Culture and Lifestyle Activities and Entertainment Pickleball Is The Sporting Craze That's Sweeping The South It’s a fun game the whole family can play together. By Southern Living Editors Updated on December 14, 2022 Fact checked by Khara Scheppmann Fact checked by Khara Scheppmann Khara Scheppmann has 12 years of marketing and advertising experience, including proofreading and fact-checking. She previously worked at one of the largest advertising agencies in the southwest. brand's fact checking process Share Tweet Pin Email Have you ever heard of pickleball? Contrary to its name, it doesn't have anything to do with the jar of crunchy sandwich fillers in your refrigerator. Pickleball is a sport that's gaining in popularity throughout the country, and these days, it's really catching on in the South. It's a fun game that combines elements of several sports, including tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Bill Oxford/Getty Images What is Pickleball? Pickleball is usually played on a tennis or badminton-size court—either indoors or outdoors—and requires a net across the court, much like tennis. It can be played with either two or four people, as singles or as doubles, and for a game, players need a ping-pong-style paddle and a small, hollow plastic ball covered with holes. It's easy to learn and fun to play for all ages and stages. You can watch a brief intro to the sport in the video above. Pickleball Origins USA Pickleball describes the origins of the game, saying, "Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, Washington. Three dads–Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum—whose kids were bored with their usual summertime activities—are credited for creating game." It started as a DIY setup, but it has quickly spread across the country. USA Pickleball says, "Pickleball has evolved from original handmade equipment and simple rules into a popular sport throughout the US and Canada. The game is growing internationally as well, with many European and Asian countries adding courts." Pickleball Rules According to USA Pickleball, the sport is "fun, social, and friendly. The rules are simple and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players." It is great for all ages and experience levels and is something everyone can play together, whether it's a game among friends or an afternoon of fun between grandkids and grandparents. It's also great exercise. To learn the rules of the game, the scoring system, and tips for new players, check out the instructions at usapickleball.org, then grab your paddle, round up a few friends, and try it out today. Have you ever played pickleball? If so, how did you learn? If not, are you interested in picking up a paddle and trying your hand on the pickleball court? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Southern Living is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. USA Pickleball. Brief history.