Drive past most any park in North County San Diego lately and you'll hear it before you see it. That pop-pop-pop sound bouncing off the pavement? That's pickleball, and around here, it is more popular than ever. If you haven't picked up a paddle yet, here's your fun little crash course on the sport that's eating tennis's lunch.
It Started Because a Kid Was Bored
Pickleball's origin story is almost too good to be true. Summer of 1965, Bainbridge Island, Washington. A congressman named Joel Pritchard comes home to find his kids with nothing to do. So he does what any resourceful dad would do: raids the garage for ping pong paddles and a badminton net, finds a plastic perforated ball, and just...makes up a game.
It didn't quite work at first, so he called in his buddy Barney McCallum to help sort out the rules and build better paddles. And just like that, pickleball was born in a backyard, out of pure boredom and a lack of proper equipment.
The origin of the name makes even less sense. Joel's wife named it after a "pickle boat," a rowing term for a ragtag crew of leftover racers, because that's exactly what this thrown-together game felt like to her. The popular story about it being named after a dog named Pickles? Cute, but false. That dog wasn't even born until 1968. Sorry to ruin that story.Washington loved the game so much it made pickleball the state's official sport in 2022. From backyard experiment to legislation in under 60 years. Not bad!
The Growth Is Genuinely Wild
We're not exaggerating when we say this is the fastest growing sport in America. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025. That's up 171.8% in just three years, and up nearly 480% since 2020. No other sport is even close. San Diego has caught on to the fun. Barnes Tennis Center in Point Loma has close to 27 courts and even hosts national championship events. Bobby Riggs Racket & Paddle Club in Encinitas is where the serious players go. Poinsettia Park in Carlsbad gets so packed that you can wait 30 to 45 minutes for an open court on a weekend. Courts seem to be popping up everywhere you look. Welcome to the club.
What Is the Big Dill?
Beyond being genuinely fun, pickleball happens to be great for you. Cleveland Clinic points out that players over 50 spend around 70% of their time on court in a moderate to vigorous heart rate zone, which is a real cardio workout without the joint pounding of tennis or running. It's also social by design. You're almost always playing doubles, chatting between points, and getting to know your neighbors. It's basically happy hour with exercise built in.
Some Basics
Pickleball has its own weird language and we love it. A soft shot that just clears the net is a "dink." The no-volley zone by the net is the "kitchen," and you'll hear people yell "get out of the kitchen" like it's a real thing, because it is. If someone hits a total dud of a shot, that's a "falafel." No idea why. It just is.
It's also not just a retiree sport anymore, despite what you might picture. Players in their 20s and 30s are one of the fastest growing groups, so don't be surprised to see a grandkid and grandparent teamed up against a couple of twenty-somethings on a Saturday morning. It’s multigenerational and doesn’t discriminate.
So, Are You In?
North County has always been about being outside, staying active, and actually knowing the people down the street. Pickleball fits that vibe perfectly. So if you're pickleball-curious, there's a court closer than you think, and probably a very enthusiastic neighbor willing to teach you what a dink is. It’s easy to learn, a solid workout, and a great way to make friends in the community.
Speaking of Courts, We Have a Property You Need to See
We've got something special coming soon, and it might just be the ultimate move for pickleball enthusiasts. Tucked into a rare pocket of Carmel Valley, right on the cusp of Del Mar, this single-level estate sits just minutes from the beach and shopping. It's set on a full acre with the kind of space and privacy you rarely find this close to the coast. And yes, your very own pickleball courts. Four of them, sound insulated, lit for night play, complete with a viewing deck. No 30-minute wait for an open court here. This property is special and will not last long.
Reach out to Colucci & Co. Realty Group for a first look when it hits the market.
