Pickleball is a great way to stay active, but how did this fun game even get started? Believe it or not, it all began on a summer vacation back in 1965!

Imagine a family enjoying their summer on an island near Seattle. They wanted to play badminton, but they couldn’t find all the equipment they needed. So, they got creative! They grabbed some ping pong paddles, a perforated plastic ball (like a whiffle ball), and lowered a badminton net a bit. That’s how pickleball was born!

So, why the funny name “pickleball”?

There are actually two stories about the name. The first one comes from the wife of the family who invented the game. She thought the mixing of different sports reminded her of a “pickle boat” in rowing. In rowing, a pickle boat is a crew made up of leftover oarsmen from other boats.

The other story is about the family dog named Pickles. Some folks thought the game was named after the dog, but it turns out Pickles came along a few years later! So, the game likely came first, and the fun name stuck.

No matter how it got its name, pickleball is a fun and social way to stay active. So grab a friend or two and give it a try!

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