Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA by three dads – Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. They created the game to entertain their children who were bored with their usual summertime activities. The game started by using ping-pong paddles and a wiffle ball. They lowered the badminton net and created rules that resembled a combination of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. The game quickly gained popularity among their friends and families, and it has since spread across the United States and to other parts of the world. Today, pickleball is played by people of all ages and skill levels, and there are organized tournaments and leagues worldwide.