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

“Last night I could hear her yelling on the pickleball court.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

With each passing month, the book club became more elaborate and more involved — including vacations in coastal towns, costuming, pickleball tournaments and monogrammed custom merch.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

Plus, retirement after divorce, Venice on a budget and the health benefits of pickleball.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

With new capital in place, the focus now shifts to scaling pickleball further — and proving the boom can translate into lasting returns.

From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026

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

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