Why Is It Called Pickleball?

The name "Pickleball" has two popular origin stories. One version says it was named after the Pritchard family's dog, Pickles, who loved chasing the ball during early games. The other version comes from co-founder Joan Pritchard, who said the name was inspired by a “pickle boat” in rowing—where leftover oarsmen are placed together—because the game was created using a mix of other sports. While both stories are charming, the true origin remains a playful part of the sport’s unique history.

If you are not already familiar with the sport, we highly encourage you to read our article What Is Pickleball?

The Origin of Pickleball

The invention of pickleball occurred in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, at the hands of three creators—Joel Pritchard and both Bill Bell and Barney McCallum. The sport started as a family activity to cure boredom, with ping-pong paddles, a plastic ball, and a badminton court. Then it became popular, with the first permanent court constructed in 1967 and national prominence in the 1970s.

During the 1990s through 2000s pickleball expanded to every state of the nation causing the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) to form in 2005. Pickleball experienced rapid expansion throughout the 2010s because of heightened attention from international growth efforts. The membership of USA Pickleball has exceeded 70,000 in 2023 while pickleball continues to gain popularity worldwide with more than 11,000 courts built in the United States.

The sport of pickleball spread across every state in America by the 1990s before the USA Pickleball Association was established in 2005. During the 2010s the rise in pickleball popularity accelerated while the sport expanded across different countries. The membership of USA Pickleball exceeded 70,000 members in 2023 and pickleball continues to witness worldwide growth across 11,000 international courts in the United States.

For more info on Pickleball history: Origins of Pickleball

But how did this game end up with such an unusual name? Let’s look at the two most popular theories behind the name “pickleball.”

The Pickleball Name: Two Theories

Over time, debate has grown about the history of pickleball's naming, with two popular theories surrounding its origin. Both theories are linked to the lives of the game's inventors, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, who invented it in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The two different stories about the game’s origins show the playful energy that characterizes pickleball, but the true origin of the name is rooted in the imagination of the game’s creators.

Theory 1: The Pickle Boat

The most widely accepted theory is that pickleball draws its name from the rowing term that describes a boat consisting of leftover rowers who did not qualify on the main teams, which is called "pickle boat." Similar to a pickle boat, the sport “pickleball” combined components from various sports, including tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, to create something new and unique.

The person who suggested the name is Joel's wife, Joan Pritchard, who was personally involved in rowing because she was born and raised in Marietta, Ohio, and studied at Marietta College. Joan was a loyal fan of the Marietta crew teams.

Theory 2: Pickles the Dog

The belief indicates that Pickles the dog from the Pritchard household was responsible. Pickles was a dog who was known as a dog who chased the ball during early games, causing disruptions on the court. The playful nature of Pickles the dog supposedly made his name the inspiration for calling the game pickleball.

A logical analysis reveals that the origin theory, which centers on the dog Pickles does not hold proper explanations. Pickles the dog was born in 1968, which was three years subsequent to the invention of the game. Even though the legend of the dog is funnier, it is not the real reason the game came to be named so. The idea of the game being named after the dog likely came to be a joke.

The Truth Behind the Name

The "pickle boat" story is really where the name "pickleball" originated, not the dog. The explanation provided by Joan Pritchard, namely that the rowing "pickle boat" was the inspiration for the name, is the real origin story.

The "Pickles the dog" story, while it became widespread, it was a fun twist added years later after Joel Pritchard was interviewed in the late 1960s. At that time, the game was growing in popularity, and Joel told the true story of how Joan came up with the name. However, during the interview, he also joked that the game could have been called after the family dog, Pickles. Although this story is playful and memorable, it was not the original reason for the name.

Later, Joel himself admitted that the dog story was just a funny story. He explained that he had suggested it to give the story greater entertainment value and rememberability for the interview listeners. As a result, the dog story quickly gained popularity, and many people believed it was the true story. Although later on, Joel confessed it was not so, his sarcastic comment stuck with him. He even continued to play along with the narrative in interviews, but eventually, he freely admitted that the actual origin was the "pickle boat" theory.

In the end, while the tale of Pickles the dog is a funny one and one that easily comes to mind, it was not actually the inspiration for the name of the game. The actual history is from Joan's background in rowing and the "pickle boats" that inspired her to suggest the name for pickleball.

After Learning the Story, Get Ready for Your Next Game with PickleballGoats

Now that you know the true story behind the name, it's time to prepare for your next pickleball match! Learn all of the essential pickleball terms to understand the game better. And while you do that, why not gear up with our PickleballGoats collection, featuring t-shirts, paddles, and accessories to show off your fun side for the game in style? Whether you're having some fun or simply hanging out on the court, our gear is designed for players that "dink different!"

 

For more information, refer to the history of pickleball on the USA Pickleball website:
USA Pickleball. (n.d.). History of the game. From https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/history-of-the-game/