The history of pickleball

Introduction

Pickleball is a sport that has been around for over 50 years, and it has a rich and interesting history. The game was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, who were looking for a new sport to play on a summer day. They were inspired by a combination of badminton, ping-pong, and tennis, and came up with the sport of pickleball.

The game was first played on Pritchard’s backyard badminton court, which was too small for the game of badminton. They used a lowered badminton net, a Wiffle ball, and badminton rackets to play the game, which was originally called “Paddle Tennis”. The name “pickleball” was coined a few years later, and it is said to come from the combination of Pritchard’s family dog, Pickles, who would chase after the ball during the early games.

Pickleball quickly spread in popularity among the families and friends of the inventors, and soon the game was being played in parks and schools across the Pacific Northwest. In 1972, the first pickleball tournament was held in Seattle, which drew over 100 players. The sport continued to grow in popularity throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and by the 1990s, it had spread across the United States and Canada.

Pickleball’s popularity continued to grow in the 2000s and 2010s, with the sport becoming more widely available in parks, recreation centers, and other facilities. Today, pickleball is played by thousands of people of all ages and skill levels, and it is considered one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States.

Throughout its history, pickleball has undergone some changes. The original Wiffle ball used to play the game was replaced with a perforated plastic ball, which is now the standard ball used in the sport. The size of the court was also changed to be smaller than a traditional tennis court, and the net was lowered to 3 feet at the center and 34 inches at the posts.

Pickleball also evolved to have different styles of playing, such as indoor and outdoor. Indoor pickleball is played on a smaller court, with a lower ceiling, and a softer ball. Outdoor pickleball is played on a full-size court with a higher net, and a harder ball. Additionally, the sport also has different formats of playing, such as doubles, singles and mixed doubles.

Pickleball has also become an organized sport with the formation of the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) in 2005. The USAPA is responsible for promoting the growth of pickleball, developing rules and guidelines, and organizing tournaments and events. The organization also works to educate players, coaches, and officials about the sport, and to develop programs to help players improve their skills.

In conclusion, pickleball is a sport that has a rich and interesting history. The game was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, and it has since grown in popularity to become one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. Throughout its history, pickleball has undergone changes, such as changes in the size of the court and the ball, and the formation of the USA Pickleball Association. Today, pickleball is played by thousands of people of all ages and skill levels, and it continues to grow in popularity.