MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Where did the name Pickleball come from?

Young caucasian boy playing pickle ball on a hot summer day.

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Where did the name Pickleball come from?

One of the most buzzed about sports lately is Pickleball. It’s sort of like mini tennis. Smaller than a tennis court, but larger than ping pong. You use paddles, an almost wiffle ball like ball, and compete either solo or in two person teams. Very similar to Badminton but with a ball and shorter net.

But where did the name come from? The sport was invented in 1965 by  Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum on Bainbridge Island, Washington

According to the Prichard family, Joel’s wife Joan who in the past had been a competitive rower, came up with the name Pickleball because it reminded her of a pickle boat. Which is when you have all rowers of mixed abilities in one boat. The reason being that Pickeball is a mix of all different sports. Tennis, ping pong, golf, badminton, etc…

I may need to take up Pickelball soon! Looks fun.

Image credit: Getty Images