Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the US, but you knew that already, right?
It all started in the middle 50s on a summer day when two friends wanted to play badminton with their kids and couldn't find the proper equipment. They took the equipment they could find and created a new game that won the hearts of an entire nation.
It's no secret that pickleball combines different paddle sports, like tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. If you have ever wondered about the differences between Tennis and Pickelablls, read the blog to find out!
Racquets vs. Paddles:
Tennis uses bigger 29-inch-long racquets. Meanwhile, pickleball uses 16-inch-long x 8-inch wide paddles, which are smaller and solid without strings.
Balls:
Tennis uses felt-covered rubber balls aerodynamically designed to travel fast and bounce high.
Pickleball balls are lighter and made of plastic with holes, designed for lower bounce and slower flight.
Courts:
Tennis is played on a larger court, generally 78 feet long and 27 feet wide for singles. The court can be made of different surfaces, including grass and clay.
Pickleball is played on a smaller court that is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, resembling a badminton court in dimensions. The surface is usually challenging.
Nets:
Tennis nets are usually higher, standing at 3 feet 6 inches at the posts and 3 feet at the center.
Pickleball nets are slightly lower, 3 feet high at the sides and 34 inches at the center.
But what about the rules?
The rules are similar to tennis; there is one rule that can ruin or leverage your game, and that is the two-bounce rule:
After the ball is served, the receiver must wait for it to bounce before hitting it. The server (or serving team) must also let the ball bounce once before they can return it. After these initial bounces, players can hit the ball directly out of the air before it bounces, which is called volleying, or wait for the ball to bounce.
That’s the "two-bounce rule," one of the main differences from tennis. This rule prevents players from using a "serve-and-volley" tactic from tennis, where a player serves strong and quickly moves forward to volley. This rule assures that the receiving team does not have an initial disadvantage in pickleball. So, if you’re serving, this rule is your enemy, but if you’re receiving, it’s your best friend-it’s all about perspective.
Another big difference is the scoring system. Tennis has a unique scoring sequence—15, 30, 40, game—and allows both the server and receiver to score, which keeps every game exciting and competitive. In contrast, pickleball keeps things simple: points are only scored by the serving side. This means that every serve is crucial, adding a strategic layer to the game. Every point counts, and holding the serve becomes crucial to your strategy.
We hope this article helped you understand the differences between tennis and pickleball and encouraged you to join the pickleball fever!