New Pickleball Pickle Shirt [Options + Casual Wear]

Whether you’re a casual pick up player, or you’re at the court every night, you’re a part of the pickleball community—and we think you should show that off! At 11 PICKLES, we’re all about expressing your interests and being comfortable, too. That’s why we’re excited to announce we’ve officially opened the 11 PICKLES store and have tons of cool products for you to check out.

11 PICKLES is made up of pickleball players who are focused on having fun and improving our corner of the pickleball community. We’re all about helping you live the pickleball life you love—both on and off the court. In fact, you don’t even need to know how to be good at pickleball to rep the merch. Don’t overthink it! Or should we say—don’t overdink it?

Whether you just know the pickleball rules for dummies, or you’re a lifetime player, you’re welcome here! Here’s everything you need to know about:

• Our stylish and fun pickleball pickle shirt
• Other available merch from 11 PICKLES
• The origin of pickleball’s name
• And more!

Specifically, we’ll be answering the following questions in this article:

1. Where can you get a pickleball pickle shirt?
2. Why a pickle anyway?
3. What is a pickle in pickleball?

Where Can You Get a Pickleball Pickle Shirt?

If you’re interested in pickleball merch, we’ve got you covered with the latest and greatest. At 11 PICKLES, we believe in pickleball your way! It’s basically our fancy way of saying everyone is welcome with us. 

Our merch is perfect for every occasion. Whether you’re playing pickleball at home, in a tournament with friends, or you aren’t playing at all, we’ve got the perfect athleisure gear for on and off the court! 

We opened our store recently, and we’re excited to grow with your support and feedback as we find our footing in the pickleball world. You can find our pickleball pickle shirt options and more at our online store to find the perfect pickleball apparel for you or another pickler in your life. 

Check out a few styles here:

Shop the 11 PICKLES store here! 

More Kickass Merch to Go with Your Pickleball Pickle Shirt

The pickle shirt is just one of many items available at our store. If you’re looking to up your pickleball game and style, check out the rest of our products. So far, we offer:

• T-shirts
• Longsleeve shirts
• Sweatshirts
• Coffee mugs
• Hats
• Tote bags

This was the first of many merch drops!

Why a Pickle Anyway?

There have been two main theories circulating as to why pickleball is called pickleball, but we’re here to set the record straight. Pickleball was invented by Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell in 1965 when the two were looking for an activity they could play with the whole family. If you’re curious about how pickleball compares to tennis in terms of gameplay and rules, check out our guide on the difference between pickleball and tennis to explore the unique charm of both sports. The catch was that the two friends were only working with the tools they had available to them at the time:

1. A badminton court
2. Ping pong paddles
3. A wiffle ball

So, about the name itself. It derives from the term “pickle boat,” which technically is used throughout the fishing industry to refer to the last boat that returns to port and has to pickle the day’s catch. However, there’s also a “pickle boat” in competitive rowing. This pickle boat refers to a boat manned by all the leftover rowers after official teams were made.

These rowers were usually either less experienced or had an odd array of specialties that didn’t align with the average boat’s crew assignments. For these reasons, they usually would come in last—making them the pickle boat.

So, what does any of this have to do with pickleball? Stick with us. It’s all about to make sense.

Joan Pritchard, Joel’s wife, had been a competitive rower in the past and explained how a pickle boat is made up of leftover rowers, and they decided that since their game included leftover equipment, it was a pickle boat of sorts. After some quick workshopping, they were left with the name we all know and love today: pickleball!

Debunking the Myth of Pickles the Dog

There is another story circulating out there that the name pickleball was inspired by the Pritchard family’s dog, whose name was Pickles. However, the truth is the Pickles the dog came into the picture years after the game started. So, the dog was actually named after the game—not the other way around! 

You can read more about how pickleball got its name from Peggy Pritchard-Olsen, Joel’s daughter, here.

What is a Pickle in Pickleball?

So, what is a pickle in pickleball anyway? Most commonly, “pickle” is something a player will yell when they’re about to serve the ball to let the other players know the play’s about to begin. Getting pickled, however, is a different thing altogether. 

Like getting skunked, getting pickled is when a team loses a pickleball game 11-0. The only thing worse than getting pickled is getting the golden pickle. This is when a team loses 11-0 and never even gets the chance to serve!

Pickleball 101: Getting pickled is not a good thing!

On the other hand, you deserve a reward if you’re the team that won in this scenario. We’ve got the perfect options at 11 PICKLES:

‍

‍

Features: Premium Fabric Blend: Crafted with a 100% cotton face and a 65% ring-spun cotton, 35% polyester blend for softness, warmth, and durability. 

Other Food-Related Terms in Pickleball

Pickles aren’t the only food-related words involved in pickleball. Beef up your vocabulary with these key terms (get it? Beef?):

• Dillball: a live ball that has bounced in bounds
• Falafel: a short shot that doesn’t make it over the net
• Kitchen: the 7-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net 
• Pickler: a person that plays pickleball in any capacity—like us!

You can also shout, “pickle!” before you serve to let everyone know the ball is about to be in play. The 11 PICKLES team has got plenty of tips on how to serve in pickleball for beginners, too, so you can be confident in every serve.

Head to Our Online Stores for Pickleball Pickle Shirts and More

We’re just getting started at 11 PICKLES, but we’re already excited to have a space in this wonderful community. Keep your ear to the ground for updates on new merch drops, pickleball news, tips and tricks, and more. All you have to do is join our waitlist!

You can also follow us on TikTok to see what we’re up to from day to day. Whether you want something new for yourself, or you’re shopping for a pickleball enthusiast in your life, we hope you’ll find what you’re looking for at the 11 PICKLES store. We’ve got our Etsy store up and running, too!

Liked this?

• Look at our pickleball men t-shirts collection.