Origin Story: Net Dropped from 60″ Badminton Height to 36″
Summary
Aylex notes pickleball’s first net wasn’t today’s height. In 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell grabbed ping-pong paddles and a plastic ball on a badminton court — the net started at badminton height, 60 inches.
The ball bounced so well they lowered it to 36 inches. Knowing the origin helps the modern 36″/34″ geometry make sense.
Key takeaways
- Origin net: badminton height ~60″
- Lowered to 36″ because the ball bounced so well
- 1965 Bainbridge Island origin story (USA Pickleball history)
Action items
- Next rules argument: remember today’s height is already a compromise from 60″
- Pair with the 36″ sides / 34″ center tip when teaching net geometry