(Image: Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale)
A deep dive into the sport with the weirdest name.
Pickleball: The fastest-growing sport in America, yet still the only one that sounds like it was invented by someone with a pickle obsession... and a lot of free time.
If you’ve ever paused mid-rally and thought, “Wait, why is it even called pickleball?”... you’re not alone.
And no, it’s not because someone was eating a pickle when they invented it (but honestly, that would’ve made sense).
So, what’s the dill with the name we hear you ask? Let’s dive into the juicy (or should we say briny?) history of how pickleball got its iconic name.
A game born out of boredom (and probably a few beers).
Picture this: It’s 1965, and three dads - Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum - are hanging out on Bainbridge Island, Washington with their families. The kids are bored out of their minds and like all great dads, these guys had to improvise.
They grabbed some ping pong paddles, a wiffle ball and a badminton court and 'Frankenstein-ed' a new game together. It was easy, fast and honestly, way more fun than expected.
The only thing missing? A name. And this is where things get controversial... so buckle up buttercup.
Theory #1: The “Pickle Boat” origin (a.k.a. the fancy explanation).
According to Joan Pritchard (Joel’s wife and apparent marketing genius), the name “pickleball” was inspired by the term “pickle boat.”
Wait, what’s a pickle boat, you ask?
Well, it’s a term used in rowing, referring to a boat made up of random leftover rowers who didn’t make the first teams. Since pickleball was created by mixing random elements from other sports (badminton, tennis, ping pong and maybe a bit of pure chaos), Joan thought the name was a perfect fit.
Sounds official, right? Well, hold your horses... because here comes Theory #2.
Theory #2: Pickles the Dog (a.k.a. the People’s Champion).
Now, this is the version most people love. The story goes that the Pritchards had a dog named Pickles who LOVED chasing after the wiffle ball during games.
Naturally, the family started calling it “Pickles’ Ball”- which eventually became “pickleball.”
Adorable, right? Who wouldn’t want to name an entire sport after a mischievous, ball-stealing dog? Pickles deserved this!
Unfortunately, there’s only one tiny problem: Pickles the dog wasn’t even born yet when the sport was created.
Yes, that’s right... the dog was named after the sport, not the other way around. Honestly, this feels like a betrayal...
(Speaking of bizarre pickleball terms, do you even know what “the kitchen” is? No, it’s not where you grab a snack. Find out here.)
So which story is true?
Technically, the pickle boat explanation is the official one. But let’s be real... Pickles the dog should’ve won.
Imagine how much funnier it would be if we all had to credit a chaotic little wiener dog for inventing the fastest-growing sport in America. But no, we got stuck with a rowing term that literally no one knew before this.
#JusticeForPickles.
Final thoughts: So… why is it called pickleball?
Because of a rowing team… or a sneaky dog… or possibly just to confuse future generations forever.
Either way, you’re hooked now, and the only way to truly honor this legendary sport...? Start playing!
Now that you’ve unlocked elite pickleball trivia knowledge, it’s time to dominate the court. Find the best places to play in NYC or Phoenix - because let’s be honest, knowing the origin of the game is great, but crushing your opponents is even better.
Oh, and next time someone asks why it’s called pickleball? Drop this knowledge bomb and watch their mind explode. Bonus points if you spark a heated debate over whether the dog was robbed of its rightful place in sports history.
Just… try to break the news gently when you tell them it has nothing to do with actual pickles.
Pro Tip: If you’re playing pickleball, do it right.
The game’s name might be questionable, but your paddle shouldn’t be. Grab a carbon fiber paddle and dominate the courts harder than Pickles the dog dominated story time...