Unraveling the Origins of Pickleball: A Tale of Two Islands

Every sport has its origin story, a narrative that becomes woven into the fabric of its culture and identity. For pickleball enthusiasts, that story has long centered around Bainbridge Island, Washington, where in the summer of 1965, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum allegedly invented the game we know and love today. This version of events has been enshrined in plaques, commemorated on the original court, and repeated countless times in articles and interviews.

But what if this widely accepted history isn’t the full story? A recently discovered self-published book is challenging everything we thought we knew about pickleball’s beginnings, suggesting that the sport’s true origins lie on a different island altogether.

The Official Pickleball Origin Story: Bainbridge Island, 1965

Let’s first revisit the tale that’s been told for decades. It goes something like this:

In the summer of 1965, Joel Pritchard, then a member of the Washington House of Representatives, returned from a game of golf with his friend Bill Bell to find their families bored and restless. Seeking to entertain everyone, they lowered the net on Pritchard’s backyard badminton court, grabbed some ping pong paddles, and began volleying a perforated plastic ball back and forth.

The impromptu game was an instant hit. Over the following days and weeks, Pritchard and Bell, joined by their friend Barney McCallum, refined the rules and gameplay. They established key elements like the double bounce rule, the non-volley zone (later dubbed “the kitchen”), and the underhand serve requirement.

From these humble beginnings, pickleball slowly but surely gained traction. By the 1970s, plywood paddles were being manufactured and distributed. In 1984, the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) was formed, and the first official rulebook was published. The original court on Bainbridge Island became a pilgrimage site for pickleball devotees, complete with a commemorative plaque marking the sport’s birthplace.

This narrative has been repeated and reinforced by organizations like USA Pickleball, countless media outlets, and even local tourism guides. It’s a story that’s simple, charming, and easy to remember – perfect for a sport that prides itself on accessibility and community spirit.

The Name Game: Pickles the Dog vs. Pickle Boat

While the inventors of pickleball are generally agreed upon, the origin of the sport’s quirky name has always been a point of contention. Two main theories have persisted over the years:

1. Pickles the Dog

The more popular and widely circulated story claims that the game was named after the Pritchard family’s dog, Pickles. According to this version, Pickles would chase after stray balls during early matches, leading someone to jokingly call it “Pickle’s Ball.” The name stuck, eventually being shortened to “Pickleball.”

This tale has charm and memorability on its side. It’s the kind of origin story that’s easy to share and remember, which likely contributed to its widespread acceptance. However, some have pointed out timeline discrepancies, questioning whether Pickles was even around when the game was first played.

2. The Pickle Boat

The alternative explanation, supported by Joan Pritchard (Joel’s wife), draws inspiration from the world of rowing. In crew terminology, a “pickle boat” refers to a boat crewed by leftover rowers from other teams. Joan claimed that since pickleball was cobbled together from elements of other sports (tennis, badminton, and ping pong), it was like a athletic “pickle boat” – a mishmash of spare parts.

This theory carries more metaphorical weight and aligns with the game’s nature as a hybrid sport. However, it lacks the immediate appeal and simplicity of the dog story, which may explain why it’s less commonly cited.

The Bechtel Theory: A New Contender Emerges

Just when it seemed the pickleball origin debate had settled, a new theory has emerged to shake things up. In July 2023, Patrick W. Smith self-published a book titled “Pickleball!: The Curious History of Pickleball From Its Origins As Picklepong 1959–1963”. This largely overlooked work presents a radically different account of pickleball’s beginnings – one that predates the Bainbridge Island story by several years and shifts the location to nearby Whidbey Island.

According to Smith, who grew up on Whidbey Island, the true inventors of pickleball were his aunt and uncle, Gretchen and Charles “Chuck” Bechtel. Smith claims that between 1959 and 1963, the Bechtels introduced a backyard game they called “Picklepong” or sometimes “Pickleball” during summer gatherings and political fundraisers at their home.

The key elements of Smith’s alternative history include:

• The game originated on Whidbey Island, not Bainbridge Island.
• It was played years earlier than the official 1965 date.
• The Bechtels, not Pritchard, Bell, and McCallum, were the true inventors.
• The game was “discovered” by Pritchard and others at political fundraisers hosted by the Bechtels.

Smith’s account also offers a different explanation for the name “pickleball.” He suggests two possible origins:

1. Players were often “pickled” (intoxicated) while playing the game at these gatherings.
2. Gretchen Bechtel served homemade gherkins (small pickles) before matches.

Perhaps most intriguingly, Smith claims that the term “kitchen” – now a fundamental part of pickleball terminology – originated from a domestic squabble between the Bechtels. According to the story, Chuck would often come looking for a drink, prompting Gretchen to yell, “Get out of my kitchen – I never serve in the kitchen!” This phrase allegedly became a running joke among players.

Evaluating the Bechtel Theory

Naturally, these claims have been met with a mix of curiosity and skepticism from the pickleball community. The theory raises several important questions:

1. Why has this version of events only come to light now, decades after pickleball’s rise to popularity?
2. Is there any corroborating evidence to support Smith’s claims?
3. If true, why haven’t other Whidbey Island residents, including professional players like Riley Newman, heard of this history?

Critics argue that the lack of tangible evidence – such as time-stamped photos or contemporary documents – makes the Bechtel theory difficult to verify. Additionally, the convenient explanations for terms like “kitchen” seem almost too perfect, raising suspicions of retroactive storytelling.

However, proponents of the theory point out that Smith’s account contains oddly specific details that would be strange to fabricate. For instance, the claim that Boeing materials were used for early paddle grips aligns with the known fact that Boeing materials were later used in the development of composite paddles in the 1980s.

Reconciling the Competing Narratives

While it’s tempting to view the Bainbridge and Whidbey Island stories as mutually exclusive, there may be room for a more nuanced interpretation. In a later interview, Smith seemed to suggest that both versions could contain elements of truth:

“The story I’m telling you is really the prehistory of what we now play. Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum invented what we’re playing today, and were influenced by what they learned from us.”

This perspective allows for the possibility that the Bechtels’ “Picklepong” was an early precursor to pickleball, which was then further developed and formalized by Pritchard, Bell, and McCallum on Bainbridge Island. If true, it would mean that pickleball’s evolution was more complex and collaborative than previously thought.

The Importance of Origin Stories in Sport

The debate over pickleball’s true origins goes beyond mere historical curiosity. Origin stories play a crucial role in shaping a sport’s identity, culture, and values. They create a sense of shared history among players and fans, and often become intertwined with the sport’s marketing and branding efforts.

In pickleball’s case, the Bainbridge Island story has been central to the sport’s image as an accessible, community-driven game born out of simple ingenuity. The idea of three friends creating a new sport in their backyard resonates with the welcoming, inclusive spirit that many associate with pickleball.

If the Bechtel theory gains traction, it could prompt a reevaluation of how we think about pickleball’s beginnings. It raises questions about whose contributions get remembered in history and why. However, it also offers an opportunity to enrich our understanding of the sport’s evolution and acknowledge the potentially wider circle of individuals who played a role in its development.

Moving Forward: The Search for Truth

As the pickleball community grapples with these competing narratives, the quest for verifiable evidence continues. The Dink, a prominent pickleball news outlet, has reached out to Patrick W. Smith for an interview, hoping to delve deeper into his claims and any supporting documentation he might have.

In the meantime, pickleball enthusiasts are encouraged to dig through their attics, scour old photo albums, and reach out to longtime players who might have memories or mementos from the sport’s early days. The truth about pickleball’s origins may be hiding in an old home movie, a dusty scrapbook, or the recollections of those who were there at the beginning.

Conclusion: Embracing the Mystery

Whether pickleball was born on Bainbridge Island in 1965, evolved from “Picklepong” on Whidbey Island in the early 1960s, or emerged through some combination of these events, one thing is clear: the sport has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Today, pickleball is enjoyed by millions of players worldwide, with a rapidly growing professional circuit and increasing mainstream recognition.

Perhaps the most fitting approach is to embrace the ambiguity surrounding pickleball’s origins. After all, the sport’s appeal lies not in the specifics of its creation story, but in the joy, community, and friendly competition it fosters on courts around the globe. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of pickleball’s past, we can appreciate how far the sport has come and look forward to where it’s headed next.

For those intrigued by this ongoing historical detective work, keep an eye out for further developments. Whether you’re a longtime player or new to the game, understanding pickleball’s rich and potentially complex history can deepen your appreciation for this unique and engaging sport.