pickleball

American  

[pik-uhl-bawl] / ˈpɪk əlˌbɔl /

noun

1. a game, similar to tennis and badminton, played indoors or outdoors on a court with a low net, using a short-handled, lightweight paddle and a perforated plastic ball.

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Etymology

Origin of pickleball

First recorded in 1970–75; originally a proprietary name for the equipment used in the game

Explanation

Pickleball is a sport that's similar to tennis, but it's played with paddles instead of rackets. In pickleball, players hit a hollow plastic ball back and forth over a low net. Sometimes described as a cross between tennis and ping-pong, pickleball was invented in the 1960s in Washington state. It quickly grew popular in the Pacific Northwest, but didn't catch on more widely until the 2020s. Former U.S. Congressman Joel Pritchard is credited with creating the game for his kids. Many people think he named it after his dog, Pickles, but Pritchard later said pickleball came from the so-called pickle boat in crew, a randomly thrown-together group of rowers.

Example Sentences

But Reaves, who excels at nearly every sport he attempts, including golf, bowling, tennis, pickleball and table tennis, just has great touch, Redick said with a shrug.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

Most recently, complaints around the staccato beat from pickleball games prompted local authorities to shorten court hours and put out noise reminders.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

The central location is convenient for her widespread friend group and she says she loves being able to walk to local businesses, including Lodge Bread Co., and to area pickleball and tennis courts.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026

In the U.S., there are 68,458 known pickleball courts, with 18,455 of them added in 2024 alone.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 17, 2026

“I still can’t believe Legend likes pickleball more than basketball.”

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko