National Pickleball Day - Wondering how to celebrate National Pickleball Day in a fun, amazing way? Look no further, we’re going to show you exactly how.

National Pickleball Day 2024 – August 8, 2024

National Pickleball Day is on August 8, and we are here to show you can celebrate the day in a fun-filled way. Do you know that it has been 57 years since Pickleball was invented? The game combines traditional lawn tennis, ping-pong, a.k.a. table tennis, and badminton. The game is played with ping-pong rackets on a badminton court with a tennis net. Similar to tennis, but is less challenging, it’s suitable for people of all ages. National Pickleball Day was created by pickleball instructor Deirdre Morris in 2021 to encourage people to learn to play pickleball.

History of National Pickleball Day

The origins of the game of pickleball go back to Bainbridge Islands, Washington, in 1965 when ex-congressman Joel Pritchard, along with two other friends, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, had just come home after a game of golf on a Saturday. They found that their families were bored, and they decided to play a game of badminton. However, there were challenges. Firstly, there was no shuttlecock. Secondly, they did not have proper badminton rackets — so they improvised. They found a Wiffle ball and used it in place of a shuttlecock. The net was lowered to the level it is in tennis. Instead of badminton rackets, they used plywood paddles. The rest is history — pickleball was born.The next few years saw a rise in the popularity of the game. Barney McCallum started making paddles specifically designed for pickleball. The M2 model devised by him became the most popular one. McCallum then founded Pickleball, Inc in 1972 and began selling wooden paddles. In 1984, the United States Pickleball National Championships was held for the first time. Pickleball received international attention when Glendolyn Sanchez-Vicario played pickleball for Spain in the Special Olympics of 2002. In 2016, The U.S Open Pickleball Championships were held in Florida for the first time.The popularity of the game increased exponentially. It is noteworthy that in just three years, from 2016 to 2019, the number of people playing pickleball reached 3.3 million. In 2021, pickleball was declared the fastest-growing sport in the United States by the Sport and Fitness Association. Deirdre Morris, a pickleball instructor, is credited with creating National Pickleball Day to encourage more people to play this sport.

National Pickleball Day timeline

1965
Pickleball is Born

Pickleball is played for the first time by a group of families who didn't have a proper badminton set-up.

1972
Pickleball Inc. is Founded

Barney McCallum establishes Pickleball, Inc. which sells wooden pickleball paddles.

1984
[Pickleball Rules

The United States Amateur Pickleball Association publishes the first pickleball rulebook.

2021
National Pickleball Day

National Pickleball Day is created by Deirdre Morris to help the sport of pickleball grow.

National Pickleball Day FAQs

Is pickleball a national sport?

Several pickleball tournaments have been held in recent years. Many national and international pickleball championships have been organized.{Which is the hardest shot in pickleball?

What is a poacher in pickleball?

A player is called a poacher if they decide to cross the center line and enter their partner’s area of the court. This is usually done during a rally to surprise the opponent and to play offense.

Which is the hardest shot in pickleball

The third drop shot is supposed to be the hardest shot in pickleball. It is a shot performed near the baseline that lands softly in the opponent’s non-volley zone. It is designed to allow your team time to get further toward the net.

National Pickleball Day Activities

  1. Play pickleball

    What better way to celebrate National Pickleball Day than to play a game of pickleball with family or friends. Ask your friends to come over for a game of pickleball and let the fun begin.

  2. Share it on social media

    Let everyone know the importance of this day. Take pictures of yourself playing pickleball with your loved ones and share them on your social media page. You can also post articles on National Pickleball Day.

  3. Organize a neighborhood competition

    If you want to take the celebrations to the next level, organize a pickleball competition. Encourage people to bring out their competitive side. Give out trophies for the winners and make the day memorable for everyone.

5 Facts About Pickleball Rules That Will Blow Your Mind

  1. An underarm serve is used

    The serve in a pickleball game is done underarm and to the service court area of the opponent.

  2. There is a kitchen zone

    The non-volley zone, called the kitchen, is an area covering seven feet from either side of the net.

  3. There are several ways to fault

    There are 10 ways by which you can commit a fault.

  4. Volleying on return is fault

    Volleying on a service return is considered a fault.

  5. It is an 11-point system

    The player or team to get 11 points first with a two-point lead, wins the game.

Why We Love National Pickleball Day

  1. It gives us a chance to be active

    Pickleball requires you to be active but at the same time, it is not demanding on the body. Pickleball is perfect for people who want to stay active, but don't want to torture their bodies. We love this day as it helps people stay active, safely.

  2. It allows us to have family time

    This day provides the perfect opportunity for families to come together and share an activity. It brings families closer and strengthens bonds.

  3. It gives us a chance to learn something new

    Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. It has a short learning curve and people can pick it up after playing for just five minutes. This day is an opportunity to learn something new.

National Pickleball Day dates

Year Date Day
2023 August 8 Tuesday
2024 August 8 Thursday
2025 August 8 Friday
2026 August 8 Saturday
2027 August 8 Sunday