What is the Difference Between Pickleball vs. Paddle Tennis?
August 01, 2021
This piece describes the differences between pickleball and paddle tennis. Both are amazingly fun sports, but each has different rules that are crucial to know.
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Pickleball is one of the most energizing sports you can play. It’s so fun to crush the ball and run around the court, breaking a sweat. Though, as fun as it is, some people don’t think the game is unique. Many folks hold the false belief that pickleball and paddle tennis are the same things—this couldn’t be further from the truth. This piece will answer the age-old question, “What is the difference between pickleball vs. paddle tennis?”
The Serve
Serving rules are much stricter in pickleball than they are in paddle tennis. For starters, players must serve underhand in pickleball. So, it’d be beneficial to practice this method before playing. Also, everyone only gets one serve. If the ball goes out of bounds, the other team gets to serve the ball. The same is true of paddle tennis, but folks can serve however they’d like.
The Ball
Perhaps one of the most key differences between pickleball vs. paddle tennis is the ball that’s used to play. Pickleball players use a lightweight ball, similar to a Wiffle ball. Since it’s so lightweight, these babies can speed across the court. Conversely, paddle tennis balls are made of rubber. They’re a little bigger than a ping pong ball.
The Scoring
The scoring between these two beloved games is also quite different. Paddle tennis is scored like regular tennis. Each player has 6 opportunities to score a point (15, 30, 40, etc.) On the other hand, pickleball is a little more unique. Someone must get 11 points to win the game. Additionally, the victor must win by 2. So, the score could end up being 13-15.
Pickleball and paddle tennis are both enjoyable games. Of course, here at Fromuth Pickleball, we tend to favor pickleball, but that’s only because we have a deep passion for the game. Anyone interested in picking it up this summer should check out our site full of pickleball equipment. We have whatever future players need to get started.