Pickleball, fast-paced sport that has many similarities to tennis, badminton, and table tennis (Ping-Pong). It is played on a level court with short-handled paddles and a perforated hollow plastic ball that is volleyed over a low net. Matches feature two opposing players (singles) or two pairs of players (doubles), and the sport can be played either outdoors or indoors. Pickleball was invented in the United States in 1965, and in the early 21st century it experienced rapid growth. It is now played worldwide by people of all ages and skill levels.
Pickleball equipment is relatively simple. An official court measures 20 by 44 feet (6.1 by 13.4 metres) for both singles and doubles matches; these are the same dimensions as a doubles court in badminton. The pickleball net is 34 inches (86 cm) high at its centre and 36 inches (91 cm) high at the sides of the court. Players use solid, smooth-surfaced paddles, typically made of wood or composite materials. Paddles may be no longer than 17 inches (43 cm). The combined length and width of a paddle may not exceed 24 inches (61 cm). There are no restrictions, however, on the thickness or weight of a paddle. The balls are lightweight and measure from 2.87 to 2.97 inches (7.3 to 7.5 cm) in diameter. Continue reading from Britannica
It was a summer day in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Wash., not far from Seattle and Washington Congressman Joel Pritchard had just returned after playing some golf. He was with his friend Bill Bell and the two were at Pritchard’s house and saw their families waiting on them.
According to the USAPA website, which quotes a story from a 2021 issue of Pickleball Magazine, Pritchard’s son Frank, who was 13 at the time, was in a bad mood and bored.
“He said when they were kids, they’d make games up,” Frank said of his father. So Frank continued, “Oh, really? Then why don’t you go make up a game.”
He did. Continue reading from PPA Tour
