Badminton Vs. Pickleball- All You Need to Know

As we know, Pickleball is not a stand-alone game and is considered a fusion of three games, including tennis, badminton, and ping pong, pickleball holds many similarities with tennis and adopts some significant rules and regulations from this game.

But we cannot ignore badminton whenever we talk about its association with pickleball. Badminton also has some similarities and differences with pickleball which is the motivation of this article. What is the difference between badminton and pickleball?

Badminton is played with birds, while pickleball is played with a Wiffle ball. The net in badminton is about waist height, while the net in pickleball is barely knee-high. The game of badminton demands speed and quickness, while the game of pickleball demands consistency and a good backhand.

Pickleball is a game that uses a ball similar to a Wiffle ball, while badminton is played utilizing a shuttlecock. The courts of both the Pickleball and badminton sports are identical in size and can be easily fit into a tennis court.

Both of these sports have foldable nets which can be easily stored adjacent to the courts. Pickleball sport uses a paddle for playing while badminton is played using rackets. Let’s deep dig.

Is Pickleball Similar to Badminton?

Pickleball is a game which is not as old as badminton if we talk about the origin of both sports. Pickleball is a unique game compared to badminton, which is much easier on the players’ bodies than badminton.

Both games share a similar nature; however, they are much different. There are many differences in both these games. Some of those differences between both sports are mentioned in this article.

1. Badminton Court vs Pickle ball Court:

The courts in which these games are played are very similar in dimensions and area. Both these courts can easily fit into a tennis court as well. The primary difference between the courts of these two sports is that the height of the net in a pickleball court is lowered compared to the measurement of the yield of a tennis court.

The net size in Pickleball is about 36 inches, while the height of the badminton net is about 61 inches. Another notable difference between both the courts is that the pickleball court has the no service line at a distance of about seven feet, while the no service line in the badminton court is about 6.5 feet. 

2. Badminton Rules vs Pickleball Rules:

There are many differences between the rules of badminton and Pickleball. Some of these rules are elaborated in this passage.

One of the significant differences between these two sports is the equipment with which these are played. Pickleball is played with a ball, whereas badminton is played with a shuttle. In Pickleball, players use paddles, whereas racquets play with badminton.

3. Badminton Serves vs Pickleball Serves:

Because the net’s height in pickleball court is slightly lower than badminton, it affects the gameplay in many ways. The main point is that badminton players are not restricted in serving compared to pickle ballplayers in badminton.

Pickleball serves made under the hand, while in badminton, the players are not limited to play in any means. Another main difference between the two games is that in Pickleball, the player can only make a score on the turn of their services, while on the other hand, this is not practiced in badminton.

Serves in badminton	Serves in pickleball
There are four types of serves n badminton including Low serve, High serve, Flick serve, Drive serve	There are three types of serves in pickleball including High soft serve, Power serve, Soft angle serve
Low serve in badminton requires a gentle tap of the shuttle and aims to get just over the net	The high soft serve in pickleball is a high service that lands deep in the opponent’s court
High serve in badminton is a strong serve. It aims to get the shuttle up high and at the back of the opponent’s court	The power serve in pickleball is a fast and low serve which forces the opponent to react quickly
The flick serves in badminton aims to get the shuttle in an upward position. The back of the hand is used to swing the racket around the body	The soft angle serve is a softer shot that aims to get the player out of the court making the remaining court open for attack
The drive serve is a flat offensive serve which is usually used to win a quick point to an unsuspecting receiver.

4. Pickleball vs Badminton Gameplays:

Both games’ Gameplays and scoring systems are pretty different, even though both games do share some similarities.

One difference between both games is that if the server committed the fault, there would be no score for either player and after it, the receiver gains the turn to serve. In badminton, the players can score whether they are on the serving or receiving end.

One of the notable differences between these two games is also worth mentioning here that the opponents tend to win the most games out of 3 sets in badminton. Badminton players start with zero points, also known as love. While in Pickleball games, the game is won when a player scores 11 points with a 2-point difference over the opponent’s score.

In Pickleball, the faults are more or less the same. Additional mistakes to avoid are

• volleying the ball during a service return
  
• volleying the ball on the first return right after serving
  
• not getting the ball on the correct box on your serve.
  
• Volleying the ball inside the non-volley zone or the kitchen is also a fault.

Scoring a Point in Badminton	Scoring a Point in Pickleball
When shuttlecock lands on the opponent’s side of the court, a point is scored	Whenever a player or their partner serves, a point is scored
A point is scored when a player is not successful in volleying the shuttlecock to the opponent’s court	A point is scored in pickleball when the opponent volleys the ball while remaining inside the no-volley zone.
A point is scored in badminton when the shuttlecock lands outside the boundaries of the court	A point is scored in pickleball when the ball bounces twice before a player returns the ball.
A point is scored when an opponent commits a fault	A point is scored when a ball lands out of bounds

The Benefits of Playing Each Sport:

Let’s now discuss the benefits of playing each sport to your body and mental health:

Badminton:

• The benefits of playing badminton are that it is a fast-moving sport with a low probability of injury, and you can play in cold weather. Badminton is also cheap since all you need is a racket, but many places have club teams if the individual would like to participate in that.
  
• Badminton is a sport that, if played correctly, can prevent injuries from occurring because you need to run around and hit the shuttlecock, so it makes for an active sport instead of just sitting on a court hitting a ball back and forth, which some may find boring.
  
• Badminton is also much cheaper than other sports because all you need is a racket that can run for about $20-$40, depending on how good your racket is.

Pickleball:

• Playing pickleball is a great way to get the benefits of playing tennis without having to play tennis. If you’ve ever played badminton, pickleball would be very similar.
  
• Pickleball is also a great way to work on your fitness since it requires just as much running-around as badminton, but you’re doing all of this while hitting a ball back and forth.
  
• The benefits of pickleball include (but aren’t limited to) the fact that most places with pickleball courts also have badminton courts so you can play both, you can wear normal tennis shoes since there’s no need for special pickleball cleats, and the fact that pickleball is cheaper than badminton and racquetball.
  
• One of the downsides to playing pickleball is if you do not already know how to play tennis, you will need to spend a couple of months learning the basics before participating in a pickleball match.

Similarities Between Pickleball and Badminton:

Pickleball is considered a breed of badminton, ping pong, tennis, and other similar racquet games. This game can be played indoors and in outdoor courts, in a court similar in size to a badminton court. The main similarity between both rounds is that both are racquet games and can be quickly learned.

Both the games are an excellent way to spend quality leisure time, which enhances the physical fitness of people as well.

Both the sports are net sports, which means in both the games, the ball must pass over the net. It falls into the opponent’s region to make the score happen for either one of the teams—both the games men singles, men doubles, women singles, and women two categories. 

Attributes Related to Pickleball and Badminton:

How to Choose the Right Sport for You Between Badminton & Pickleball?

To choose what is right for you between badminton and tennis, you need to weigh the pros and cons of both sports. Are you looking for a low-impact activity that is more of an individual sport (badminton)? Or are you looking for something more physical that constantly requires switching between offense and defense (pickleball)?

If you are more interested in pickleball, your best bet would be to look for places that offer both badminton and pickleball courts. This way, you can get the full benefit of playing both sports without having to travel back and forth between two courts.

If you are more interested in badminton, your best bet would be to look for a badminton club because they offer a higher level of competition and help you get better at the sport.

The Verdict: If you’re not interested in playing a high-intensity sport that has the potential to cause injuries, then badminton is probably your best option. If you’re looking for something more high-intensity and don’t mind the fact that it could lead to some potential injuries, tennis is your sport of choice.

Also Read:

How is Pickleball Different From Tennis? Pickleball Vs Tennis

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Is badminton a similar game to pickleball?

The badminton and pickleball courts are identical in size and can be recreated on a tennis court. These can be integrated typically by painting additional lines in different colors on a tennis court. These sports have a portable and foldable net easily stored adjacent to their courts.

What is the significant difference between a badminton and pickleball court?

 The two essential differences between a pickleball court and a badminton court are:

• The net of pickleball is lower as compared to a badminton court.
• No-volley zone of pickleball is 7 feet away from the net.

Which game is easier to play: Badminton or Pickleball?

Pickleball is considered easier to play as compared to badminton. It is hard to score in badminton, while on the other hand, in a pickleball game, the ball is required to hit the ground.

Is pickleball considered a game similar to badminton?

Pickleball is not precisely like badminton. It combines ping-pong, badminton, and tennis, which can be played indoors and outdoors on a badminton-sized court similar to a tennis net.

What are the rules for playing badminton?

 The rules for playing badminton games are as follows:

• The match in a badminton game is considered 21 points.
• The player who wins a rally adds their point to the overall score.
• The player or a pair that gains 2-point leads at 20-all wins the game.
• The side scoring the 30th point at 29-all wins the game.
• The player or pair who wins the game serves first in the next round.

In what ways is pickleball considered similar to badminton in terms of serving?

The serve must be behind the baseline in a pickleball game in terms of serving. While in terms of badminton, serving is the same as pickleball and is done inside the service box.

What should be the height of the pickleball net?

The pickleball net should be as high as 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches from the middle.

What are the court dimensions of badminton?

The badminton court is 13.4m long and 6.1m wide in terms of size. The lines on the badminton court are easily distinguishable and are colored white or yellow and are 40mm wide.

Does a fair badminton play burn fat?

Badminton is considered the best game for burning fat, and this game works on both the aerobic and anaerobic systems. Badminton also helps in building muscles.

Can a player lift a foot on a serve in a badminton game?

In a badminton game, players’ feet must contact the floor whenever the shuttle strikes. A player cannot move or lift their foot off the ground until or unless the service has been hit.

What are the cons associated with playing badminton?

Badminton is a game that might sound intense for some players. It is a fast-paced game and is considered an intense exercise for most people. Badminton puts pressure and tension on the body of the player.

Can a person play badminton daily?

Badminton helps in muscle toning and maintains the physique of the player. Half an hour of daily badminton games can produce the best results if a player wants to cut down the flab around the waist.

Why are badminton players so thin in physique?

Badminton players are primarily skinny and do not have large body mass, although some might have muscle mass. Badminton is a game of speed, not a game of power.

Which game is easier: badminton or pickleball?

Pickleball is far easier to understand than badminton, although it comprises different aspects of several other sports. The strokes used in these two games are different as badminton players use both the over and underhand shots.

Is badminton sport similar to the pickleball sport?

Both the courts for badminton and pickleball are similar in size and can easily be fit onto a tennis court. Both the sports have portable and foldable nets. These nets can be stored easily in courts for later use.

What are the two major differences between badminton and pickleball?

There are two major differences between badminton and pickleball. The first is that the net is lower on the pickleball court, while the second difference is that the no service line in badminton is 6.5 feet away from the net. At the same time, the service or no volley zone is 7 feet away from the net in pickleball.

Is pickleball considered the same as badminton?

Pickleball is not the same as badminton. It is a fusion of three games, including badminton, ping pong, and tennis. Pickleball can be played indoors and outdoors on a badminton-sized court.

Can a player play badminton on a tennis court?

Badminton can be played easily on a tennis court with some modifications. The main aim in badminton is hitting and driving the shuttlecock without moving off the line.