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Why is there a "pickle" in pickleball?

There is some controversy as to the word “pickle” in pickleball, it is generally accepted that in the summer of 1965, pickleball was founded by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Shortly thereafter, Joan Pritchard, the wife of Joel had come up with the name “pickle ball”, associating it with the thrown-together leftover non-starters in the “pickle boat” of crew races.

However, years later, as the sport of pickleball grew in popularity, there was some controversy when neighbors of the Pritchard family said they were present when Joan Pritchard named the game after their dog, Pickles.

Nevertheless, the Pritchard family including Joan has remained steadfast for decades that the dog “Pickles” joined the family a few years after and in fact named after the pickleball game.  So, it seems the name "pickleball" is associated with the thrown-together leftover non-starters in the “pickle boat” of crew races.

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