Pickleball

Pickleball was invented on Bainbridge Island in the summer of 1965. Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, Barney McCallum, and their families spent summers on Pleasant Beach at the south end of the Island.

When their children complained of boredom, Pritchard proposed they invent a new game using materials readily available, including a badminton net and court, ping pong paddles, and a Whiffle ball. For several months, the 3 friends debated and experimented with different rules and equipment. From the beginning, they set out to establish rules to accommodate players of all ages and abilities.