Why Is It Called Pickleball? The Two Stories of How Pickleball Really Got Its Name

The history of pickleball and how it got its name is full of mystery and folklore. It was created almost 60 years ago, in the summer of 1965, and how it came to be known as pickleball is a hotly debated topic among scholars across the globe.

Okay, not really.

But, it is true that even the founders of what is now considered the fastest growing sport in America have conflicting stories of where the name originated.

How Pickleball Began

Pickleball began as something that the entire family could do together. Joel Pritchard, a congressman from Washington State, and Bill Bell finished playing golf one Saturday. They returned home to find everyone sitting around with nothing to do. The property they lived on had a badminton court, so Pritchard tried to find some equipment so they could all play.

Instead, he discovered a mix of sports equipment that included a Wiffle ball and ping-pong paddles. They started playing with the net at the height needed for badminton and noticed that the ball bounced well on the asphalt. Eventually, they decided to lower the net. They had such a good time that they spent the next several weeks developing the game and creating rules that they mostly adapted from badminton.

The first pickleball court was constructed in Joel Pritchard's backyard in 1967. They formed a corporation to protect and make the new sport official five years later. The National Observer published an article about pickleball in 1975, and in 1976, the first tournament was held at the South Center Athletic Club in Tukwila, Washington.

In 1984, the United States Amateur Pickleball Association (U.S.A.P.A.) was formed and focused on the advancement of pickleball on a national level. The first rulebook was published that year. By 1990, 25 years after Joel Pritchard set out to find badminton equipment, pickleball was being played in all 50 states across the U.S.

Joel Pritchard passed away at the age of 72 in 1997.

According to some internet sources, other founders and original pickleball players included their neighbors, the Brown family, and the McCallums.

However, one thing not mentioned in the above timeline is how pickleball became known by its name.

For that, we have two conflicting stories.

On one side, you have the McCallums and the Browns, who like to tell the story of a dog named Pickles. On the other side, you have the Pritchards, specifically Joan Pritchard, Joel's wife, who mentions the name came from boat races.

Let's start with the story most commonly told by the first group–the McCallums and the Browns.

Origin Story #1 - Pickles the Dog

According to the McCallums and Browns, the Prichard's dog, whose name was Pickles, would run across and snatch the Wiffle ball to run off and play with it. Seeing how much joy the dog got from this, they decided to name the sport after it. 

Hence, they called it pickleball.

This is the most often told story in interviews and recollections when people ask where the name came from. Search the web, and you'll find this is the preferred story that blogs and articles like to tell. It's a fun origin story, and for the most part, it's the better of the two. 

After all, who doesn't love the image of a furry little Cockapoo puppy running across a tennis-like court causing chaos and mayhem?

There is one problem, though. It might just be a complete farce.

Especially if you hear the story from a member of the Pritchard family.

Origin Story #2 - Pickle Boats

A "pickle boat" is a term from rowing used to describe a motley crew of rowers put together at random to compete in races. Often, these were the leftover rowers that no one wanted on their team, and they'd commonly come in last place.

Joan, who was Joel Pritchard's wife and a competitive rower, the sport reminded her of a "pickle boat" because it was played by those "leftover" from other sports.

Considering they created the sport as a mix of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, one can see how the name fits. 

Also, according to the Pritchard's, their dog Pickles didn't actually come onto the scene until several years after they named their sport. In fact, they say, the dog was named after pickleball instead of the other way around.

Which Story Is True?

Like most great tales throughout the history of the world, it depends on who you ask. To us, the boat story sounds most logical and likely because Joel Pritchard invented the sport, and Pickles was their dog.

Quite frankly, it could be that neither is true or both are true. Perhaps that's part of the fun of the sport. Even if the evidence points toward it coming from pickle boats instead of Pickles the dog, it's easy to see why the latter is often told.

Does It Matter?

Regardless of which story you choose to believe, we can all agree that pickleball is quite a silly name for a sport. But millions of people now enjoy this silly-named sport, and we have the McCallums and the Prichards (and maybe their dog) to thank for it.

Some within the pickleball community believe the name is actually hindering the growth of the sport. However, according to reports, between 2019 and 2020, pickleball participation increased by 21.3%! A reported 4.2 million Americans now play pickleball. This is why economists consider it the fastest growing sport in America, and demand for courts and leagues has skyrocketed.

Perhaps you've noticed this rise in popularity where you live.

Perhaps the name is a hindrance, and maybe it's not. Just like the true origin story of how pickleball actually got its name, we will likely never know. 

Need to find a place to play pickleball? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Finding a Pickleball Court Near You.