Pickleball Facts: Let’s have a Look at Current History of Pickleball

Pickleball as sport has flourished in last few years, and credit should be given to all stakeholders who have worked hard behind the scenes to make this entity extremely popular.

Here in this article, we will reveal Current History of Pickleball to be shared in the below format:

1.  In 1965, during Summer Joel Pritchard, and his collegue discovered Pickleball sport at his home in Brainbrige where they used to regular play Badminton. On that day, they didn’t have shuttlecocks for playing in that place they lower the courts.

They designed customized wood in the size of paddle bat and used that ball to play that sport.

It was termed as “Pickleball” .

The net size of Badminton Court where they used to play was “60 Feet” which got substantially reduced to 36 feet much smaller in size.

They designed the rules in a simple way so that more people in the family can play this popular sport.

2. The first Pickleball court was officially constructed in the year 1967, which was Joe Pritchard backyard.

3. In 1972, the stakeholders realized the need of the corporation to protect the creation of this sport.

4. 1976, First Pickleball Tournament was played in Washington where the two finalist David Lester and Steve Parento played against each other where the former won against the latter.

5. First book on Pickleball titled as ” The Other Racquet Sports” was published in the year 1978 where all information related to Pickleball were released,.

6. Sid Williams is considered as “Pickleball Pionner” played a very important role in organizing events in America.

7. The United States Amateur Pickleball Association was formed in the year 1984 where the rule book was also published in the same year.

The first composite Paddle was built in the year 1984 itself by Arlen Paranto.

8. In 1990, Pickleball as sport started playing in more than 50 states in America.

9. In 1992, Pickleball ball was customized for the first time, with custom drilling machine.

10. In 1997, Joel Pritchard passed away at the age of 72 years old he is probably known for his connection with reference to birth of Pickleball.

11. In the year 1999, first pickleball website popularly termed as Stuff was launched where all information related to players, equipments and facilities are vividly mentioned.

12. The revised rule book for Pickleball was designed in the year 2008.

13. The USAPA Tournament was held in the year 2009, where more than 400 players across 26 states.

Post 2013, more than 1,400 new sites were designed.

14. In order to govern this sport all over the world, International Federation for Pickleball was established in the year in 2010.

15. In 2014, first official channel dedicated to Pickleball came into play which was called as www.pickleballchannel.com where all details about Pickleball was designed.

16. In 2017, USAPA, Volunteer exceed beyond more than 1,500 people, and membership doubled in couple of months.

17. In 2019, Pickleball becomes one of the fastest growing sport in US exceeding more than 3.3 million players who start playing this sport actively.

18. USAPA In the year got rebranded as US Pickleball, with our US Sports Bodies and USA National Pickleball Championships.

19. In the year 2022, Pickleball became one of the most sorted sport in terms of media coverage, all over US and the primary reason behind this enhancement is certainly due to more than 70 years old people taking part in this sport.

20. USA Pickleball Association memberships extend beyond more than 70,000 people which is roughly around more than 30 percent held in 2022.

My Perspective: 

Pickleball as sport needs advancement and proper framework, where the sport can flourish and peak at the same time.

Pickleball would be extended in more countries considering the ease with which game is played.

Pickleball, needs good stakeholders so that the game can flourish at the next level .

Pickleball needs a proper structure, so that game can flourish beyond at certain stage.