Pickleball is a racket or paddle sport in which two players singles or four players doubles use a smooth-faced paddle to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball over a inch-high 0. Pickleball is played indoors and outdoors. It was invented in as a children's backyard game in the United States, on Bainbridge Island in Washington state. In , Pickleball was named the official state sport of Washington.
Aspects of the sport resemble tennis and table tennis on a doubles badminton court, but pickleball has specific scoring rules, paddles and court lines. On each side of the net is a 7-foot area 2. The hard plastic pickleball produces less bounce than a tennis ball.
The limited bounce, non-volley zones, and underhanded stroke, with which all serves must be made, combined with hard drive shots and overhead smash shots, give the game a dynamic pace. After its introduction in , pickleball became a popular sport in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and gradually grew in popularity elsewhere.
By it was estimated to have over The growing popularity of the sport has been attributed to its short learning curve, its appeal to a wide range of ages and fitness levels, and its low startup costs. Two professional tours were established in the United States in and shortly thereafter two professional leagues were established.
The game was created in on Bainbridge Island, Washington , at the summer home of Joel Pritchard , who later served in the United States Congress and as Washington's lieutenant governor.
