Everyone's Playing Pickleball But Have You Ever Wondered How It Got Its Quirky Name?
It was thought to be named after a dog called Pickles, but that's not true.
Pickleball has become incredibly popular in Malaysia lately
Tennis players are joining in, badminton enthusiasts are catching on, and even ping pong players are making the switch.
While the sport has been around in Malaysia for some time, it's now evolving into a fun hobby for many, as it strikes a perfect balance between other popular racquet sports.
Image via Aleksander Saks/Unsplash
But have you ever wondered how it got its quirky name? To understand that, let's explore the origins of the game.
It all started with three dads — Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum — who were looking for a way to entertain their children. They set up a makeshift badminton court but didn't have the proper equipment.
Instead, they improvised with a Wiffle ball, some old ping pong paddles, and a lowered net.
As they played, they created rules that combined elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis, leading to the birth of a brand-new game that we now know as pickleball
The sport quickly gained popularity among their families and friends, prompting the formalisation of the rules.
In 1967, the first official rules of pickleball were established, and the game began to spread beyond Bainbridge Island.
By the early 1970s, pickleball was gaining traction in the Pacific Northwest, resulting in the formation of the first pickleball club in 1972.
The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) was founded in 2005, further promoting the sport across the US and internationally.
Image via Pickleballers Hub
Now that you know the background, how did pickleball get its name?
One popular story says the name "pickleball" comes from Pickles, the dog of co-founder Joel Pritchard.
According to this tale, Pickles would chase after the balls during games, which inspired the name. However, this isn't actually the true origin of the sport's name.
USA Shade clarifies that Pritchard shared this story jokingly to a national reporter in the early 1970s. In reality, Pickles was named after the sport, as the family didn't get him until three years later.
Pickles Pritchard was a cute dog, but not the inspiration for the sport's name.
Image via Frank Pritchard/Mental Floss
The name "pickleball" comes from Pritchard's wife, Joan, who named the game after the term "pickle boat."
In crew racing, a pickle boat refers to boats made up of leftover or mismatched rowers that compete in fun local races.
Joan, who used to row on a pickle boat in college, suggested that pickleball was created by mixing different sports, similar to how a pickle boat is made up of rowers from various teams.
Their son, Frank Pritchard, further explained in an interview with Mental Floss that since the game was "a little bit of this and a little of that," pickleball seemed like a fitting name.
So, the next time you're on the court, take a moment to appreciate the game and its playful history. Be sure to share its quirky origins with your pickleball buddies!
Here are some pickleball courts to check out:
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