2 minutes reading time (370 words)

What is Pickleball?

pickleball338

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong into one fun and exciting game. It was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington by three dads - Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum - in an effort to entertain their kids who were bored with their usual summertime activities. Since that time the popularity of pickleball has grown exponentially throughout the US and Canada. The game is growing internationally as well, with many European and Asian countries adding courts. 

Pickleball is hailed as a game for everyone. People of all ages and skill levels have learned to love the game. The rules are simple. Equipment is inexpensive. It is easy to learn, great exercise, and is a very social activity. Pickleball can be played as singles or doubles. Indoors and outdoors. 

"The Pritchards had a dog named Pickles, and you're having fun at a party, right? So, anyways, what the hell, let's just call it pickleball."

Barney McCallum
Why is it Called "Pickleball"?
Pickleball has a very unusual name. Especially since no pickles are used. Tales of how the name originated differ. 
  1. ​According to Joel Pritchard's wife (Joan), she started calling the game pickleball becuse "the combination of different sports reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats."
  2. According to Barney McCallum, the game was officially named after the Pritchards' dog Pickles, who would chase the ball and run off with it. 

The Evolution of Pickleball Paddles 

Pickleball Court Dimensions 

Fun Pickleball Vocabulary​

  • Dink shot: A soft shot that is intended to arc over the net and land within the non-volley zone
  • Kitchen: An affectionate name for the non-volley zone
  • Non-volley Zone: A seven-foot area adjacent to the net within which you may not volley the ball
  • Champion Shot: A ball which double bounces in the No Volley Zone
  • Smash or Slam: A hard, overhead shot

 History of Pickleball

Pickleball Today

According to USAPA.org, there are over 15,000 indoor and outdoor courts in the United States; and at least one location in all 50 states.  The Sports & Fitness Industry Associaton's (SFIA) 2016 Participant Report cites more than 2.5 million pickleball participants in the United States. 


Ready to play?

The best way to start playing pickleball is to take lessons. Teachme.to is a great place to find the perfect coach.  

Rules of Pickleball
Translators Needed for Global Pickleball Networks

Most Popular Blogs

Trevor Meier
03 April 2020
Featured Blogs
There is no app in the app store, but you can run the site as a web app. This will create an icon on your phone, and it will look and feel just like a downloaded app.​ For an iPhone... ...
Trevor Meier
16 January 2020
Pickleball Ladders
A pickleball ladder is a system for ranking teams (singles or doubles) based on the matches they win or lose.  As teams play each other, they receive points. The more points a...
Trevor Meier
20 December 2022
Featured Blogs
If you have been tasked with organizing your pickleball club, you are probably feeling a bit overwhelmed right now.You  have a list of requirements, and you are having a hard time finding a singl...
Trevor Meier
24 January 2020
Featured Blogs
Have you ever had a question regarding a rule in pickleball?  Or how the scoring works? Or even just how to play the game? Well, most of your questions can probably be answered just by ...
Landon Meier
16 October 2018
Featured Blogs
Pickleball Locations
The growing popularity of pickleball has resulted in the development of some amazing facilities throughout the United States. Here are four of our favorites:Little Valley Pickleball ComplexAbout:...

Random Blogs

15 September 2023
Pickleball Tournaments
GPN supports several types of tournament brackets including round robin, double elimination, and compass brackets. But what is a compass bracket? Well, it is a fun type of tournament bracket that is r...
16 October 2018
Featured Blogs
Pickleball Locations
The growing popularity of pickleball has resulted in the development of some amazing facilities throughout the United States. Here are four of our favorites:Little Valley Pickleball ComplexAbout:...
03 April 2020
Featured Blogs
There is no app in the app store, but you can run the site as a web app. This will create an icon on your phone, and it will look and feel just like a downloaded app.​ For an iPhone... ...