How Pickleball was born

A Backyard, a dog , and a whole lot of imagination

It was the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Congressman Joel Pritchard had just returned home from a round of golf with his friend Bill Bell. The sun was still high, the kids were restless, and the badminton equipment was nowhere to be found.

So, like any inventive parent, Pritchard grabbed a couple of ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. They lowered the net on the old badminton court and started volleying. It was clumsy, chaotic—and wildly fun.

The next weekend, Barney McCallum joined in. Together, the trio began shaping rules for their new game, drawing inspiration from tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. They wanted something the whole family could play. Something simple, social, and endlessly entertaining.

And they needed a name.

Meet Pickles: The dog behind the name

Here’s where the story splits in two.

One version says the game was named after the Pritchards’ dog, Pickles, who loved chasing stray balls across the court. The other version—championed by Joel’s wife, Joan—claims she named it after “pickle boats” in crew, which are made up of leftover rowers from other teams. That, she said, reflected the sport’s mash-up nature.

But let’s be honest: the dog story is the one that stuck. Pickles, a mischievous cocker spaniel, became the unofficial mascot of the sport. His name lives on in every serve, every rally, and every laugh shared across the net.

From Backyard fun to globally fasted growing sport

What started as a weekend pastime exploded into a movement. By the 1980s, pickleball had its own association. By the 1990s, it was played in all 50 U.S. states. And today, it’s the fastest-growing sport in North America—with millions of players worldwide.

Pickleball is dynamic, inclusive, and fun. It’s a sport where seniors compete with teens, where strangers become friends, and where every match feels like a party.

In short; pickleball isn’t just a game. It’s a vibe. And Matchwear is here to dress it.