10 Surprising Facts About Pickleball Most Players Don’t Know

Quick Answer: Pickleball is full of surprises: it was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, its name came from a rowing term rather than from the family dog, it is played with a Wiffle-style ball, and it is the official state sport of Washington. It has been the fastest-growing sport in the US for years, the non-volley zone is called “the kitchen,” and high-profile athletes now own pro teams. Here are 10 facts that even regular players often do not know.

Whether you are new to pickleball or have played for years, the sport has a quirky history and some fun details worth knowing. Here are 10 surprising facts about pickleball.

Where did pickleball come from?

It started as a backyard invention in 1965. The origins are more humble and more interesting than most players realize.

The origin facts:

1. It was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, who improvised a game for their bored families using a badminton court, paddles, and a perforated ball.
2. The name came from a boat, not the dog. Joan Pritchard named the game in the summer of 1965 after the “pickle boat,” the rowing term for a crew made up of leftover rowers. The Pritchards’ dog Pickles was born in 1968, three years later, so the dog was named after the game rather than the other way round. You will still hear players argue about it at the kitchen line.
3. It is played with a Wiffle-style ball, a hollow plastic ball with holes, which gives the sport its distinctive sound and slower flight.

The appealing part of pickleball’s history is how accidental it was. Three dads improvising a backyard game created what is now one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.

What facts surprise most players?

The rules and growth have some real quirks. Even regular players are often surprised by these details.

More surprising facts:

1. The kitchen is real. The non-volley zone is nicknamed “the kitchen,” and you cannot volley the ball while standing in it. See our guide on why it’s called the kitchen.
2. The two-bounce rule. The ball must bounce once on each side before players can volley, which shapes the whole strategy. See our guide on the double-bounce rule.
3. Traditionally, only the serving side scores, a side-out system that makes games swing in interesting ways. See our guide on how scoring works.
4. It is the official state sport of Washington, fittingly, since that is where it was invented.

These quirks are part of what makes pickleball both easy to start and surprisingly deep to master.

How big has pickleball gotten?

Bigger and younger than you might think. The growth has been staggering, and the player base is shifting.

The growth facts:

1. It has been the fastest-growing sport in the US for five consecutive years, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, whose 2026 report puts 2025 participation at 24.3 million, up from 4.2 million in 2020.
2. The player base is getting younger. Long associated with older adults, pickleball’s average player age has dropped sharply as younger players flood in.
3. Pro pickleball has serious backing. Professional leagues and teams now attract investment from high-profile athletes and celebrities, including figures like LeBron James and Tom Brady, signaling how mainstream the sport has become.

From a backyard in 1965 to pro leagues with celebrity owners, pickleball’s rise is one of the great sports stories of recent decades. To learn the game yourself, see our guides on the 5 basic rules and what equipment you need, and find a coach in our coaches directory.

Frequently asked questions

What are some interesting facts about pickleball? It was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, its name came from a rowing term rather than the family dog, it uses a Wiffle-style ball, the non-volley zone is called the kitchen, and it is Washington’s official state sport.

When and where was pickleball invented? In 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, who improvised the game for their families using a badminton court and a perforated ball.

Why is pickleball called pickleball? Joan Pritchard named it in the summer of 1965 after the “pickle boat,” a rowing term for a crew of leftover rowers. The Pritchards’ dog Pickles was born in 1968, three years later, so the dog did not give the game its name.

Is pickleball really the fastest-growing sport? Yes. The Sports and Fitness Industry Association calls it the nation’s fastest-growing sport for five consecutive years, with 24.3 million players in 2025, up from 4.2 million in 2020.

Why is the non-volley zone called the kitchen? The nickname’s exact origin is uncertain, but “the kitchen” has stuck as the term for the non-volley zone, where you cannot volley the ball while standing.

Do celebrities own pickleball teams? Yes. Professional pickleball has attracted investment from high-profile athletes and celebrities, including figures like LeBron James and Tom Brady, reflecting the sport’s rapid rise.

Pickleball’s quirky history and explosive growth make it as fun to learn about as to play. Get started with our guides on the 5 basic rules and equipment, and find a coach in our coaches directory.

Written by the Pickler Junction Team.