Pickleball vs. Badminton — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 8, 2024
Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, played with a paddle and plastic ball, while badminton is a racquet sport played with a shuttlecock over a net.
Difference Between Pickleball and Badminton
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Pickleball is played on a smaller court than badminton, making it accessible and emphasizing strategy over physical prowess. On the other hand, badminton requires a larger court, which demands greater physical agility and endurance from the players.
Pickleball uses a perforated plastic ball, designed to fly slower and with less distance, enabling longer volleys and making the game more about placement than power. Whereas badminton uses a feathered or synthetic shuttlecock that can reach high speeds and requires precise control to manage its unique aerodynamic properties.
In pickleball, the paddle is solid and made of wood or composite materials, leading to a game focused on control and positioning. Badminton employs lightweight rackets with strings, allowing for a wider variety of shots and a faster pace of play.
Scoring in pickleball is typically done to 11, 15, or 21 points and only the serving side can score, which emphasizes the importance of holding serve and strategic play. Badminton, however, scores to 21 points with a rally scoring system, where every rally results in a point, making every serve crucial regardless of who serves.
Pickleball includes a unique rule known as the non-volley zone or "kitchen," prohibiting players from volleying the ball within this area, which adds a strategic layer to the game. In contrast, badminton has no such area, allowing players to volley freely, which encourages more aggressive play near the net.
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Comparison Chart
Court Size
Smaller, similar to badminton doubles
Larger, demanding more physicality
Ball/Shuttlecock
Perforated plastic ball
Feathered or synthetic shuttlecock
Equipment
Paddles made of wood or composites
Lightweight rackets with strings
Scoring System
To 11, 15, or 21; only the server scores
Rally scoring to 21; every rally scores
Unique Rules
Non-volley zone ("kitchen")
No equivalent
Compare with Definitions
Pickleball
A sport combining elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, using paddles and a plastic ball.
They played pickleball at the community center every weekend.
Badminton
A racquet sport played by volleying a shuttlecock across a high net.
Badminton is popular worldwide, with a significant following in Asia.
Pickleball
Focuses on strategic play and placement over physical prowess.
In pickleball, outsmarting your opponent often wins the game.
Badminton
Allows for a wide variety of shots, thanks to the stringed racquets.
His backhand smash is one of the most feared shots in badminton.
Pickleball
Played on a badminton-sized court with a modified tennis net.
The pickleball court was freshly painted in blue and yellow.
Badminton
Utilizes a rally scoring system, making every serve important.
Scoring in badminton is fast-paced, with points won on every rally.
Pickleball
Features a non-volley zone to prevent spiking.
He stepped into the kitchen, losing the point according to pickleball rules.
Badminton
Played on a larger court than pickleball, emphasizing physical endurance.
The badminton players ran across the full length of the court, demonstrating remarkable stamina.
Pickleball
Games are typically played to 11, 15, or 21 points.
They won the pickleball game 15-13 after a tense match.
Badminton
Requires speed, agility, and precision due to the shuttlecock's flight.
She practiced badminton daily to improve her reflexes.
Pickleball
Pickleball is a paddleball sport (similar to a racket sport) that combines elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, much like a wiffle ball, with 26–40 round holes, over a net.
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per side) and "doubles" (with two players per side).
Pickleball
(uncountable) A racquet sport, played with solid paddles and a perforated ball, which combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis.
Badminton
A game with rackets in which a shuttlecock is hit back and forth across a net.
Pickleball
(countable) The ball used in the sport of pickleball.
Badminton
A sport played by volleying a shuttlecock back and forth over a high narrow net by means of a light, long-handled racket.
Badminton
(uncountable) A racquet sport played indoors on a court by two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs of players (doubles), in which a shuttlecock is volleyed over a net and the competitions are presided by an umpire in British English and a referee in American English.
Badminton
(countable) A cooling summer drink made with claret, sugar, and soda water.
Badminton
A game, similar to lawn tennis, played with shuttlecocks.
Badminton
A preparation of claret, spiced and sweetened.
Badminton
A game played on a court with light long-handled rackets used to volley a shuttlecock over a net
Common Curiosities
How does the size of a badminton court compare to a pickleball court?
A badminton court is larger than a pickleball court, requiring players to cover more ground during play.
How does badminton scoring work?
Badminton uses a rally scoring system, where each rally won results in a point, playing to 21 points for a game.
What is the main difference in equipment between pickleball and badminton?
The main difference lies in the use of paddles in pickleball versus stringed racquets in badminton.
What kind of ball is used in pickleball?
A lightweight, perforated plastic ball is used in pickleball.
What equipment is used in pickleball?
Pickleball is played with solid paddles made of wood or composite materials and a perforated plastic ball.
Can badminton be played as a single and doubles game?
Yes, badminton can be played both as singles and doubles, similar to pickleball.
What is the origin of pickleball?
Pickleball was invented in the United States in 1965 as a family backyard game.
What is pickleball?
Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, played with a plastic ball on a court similar in dimensions to a badminton court.
How fast can a shuttlecock travel in badminton?
A shuttlecock in badminton can reach speeds of over 200 mph on smashes.
Can you volley in the non-volley zone in pickleball?
No, players cannot volley (hit the ball before it bounces) in the non-volley zone, also known as the kitchen, in pickleball.
Is physical strength more important in pickleball or badminton?
Physical strength is important in both, but badminton often demands greater physical agility and endurance.
Are pickleball and badminton played indoors or outdoors?
Both sports can be played indoors or outdoors, but badminton is more commonly played indoors at a competitive level due to the shuttlecock's sensitivity to wind.
What strategies are unique to pickleball?
Strategies in pickleball often involve controlling the pace and placement of the ball, utilizing the non-volley zone to force errors.
Why is it called a 'shuttlecock' in badminton?
The term "shuttlecock" originates from the back-and-forth action in badminton, similar to a shuttle running between destinations, and its feathery appearance.
What makes pickleball accessible to a wide range of players?
The smaller court size, slower ball, and strategic play make pickleball accessible and enjoyable for players of all ages and skill levels.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
