How Did Pickleball Get Its Name?
How Pickleball Got Its Name: The Story Behind the Sport's Quirky Moniker
Pickleball, a fast-paced and addictive paddle sport, has gained immense popularity worldwide. But have you ever wondered how this unique sport acquired its rather peculiar name? In this article, we delve into the question on everyone's mind, "How Did Pickleball Get Its Name?"
So how did Pickleball get its name?
In the mid-1960s, the game we now know as pickleball was born on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The pioneers of the sport were three friends: Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. They wanted to create a game that would keep their families entertained during the summer months.
Legend has it that the game got its start when Joel Pritchard's dog, named Pickles, would chase after the stray balls and hide them in the bushes. This playful pup became the inspiration behind the sport's name. However, this story, while charming, is actually a myth. The truth behind the name is a bit more straightforward but still intriguing.
The Kitchen Connection
Initially, Pritchard and his friends set up a makeshift court in his backyard using wooden paddles and a Wiffle ball. The court they used was small and was situated near the Pritchard family's strawberry patch. According to Barney McCallum, they would shout "pickle" whenever they hit an errant shot that went out of bounds, as they had to retrieve the ball from the "pickle" barrel.
Barney McCallum's wife, Joan, soon joined in on the fun and began calling the game "pickleball." The name stuck, and it quickly gained popularity among the local community. As the sport grew in popularity and spread beyond Bainbridge Island, the name "pickleball" became synonymous with this unique paddle sport.
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