COPY - Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 29
What is Pickleball?
Imagine if tennis, badminton,
and table tennis had a
love child. That’s pickleball
in a nutshell! Played on a
badminton-sized court with
a net similar to tennis but
slightly lower, players volley a
perforated plas琀椀c ball, similar
to a wi昀툀e ball, back and forth
using solid paddles.
The game can be played in
singles or doubles, making it
versa琀椀le and accessible to a
wide range of par琀椀cipants.
A Brief History
Pickleball’s quirky name o昀琀en
prompts a giggle, but its
origins are just as charming. In
1965, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell,
and Barney McCallum, three
dads from Bainbridge Island,
Washington, invented the
game to entertain their bored
families. The name? That’s
credited to Pritchard’s wife,
who suggested it reminded
her of the pickle boat in crew
where oarsmen were chosen
from the le昀琀overs of other
boats – much like their game
was a mix of equipment from
other sports. Though some
argue it was named a昀琀er the
Pritchards’ dog, Pickles, who
loved to chase stray balls.
The Rise in Popularity
From its humble backyard
beginnings, pickleball has
evolved into an interna琀椀onal
sensa琀椀on. It’s one of the
fastest-growing sports in
the U.S., and its popularity is
spreading like wild昀椀re across
the globe. People are drawn
to its easy-to-learn nature,
making it accessible to
players of all ages and
skill levels.