History of Pickleball – 1965 to 2024
Pickleball fans may discover the captivating History of Pickleball. It’s the fastest-growing sport in the United States, from its intriguing origins to its current status in the sports world.
View More: What is Pickleball Sport?
Who invented Pickleball?
Most people never know that two friends, Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell, invented this entertaining game of Pickleball. Joel was a Congressman in Washington, and Bill Bell was his Golf buddy and successful businessman. They had little effort from other people while formulating the game.
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Fun Journey Through the History of Pickleball
However, you know that Pickleball was inaugurated in the backyard of Joan Pritchard and Joel in Bainbridge Island, Washington. However, the invention region is Washington for the Pickleball invention.
One summer Saturday after a round of golf, Joel Pritchard, a congressman, and Bill Bell, a successful businessman, came back to Pritchard’s home on Bainbridge Island, WA.
Finding their families with nothing to do, they discovered an old badminton court on the property. With no badminton equipment, they improvised, using ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball.
Initially, they set the net at the height of a badminton net, but as they played, they found the ball bounced well on the asphalt, so they lowered the net to 36 inches.
The next weekend, Barney McCallum joined in, and the three men created rules, drawing inspiration from badminton. Their main goal was to create a game for the whole family to enjoy together.
The initial permanent pickleball court was built in the backyard of Joel Pritchard’s friend and neighbor, Bob O’Brian.
Read it: Why Is It Called Pickleball?
An organization was established to safeguard the development of this innovative sport.
The National Observer released a piece on pickleball, and this was succeeded by a 1976 feature in Tennis magazine discussing “America’s latest racquet sport.”
In the spring of 1976, the inaugural pickleball competition worldwide took place at the South Center Athletic Club in Tukwila, Washington. David Lester emerged as the Men’s Singles champion, with Steve Paranto securing the second position.
A notable aspect was that numerous participants, primarily college tennis players, had minimal familiarity with pickleball. Interestingly, they practiced using sizable wooden paddles and a plastic ball similar in size to a softball.
Helpful Guide: Where to Buy Pickleball Paddles
The book titled “The Other Racquet Sports” was released, featuring information about pickleball.
Sid Williams, a pioneer of pickleball, started playing and arranging tournaments in the state of Washington.
The United States Amateur Pickleball Association (U.S.A.P.A.) was created to support pickleball nationwide. The first rulebook came out in March 1984.
Sid Williams was the first Executive Director and President, serving from 1984 to 1998. After him, Frank Candelario took over until 2004.
Arlen Paranto, a Boeing Industrial Engineer, crafted the first composite paddle using materials from commercial airline panels. He made around 1,000 paddles from fiberglass/honeycomb and graphite/honeycomb materials before selling the company to Frank Candelario (Reference).
Pickleball had spread to every state (around 50 states) in the United States.
Pickle-Ball, Inc. produced pickleballs internally using a specialized drilling machine.
At the age of 72, Joel Pritchard, who served as Washington State’s Lieutenant Governor from 1988 to 1996, passed away. However, he is likely more widely recognized for his role in the creation of pickleball.
The inaugural pickleball website, Pickleball Stuff, was launched to offer players information, equipment, and products.
Pickleball made its debut in the Arizona Senior Olympics, thanks to Earl Hill. The tournament, held at Happy Trails RV Resort in Surprise, AZ, attracted 100 players, making it the largest event at the time. In the following years, the event expanded to nearly 300 players.
The Pickleball Stuff website lists 39 places to play in North America, including 10 states, 3 Canadian provinces, and around 150 courts.
Pickleball was introduced first in the Huntsman World Senior Games which was held annually in St. George, Utah, in October.
A new organization for pickleball was formed, known as the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA). Mark Friedenberg became the first president and key roles were assigned to individuals on the Board of Directors:
Steve Wong, the former USAPA Webmaster, created the first USAPA website, which went live in March. The website’s popularity increased as pickleball gained more fans, and new features were added.
On July 1, USAPA officially became a Non-Profit Corporation. The association collaborated with various websites to consolidate their “Places to Play” links into the USAPA database, creating a reliable source for players to find playing locations. Today, this consolidated website is known as places2play.org.
Bill Bell, one of the original creators of the sport, peacefully passes away at the age of 83.
The USAPA Rules Committee, led by Dennis Duey, released the official tournament rulebook on May 1, 2008. Pickleball made its debut at the National Senior Games Association.
There are now 420 places to play listed on the USAPA website, covering 43 states and 4 Canadian provinces with around 1500 courts. ABC’s Good Morning America featured a live, in-studio segment on pickleball, including a short demo, marking the sport’s first exposure in mass media.
The initial USAPA National Tournament for players of all ages happened in Buckeye, Arizona, from November 2-8, 2009. Almost 400 players from 26 states and various Canadian provinces participated in it. USAPA also started the Grant Program to help players create new sites, resulting in over 1,400 new locations by the end of 2013.
To support the sport’s global growth, USAPA created the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) and its website (ifpickleball.org).
In January, Justin Maloof became the first full-time Executive Director of USAPA. The year kicked off with a record 4,071 members. USAPA also got a fresh new look with a rebrand, featuring a new logo and red, white, and blue colors to match other national sports governing bodies in the U.S.
Exciting news for pickleball enthusiasts, USAPA has introduced a new and easier-to-use website. Additionally, Pickleball Channel has been launched, marking the first-ever professional media group dedicated to the sport.
In a big achievement, USAPA has reached over 10,000 members for the first time. The first-ever USAPA ambassador retreat took place in Tahoe City, CA, bringing members together. The Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) reports that there are now just over 2 million pickleball players.
USAPA, along with author Mary Littlewood, collaborates with Human Kinetics to create a new book for beginners called “Pickleball Fundamentals,” helping players master the basics. After 6 years in Buckeye, AZ, the USAPA National Championships moved to Casa Grande, AZ. The number of courts listed on Places2Play hits a significant milestone. These are enhanced from 10,000 and end the year at 12,800 for both indoor and outdoor courts.
USAPA became USA Pickleball, and it brings this sport in line with other US sports governing bodies and our national championships. The rebrand features a modern logo and updated website to enhance USA Pickleball’s global image as the official pickleball organization in the U.S. In December, Stu Upson became the first full-time CEO of USA Pickleball.
USA Pickleball Membership hit 53,000, a 43% increase from the previous year, marking the organization’s largest growth year. The 2021 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships, with over 2,300 players, became the world’s largest tournament.
However, USAP expanded its staff to nearly 20 members and gained significant media exposure, featuring in national segments on NBC’s The Today Show, CNBC, BBC News, Live with Kelly and Ryan. Stories were also published in top-rated publications, including The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Forbes, Allure, The Boston Globe, The Economist, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Parade, and Axios.
The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) labeled pickleball the fastest-growing sport in America for the second year in a row in its 2022 Topline Participation Report. The 2022 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships featured nearly 2,300 registered players, including professionals competing for $150,000 in prize money. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden hosted a record-breaking 5,522 fans on Championship Sunday, marking the largest pickleball attendance ever.
In 2022, “pickleball” became a major trend in the U.S., receiving extensive media coverage from both domestic and international outlets.
In February 2023, USA Pickleball membership reached to 70,000, marking a nearly 30 percent growth in 2022. The SFIA declared pickleball the fastest-growing sport in America for the third consecutive year in its 2023 Topline Participation Report. The report reveals a substantial increase, reaching 8.9 million players aged six and above in the United States, up from 4.8 million in 2022.
Additionally, in March, the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships, presented by the PPA Tour, were announced to take place in Dallas this November by USA Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association.
Ongoing Popularity of Pickleball
Pickleball is currently experiencing a rise in popularity, with nearly 11,000 locations featured on the USA Pickleball’s Places2Play map. Its widespread appeal is seen in community centers, PE classes, YMCA facilities, and retirement communities. The sport’s growth extends globally, with new international clubs forming and national governing bodies established on various continents.
Although the founders, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, are no longer with us, Barney attended the Nationals Championships in November 2013 and the 2018 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships. Witnessing the sport’s progress brought tears to his eyes. Barney’s presence provided insights into the history, rules, and the sport’s name origin.
The incredible rise of pickleball is a true underdog tale. It starts as a spontaneous game on a lazy summer day, it has evolved into a globally beloved sport. From the first wiffle ball echoes on a court to its roots over 50 years ago on Bainbridge Island, pickleball’s journey is truly remarkable.
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Bill Gates’s Association with the Pickleball History
Bill Gates, whose father was close to Pickleball pioneers Joel Pritchard, Barney McCallum, and Bill Bell, has a deep connection to the sport. The Gates family lived near the Pritchard home and even established a Pickleball court at their own residence. Bill Gates himself has been a regular player for over 50 years, sharing his experiences and photos from various Pickleball courts.
Gates emphasizes the game’s popularity, attributing it to a “low barrier to entry” with simple and easily understandable rules. He believes Pickleball is accessible to players of all ages, promoting quick learning of the game. Bill Gates also highlights the convenience of accessing information about Pickleball history and rules through online tutorials and YouTube videos, making learning the sport easy and accessible.
FAQs
Final Thoughts
However, the Pickleball sport was discovered out of boredom when two friends tried to curb it. Their simple merging game evolved into their routine family sport to curb boredom. Later, further people were added to their gameplay and established the game rules.
However, the History of Pickleball is about playing the game and establishing a more reliable game. Moreover, the Pickleball game made substantial growth in the USA and then in other states as well. It’s the time to pick up the hot pickleball action and be on cloud nine.
