As we approach World Pickleball Day on October 10, 2025, it's the perfect moment to reflect on how a humble backyard game evolved into a global phenomenon. This day, celebrated worldwide, aims to raise awareness and introduce pickleball to new players. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the sport, it's an opportunity to connect with the community and experience the joy of pickleball.
Pickleball may feel like the newest craze sweeping parks, gyms, and community courts, but its roots stretch back more than half a century. Today it’s the fastest-growing sport in the United States, with millions of players worldwide, yet it all started as a family-friendly game born out of boredom.
A Backyard Beginning in 1965
The story begins in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, just outside of Seattle, Washington. Congressman Joel Pritchard, businessman Bill Bell, and their friend Barney McCallum found themselves trying to entertain their kids during a lazy afternoon. With no badminton shuttlecock to play with, they improvised.
They lowered a badminton net, grabbed some old ping-pong paddles, and hit a perforated plastic ball back and forth. The result was fun, fast-paced, and easy to learn — the perfect recipe for a new family game.
From Pastime to Organised Sport
What started as a casual backyard diversion quickly gained traction. Pritchard, Bell, and McCallum refined the rules to balance competition with accessibility, ensuring kids and adults alike could enjoy it. By 1972, the first corporation to protect and promote pickleball was formed. By the 1980s, courts dedicated solely to pickleball began popping up across the U.S., signalling that the game had moved beyond the driveway.
The Name “Pickleball”
One of the most common questions: where did the quirky name come from?
- According to the Pritchard family, Joel’s wife, Joan, coined the name because the game reminded her of a “pickle boat” in crew, where leftover rowers are thrown together to form a team.
- Others claim the family dog, Pickles, lent his name to the sport after chasing stray balls around the yard.
In truth, both stories have circulated for decades, and both may be partially true — which only adds to the charm of the sport.
The Rise to Popularity
For years, pickleball spread quietly through community centres, retirement communities, and schools in the US and now worldwide. Its approachable learning curve, small court size, and social nature made it especially popular among older adults. But in the last decade, the sport has exploded across generations.
Today, pickleball boasts professional leagues, televised tournaments, and even celebrity investors. Courts are being built at a record pace, and players of all ages are discovering the unique blend of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong that makes the game so addictive.
Why Pickleball is So Popular
Pickleball combines strategy, athleticism, and social interaction. It’s easy for beginners yet challenging for experienced players, making it a favourite for communities everywhere. It fosters community while offering exercise that’s easier on the joints than tennis. That combination has helped it move from a neighbourhood pastime in 1965 to one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.
Shop the Pickleball Range today at Zoft and bring the fun of this great game to you today!
