During 2024, the Professional Pickleball Association tour reported a 229% increase in registrants to earn a place in the tournament’s main professional bracket. In addition, pro players earned a combined $30 million in that year alone.
Pickleball may be exploding with players and sponsors who take the game much more seriously than before, but it still has a pretty silly name. Why is it called “pickleball”?
What’s the Mystery Behind Why It’s Called “Pickleball”?
How did pickleball get its name? Some say that one of the game’s inventors liked to put his opponents in difficult situations, or “pickles,” and that’s how pickleball got its name. Other popular origin stories only add to the ambiguity.
The Pickle Boat Story
Joan Pritchard, the wife of one of the inventors, used to row in college and frequently found herself on the “pickle boat,” a crew of leftover rowers who didn’t qualify for the primary teams. Since pickleball is a hybrid sport that combines aspects of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, it is likely that Joan drew a parallel from the mismatch of sports to the mix of rowers and coined the name “pickleball.”
The Dog Story
The most popular story of how pickleball got its name is a widely reported tale that Joan’s husband, Joel, told a national publication. He claimed that pickleball was named after the family’s cockapoo, Pickles, who adored chasing out-of-bounds balls into the surrounding shrubbery. Joel was joking, but it’s a cute, memorable story that continues to stick.
In actuality, Pickles was named after the sport. Pickleball came about in 1965, and the Pritchards didn’t adopt the dog until 1968. Still, it is true that Pickles loved running after stray balls during their casual backyard games.
Where Was Pickleball Invented?
This not-so-cult-sensation sport has rather humble beginnings. If you’ve ever wondered where pickleball was invented, the answer is on Bainbridge Island near Seattle, Washington.
The three men who invented pickleball returned from a golf outing to find that their bored families had failed to find shuttlecocks or enough badminton rackets so everyone could play. What started as an improvised activity involving a whiffle ball and ping-pong paddles evolved into a full-blown production with official rules and regulations and even probable consideration by the International Olympic Committee in the near future.
What Do You Call a Person Who Plays Pickleball?
Generally speaking, “pickleball player” and “pickler” are the labels for people who play pickleball. However, the pickleball community has adopted a much more colorful tradition of assigning each other clever nicknames that arise from an individual’s playing style, personality, or memorable trait.
For example, 10-time U.S. Open Champion Dave “The Badger” Weinbach reportedly got his on-the-court name from the mascot of his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin. However, it probably suited him much better due to his aggressive, leave-no-survivors playing style.
Debating Why It’s Called “Pickleball”
Why it is called “pickleball” may never be crystal clear, but one thing is for sure: The rise of this backyard experiment is nothing short of meteoric and doesn’t look to be slowing anytime soon.
No matter what you call it, pickleball requires movement, agility, and the right gear. Taking the court in athleticwear designed for performance, style, and sustainability can have a measurable effect on your success as a pickler. Shop inPhorm’s pickleball collection today.
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