Pickleball has been around for a long time, but it is seeing its biggest growth in recent years as people adopt the sport to get more active. Players enjoy easy pick-up and play of this low impact game that works well with any sporting skill set.
Pickleball was invented in 1922 by a man named James T. Smith, who wanted to create a game that had more finesse than tennis and could be played while sitting. The name of the game comes from the fact that it is like a baseball and a paddleball mixed together. Read more in detail here: who invented pickleball and why was it called pickleball.
When you first hear the name, we understand why you would scratch your brain. Is it true that you’re chasing pickles around a court? What’s the connection between pickles and balls? What makes it a game in the first place? So, why is it called pickleball in the first place?
Let’s take a closer look at this popular sport and its amusing moniker.
Contents
Pickleball’s Origins
We’ll start with the game’s history before delving into why it’s called pickleball. It was created in 1965 by Washington Congressman Joel Pritchard and his buddy Bill Bell. With the resources they had on hand, the enterprising guys created a means to amuse their waiting families:
Doesn’t it seem like the start of a joke?
Badminton introduced the game’s first regulations, which included a shorter net than the standard one. The bounce came from the asphalt. Pritchard and Bell then showed their device to their mutual acquaintance Barney McCallum.
From that day forward, no one looked back.
Pickleball developed its own personality. By 1972, it had become an official sport, attracting media attention and fans from around the nation. The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) was founded in 1984 with the goal of spreading the word. It has its own board of directors and a group of volunteers who are eager to express their enthusiasm for the game.
And, as they say, the rest is history.
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What is the Origin of the Name “Pickleball”?
Pickleball has maintained faithful to its racquet sports roots. It has, however, abandoned Wiffleball and ping-pong paddles in favor of the official equipment that players now utilize. There’s nothing about the game that even closely resembles a pickle, except for the name, of course.
The congressman’s wife, Joan Pritchard, is said to have given the sport its name after the others had devised it. It didn’t have a name at start, after all.
According to urban legend, the family called it after their dog, who used to collect the Wiffle balls while they were playing. It’s probably the most common narrative you’ll come across. Unfortunately, this isn’t totally correct, at least not yet.
The narrative has been disproved by Joel and Joan Pritchard, as well as their son Frank. Those in the know aren’t sure how it came to be known as such. It has been lost to family lore.
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Pickle and the Crew
Joan Pritchard’s passion for rowing is a plausible reason. In terms of crew, pickle refers to the last squad to win a regatta. It has, presumably, the least proficient oarsmen, a mishmash of people who weren’t picked by the other oarsmen.
Pritchard compared this term to the jumble of pickleball’s gameplay aspects. The narrative has a few redeeming qualities. In the original edition, three sports are depicted, each with its own set of regulations. It’s got its own lingo. It has a bit of an enigmatic aura about it. In our opinion, it qualifies.
Pritchard, being a seasoned rower, was presumably well-versed in the jargon of the sport. When seen in this light, the name makes sense. It also matches with another phrase that uses this term, in a pickle. If you’ve sunk your boat, you’d be there.
Another version is that Pritchard thought the players’ ping-pong paddles looked like the ones used by the crew men on a pickle boat.
According to reports on the internet, the fisherman on the supposed pickle boat would catch herring and pickle them on their trip to the beach. That, however, does not seem to be the case. For starters, it takes a few days to prepare. Pickled herring was most likely produced on land and transported in barrels to another location.
Nonetheless, it makes for an interesting narrative.
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Is There a Link Between the Family Pet and the Name?
Pickles the dog was the idea for the name, according to Barney McCallum, one of the game’s original developers. He said that someone got the idea from the pet’s antics during playtime.
It is said that timing is crucial. Is it the chicken or the egg that came first? Was it the name or the dog, as in this case?
Pickles the cocker spaniel joined the Pritchards after the game was created, according to family members. As a result, the name arrived before the dog. Pickleball, it turns out, was the one who named the family pet.
Why the Name is Appropriate
If you ignore any conceptions of logic, we believe there are a number of compelling explanations behind the game’s title. You have to agree, that does seem amusing. And that seems to be the definition of what it implies.
Sure, there are clubs and leagues that give the game a competitive edge. However, it began as a method to pass the time on a rainy day. After all, doesn’t simply mentioning the name make you want to smile?
Pickleball has found followers in all 50 states. It has made a hit on the international scene with clubs in India and Canada too, with no signs of stopping, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) 2018 Pickleball Participant Report.
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Why Does the Dog’s Story Survive?
Like many urban legends, the more unbelievable a tale is, the more likely it is to become true. To be fair, the game’s creators, including the Pritchards, went along with it. It has just the proper amount of weirdness to go with its odd origins.
Even the USAPA welcomed it and breathed fresh life into it for a new generation of fans. Since then, the organization has recognized the many reports, keeping the possibility open for any variation to take center stage.
We have to say, we like this version as well.
Last Thoughts
Regardless of whether the legend behind the game’s funny name is accurate, pickleball continues to grow in popularity, with over 3.3 million players worldwide. And before you dismiss it as a harmless backyard pastime, think again. Over 60% of devotees over the age of 55 are considered core participants. Pickleball is here to stay, thanks to the efforts of the USAPA and its members.
Pickleball is a sport that was created in the United States and has spread worldwide. “Pickle” is a slang word for “sucker” or “patsy”, which is where the name comes from. The name of the game also came from an old Pennsylvania Dutch recipe for pickles, which had to be soaked in brine before they could be eaten. Reference: where is pickleball most popular in the world.
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