Rise of Professional Pickleball: Pickleball, a mix of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, has become one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide. From its humble beginnings in 1965 to its rise in popularity today, pickleball is played by people of all ages and backgrounds in the United States, Australia, Canada, Mexico, India, and China. What started as a backyard game has transformed into a competitive sport, with professional leagues and tournaments gaining significant attention.
How Pickleball Began
Pickleball was invented in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Washington congressman Joel Pritchard, businessman Bill Bell, and their friend Barney McCallum were looking for a way to entertain themselves. Pritchard’s house had a badminton court, but they didn’t have enough racquets.
Instead, they used two ping pong paddles and a whiffle ball, playing over the 60-inch-high badminton net. As they continued, they discovered the ball bounced well on the asphalt surface, so they lowered the net to 36 inches at the ends and 34 inches in the center. They allowed the ball to bounce before hitting it, a key feature of pickleball.
The Name ‘Pickleball’
The name “pickleball” comes from Joan Pritchard, Joel’s wife. She said the combination of sports reminded her of a “pickle boat” in crew, where leftover rowers from other boats competed together. The leftover players formed a “pickle boat” race for fun.
Later, a dog named Pickles joined the family, and the dog became a playful part of the story. However, the name “pickleball” was already in use before the dog arrived in 1968.
Growth and Development
Pickleball quickly grew beyond Bainbridge Island. By the 1970s, the first permanent pickleball court was built in Washington. As the sport spread across the U.S., the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) was founded in 1984 to standardize the rules.
In the 1990s and 2000s, pickleball gained popularity, particularly in schools, recreation centers, and retirement communities. While initially more popular with older adults, younger generations have embraced the sport in recent years, contributing to its rapid growth.
The Rise of Professional Pickleball
The 2010s saw a boom in professional pickleball. In 2019 and 2021, the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP) were formed, offering significant prize money and a platform for professional players.
These leagues introduced high-level tournaments that attracted viewers and helped secure broadcast contracts with major TV networks such as ABC, NBC, FOX, PBS, and CBS. MLP, with its team-based format, brought in athletes and celebrities like Patrick Mahomes, Nick Kyrgios, LeBron James, Tom Brady, and Gary Vaynerchuk, expanding pickleball’s reach and appeal.
The Future of Pickleball
With pickleball courts being built nationwide and the sport gaining international attention, its future looks bright. Many countries now have pickleball federations, and global tournaments are drawing players from all over the world.
As the sport continues to grow, it is expected that there will be more investment in infrastructure, bigger TV broadcasting deals, and broader integration into schools and colleges, further solidifying pickleball as a global sport.
News in Brief: Rise of Professional Pickleball
Pickleball, a mix of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, has become a global phenomenon. Invented in 1965, it started as a backyard game and now includes professional leagues like the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP). Its popularity is rapidly growing in countries worldwide, including the U.S., Australia, Canada, and India.
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