PICKLEBALL REVIEWER

Important Dates & Events

1965 – Pickleball was invented by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. It started as a
backyard game on Bainbridge Island, Washington. They improvised with ping-pong paddles and
a plastic ball on a badminton court, aiming to create a game the whole family could play.

1967 – The first permanent pickleball court was built in Bob O’Brian’s backyard. This marked the
transition of the game from a casual backyard activity into a more established sport.

1972 – A corporation was formed to protect and officially recognize the sport of pickleball. This
step ensured the game’s rules and identity were preserved.

1975 – The National Observer published an article on pickleball, which gave the sport wider
exposure. A year later, Tennis Magazine also featured it as “America’s newest racquet sport.”

1976 – The first official pickleball tournament took place at the South Center Athletic Club in
Tukwila, Washington. David Lester won the Men’s Singles title, while Steve Paranto finished
second. Most participants were tennis players who had little experience with pickleball.

1978 – The book The Other Racquet Sports included pickleball, confirming its recognition as a
legitimate sport.

1982 – Sid Williams began promoting pickleball through tournaments and organizing events in
Washington state.

1984 – The United States Amateur Pickleball Association (USAPA) was founded to grow the
sport nationally. Its first rulebook was published the same year. Sid Williams served as the first
Executive Director and President, followed by Frank Candelario.

1990 – Pickleball spread across all 50 U.S. states, solidifying its nationwide popularity.

1997 – Joel Pritchard, one of the sport’s inventors, passed away. Despite his career as
Washington’s Lieutenant Governor, he is best remembered for his role in creating pickleball.

1999 – The first pickleball-focused website (Pickleball Stuff) launched, providing resources and
equipment to players.

2001 – Pickleball became part of the Arizona Senior Olympics. With over 100 participants, it was
the largest pickleball event at the time and helped showcase the sport’s appeal to older adults.

Key People

Joel Pritchard – A Washington congressman and later lieutenant governor, he co-created

Bill Bell – A successful businessman and Pritchard’s friend, he co-invented the game during the
summer of 1965.

Barney McCallum – A close friend who joined shortly after the game’s invention and helped
develop the first set of formal rules.

Bob O’Brian – Pritchard’s neighbor who had the space where the first permanent pickleball
court was built in 1967.

Sid Williams – Considered a pioneer of organized pickleball, he promoted the sport through
tournaments and served as the first President and Executive Director of USAPA.
Frank Candelario – Took over leadership of USAPA and continued expanding pickleball’s reach in
the 1990s and early 2000s.

Arlen Paranto – An engineer who invented the first composite paddle, making the equipment
lighter and more durable than the original wooden paddles.

David Lester – Winner of the first known pickleball tournament (1976).

Steve Paranto – Runner-up in the same tournament, remembered for his role in early
competitive pickleball.

Court Dimensions & Equipment

Court Size – The pickleball court is a rectangle measuring 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. The size
is the same for both singles and doubles, making it smaller than a tennis court but slightly larger
than a badminton court.

Net – The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and dips to 34 inches in the middle. This lower
height compared to tennis makes for faster rallies but still requires control.

Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) – Extends 7 feet from the net on each side. Players cannot volley (hit
the ball in the air) while standing in this zone, which prevents smashes at the net from being too
dominant.

Lines – Include baselines (at the ends), sidelines (on the edges), centerlines (splitting service
courts), and service courts (right/even and left/odd). All lines are 2 inches wide and are part of
the area they mark.

Paddles – Must not exceed 24 inches in total (length + width). The length cannot be longer than
17 inches. Paddles can be made of composite, graphite, fiberglass, or other approved materials.

Ball – A perforated plastic ball, similar to a wiffle ball, with 26–40 evenly spaced holes. It is
designed for flight stability and consistent bounce. Balls must be of uniform color and made
from durable plastic.

Key Terms

Volley – Hitting the ball in the air without letting it bounce first. Cannot be done inside the
kitchen.

Groundstroke – Hitting the ball after it bounces on the ground. Most pickleball shots fall into
this category.

Dink – A soft, controlled shot that just clears the net and lands in the kitchen. It is often used to
force mistakes from opponents

Lob – A high, arching shot intended to go over the opponent’s head, forcing them to move back.

Fault – Any violation of the rules that ends the rally, such as hitting the ball out of bounds or
volleying inside the kitchen.

Side Out – Occurs when the serving team loses its serve and the opposing team takes over.

Double Bounce Rule – After a serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before volleys are
allowed. This ensures longer rallies.
Rally – The continuous exchange of shots between opponents after the serve until one side
commits a fault.

Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) – The area close to the net where volleys are prohibited. It keeps the
game fair by preventing players from simply smashing every shot near the net.

Purpose of Pickleball

Pickleball was invented with the intention of being a fun, social, and accessible game that
families and friends of all ages could enjoy together. It combines elements of tennis, badminton,
and ping-pong but is easier to learn because of the smaller court and slower-moving ball.

The main goals of the sport are:

Encouraging fair play – The rules emphasize courtesy, honesty in line calls, and giving
opponents the benefit of the doubt.

Providing inclusivity – Pickleball can be played by children, adults, and seniors alike, and rules
adapt for players with physical limitations.

Building community – Its popularity in schools, parks, and retirement communities highlights its
role as a social game.

Winning points through skill – Players aim to score 11 points (must win by 2) by serving and
winning rallies, but strategy and control are more important than sheer power.