What is Pickleball and the History of Pickleball

March 19, 2025

Pickleball Court Co March 19, 2025

In the world of racquet sports, few have experienced the meteoric rise that pickleball has enjoyed in recent years. What began as a backyard game created by three friends on a summer afternoon has transformed into one of the fastest-growing sports in America and increasingly around the globe. At Pickleball Court Co., as manufacturers of premium pickleball court flooring based in Shenzhen, China, we're passionate about contributing to the growth of this exciting sport across Europe and America. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the fascinating history of pickleball, uncover the mystery behind its unusual name, meet its inventors, examine its current popularity, and discuss its future prospects including Olympic aspirations.

The Birth of Pickleball: A Summer Afternoon in 1965

The story of pickleball begins in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, a short ferry ride from Seattle. Three friends – Joel Pritchard (a congressman from Washington state), Bill Bell (a successful businessman), and Barney McCallum – were looking for a way to entertain their families during a lazy summer afternoon. The Pritchard family had an old badminton court on their property, but they couldn't find a complete set of badminton equipment. Improvising with what they had available, they grabbed some ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball.

Initially, they set the badminton net at its regulation height of 60 inches, but they soon discovered that the plastic ball bounced well on the asphalt surface. This observation led them to lower the net to 36 inches, creating a game that was accessible to the entire family, regardless of age or athletic ability. The three men created rules for this new game, drawing inspiration from badminton, tennis, and ping-pong, but with unique modifications that made it distinctly different.

What started as a casual backyard activity quickly became a neighborhood sensation. Friends and neighbors on Bainbridge Island were introduced to the game, and its popularity began to spread organically. By 1967, just two years after its invention, the first permanent pickleball court was constructed in the backyard of Joel Pritchard's friend and neighbor, Bob O'Brian.

Why Is It Called Pickleball? The Name's Curious Origins

One of the most frequently asked questions about the sport is the origin of its unusual name. Interestingly, there are two competing stories about how pickleball got its name, and both involve the Pritchard family.

According to Joan Pritchard, Joel's wife, she named the game "pickleball" because "the combination of different sports reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats." In rowing, a pickle boat is composed of rowers who weren't selected for the primary boats – essentially a mishmash of different skill levels and styles, much like how pickleball combined elements from various sports.

However, there's another popular story that attributes the name to the Pritchards' family dog, Pickles. According to this version, whenever the plastic ball would come near him, Pickles would chase after it and run off with it. Hence, it became "Pickle's ball," which was eventually shortened to "pickleball."

The dog story has been widely circulated and has become part of pickleball folklore. However, historical records suggest that the Pritchards didn't get their dog Pickles until a couple of years after the game was invented and already named. Joan Pritchard's "pickle boat" explanation is generally considered by historians to be the more accurate account of the name's origin.

Barney McCallum, one of the game's co-inventors, supported Joan's version in later interviews, stating that the game was definitely named before the dog came into the picture. According to McCallum, the dog was actually named after the game, not the other way around.

Regardless of which story you prefer, the quirky name has become an integral part of the sport's identity and charm, contributing to its memorable character and helping it stand out in the crowded landscape of recreational sports.

The Inventors: Pritchard, Bell, and McCallum

The three men who invented pickleball each brought different perspectives and skills to the development of the game, and their collaborative effort resulted in a sport that has endured for nearly six decades.

Joel Pritchard (1925-1997) was a prominent figure in Washington state politics, serving in the Washington State House of Representatives, the State Senate, and later as a U.S. Congressman and Lieutenant Governor of Washington. Despite his busy political career, Pritchard was known for his love of sports and family activities. His contribution to pickleball was significant – not only did he help create the initial concept, but his political connections later helped promote the sport.

Bill Bell (1926-2006) was a successful businessman and close friend of Pritchard. He was instrumental in refining the rules and gameplay during those early days on Bainbridge Island. Bell's business acumen would later prove valuable as the friends began to consider how to share their creation with a wider audience.

Barney McCallum (1926-2019) was perhaps the most entrepreneurially minded of the three inventors. In 1967, McCallum founded Pickle-Ball, Inc., the first company dedicated to manufacturing pickleball equipment. He hand-crafted the first wooden paddles in his basement workshop, using a bandsaw and basic woodworking tools. McCallum's early paddles, known as "M's Paddles" (named after the McCallum family), were crucial in standardizing equipment as the sport began to grow beyond Bainbridge Island.

McCallum lived to see pickleball's explosive growth in the 21st century, passing away in 2019 at the age of 93. In interviews late in his life, he expressed amazement at how their backyard creation had evolved into an international phenomenon. "We just made up pickleball to have fun," McCallum once said. "We had no idea what we had started."

The collaborative spirit of these three friends – a politician, a businessman, and an entrepreneur – created the foundation for what would become America's fastest-growing sport. Their different perspectives and skills complemented each other perfectly, allowing them to create not just a game, but the beginning of a sporting movement that would eventually spread across the globe.

The Evolution of Pickleball: From Backyard Game to Global Sport

After its invention in 1965, pickleball gradually expanded beyond Bainbridge Island. The sport's early growth was organic and community-driven, spreading primarily through word of mouth and personal connections.

In 1972, pickleball reached an important milestone with the incorporation of Pickle-Ball, Inc., which formalized the manufacturing and distribution of equipment. This step was crucial in standardizing the game and making it accessible to more people.

The 1970s saw pickleball begin to establish itself as more than just a casual backyard activity. In 1976, the first known pickleball tournament was held at South Center Athletic Club in Tukwila, Washington. This event marked the transition of pickleball from a purely recreational activity to a competitive sport.

A significant development came in 1984 with the formation of the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), which established official rules and began to organize tournaments on a national scale. The USAPA (now known simply as USA Pickleball) became the governing body for the sport in the United States and played a crucial role in its standardization and growth.

The 1990s and early 2000s saw steady but modest growth, with pickleball particularly popular among retirement communities in warm-weather states like Florida and Arizona. The sport's accessibility, social nature, and lower physical impact compared to tennis made it especially appealing to older adults.

However, it was in the 2010s that pickleball began to experience truly explosive growth. The sport started to attract players of all ages, and dedicated pickleball facilities began to appear across the country. The USAPA's membership numbers reflected this surge, growing from just a few thousand members in the early 2000s to tens of thousands by the mid-2010s.

The COVID-19 pandemic, surprisingly, accelerated pickleball's growth even further. As an outdoor activity that naturally allowed for social distancing, pickleball provided a safe recreational outlet during lockdowns. Many tennis courts were converted to pickleball courts, and new players discovered the sport while seeking outdoor activities.

Pickleball Today: A Sport in the Spotlight

Unprecedented Popularity Growth

Pickleball's growth in recent years has been nothing short of phenomenal. According to the 2024 Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) report, pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in America for several consecutive years. The number of players in the United States has surpassed 8.9 million, representing a staggering increase of over 158% in the past three years alone.

What makes pickleball's growth particularly remarkable is its broad demographic appeal. While the sport initially found popularity among older adults, today's pickleball community spans all age groups. The highest concentration of players is actually in the 25-34 age bracket, demonstrating the sport's appeal to younger generations. Additionally, more than 1 million children under the age of 18 joined the sport between 2022 and 2023, indicating strong future growth potential.

The geographic distribution of pickleball has also expanded significantly. Once concentrated primarily in retirement communities in Florida and Arizona, pickleball courts can now be found in all 50 states, with particularly strong growth in urban and suburban areas. The sport has also gained international traction, with growing communities in Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Professional Pickleball: A Booming Industry

As pickleball's recreational popularity has soared, so too has its professional side. The sport now boasts multiple professional tours and leagues that offer substantial prize money and have attracted dedicated athletes and significant media attention.

The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) is currently the largest professional pickleball tour. In 2024, it merged with Major League Pickleball (MLP) under the United Pickleball Association, creating a more unified professional landscape. The PPA Tour features top players like Anna Leigh Waters, Ben Johns, and Federico Staksrud, who have become household names among pickleball enthusiasts.

The 2024 season was a landmark year for professional pickleball. More than 320,000 fans attended PPA Tour and MLP events, representing a 40% increase from 2023. For the first time, revenue from ticket sales surpassed revenue from amateur registration, signaling pickleball's evolution into a legitimate spectator sport.

Broadcasting has also expanded dramatically. In 2024, more than 350 hours of national telecasts for MLP and the PPA Tour aired across major networks including FOX, CBS, ESPN, Amazon Prime, and Tennis Channel. The PPA Mesa Arizona Cup FOX national broadcast attracted 501,000 viewers, the largest-ever pro pickleball TV audience, outperforming other notable sporting events including some MLS soccer matches.

The Association of Pickleball Players (APP Tour) represents another major professional circuit, featuring a minimum of 20 competitions throughout the year. The 2024 APP Tour included 12 events: four APP Tour Majors and eight APP Tour Primary tournaments, with prize money reaching $150,000 per major event – triple the 2023 amount.

Professional pickleball has become increasingly lucrative for players. Approximately 130 pro pickleball players under contract with MLP and the PPA Tour collectively earn more than $30 million per season, exceeding earnings in many other professional leagues including the WNBA, Premier Lacrosse League, and NBA G League. The sport maintains equal pay and play for men and women, with the 60+ female contracted athletes on the PPA Tour and MLP earning an average salary of $260,000 in 2024 – greater than the highest-paid WNBA player's annual salary.

Youth Development and Future Growth

The future of pickleball looks bright, with significant investments in youth development. The Junior PPA Tour was created in 2024, dedicated to fostering youth pickleball players through competition events, development opportunities, and social activities. In its inaugural year, the Junior PPA Tour saw more than 1,100 athletes between the ages of 8 and 16 compete in 17 events across the country.

The APP has also established the APP Next Gen National Team for players aged 16-23, providing mentorship and development opportunities for aspiring professionals. These initiatives are crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sport and developing the next generation of pickleball stars.

Corporate sponsorship has grown alongside the sport's popularity. With more than 50 total partners across both the PPA Tour and MLP brands, sponsorship revenue saw a collective 50% increase in 2024 over 2023. Major companies like Carvana (title sponsor of the PPA Tour) have recognized the marketing potential of associating with America's fastest-growing sport.

Pickleball and the Olympics: A Future Possibility?

One question frequently asked about pickleball is whether it will ever become an Olympic sport. Currently, pickleball is not part of the Olympic program and will not be included in the 2024 Paris Olympics or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

For a sport to be considered for Olympic inclusion, it must meet several criteria established by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). These include having a unified international governing body and meeting specific participation requirements: the sport must be "practiced by men in at least 75 countries across four continents and by women in at least 40 countries across three continents."

Pickleball faces several challenges on its path to Olympic recognition. First, there is currently no unified global governing body, with three competing organizations: the World Pickleball Federation, the International Pickleball Federation, and the Global Pickleball Federation. This fragmentation makes it difficult for the IOC to recognize pickleball as an organized international sport.

Second, while pickleball is growing internationally, it is currently played in approximately 60 countries across six continents, still short of the IOC's participation requirements for men's competition.

Despite these challenges, many pickleball advocates believe Olympic inclusion is a matter of "when" rather than "if." The earliest possible inclusion could be the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, though some optimists believe it could happen sooner if the governing bodies merge and the sport continues its rapid international expansion.

In the meantime, pickleball has achieved recognition in other multi-sport events. It has been accepted as an official sport at the Pan American Maccabi Games in Buenos Aires (2023-2024), representing an important step toward broader international recognition.

Is Pickleball Good Exercise?

Beyond its social appeal and competitive aspects, pickleball offers significant health benefits, making it an excellent form of exercise for people of all ages and fitness levels.

Pickleball provides a moderate-intensity cardiovascular workout that helps improve heart health. According to fitness experts, a game of pickleball can burn up to 600 calories per hour, depending on the intensity of play and a player's weight. The sport involves quick bursts of activity interspersed with short rest periods, creating a natural interval training effect that is highly beneficial for cardiovascular health.

Studies have shown that regular pickleball play can lead to improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and overall cardiovascular fitness. A study published in the International Journal of Research in Exercise Physiology found that middle-aged and older adults who played pickleball three times a week for six weeks showed significant improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, and cardiorespiratory fitness.

The sport also offers excellent benefits for balance, coordination, and agility. The quick directional changes, hand-eye coordination, and strategic movements required in pickleball help develop and maintain these physical skills, which are particularly important as people age.

For older adults, pickleball represents an ideal form of exercise because it provides a good workout while being gentler on the joints than higher-impact sports like tennis or basketball. The smaller court size means less running, and the lighter ball and paddle reduce strain on the arms and shoulders.

Beyond the physical benefits, pickleball offers significant mental health advantages. The social nature of the game helps combat isolation and promotes community connection, while the strategic elements keep the mind engaged and active. Many players report that pickleball has become not just a form of exercise, but a central part of their social lives and overall well-being.

According to data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study conducted in partnership with Harvard University, pickleball players averaged 14 minutes more physical activity on days they played compared to non-playing days, demonstrating the sport's effectiveness in increasing overall physical activity levels.

Conclusion: The Future of Pickleball

From its humble beginnings on Bainbridge Island to its current status as America's fastest-growing sport, pickleball has come a long way in its nearly 60-year history. What began as a simple backyard game created by three friends has evolved into a global phenomenon with professional tours, dedicated facilities, and millions of passionate players.

The sport's appeal lies in its accessibility, social nature, and the perfect balance it strikes between being easy to learn but challenging to master. These qualities have allowed pickleball to transcend age, gender, and athletic ability, creating one of the most diverse sporting communities in the world.

As we look to the future, all indicators suggest that pickleball's growth will continue. The sport's increasing presence in schools, community centers, and recreational facilities ensures that new generations will be introduced to pickleball. The robust professional tours provide aspirational figures and high-level competition that elevates the sport's profile. And the ongoing international expansion brings pickleball closer to potential Olympic recognition.

At Pickleball Court Co., we're proud to be part of this exciting journey. As manufacturers of premium pickleball court flooring, we're committed to supporting the growth of pickleball across Europe and America by providing high-quality surfaces that enhance the playing experience. Whether you're setting up a residential court, a commercial facility, or a tournament venue, our innovative court solutions are designed to meet the needs of today's pickleball players.

The story of pickleball is still being written, and we're excited to see where this remarkable sport goes next. From a summer afternoon pastime to a global sporting phenomenon, pickleball's journey has been extraordinary – and the best may be yet to come.