June 24, 2025, 2:03 am | Read time: 6 minutes
A bit of tennis, some table tennis, and a touch of badminton–that’s pickleball. It’s the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. Will pickleball soon become a trend in Germany too? FITBOOK explains why the sport is so popular in the U.S. By the way, pickles have nothing to do with it.
Pickleball was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum on Bainbridge Island near Seattle. The main reason for creating the game: The children of the three fathers were on summer vacation. And anyone with kids knows that during vacation time, children are always looking for something to do. If there’s nothing to keep them occupied, things can quickly become stressful. At a party, Pritchard, Bell, and McCallum quickly came up with a simple game that has been growing in popularity in the U.S. for years–Pickleball was born!
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Overview
What is Pickleball?
According to USA Pickleball, the U.S. governing body for the sport, 4.8 million people played the sport regularly in 2021, an increase of nearly 15 percent compared to 2020. This makes it the fastest-growing sport in America. Pickleball is also gaining popularity worldwide, especially in Europe: More clubs are forming in Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands, and the community is steadily growing. Countries like India, Australia, and Canada are also seeing a noticeable increase in active players. International tournaments and championships further connect Pickleball across continents.
Pickleball combines elements of table tennis, badminton, and tennis. The commonality among these sports: A ball is hit over a net using a paddle.
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In Pickleball …
- the ball moves slower than, for example, in badminton–a sport where the ball can be hit over the net at speeds exceeding 400 km/h
- you play on a relatively small court, measuring about 81 square meters or 6.10 x 13.41 meters, which is significantly smaller than a tennis court, which measures 18.27 x 36.57 meters
- a plastic or composite ball is used–similar to table tennis. However, a Pickleball ball is not smooth; it has about 40 machine-drilled holes
- the net in the middle is not as high as in tennis (Tennis: 1.07 meters at the edges and 0.914 meters in the middle; Pickleball: 0.91 meters at the edge and 0.86 meters in the middle)
Due to the low ball speed, according to the official U.S. site, mainly people in their mid-40s play Pickleball competitively, which is why some affectionately call the sport “Boomer Ball.” The average age of players who pick up a Pickleball paddle more than eight times a year is 47.9 years. But younger people also play Pickleball. Those with an average age of 34.3 years play one to seven times a year.
Why is the game called Pickleball? Possible theories about the name’s origin
“Pickleball” translates to “Gewürzgurkenball” in German. But the name is not literal. Neither an oversized pickle is used as a paddle nor a gherkin as a ball. There are several theories about the name’s origin. One suggests the name might come from the Pritchards’ dog, who grabbed the ball during the party and ran off with it. The dog’s name: Pickles. However, there’s a counterargument to the ball-stealing dog theory. Allegedly, the Pritchards didn’t have a dog when the game was invented and only got a cocker spaniel years later, which they named Pickles after the already existing game.1
Another source claims that the game had no name in its early years. Only when Pickleball became more popular did it become necessary to find an interesting name that would spark curiosity. Thus, Pickleball became the name purely for marketing reasons.
Regardless of how the name came about–one thing is certain: Pickleball is a lot of fun. And it effectively trains endurance and hand-eye coordination along the way.
The right equipment: What you need for Pickleball
Pickleball can be played with two or four players. Besides fellow players, you need this equipment:
- Pickleball paddles: They are usually made of wood and often have an aluminum or polymer core to reduce vibrations upon ball contact. The surfaces are typically coated with carbon fiber or fiberglass, and the edges with plastic to enhance mechanical properties and protect against wear or damage.
- Ball: Pickleball balls are seamless, mostly made of polyethylene, and have a diameter of 74 millimeters. The perforated surface is crucial. The holes ensure the ball flies in a stable curve, even in windy conditions. Weighing about 25 grams, Pickleball balls are lightweight compared to tennis balls, which weigh between 56 and 59 grams.
- Net: It is made of durable polyethylene rope, coated with plastic on the sides, and is at least 6.20 meters long.
If you want to mark the court, you can use special Pickleball Court Markers. These L- and T-pieces define the field. There is no specific Pickleball “uniform” or clothing required for playing. It should just be as comfortable and breathable as possible, in case you start sweating.
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Rules: How Pickleball works
The beauty of this sport and likely the reason why there are so many “casual Pickleballers” in the U.S.: There are very few rules. The rules that must be followed are simple and can be quickly learned during play. Depending on the game mode, you play either singles or doubles. In singles, one player stands on each side of the court; in doubles, two play against two.
Serve brings points
The serve plays a crucial role in Pickleball. If the serve fails, no points can be scored in that round. Only the team with the right to serve can score points. The receiving side can only earn the right to serve and thus the chance to score points in the next rally. Typically, games are played to 11 points–with a 2-point difference. Alternatively, games can be played to 21–also with at least a two-point lead.
Things to consider when playing with four players
When playing with four players, the ball is hit from the air diagonally over the net from the right. The ball must land within the boundaries of the opposite court. Important: During the serve, the paddle must not be held higher than waist height. Only one serve attempt is allowed. The serving player must be behind the baseline on the right side of the court–in the so-called “Service Area.”
Ground contact must be present
After the serve, the ball must be allowed to bounce before being returned, which also applies to the third return (Double-Bounce Rule). Only then are volleys allowed in the rally. This rule eliminates the advantage of the serve and extends rallies. Once the ball is played over the net, the rally begins–the so-called “Rally.” The ball must first bounce before it can be returned. Direct volleys are only allowed if the player is outside the Non-Volley Zone.
Special attention is given to the Non-Volley Zone: In this 2.13-meter-wide area directly at the net, smashes and volleys are generally prohibited. If a player is within this zone, the ball can only be played if it has touched the ground first.
A point is always awarded when the ball touches the ground in the opponent’s court–even if the opponent hits the ball out or into the net.2