Just because tennis and pickleball look similar at first glance, they are in fact very different sports!
If you’ve played on these popular racket sports, you might be wondering what the difference between tennis vs pickleball is. Whichever sport you’re familiar with, you may be wondering whether you can switch from one to the other. And, if you’re completely new to racket sports, you’re probably wondering which one is best to start with.
Some people who want to get introduced to these sports want to know if there’s even a difference between the two or if one sport is easier to play than the other. Knowing the main differences between tennis and pickleball will help you choose the best sport for you (and avoid any unnecessary purchases when it comes to buying different equipment!).
Here is everything you need to know about tennis vs pickleball.
Is there a significant difference between pickleball and tennis?
Since pickleball is closely related to tennis, it’ll come as no surprise that there are a number of similarities between the two sports. Both are a type of racket sport, for a start. And there are also elements of tennis that will be familiar in a game of pickleball. Like padel and paddle tennis, the rules of pickleball are also loosely based on tennis.
All of these sports involve a court, a net and a ball being hit from one side to the other. Since tennis is such a well-established game, many of the games mentioned above are played on converted tennis courts – whether temporary or permanent. This is certainly true for pickleball because, with a few little changes, it’s fairly easy to play pickleball on a tennis court! However, despite how similar they may appear at first glance, there are many differences between all of these sports.
Terminology
Like any other sport, both tennis and pickleball have their own set of lingo. For instance, the common pickleball court terms used are:
Non-volley Zone Non-Volley Line Backcourt Double Bounce Rule or Two Bounce Rule Centerline Sideline Baseline Permanent Object Rally OPA is another term in pickleball’s vocabulary and this is used as a cheer after a 3rd shot has been hit and an open rally has commenced.
Pickleball is rich in vocabulary and the ones we’ve mentioned in this article are just some of the more common terms you’ll hear on a pickleball court.
Of course, tennis has its own set of terminologies as well. For example, a term that’s unique to tennis is love – meaning 0. It’s said that tennis is the only sport that uses this term to represent zero, and there are many theories why this exists.
How easy it is to learn
Right off the bat pickleball is easier than tennis by a mile. The sport of pickleball doesn’t require too much movement in the court given that pickleball courts are a lot smaller (but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good exercise!).
Plus, thanks to the slower pace, there aren’t as many reports of injuries when it comes to playing pickleball. Pickleball balls don’t bounce too much, so players won’t have to be on their toes since they can easily see the movement of the ball.
As for tennis, the ball bounces around much more and it may be harder for beginners to keep up with the pace. Because of this, they can end up tiring themselves out. The Community When it comes to the community, we think there is a clear winner between a game of tennis vs pickleball. Arguably, there are far more experienced players in the sport of tennis.
On the flip side, pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports – and that means you’ll be in the company of many other beginners when you start. As a team sport, pickleball is centered around community. Add in the number of pickleball camps and events that you can join, and we think it beats tennis hands down! Nonetheless, both communities are fun to be a part of!
FAQ: Tennis vs pickleball
Still to got questions about the differences between pickleball and tennis?
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions – and they answers:
Is pickleball easier to play than tennis?
Yes, technically, pickleball is easier to play than tennis since it doesn’t require that much physicality. Further, a pickleball court is smaller too, so there’s no need for players to chase the ball across the court as intensely as they do in tennis.
What is more popular tennis or pickleball?
Tennis is still more popular than pickleball simply because it’s been around for a longer time. Apart from that, USTA also states that around 22% of America’s population participated in tennis in 2020, which roughly equates to around 21.64 million people! Despite that, pickleball is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports – especially in the USA.
Why are tennis players switching to pickleball?
There’s no straight answer for this. After all, there could be a number of reasons why tennis players switch to pickleball. According to some of our community members who formerly played tennis, they’ve decided to switch to pickleball since it’s easier on their joints. Aside from that, people just enjoy the social togetherness pickleball brings to a community of players who enjoy making new friends.
Is pickleball scoring like tennis?
No. There’s a very big difference between tennis vs pickleball scoring. Tennis has a more complicated scoring system in many ways. It’s comprised of points that make up a game, a game that makes up a set, and a set that makes up a match. On the flip side, pickleball has a scoring system that determines a winner once they reach 11 points.
Can a tennis court be used for pickleball?
Yes, a tennis court can be used for pickleball, so long as the lines are changed in accordance with the official pickleball court dimensions. Another important thing to consider is the tennis net height vs pickleball net height.