For some of us Pickleball came out of nowhere and with no explanation. I started hearing about it in random places but it was just general conversation, not, “hey do you know what Pickleball is?”. It started showing up at my local YMCA where my family works out and a ping pong paddle whiffle ball style of tennis grabbed my attention. I would imagine I’m not alone in this experience. There are probably a lot of people wondering where it came from, what is it, why is it so popular, and how is the game played. Pickleball was invented in 1965 by two men somewhere on Bainbridge Island near Seattle Washington. The two men would introduce the game to a third man the following day. After coming home from a round of golf they found their families sitting around with nothing that interested them enough to get up and play. The three men were Joel Pritchard, a congressman, Bill Bell, a successful businessman, and Barney McCallum. Pickleball was started as a kids game that they could play when they were bored with their other summertime games and activities. After starting as a kids game Pickleball has since become one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, even now having USAPA to regulate the game. The health benefits of playing Pickleball are indisputable, especially for cardio. People of all ages are now up off the couch and active playing the game. Get out and enjoy exercise again!!
