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COURT APRIL 17, 2026
AIKEN-AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER • OUR 20th YEAR
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WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM? IS IN SESSION
It is a truly rare event when a new sport comes on the scene, but we have all been witness to one of these turning points in recreational history with the surging popularity of pickleball. It is suddenly everywhere and is a huge economic, lifestyle, and even healthcare sensation. Where did this thing come from? Why now? As you can see from the box to the right, pickleball isn’t new. It has been around for more than 60 years. The name was trademarked in 1972, mentioned in Tennis magazine as early as 1976, and had sanctioned tournaments and official oversight organizations not long after. So why have most people only known of its existence for the past few years? We can thank the pandemic for that. People in extended lockdowns were craving something to do that might involve fresh air and maybe even interacting with actual human beings. A sport that was simple, inexpensive, and didn’t involve being too close to other players was perfect. The craze was on its way. There are currently nearly 70,000 pickleball courts in the U.S., and for the past three years, participation has doubled every year.
Pickleball has a rather illustrious history for such a new sport. It was invented in 1965 by three friends, including then 40-year old Joel Pritchard, who later went on to represent the state of Washington in the US House of Representatives and served as the state’s Lieutenant Governor. In 2022 it was named Washington’s official state sport. Several stories surround the origin of the name, including one that the Pritchard family dog, Pickles, loved to chase errant balls that strayed off the court. Another version holds that the name came from so-called pickle boat crews, where oarsmen are chosen from the leftover crews from other boats, appropriate in a sport built from assorted leftover equipment from several sports. Still another legend (all of these are from the same three people who invented the sport): the object of the game is to hit the ball in a way that puts your opponent in a pickle.
Why/why not pickleball? Pickleball is fun, easy to learn, and is played on a smaller court than tennis, which makes it easier for aging players: less running, less strain on joints. As more people play any sport, it’s only natural that injuries will increase, and that is the case with pickleball. Part of the reason is the sport’s popularity with older adults. In one study, 91% of the injuries involved players over 50, and another study found that 73% of all pickleball injuries happened to players aged 60 to 79 (so don’t think you’re too old to play). Are potential injuries a good reason to avoid pickleball? Not at all. They are actually proof that playing is a good idea. You can’t get injured doing nothing. In fact, one study found that hardly anyone was injured sitting in a recliner with a TV remote in hand. That study, which we just made up on the spot, had no data on all the people who play pickleball who do not suffer an injury, probably because those numbers are so huge. Something different Even so, pickleball injury prevention should be a hot topic, and it on the puzzle page (p.12) is: see page 11 for a bevy of suggestions.
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