Invented by three fathers in Washington in 1965, Pickleball is a simple and fun game played on badminton courts. We had a bit of fun digging out the two terms here, where we also skipped the debate between “pickle ball” and “pickleballs.”
Just like tennis, the net is on the ground, but the plastic ball is used as a fixed racket set (as opposed to a tennis racket).
In case you’re confused, here are the main differences between tennis and pickleball here. The main difference between tennis and pickleball is the scoring system, which theoretically means longer games in pickles. The scoring is different for paddle ball than tennis, as each game is a single game, where a two-point lead is needed before there is a winner.
Pickleball vs Tennis court
Pickleball courts are much smaller than tennis courts, in fact they are about a quarter the size, but they are still much larger than a tennis court, and they are much smaller than a basketball court.
The size of a pickle ball court is 20 x 44 feet, which is about the size of a basketball court, but much larger than a tennis court. Tennis players find it tiny But once they start playing the game, they realize how energetic the game is and how much fun it will be. Pickleball courts are 20×44 feet and they are on the same lines used for doubles, except where the court is 36 feet wide, which is opposite a 36-foot wide double.
They have an area called the kitchen where the ball can’t be played volley and they have alleys. Single-court tennis has an alley, but pickleball courts have an area in the middle of the court called “kitchen,” where you can’t volley the balls.
Platform tennis is played on a platform, with the ball fenced before it can be played, but not in the middle of the court.
How to lower a tennis net for pickleball?
It has a net that is two meters high and allows players to get straight to the net but it does not allow them to be let in. In platform tennis you only get one serve in doubles, and that’s called the volley zone. Pickleball has shorter nets so players can get straight into the net.
The lines on a platform tennis court are slightly different from the lines on a pop-up tennis court. The double line reaches the baseline, which means that the square becomes wider with an additional left and right-bound line. The platform tennis courts also extend the line for doubles, meaning that the courts in doubles only get a little longer.
Padel is a form of racket sport and is related to tennis, and it is allowed to play a serve. Just like pickleball, pop tennis plays the serve from the waist down under the hand, but the serve in platform tennis is overhand.
Pickleball and Tennis similarities
In both games it is very similar to tennis, but there are some slight differences, and neither is particularly popular as we speak, but both are very popular.
I’ve heard people who have never played that pickleball is a smaller tennis game, but I’ve only played doubles. Although the pickleball courts at first glance resemble tennis courts, there are some important differences. They play on an enclosed court, which is significantly smaller than a tennis court and has walls that can be used during the game.
For laymen, pickleball is like tennis, where you can play volley from anywhere, but unlike tennis, the non-volleyball zone extends from the side, commonly referred to as the kitchen. Pickleballs are smaller than tennis courts and have a size of 20 x 44 ‘for singles and doubles, with a maximum of 6’ 5 ‘.
The next big difference is that the tennis court has a twin lane, which is the same court where doubles and singles are played. The net is 20 x 44 ‘for singles and doubles, with a maximum of 6’ 5 ”, and players use special rackets or wiffle balls. All matches are played on tennis courts with special pickling lines, but the most common game is doubles, although singles are also an option.
Pickle ball court has a “No Volley Zone” (NVZ), also called a “Service Box,” measuring 7 feet deep on both sides of the net, followed by a service box of 10 x 15 feet.
Is pickleball easier on your body than tennis?
Do you have a plethora of pickleball courts near you and would you like to use them to play a faster, more athletic game? Quieter, faster and more tennis-like SPEC Tennis offers an alternative use for the pickleball court and can be played just like tennis, but with different rules. Many tennis players have moved on to pickling ball with age because the smaller court size makes it easier to cover it.
If you would like to know the difference between a paddle ball and pickleball check it out here.