Pickleball is sweeping the country, quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S. Across the nation—especially in the Pacific Northwest—you’ll find people of all ages gathering at parks, community centers, and even repurposed tennis courts to play this funfilled game. Considered the “sweet spot” between badminton, ping pong, and tennis, pickleball is easy to learn but offers plenty of challenge for competitive players. Enthusiasts love it for its social nature, accessibility, and the way it provides a great workout without putting too much strain on the joints. As more cities invest in dedicated courts and leagues, one thing is clear—pickleball is here to stay.
Where did it all begin?
Pickleball was born right here on Bainbridge Island, thanks to a little boredom on a summer day in 1965. After a round of golf, Washington congressman Joel Pritchard and his friend Bill Bell came home to find their families looking for something fun to do. They spotted an old badminton court on the property—but without a full set of rackets or a shuttlecock, they had to improvise. Grabbing ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball, they made do—and just like that, a new game was born.
The following weekend, with help from their handy friend Barney McCallum, they fine-tuned the game. They lowered the net, set basic rules, and kept playing all summer. McCallum even designed sturdier plywood paddles for better control, and they settled on the Cosmos Fun Ball—a light, durable ball perfect for both indoor and outdoor play. Most importantly, they ensured the game was simple, social, and fun for the whole family.
From Backyard Pastime to National Craze
Two years later, the first permanent pickleball court was built in Pritchard’s neighbor’s backyard. By 1968, Pritchard and McCallum founded Pickle Ball Inc. to manufacture paddles and kits, helping the game expand beyond Bainbridge Island.
For nearly two decades, pickleball remained a regional secret. Then in 1984, Washington residents Sid Williams and Bryon Olson created the United States Amateur Pickleball Association and published the first official rulebook. The sport gained steady traction, but its true explosion began in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people sought socially distant ways to stay active. With its simple equipment, easy-to-set-up courts, and beginner-friendly gameplay, pickleball has come to be a nationwide sensation.
What's in a name?
Clearly, there are no pickles involved in this game—so how did the name come about? For years, two conflicting stories have circulated. One claims that Pritchard’s wife named it 'pickleball' because it reminded her of a pickle boat in crew, where leftover or mismatched oarsmen team up for casual races. The other story suggests it was named after Pritchard’s dog, Pickles, who loved chasing and running off with the ball. However, it’s now confirmed that Pickles the dog didn’t join the family until a couple of years after the game was invented.
These stats clearly show that pickleball is not slowing down. It's here to stay as one of the country's biggest sports.
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