Pickleball is a relatively new, exciting, and faster game than tennis and badminton. But is pickleball easier to learn than tennis?

Did you know that pickleball is the fastest-growing sport globally? A major reason for that is many tennis players are switching to pickleball. It comprises similar components to tennis, such as a paddle instead of a racket, a pickleball ball instead of a tennis ball, and a very similar court. Are tennis players looking for something new, or is pickleball just easier than tennis?

Well, yes. Pickleball is easier to learn than tennis as the court size is a bit smaller, and it requires less intensity and strength to move and hit the ball, unlike tennis. Pickleball’s paddles and balls are also lightweight. So it takes fewer efforts and energy to hit the ball hard.

Pickleball is a mixture of tennis and badminton as the gameplay is similar to tennis, the court size is the exact same as badminton, and the rules are a combination of both. The fact that only elderly people initially played pickleball is convincing enough that pickleball is easier than tennis. The lightweight paddle and a smaller court make it a friendlier sport for people to enjoy.

We are a bunch of pickleball enthusiasts. Having first been introduced to the game, we were doubtful about leaving our tennis rackets. While you might still prefer tennis over pickleball, we help you understand why pickleball is easier than tennis by comparing various aspects.

Pickleball vs. Tennis: The Basic Differences

Pickleball is not only the fastest growing sport but also growing at an alarming rate. Currently, there are 4.2 million players playing pickleball. This is more than 21% than it was in 2019. It is expected to keep growing at this rate or even more. Due to the growing demand, many tennis courts are converted into pickleball courts as six pickleball courts can be made in place of two tennis courts.

Before we move on to what really makes the difference between pickleball and tennis, let’s look at some minor differences.

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Court Size

One of the most notable differences between the two sports is the court size. The court size of pickleball is smaller than a tennis court. A pickleball court size is the exact size of a badminton court - 20 ft by 44 ft. In comparison, the tennis court size measures 78 ft in length. The width of a tennis court varies for singles and doubles. A singles game is played on a tennis court with a width of 27 ft, and 36 ft for doubles.

Playing Styles

In pickleball, players generally play with an underhand. The serve should be made with an underhand. Most shots are also played with an underhand during a rally as the ball bounces less. On the other hand, tennis involves a variety of shots, including backhand and forehand. Tennis players also do the service over the head. The limited variety makes it more effortless to play pickleball.

Serve

The serve is another basic yet apparent difference between the two games. You can tell just by looking at how a pickleball serve differs from tennis. As mentioned earlier, the pickleball serve is made with an underhand compared to over the head in tennis. This requires the players to keep the ball below the waistline.

Another factor that makes pickleball a more attention-grabbing game is that there is no serve change rule. A player can keep serving until they do a faulty serve. The other team wins the serve when they win a rally.  In comparison, tennis players have to switch serves after each set. A pickleball player also has to give up the serve only after making one fault. There are no do-overs. However, a tennis player has another chance before a point, and the serve is awarded to the opponent.

Court Options

A great thing about pickleball is that there is less restriction on the court it can be played on. If a pickleball court is not available, you can play it on an indoor volleyball court or a badminton court as they are of similar sizes. You will need to draw the pickleball court lines with tape or chalk. Meanwhile, tennis can only be played on professional tennis courts due to its size requirements.

Pickleball vs. Tennis: The Key Differences

Now that we have established the fundamental differences between the two games, let’s look at the significant differences that affect their difficulty level.

Paddle and Rackets

Pickleball has paddles, unlike the rackets in tennis, they look like table tennis rackets, but they are square-shaped instead of round. Tennis rackets consist of strings stretching tightly from one end to another. This helps the ball significantly impact the racket before it is hit back. More impact time allows the player to create spin and have better control over their shot.

In comparison, pickleball paddles consist of solid planks and are not as flexible. The ball reflects immediately off the paddle, which doesn’t give the player moments to create a spin or variation in their shot. But how does that prove that pickleball is easier to learn than tennis?

The shot restriction might leave you with redundant options. However, it also means that a player has less to learn about the paddle and shots than tennis. The instant reaction means they have to apply less force to return the ball over the net. Pickleball paddles have a honeycomb design that reduces the paddle's weight while keeping its strength.

The Net

The height of the net is another major difference between the two sports. The tennis court net measures 36 inches high from one end to the other. It might be difficult for some people to manage with that height. The pickleball court’s net measures 34 ft in the center and 36 ft on both ends. The decreased height in the center makes it a bit easier to play the game as they don’t have to exert more power to hit the ball over the net. Besides that, it encourages players to place their shots in the middle. This keeps the momentum up and makes the game more interesting.

Type of Balls

The balls used in pickleball are Wiffle balls. Since the ball is made of plastic, it is lightweight. They have holes to allow the ball to fly better and more fluently. The balls for indoor pickleball differ from the balls for outdoor pickleball. Outdoor pickleball has smaller holes to keep it steady against the wind.

On the other hand, the tennis balls are made from a two-piece rubber shell and covered with synthetic felt for durability and softness. These balls are heavier and bounce more as it is required according to the larger size of a tennis court.

Movement

Pickleball is a more straightforward game to learn because it requires less movement. The court size is smaller, so players can reach more areas without moving much. On the other hand, tennis requires more swift action from side to side and a great deal of running to cover the court. While the agility and responsiveness needed for both games are similar, pickleball is the clear winner for this round.

Fitness and Strength

Pickleball was initially only played by elderly citizens because it requires less physical fitness and strength. Tennis players who get too old to keep up with the game's physical demands also switch to pickleball. As we saw above, pickleball requires less movement. It relieves the players from being extraordinarily fit to play the game.

Besides that, you also do not need much strength to hit the ball with power. Unlike the tennis ball, the pickleball’s ball is lighter, and combined with a smaller court size;, you can return the shot without exerting too much power. However, this does not mean that you can play the game despite being extremely unfit.

Complexity Level

This particular area is where pickleball falls short to keep the upper hand at being the easier game. The pickleball rules are annoyingly more complex than tennis rules. For instance, the serve might stay with one player for too long, or it can change very frequently. Pickleball players also have to consider the kitchen area that does not allow them to play volleys. There are no such rules in tennis.

Intensity

The intensity in both games is quite similar. Tennis is more a game of power, precision, and placement. With the extended court size, players often must run at incredible speeds to cover the distance. The speed of the ball switching sides is also faster than in pickleball.

However, pickleball is slightly less intense as it is more about placement since the ball is lighter and doesn’t travel with more velocity. However, it is still an intense game as the rallies are usually longer than tennis.

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