Are badminton and tennis similar? Although both sports require the use of a racket, there are considerable differences.

The two sports may seem similar to many, but there are significant differences between badminton and tennis. Both sports are different in many aspects and require a different set of skills and strength. When evaluating the differences, we'll compare several factors, including the rules, level of strength needed, commercial value, workout intensity, and appreciation level.

The places where badminton and tennis are played, the equipment needed, the regulations, the scoring system, and the types of standard shots are all differences between badminton and tennis. Both games are vastly different and demand different skill sets to excel at.

Tennis and badminton are racket sports that are popular all over the world. Both sports can be played in teams or individually. However, these are the only two similarities between badminton and tennis. The two sports are very different in many aspects.

After conducting research and speaking with expert tennis and badminton players, we have narrowed down some of the main points of differences between both sports. Let’s take a look!

Are Badminton and Tennis Similar?

Tennis and badminton are frequently compared since they have significant similarities. In both sports, players use a racket and play on a two-sided court split by a net in the middle. However, there are numerous significant distinctions between the two sports, and understanding them can help you decide which is better fitted for you.

Despite the fact that both games need players to use rackets, badminton requires the use of a white shuttlecock (or "birdie") made of plastic; whereas, tennis players use a yellow or green ball to play.  

You can have individual competitions in both games by choosing to play one-on-one or in doubles with two other players.  

Tennis teams are limited to two players per team, whereas badminton teams can include up to six members. If you're planning a huge family event, badminton could be a more inclusive option.

Scoring and Rules

The player is allowed (and in some cases obligated) to bounce the ball once each stroke during a volley in tennis, whereas the birdie is not allowed to hit the ground in badminton.

Single points in the traditional scoring system are up to 11, 15, or 21 in badminton. Tennis, on the other hand, features a one-of-a-kind scoring system in which the player receives a "love," 15, 30, 40, "deuce," or "advantage" score.

Courts

Tennis and badminton can both lead to a lot of physical exertion. Tennis courts are bigger than badminton courts; hence, you may have to put more effort into playing tennis. Another distinction is the height of the net. The badminton net is approximately 5 feet high, while the tennis net is slightly closer to the ground. Understanding the distinctions between tennis and badminton will assist you in deciding which game is appropriate for a particular day. Plus, if you happen to like badminton, you may also develop a liking for tennis

Speed

The fastest badminton shot was 426 km/h (264.7 mph) in the Guinness World Records; whereas, the fastest tennis shot was 263 km/h (163.4 mph). As a result, badminton's speed might be higher than that of tennis.

Badminton vs. Tennis

In every racket sport, rackets are the most significant piece of equipment for players. The design of a badminton racket differs from that of a tennis racket, as does the weight.

Tennis rackets range in weight from 255 to 365 grams (9 to 13 ounces). Roger Federer's racket, for example, weighs 365g/12.84oz, while Murray's racket weighs 345g/12.17oz.

The weights of badminton rackets range from 80 to 100 grams. A badminton racket usually has a "U" on it, which represents the weight of the racket.

Earning Distinctions

There is a significant difference in how much badminton and tennis players earn. Tennis players earn much higher wages compared to badminton players. The top wealthiest badminton and tennis players are listed below.

The top eight wealthiest badminton players:

• Malaysian Lee Chong Wei - $35 million
•  Lin Dan (China) - $26 million
• Saina Nehwal (India) - $24 million.
• Denmark's Peter Gade – $18 million
• Taufik Hidayat (Indonesia) - $11 million
• Chen Long (China) - $8.2 million
• China's Wang Yihan - $5 million
• Denmark's Jan O. Jorgensen – $5 million
• The top eight wealthiest tennis players are:
• Roger Federer - $300 million
•  Andre Agassi - $175 million
• Pete Sampras - $150 million
• Serena Williams - $120 million
• Rafael Nadal - $100 million
• Novak Djokovic - $90 million
• Maria Sharapova - $90 million
• Venus Williams - $75 million dollars

According to the graph, even the poorest tennis player makes significantly more than the richest badminton player. The wealthiest badminton player is only 8.5 times that of the wealthiest tennis player.

Rate of Penetration

The total population of the world is used to calculate the penetration rate of each game. Note that it has nothing to do with the number of countries! Take a look at tennis for starters. Europe, the United States, and Australia are the primary fans of this particular sport. These countries have a combined population of:

• 780 million people live in Europe
• 327 million people in the United States
• 25 million people live in Australia

As a result, the population of tennis countries totals 1.13 billion people.

China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Denmark are the primary countries that enjoy badminton. It's worth noting that badminton is still a popular sport in Europe.

China's population has already surpassed 1.3 billion people. Therefore, there is no need to count the rest because it's easy to assume that badminton has a higher penetration rate than tennis.

Exercise Intensity

The majority of people use exercise intensity to compare the two sports. Let's have a look at some crucial information:

Badminton is played for 1 hour and 16 minutes; hence, based on our calculations, the running distance is 6.4 kilometers. On the other hand, the running distance for a 3.5-hour tennis match is 3.7 kilometers.

As you can see, badminton's running distance is double that of the running distance of tennis. More importantly, the time spent on the court isn't even half that of a tennis match!

We can conclude from the comparison that a badminton match is at least twice as active as a tennis match and requires more energy. Since the distance of running is already twice that of tennis with considerably less playing time, we can see that badminton is more strenuous than tennis.

Consider the difference between someone who runs 5 kilometers in an hour and someone who runs 5 kilometers in half an hour. Certainly, the latter performs more workouts than the former. Aside from the running distance, there are a few more things to consider:

Running Style

Tennis players are generally running around the bottom line and do not need to sprint backwards, whereas badminton players must move a lot in 8-angles and do a lot of slamming.

Jumping and Resting

Tennis players generally never jump or lie down while playing the game, whereas badminton players frequently jump. Even while playing doubles, there is a lot of jumping going on around the court because the game gets too intense.

Moreover, the trend of lying down on the field has also become common in the current badminton singles competition. The badminton player's pivot shifts dramatically. When playing high clear in the backcourt, a player must bend before the net and lean backwards. This; however, can be very time-consuming!

Ball and Racket

The tennis racket and ball are heavier than the shuttlecocks and rackets used in badminton. The weight of the racket and ball, on the other hand, pales in comparison to the intensity of the game.

The Ability to Hit

Backcourt high clear, backhand shot, and smashing are the three striking strokes in badminton that use a lot of energy. A forceful smash is another method that demands a lot of energy.

Serving is the most difficult part in tennis. As you can see, badminton's hitting power is not comparable to that of tennis! It's not easy to compare the two sports, although badminton favors explosive force.

Recess

It takes a long time to serve a tennis ball, and the letting rate is really high! There are numerous buffer intervals available for the player to rest. Rallying tends to be brief as well. Tennis is; therefore, classified as an aerobic workout due to the excessive number of buffering and rest periods.

On the other hand, badminton has a massive exercise volume! And the power is at least four times that of tennis. Elite badminton players may have even larger cardiovascular advantages than tennis players, according to a 2007 study published in a British journal.

Sports Appreciation

Since there are no scientific statistics on this factor, making a comparison is difficult. We'll conduct this comparison in a more thorough and objective manner. Ordinary folks will feel cool and addicted to watching badminton matches since they are ornate.

We'll describe it from the standpoint of a regular person for the sake of objectivity. How can we know if a sport is fun to watch? We believe that the following points should be covered by a sport n order for it to be enjoyable and appreciated:

Consistency and Intensity

You would much rather watch the NBA than other basketball events. This is due to the fact that the former is more severe! You also like to watch TV programs without advertisements since they are more coherent and consistent.

In comparison to tennis, badminton games are clearly more coherent and consistent. Badminton has a considerably faster rhythm than tennis that drags.

Badminton has the ability to elicit strong emotions from the audience. Most people prefer to watch badminton’s doubles matches than tennis’s doubles matches!

The Variety of Strokes

There are several distinct playing strokes in badminton. The shuttle angle is also extremely accurate. The shuttle will nearly completely cover the court, the clear will be extremely high, and the smash will be unstoppable! Before the net, there are numerous adjustments in the playing strokes.

There are numerous net play strokes as well. It's also a major draw in the game! Except for serving, most tennis balls are positioned at the bottom line and are flat, with no abrupt high clear or sudden smash. There are enough ups and downs in the game to keep things interesting! This is true for both badminton and tennis, in our opinion.

The Playing Field

This tennis court is substantially bigger, making it easier for more people to observe the game! Since there is no scientific or statistical research, it is difficult to get a judgment for appreciation-deserving! What we can say is that each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. However, from the standpoint of the general public, badminton is clearly easier to elicit emotions!

Entertainment

Entertainment is also something that is difficult to quantify scientifically. However, there are a number of aspects that we might examine.

One element is how simple it is to begin playing the game. The easier it is to get started playing, the more enjoyable it will be!

Another consideration is accessibility. The easier it is to connect with the sport, the more fun and exciting it is for the audience.

It is less difficult to begin playing badminton. As a result, many individuals like playing badminton, and people of all ages can participate.

Outdoor vs. Indoor

Badminton is an indoor activity, so you may play whenever you want, regardless of the weather. Tennis is an outdoor sport; therefore, it cannot be played in harsh weather (in snow, rain, or extreme humidity).

Some claim that badminton is less expensive than tennis. This may be true when it comes to certain types of equipment. However, this claim may not be entirely true because the cost of purchasing shuttles may be higher due to its frequent consumption.

Since badminton employs a shuttle, it will land on the courts rather than rolling far. As a result, you won't have to waste time and energy chasing down and picking up the shuttle. When playing tennis, this can be different.

Valuable Exercise

Badminton primarily improves physical fitness, agility, explosiveness, and body coordination in terms of exercise value. Tennis mostly strengthens the upper body, improves physical fitness, and enhances body coordination.

Commercialization

There is no connection between commercialization and the sport. In theory, anything can be sold and professionalized as long as there is a market!

Let's take a look at how professionalism has been commercialized all over the world. We shall discover that commercialization takes place primarily in Europe or America! People can even commercialize snooker!

This demonstrates that badminton can be successfully monetized since the sport has such a large market! It is now not the case because Asia's economy and strength are still lagging behind Europe and America.

Are Badminton and Tennis Similar?

Badminton is a fantastic sport to participate in. Even if you are a beginner, you can play and enjoy it, but it is also a sport that allows for highly developed abilities and intense competition.

This is a sport that may be played both inside and outside. You must be aware of the variations between the two environments in which you will be playing.

When playing badminton outside, there are a few things to keep in mind. The wind might deflect the birdie from its intended path while it's out in the open.

When playing outside, bear in mind that the sun's glare can make it difficult to see the birdie, especially if it crosses over to your side of the net.

You won't have to worry about the wind, the sun, or the temperature when you're playing indoors. The uncontrollable variables are frequently what make the game more intense and entertaining.

Indoors and outdoors, badminton is an enjoyable sport to play. When determining where to play, it's important to recall the distinctions between the two sites so you can prepare for the game beforehand.

Tennis, on the other hand, is usually played outside. There are a few factors that can affect the game, but it’s still better to play outdoor tennis in comparison to indoor tennis.

Whatever you do, keep in mind that both badminton and tennis are fun games, and their primary goal is to help you stay in shape, build stamina, and have fun.