History of Pickleball: From 1965 Backyard to Boom

The history of pickleball starts in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, where Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell made up a backyard game for their bored families with table tennis paddles, a plastic ball and a lowered badminton net. Barney McCallum helped refine the rules, the first tournament came in 1976, USA Pickleball formed in 1984, and the sport went national through senior games and the pandemic boom.

Here is the pickleball timeline, where the name came from, how the game spread and why retro designs became part of its style. Throwback team shirts are in our vintage pickleball shirts collection.

Where did pickleball originally come from?

Pickleball began in summer 1965 on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle. Returning from golf, Pritchard and Bell found their families bored. They tried badminton but could not find the shuttlecock, so adults and kids started experimenting with table tennis paddles and a perforated plastic ball. The net was lowered to hip height, and over the summer Pritchard, Bell and McCallum worked out and wrote down the rules (Wikipedia, Pickleball).

Pickleball history timeline

Why is it called pickleball?

There are two well-known stories. One says the name came from the Pritchards' dog, Pickles. The other, from Joan Pritchard, says it was named after the "pickle boat" in rowing, the crew made of leftover rowers, because the game was pieced together from leftover equipment. USA Pickleball says its research shows Pickles was born after the game was already named, while other researchers could not settle which came first. Bill Bell even claimed he named it for putting opponents "in a pickle."

How did pickleball spread across the US?

Early players carried the game from the Pacific Northwest to warmer states as winter visitors brought it to Arizona, California, Hawaii and Florida. Senior games gave it a big push: pickleball was a demonstration sport at the Arizona Senior Olympics in 2001 and joined the national Senior Olympics in 2008. National championships followed in 2009, and the U.S. Open in Naples, Florida, grew into one of the sport's biggest events.

Why did pickleball get so popular?

• Easy to learn. The underhand serve and small court let beginners rally on day one.
• Social. Doubles play, open play and leagues make it easy to meet people.
• All ages. Kids, parents and grandparents can play together, just like in 1965.
• Outdoor boom. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people looked for outdoor activities and found pickleball.

Why vintage style fits pickleball

A sport born in a 1960s backyard lends itself to retro looks: faded colors, distressed prints and classic team-name layouts. Our vintage pickleball designs come as T-shirts from $29.99 and polos from $39.99, with your name and team name printed on. They work well as matching team shirts for leagues and open play.

New to the game? Read pickleball skill levels explained and how a pickleball league works, then browse our vintage pickleball shirts.

FAQ

Where did pickleball originally come from?

Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell, with rules refined together with Barney McCallum.

Who invented pickleball?

Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum are credited as the founders of pickleball.

When was the first pickleball tournament?

The first formal tournament was held in 1976 at an athletic club in Tukwila, Washington.

When did USA Pickleball start?

USA Pickleball was formed in 1984 as the United States Amateur Pickleball Association and published the first official rulebook that year.