Pickleball Goes Pro

What sport is fast like Ping-Pong, strategic like tennis, and accessible to players of all ages? Pickleball!

The game is played on a court ¹/₃ the size of a tennis court with solid paddles, like those used in Ping-Pong. The balls are hollow with holes like Wiffle balls, so they move slower than tennis balls. These tweaks make pickleball a racquet sport anyone can get into. This is on purpose: The game was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell to entertain bored family members on vacation. It’s actually named for Pritchard’s dog Pickle, who loved to chase the balls!

What sport is fast like Ping-Pong, strategic like tennis, and easier to learn than both of them? Pickleball! This silly-sounding sport has been around for more than 50 years. But it has recently exploded in popularity.

Pickleball takes place on a court about the size of a tennis court. Instead of racquets, players use solid paddles, like those used in Ping-Pong. The balls are hollow and have holes in them, like Wiffle balls. That means they move slower than tennis balls.

These tweaks make pickleball simple to pick up for players of all ages. Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell, the game’s inventors, designed it that way. Their goal was to entertain bored family members on vacation. The game is named for Pritchard’s dog Pickle, who loved to chase the balls!

Although it’s been around for more than 50 years, pickleball has recently skyrocketed in popularity. Today it’s a competitive sport—with pro players of all ages. Sixteen-year-old Anna Leigh Waters is the top-ranked pro women’s pickleball player in the world.

Anna Leigh first got into the sport through her grandfather. He invited her to join him in a doubles game when she was 10 years old. “It’s been really cool for me to grow with the sport,” Anna Leigh says. “Pickleball was kind of a baby then, just like I was. Now I’ve been playing for almost six years, and the sport has grown so much.”

Today pickleball is a competitive sport. There are professional players of all ages. Sixteen-year-old Anna Leigh Waters is one of them. In fact, she’s the top female pickleball player in the world!

Anna Leigh’s grandfather introduced her to the sport when she was 10. He invited her to join him in a doubles game. “It’s been really cool for me to grow with the sport,” says Anna Leigh. “Pickleball was kind of a baby then, just like I was. Now I’ve been playing for almost six years, and the sport has grown so much.”

Anna Leigh has competed in singles and doubles competitions both within her own age group and in mixed matches. She’s even competed in doubles with both her mom and her grandfather! She loves how strategic the game can be. “People compare it to chess a lot just because of the strategy. If you have really good knowledge of the game and a really good pickleball IQ, you’re automatically going to be better than your opponents.”

But the thing Anna Leigh likes most about pickleball is how accessible the sport is. Whether you’re 8 or 88, you can compete.

“It’s just cool that kids can be really good at the sport and can go out there and play with their family and make connections with their parents—and grandparents,” she says. “And for adults, it’s a great way to meet new people! So don’t worry if you’re having trouble learning the scoring or strategy—just go to your local pickleball club and there will be tons of people willing to help!”

Anna Leigh has competed as a single player and in doubles matches. She’s faced off against players of all ages. She’s even competed on teams with both her mom and her grandfather! She loves how strategic the game can be. “People compare it to chess a lot just because of the strategy,” she says. “If you have really good knowledge of the game, you’re automatically going to be better than your opponents.”

But what Anna Leigh likes most is how accessible pickleball is. Whether you’re 8 or 88, you can compete. “It’s just cool that kids can be really good at the sport and can go out there and play with their family,” she says. “And for adults, it’s a great way to meet new people!”

Anna Leigh’s advice for new players? “Don’t worry if you’re having trouble learning the scoring or strategy. Just go to your local pickleball club and there will be tons of people willing to help!”