2.  An experienced pharmaceutical professional, Mary
Pat Higley currently works as an independent
medical consultant. In her free time, Mary Pat Higley
enjoys a range of activities, including playing
pickleball.
Pickleball is a sport that incorporates elements of
ping-pong, badminton, and tennis. Its unique name
comes from Pickles, the family dog of one of the
sport’s inventors. While the game was being
developed, Pickles would chase stray balls and then
hide with them in the bushes. The inventors began
calling the sport Pickle’s ball, which has since been
shortened to pickleball.

3.  The game is played on a modified badminton court, with
players using wooden or fiberglass paddles to volley a
baseball-sized wiffle ball across a net in an attempt to
score on the opposing team. As is the case with ping-
pong, the ball is served diagonally, and players must allow
the ball to bounce once before returning the serve. The
serving side scores when the opponent faults by failing to
return the ball or hitting it out of bounds. The game is over
once one of the sides reaches 11 points.
Easy to learn and play, pickleball can be played in singles
or doubles by players of all ages and ability levels. The
sport has grown in popularity since it was invented in 1965
and is currently played in thousands of schools and
recreation centers across the country.