official tournament rulebook that year.

 

Today pickleball has a full-fledged competitive scene with tournaments all over the country and world. The US Open Pickleball Championships, first held in 2016 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, and the USA Pickleball National Championships are now big events on the pickleball calendar.

Pickleball Goes Global

While pickleball was born in the US, it has spread to many countries around the world. As of 2021 there are 58 countries under the International Federation of Pickleball.

The COVID-19 pandemic, despite all the challenges, actually helped pickleball grow. As an outdoor sport that allows for social distancing many people turned to pickleball as a way to stay active and socialize.

Pickleball’s Future

Pickleball isn’t slowing down. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America with a 39.3% growth over the last two years.

As of 2022 there are almost 8,500 locations on the USA Pickleball Places2Play map and estimates are 4.8 million Americans play pickleball regularly.

With its accessibility, social nature and appeal to all age groups pickleball is poised to keep growing. It’s even attracted professional athletes with the formation of Major League Pickleball in 2021. Who knows maybe pickleball will be in the Olympics one day!

Conclusion

From its beginnings on a Bainbridge Island badminton court to its current status as America’s fastest growing sport pickleball has come a long way. Its inventors Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum couldn’t have imagined the global phenomenon their backyard game would become.

Whether you’re a seasoned player or just heard about pickleball for the first time, knowing the history of the sport adds to the fun. So next time you step on the court take a moment to think about those summer days in 1965 when a group of friends and their families started a sporting phenomenon.

Who knows you might just invent the next big sport in your own backyard!