Pickleball is a sport that many people may not be familiar with. The game looks like tennis, but it doesn’t use a net, and the ball can bounce off of any surface. Read on to find out more about this exciting new game!
1. Players
Tennis players hit the ball over the net and try to score a point against their opponent. In pickleball, both players can play on either side of the net. This adds more fun and variation to the game as it promotes tactical movements such as lobbing.
In tennis, there is only one player on each end of the net. In pickleball, both players can play from either side of the net.
2. Court Size and Tennis Balls
The length of a standard pickleball court measures 20 feet longer than a tennis court and about 36 feet narrower. This reduced size makes it easier for players to cover the court and makes pickleball a great choice for smaller spaces. The reduced court size also helps shorten play length, making it more ideal for seniors or busy households with children. A pickleball court is 74 feet long by 20 feet wide compared to a tennis court at 78 feet long by 27 1/2 feet wide.
Tennis balls are much bigger than pickleball. The average tennis ball measures 1.68 inches in diameter compared to a pickleball measuring 1.65 inches in diameter. For players, this makes it easier to hit the smaller pickleball over the larger tennis ball.
3. Rackets
A pickleball racket is smaller and lighter than a tennis racket. Tennis rackets have an average weight of 12 to 13 ounces, while pickleball rackets typically weigh 7 to 8 ounces.
The short handles of a pickleball paddle allow for a strong grip from the palm rather than from the fingers, as in tennis.
4. Scoring
In tennis, a player must win four games in order to claim a set. In pickleball, a match is usually played to 21 points with a required two-point margin. Scoring in a pickleball match can go quickly because of the short games and high-scoring nature of the sport.
5. Serving
Tennis players have the option of hitting a serve “out” or “down.” However, serving is not allowed in pickleball. The only way to play the ball is over the net.
Learn more: How to Play Pickleball on A Tennis Court
6. Contact
A tennis ball can bounce once before it’s hit and remains life until another player strikes it again. In pickleball, a ball can only bounce once before it’s hit and must remain in play. The other difference is that the player who struck the ball last (called “hitting the line”) gets to hit it next to the rules in pickleball state that once the ball is hit, it can only bounce once; if it bounces twice, then the opposing player will get to hit the next play.
7. Court Markings
Tennis court markings are solid with no lines dividing them, while pickleball court markings either divide the court into thirds or have solid lines denoting the service and receiving zones. The court dividers in pickleball can be either dashed or solid; if dashed, those lines must be between 2 and 4 inches wide. If solid, those lines cannot exceed 1/2 inch in width.
Pickleball is a great way to get in shape while having fun with friends! The game has been growing at an unprecedented rate because it’s so much more than just tennis. Many people have been building pickleball on tennis courts also now. Hope this article was informative and helped you understand the difference between the two games.
