What is Pickleball and Where Did it Come From?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. It was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a small island located in the Puget Sound in Washington State, USA.

The game was created by a group of friends, including Joel Pritchard, a congressman from Washington State, and Bill Bell, a successful businessman, who wanted to invent a new game that their families could play together. They modified the rules of badminton, lowered the net, and used paddles and a plastic ball with holes to create a game that was easy to learn and play for people of all ages.

The name “pickleball” reportedly came from the Pritchard family’s dog, who was named Pickles and would chase after the ball and run off with it during the game.