Get the Answer to This Common Pickle Riddle
I'm just gonna say it.
Pickleball is a weird name.
But what's even weirder than the name itself is how there's two stories that have been repeated time and time again by the founders. One founder says his story is right, the other says his is right.
Confused? So was I.
Instead of telling you which one I think is right, because I honestly can't tell, I'll lay them both out for you so you can make your own decision as to why is pickleball called pickleball.
Fair warning: This peer into the history of pickleball will only get stranger from here on out...
Topics Covered in This Guide
1: The Pickle Boat Story
If you're like me, you're probably thinking wtf is a pickle boat.
If you're really like me, you'll also be thoroughly disappointed to learn that there is no giant pickle that serves as a boat, nor is there a pickle shaped boat. Sorry.
I'll explain what a pickle boat is, and tie it into the how it could be what the sport's named after.
A pickle boat refers to a mismatched crew of competitive rowers, sometimes pulled in at random from available rowers.
Joel Pritchard's wife (Joel Pritchard was one of the reasons why pickleball began) used to be into competitive rowing. When watching her husband play pickleball, the sport, she said it reminded her of a pickle boat because those who play pickleball were somewhat of a motley crew of players from other racket sports.
Seeing as the sport is a mix of table tennis, ping pong, and badminton, and it's easier on the joints than the aforementioned sports, it makes sense.
Now on to the origin story regarding a dog.
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2: The Dog Story
On the other hand, the other founders and first players of the game called McCallums and Browns say that the dog is named after Pritchard family's dog Pickles.
It was a cute little cockapoo puppy that was gifted to Joel Pritchard from one of his neighbors that had an insatiable appetite for whiffle balls.
As the story goes, before the game pickleball was named pickleball, the dog Pickles would run onto the original pickleball court and snatch up the plastic wiffle ball into its mouth and take off like a bat outta hell.
One night when they were in the living room of Pritchard family cabin, the McCallum and Browns were lounging with pickles the dog sitting in the middle of the living room. Apparently, someone got the idea to name the game pickleball after Pickles the dog.
And that's the origin story of how a family dog is why the sport was called pickleball.
Which One is True?
Who knows? Who cares?
I personally like the dog story better, but the boat story is pretty fitting as well.
What do you think? Read the FAQs below and let us know in the comments.
Until next time,
Glenn
Paddleballers
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FAQs
What does pickle mean in pickleball?
Pickle in pickle ball refers to either a pickle boat or Pickles the dog, depending on who you ask.
Where did pickleball originate?
Pickleball originated in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Washington, United States. It was created by Joel Pritchard, a former Congressman from Washington State, and two of his friends, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, as a way to provide entertainment for their families during the summer.
What breed of dog was pickleball named after?
The breed of dog that pickleball was allegedly named after was a Cockapoo.
