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History of the Name Pickleball
Pickleball is a sport that has been around since 1965, but it wasn’t until recently that it began to gain popularity. So why is this game called pickleball? Let’s dive into the history of this sport and discover how it got its unique name.
The game was invented by Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell in Washington state, who developed the game as an activity for their families to play together. The story behind the name comes from Pritchard’s family: his wife picked up her pet cocker spaniel named “Pickles” one day when she returned home from a walk near their house, where they had set up badminton net for their children to play on. She then joked about calling the new game “pickleball,” and thus the name stuck!
Rules of Pickleball
Today, pickleball is played all over North America, with rules similar to those used in badminton or table tennis. Two players (or four if playing doubles) use paddles made out of wood or composite materials such as graphite or fiberglass to hit a plastic ball over a net on an indoor court measuring 20 feet x 44 feet. Points are scored when an opponent fails to return your shot or hits it out-of-bounds. The first team/player to reach 11 points wins (must win by two).
There are various strokes available in pickleball including forehand groundstrokes, backhand groundstrokes, volleys/overheads, serves and returns. Each stroke must be executed within designated areas on either side of the court known as “service zones.” Players can also choose between singles and doubles games which involve different strategies depending on whether you’re playing with one partner or two partners against another team/pairing!
Conclusion
In conclusion, next time you see people enjoying a round of pickleball – don’t forget how this fun sport got its quirky name! From Joel Pritchard’s family joke about using Pickles’ namesake for their new backyard pastime – we now have what has become one of North America’s most popular sports today! With simple rules designed specifically so that even beginners can enjoy themselves without feeling overwhelmed – anyone can join in on some good ol’ fashioned pickley fun!