Pickleball a game for everyone Brief History
Pickleball was invented in 1965 in Washington. Three dads- Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McMallum- whose kids were bored with their usual summertime activities- are credited for creating the game. Pickleball has evolved from original handmade equipment and simple rules into a popular sport throughout the US and Canada.
The Court
A pickleball court is the same size court as a double badminton court as it measures 20’ x 44’. A pickleball net is 36” at the sidelines and 34” in the middle. Similar to a tennis court, a pickleball court’s striping can be constructed specifically for pickleball or converted using an existing badminton court.
Equipment
When playing pickleball, each playger will need a pickleball paddle, which is smaller than a tennis raquet but larger than a ping-pong paddle. Originally, pickleball paddles were wooden but have evolved over the years. Now, pickleball paddles are made of lightweight composite materials, including aluminum and graphite. Other equipment Pickleball players need is a net and pickleball. The ball is unique as it has holes through it like a wiffleball, and are intended for both indoor and outdoor play. The speed of the ball is 1/3 the speed of a tennis ball and is white or yellow in color.