“Emerging from humble beginnings in 1965, pickleball has surged in popularity, transforming from a simple family game into a worldwide sensation, with its reach extending to over 50 countries, including Vietnam”
Pickleball was invented by Joel Pritchard, a former U.S. Congressman, alongside his friends Bill Bell and Barney McCallum. Their initial goal was straightforward: to create a fun and engaging game for family and friends on Bainbridge Island, Washington. What started as a casual pastime soon caught on across the U.S., and by 1976, the game had formal rules and the United States Pickleball Association was established. Since then, pickleball has spread globally, with notable enthusiasts like billionaire Bill Gates, who mentioned in a July 2022 Gate’s Note article that he has been playing pickleball for 50 years.
The name “pickleball” has an interesting origin. According to Joel Pritchard, while playing the game, his dog named “Pickle” ran off with the ball. This led the trio to name the game “Pickle’s ball,” which eventually was shortened to “pickleball.”
Pickleball is played both indoors and outdoors, either in singles (two players) or doubles (four players) on a rectangular court. Players use a smooth paddle to hit a hollow plastic ball with holes over a 0.86-meter-high net until one side fails to return the ball or commits a fault.
The game is a hybrid of tennis, table tennis, and badminton. The court size is similar to a badminton court, while the paddle is larger than a table tennis paddle but smaller than a tennis racket. The ball is smaller and lighter than a tennis ball, contributing to pickleball’s unique appeal.
Pickleball has its own set of rules. The paddle is rectangular with a handle and is larger than a table tennis paddle—up to 43.18 cm long and a total of 60.96 cm in length and width. The ball is made of hard plastic, with a diameter of 74-76 mm and a weight of 22-26 grams, featuring less bounce than a tennis ball.
A pickleball court measures 13.4 meters by 6.1 meters, roughly the size of a badminton court and a quarter of a tennis court. Each court includes a 1.5-meter safety zone around it, totaling an area of approximately 9.1 meters by 18.3 meters.
The court is divided into three sections, with a green-colored area in the middle separated by a net. Each side of the net includes a 2.13-meter area known as the “kitchen” or no-volley zone, where players cannot hit the ball until it has bounced. Points are only scored when the ball goes out of bounds, with only the serving side able to score.
The game’s appeal lies in its combination of limited bounce, no-volley zones, and underhand serves, along with powerful shots and smashes. It offers an exciting and dynamic experience for players of all ages and fitness levels, with an accessible entry cost.
By 2023, Sportico reported that over 13.6 million people in the U.S. are playing pickleball. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, it is the fastest-growing sport in the country, with participation increasing from 3.5 million in 2019 to a 52% rise by 2023.
From the U.S., pickleball has expanded to Canada, Australia, China, India, and about 50 other countries. Though precise global participation statistics are still being gathered, China is leading the way in growth, potentially reaching 10,000 courts and 100 million players by 2028.
Right now, four international bodies claim to oversee pickleball globally: the International Pickleball Federation (IPF) founded in 2010, the World Pickleball Federation (WPF) established in 2018, the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF), and the International Pickleball Committee (PIC), both formed in 2023. As of August 2024, none of these organizations have received recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) like other major sports organizations.
While there is no unified global competition system for pickleball yet, several professional circuits exist in the U.S., such as the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP). Enthusiasts, according to Into Pickleball magazine, are eager to see pickleball included in the official program of the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, Australia.
