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By Jennifer Lucore & Alex Hamner
4 Game Changers You Need to Know
You probably know that in the summer of 1965
pickleball was invented on Bainbridge Island , off the coast of Seattle , Washington . Today , pickleball continues to be the fastest growing sport in the world and is loved by millions and millions of players throughout the world .
BUT DID YOU KNOW … several times throughout the history of the game , pickleball could have died . There was little activity , no one spreading the word and the fun — poof — it could have been gone , just like that .
Here are four big Game Changers that kept our sport alive :
# 1 : 1975 Full-Page Newspaper Story in The National Observer
“ What sports needs is a great leveler , a game in which victory doesn ’ t favor the player who is fastest , tallest , brawniest , youngest or even the most athletic . Stifle the snickering . Pickleball isn ’ t funny . It ’ s fun .” The article explains how to get a starter set for pickleball at home .
The newspaper article even touches on “ The Proper Uniform ,” which teasingly says , “ Women should wear tennis shoes , orange body suit , puffy polka-dot hat , and dark glasses . Men should wear tennis shoes and cut-offs .” So funny !
Founder Barney McCallum did share with us , “ If you had to point to one thing ( that promoted pickleball beyond our area ), that article was it !” And we can just picture Barney explaining the women ’ s uniform with his mischievous smile .
# 2 : Trade Shows
In conjunction with 1972 ’ s passing of Title IX ( gender equality in education and athletics ), which had to be implemented by 1978 , pickleball was presented at sporting trade shows trying to share what the game was and how organizations could order the equipment . This led to having a booth at several yearly trade shows including School & Education , Parks & Recreation , and campgrounds .
# 3 : The Composite Paddle
Arlen Paranto invented and produced the first composite pickleball paddle in the early 1980s . The paddle was made from scrap material from Boeing Aircraft , where he worked . He also crafted and invented an edge guard ( which is still used today ) to protect the core and layers of the paddle from delamination . No more wood paddles ! These new composite paddles were much lighter and easier to maneuver , and created new buzz about the game .
# 4 : Sid Williams and the USAPA
Sid Williams ran many , and the only , tournaments in the 1980s , giving pickleballers the competition they craved . He founded the first USAPA in March 1984 in Tacoma , Washington , which stood for United States Amateur Pickleball Association . His persistence and dedication laid the foundation for today ’ s tournaments and USAPA , which recently updated its name to Sid Williams USA Pickleball .
Now you can have peace of mind like us , knowing how our favorite sport survived and that it ’ s alive and well — and will live forever .
Excerpts from the book “ History of Pickleball – More Than 50 Years of Fun !” where these game changers , and more , are explained in depth , including the whole story of our wonderful sport . •
Jennifer Lucore and Alex Hamner started playing pickleball in 2010 , and have competed in numerous tournaments in the U . S . Jennifer has competed internationally and is a 2019 Pickleball Hall of Fame inductee . Jennifer and Alex have 26 national titles , but are best known for winning gold in Women ’ s Open Doubles at Nationals for four consecutive years ( 2011-2014 ). They live with their respective families in North San Diego County . For more pickleball fun , visit Jennifer ’ s blog at
www . allpickleball . com .
Arlen Paranto holding his composite paddle and trophy .