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Pickleball and tennis are two racquet sports that have grown immensely in popularity. While they share some similarities, they are distinct in many ways, from the equipment used to the game’s rules.
To help you better comprehend both pickleball and tennis, this article will attempt to compare both thoroughly while also pointing out their differences. You can choose between these two sports if you know more about them.
Pickleball and Tennis: How Are They Different?
Pickleball and tennis appear quite similar at first glance, and to a beginner, they appear to be the same game altogether. On the other hand, these two sports vary in four key ways:
- Equipment
- Rules
- Court
- Players
Once you’ve seen the comparisons, you’ll understand why pickleball is gaining popularity among racquet and paddle sports.
Equipment
Playing pickleball requires significantly less bulky equipment than tennis. The smaller and lighter equipment required to play pickleball makes it far more portable than tennis.
Compared to tennis equipment, pickleball gear (including balls and paddles) is smaller, lighter, and easier to store.
Paddle and Racquet
In contrast to tennis racquets, which typically weigh between 11.5 and 11.5 ounces (with some variation), most pickleball paddles weigh between 7 and 9 ounces. The maximum weight difference between pickleball paddles is only 2.5 ounces, whereas a racquet with 11.5 ounces of string weight is 24% heavier than a 9-ounce paddle.
Conversely, a tennis racquet with 11.5 ounces of string weight is 42% heavier than a 7-ounce paddle.
Balls Used
Another advantage of pickleballs over tennis balls is their small weight. The weight of a sanctioned pickleball must be between 0.78 and 0.935 ounces, and its bounce height when dropped from 78 inches must be between 0 and 34 inches.
In contrast, tennis balls are designed to bounce far higher than pickleballs and are nearly an ounce heavier, weighing between 1.975 and 2.095 ounces. Tennis balls must be between 53 and 60 inches tall to comply with regulations set by the International Tennis Federation.
That practically doubles the bounce of a pickleball. This is why pickleball is played underhand in volley serves and a bounce is necessary before making contact with the paddle in a drop serve.
Without these rules, the game would be drastically different.
Rules
Although pickleball and tennis are played very differently, there are also numerous similarities. You can tell them apart by examining parts that seem identical at first glance.
Underhand Volley Serves
The serve in pickleball, similar to the one in tennis, is delivered diagonally to the opposite court, but unlike in tennis, it must be executed underhand, similar to a volley serve (rule 4.A.5). Some people believe that a pickleball serve is simpler to learn than a tennis serve.
But as players get better at serving, they’ll be able to place their balls lower and change the speed and style of their serves.
Tennis serves particularly overhand ones, are notoriously tricky because of the added weight of the racquet and ball, which necessitates a more sophisticated approach. It should be mentioned that the drop serve, which resembles a tennis serve in certain ways, follows different laws than a volley serve.
After the ball bounces in a drop serve, you have the option to hit it underhand or overhand. All that’s required is that it must bounce before being served and fall from the server’s natural reach alone by gravity.
The ball can only fall to the highest position it can naturally bounce to, which is usually below the waist. This is due to the regulations on how it can fall and the obligation to bounce.
Drop serves to resemble underhand serves by default (though this is not always the case). The technique of releasing the ball from your grasp (although it must bounce) gives the impression of a more tennis-like stroke than a volley serve.
Two-Bounce Rule (Double Hand)
According to the two-bounce rule, each side must wait for the other’s ball to touch the ground before sending it back over the net. Also, the receiving team must wait for their ball to touch the ground before returning it twice.
Non-Valley Zone
Every side of the pickleball net has a non-volley zone (often called the kitchen or the NVZ) where players are not allowed to stand while serving the ball. Players are unable to crush the net because of this reason.
This area, which covers the whole pickleball court, is seven feet deep and long.
Scoring
In pickleball, only the team or individual serving has the opportunity to score a point (Rule 4.G.). Additionally, matches are typically extended to 11 points and a two-point lead is necessary for a victory.
But you need a two-point lead to win. So, play must go on until one side has 11 points and the other has 10, or until the score is within two points.
In contrast, a deuce is used to count points in tennis, which might be 0, 15, 30, or 40. Whoever wins four points first in a game or six games first in a set is the winner.
Most importantly, one needs to win two sets to claim victory in the match.
Although the equipment and court design of pickleball and tennis may appear similar, the rules, scoring, and gameplay of the two sports are very different. The score in pickleball is more akin to table tennis than tennis.
Court Size
The dimensions of a badminton double court are identical to those of a pickleball court, which is significantly smaller than a tennis court. With a net height of 34 inches in the middle and 36 inches at the posts, a conventional pickleball court measures 44 feet in length and 20 feet in width.
The net height of a tennis court is 42 inches at the ends and 36 inches in the middle. Put simply, a pickleball net’s tallest point is the same as the shortest point on a tennis net.
At 78 feet in length and 36 feet in width for doubles matches and 78 feet in length and 27 feet in width for singles matches, tennis courts are substantially larger and nearly twice as long as regular pickleball courts. So, as you can see, pickleball is a more beginner-friendly sport because of its smaller court size.
Player Accessibility
Aside from the rules and equipment, pickleball bouts are often shorter than tennis matches, and anybody from kids to seniors can play. The game’s tempo is adjustable, so it can be as fast-paced, serious, or casual as the player likes.
Another option is to play at a professional level of intensity. You can get a membership to enhance your skills and learn more about the sport.
Pickleball is more of a response sport than a cardiovascular exercise due to the tiny court, the design of the paddles, and the ball’s bounce. Improving one’s shot placement rather than one’s power hitting is the secret to becoming a top pickleball player, or pickler.
When compared to tennis, pickleball’s net-crossing motion and physical exertion are significantly less demanding. On the other hand, pickleball is great if you’re looking for a fast-paced, competitive, and expert-level game.
If you want to make it as a professional pickleball player, your agility has to be on par with tennis professionals. Played at a rapid speed and with a high degree of regularity, tennis is a sport that demands a great deal of agility and stamina.
Choose Between Pickleball and Tennis
Take into account your tastes, current fitness level, and social aspirations while choosing between tennis and pickleball. Tennis is perfect for anyone who wants a physically hard activity with a lengthy history and a strong community because of its rich tradition and more intensive physical difficulty.
Conversely, if you are in search of an enjoyable, inclusive, and less strenuous activity, pickleball is a great option due to its accessibility, social features, and strategic play.
If you want to learn more about pickleball, you can read more of the articles below to enhance your game skills and strategy:
