Quirky Facts About Pickleball

Pickleball has been gaining popularity worldwide, but beyond the fast-paced rallies and exciting competition, there are plenty of quirky facts that make this sport even more interesting. Here are some of the most unusual and fun tidbits about pickleball!

1. The Name Has Nothing to Do with Pickles!

Despite common belief, pickleball wasn’t named after the tangy, jarred snack. According to one version of the story, it was named after the creator’s dog, Pickles, who would chase after the ball. However, the more accurate version suggests that it came from the term “pickle boat,” a crew term used in rowing for a boat made up of leftover rowers.

2. Pickleball Was Invented by Bored Families

In 1965, on Bainbridge Island, Washington, three dads—Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum—created pickleball to entertain their kids when they couldn’t find enough equipment for a regular game of badminton. They improvised with a wiffle ball, wooden paddles, and a lowered net—and the rest is hist

3. You Can’t Get Pickled, but You Can Get Pickled!

In pickleball lingo, getting “pickled” means losing a game without scoring a single point. It’s the pickleball equivalent of getting skunked in other sports. If you’ve ever been pickled, don’t worry—it happens to the best of us!

4. The First Pickleball Paddles Were Handmade in a Garage

Before today’s high-tech composite paddles, early players used homemade wooden paddles. Barney McCallum crafted the first-ever pickleball paddles in his basement using a jigsaw!

5. There’s an Official Pickleball Anthem

Yes, you read that right! The sport is so beloved that various pickleball-inspired songs have been written, including official anthems used in tournaments. Some players even create custom chants for their local courts.

6. Pickleball is the Fastest-Growing Sport in the U.S.

Pickleball has consistently been the fastest-growing sport in the United States, with millions of new players joining each year. Celebrities like Bill Gates and Leonardo DiCaprio are also known to be big fans of the game!

7. The Kitchen Has Nothing to Do with Cooking

One of pickleball’s most famous rules involves “the kitchen,” also known as the non-volley zone. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with food—it simply refers to the area near the net where volleys are not allowed.

8. The First Pickleball Court Was Built in a Backyard

The first official pickleball court wasn’t built in a public park or sports facility—it was made in the backyard of Joel Pritchard’s summer home on Bainbridge Island, where the game originated.

9. There’s a Pickleball World Record for the Longest Rally

In 2021, two players set a world record by hitting 16,046 consecutive shots in a single rally, lasting over six hours. Talk about endurance!

10. Pickleball Tournaments Are Held on Cruise Ships

Pickleball has become so popular that many cruise lines now offer courts on board, and some even host full-fledged pickleball tournaments while sailing the open seas!