Pickleball Vs Badminton – Top Most Important Differences and Similarities

Introduction

Pickleball Vs Badminton – Two of the most popular racquet sports that share many similarities but also have distinct differences. Both pickleball and badminton require players to use a racquet to hit a small and lightweight shuttlecock or ball over a net to score points. However, there are several key distinctions between the two games that make them unique. In the Pickleball Vs Badminton article, we’ll go over and above to help and describe the main differences between pickleball and badminton.

Here are the most important differences between Pickleball and Badminton.

History

Pickleball was invented in 1965 by three families in Bainbridge Island, Washington. It started as an impromptu game using ping pong paddles, a Wiffle ball, and a badminton net. The origin of its name is still disputed today. 

Badminton has been around since at least 1873, when it was first played in India. It gained popularity in England during the late 19th century before being adopted by other countries worldwide. 

Badminton was introduced to Olympics in 1992, while Pickleball still has not entered in Olympics but it seems like it will be part of the Olympics soon.

Equipment

One of the primary differences between pickleball and badminton lies in their respective racquets and balls used to play. Pickleballs are typically made from plastic or composite materials with holes drilled into them for increased aerodynamics, whereas shuttles used for badminton are usually made from cork or plastic with feathers attached to them for an increased lift when hit the ball across the net.

Similarly, pickleball racquets are usually made from graphite, fiberglass, or aluminum materials with short handles to help facilitate quick shots over the net, whereas badminton racquets often feature long handles designed to help generate more power during shots across the net. Want to know more about Pickleball equipment? Click here

The Pickleball paddles typically measure 15-17 inches long and 7-8 inches wide. Badminton players use a much lighter racquet made from aluminum or steel that measures 22-27 inches long and 17-19 inches wide.

Court Size and Layout

Another key difference between pickleball and badminton is the size and shape of the court. A pickleball court is much larger than a badminton court, measuring 20 feet by 44 feet with an area of 880 square feet compared to 17 feet by 44 feet long with an area of 748 square feet for badminton. The shape of the court also differs; while a badminton court is rectangular, a pickleball court is more like an hourglass shape with two side courts connected by a center line.

Scoring System

One more difference between these two sports involves their respective scoring system. Pickleball uses an 11/15/21 point scoring system, while badminton uses a 15-point scoring system known as rally point scoring (RPS). They differ on how those points are earned during playtime. In Pickleball, only the serving team score points, while in Badminton, they score point in every game round.

Serving System

The rules governing serves also differ significantly between these two sports, requiring players to serve diagonally across from each other (with alternating service turns). There are some marked differences in terms of how those serves must be executed: In pickleball, players must always serve underhand (known as “dinks”), whereas in badminton, players can choose either underhand or overhead (known as “smashes”) depending on which technique works better for them during playtime. Furthermore, there are no specific rules governing where exactly within their respective service boxes players must stand when serving, unlike in badminton which requires all players to stand behind their baseline when serving (which helps prevent any potential serving faults). 

Net Height And Weigh

One more difference between pickleball and badminton involves the height and weight of the net. For pickleball, the net must be hung at 36 inches in height at its center point, while for badminton, it must be hung at 5 feet 1 inch in height at its center point. The weight of the net also varies while a standard pickleball net weighs around 4 pounds, and a standard badminton net weighs around 8 pounds.

Court Surface

The surface type used for playing each sport varies greatly, with outdoor courts typically having hard surfaces such as asphalt or concrete. In contrast, indoor courts often have softer surfaces like wood or carpeting, depending on what type of flooring they have installed.

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