Forget the Dog—Pickleball’s Real Name Origin Is Stranger Than You Think

Forget that cute family dog story – it’s totally wrong. Pickleball’s name actually comes from competitive rowing‘s “pickle boats,” which used leftover crew members nobody else wanted. Joan Pritchard, wife of the game’s inventor, made the connection since pickleball was cobbled together from spare sporting equipment in 1965. The dog named Pickles? He didn’t even exist when the game was created. The real story gets even more interesting from here.

While the quirky sport of pickleball has exploded in popularity, its unusual name remains a subject of debate. Many people believe the game was named after a family dog called Pickles, but here’s the thing – that’s completely wrong. Dead wrong. The dog didn’t even exist when the game was created.

The real story is far more interesting. Back in 1965, on Bainbridge Island, Washington, Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell cobbled together a new game using spare parts from other sports. The three founding families were simply looking for a fun activity to keep everyone entertained. A badminton court. Some ping pong paddles. A whiffle ball. It was basically the Island of Misfit Sports Equipment. And that’s exactly where the name comes from.

Joan Pritchard, Joel’s wife, christened the game “pickleball” because it reminded her of something called a pickle boat in rowing. Never heard of a pickle boat? It’s what they called the crew made up of leftover rowers – the ones who didn’t make the main teams. Just like the game itself was made from leftover sports equipment. Pretty fitting, right? These pickle boats were often known as the slowest boats in competitive rowing.

The whole dog story? That came later. Way later. Some journalist in the 1970s got creative with the facts, and suddenly everyone thought Pickles the family dog inspired the name. Plot twist: Pickles didn’t join the Pritchard family until years after the game was invented. Talk about barking up the wrong tree.

The truth isn’t as cute as a dog story, but it’s perfectly on-brand for this mishmash of a sport. Created by congressmen messing around with spare sporting goods. Named after rejected rowing teams. It’s delightfully random, just like using a whiffle ball on a badminton court with ping pong paddles.

Today, pickleball has grown into a global phenomenon, complete with professional tournaments and specialized equipment. But its name remains a reflection of its humble, cobbled-together origins – a reminder that sometimes the best things come from mixing up the leftovers.