Badminton and tennis are both net sports played with rackets in singles or doubles, but they feel completely different on court. Tennis is played with a heavy bouncing ball on a large court, with points built from groundstrokes. Badminton uses a feather-light shuttle that never bounces, on a court less than a third of the size, with a net five feet high. Here is how they compare, and how to decide which suits you.
Badminton vs tennis in brief
- Court: badminton 13.4 m x 6.1 m; tennis 23.77 m x 10.97 m (doubles)
- Net: badminton 1.524 m at centre; tennis 0.914 m
- Object: 5 g shuttle that never bounces vs 57 g ball that bounces
- Scoring: badminton rally scoring to 21; tennis games and sets
- Speed: a shuttle leaves the racket faster, but slows down far more
- Learning curve: badminton is quicker to start; tennis takes longer to rally
Side-by-side comparison
| Badminton | Tennis | |
|---|---|---|
| Court size (doubles) | 13.4 m x 6.1 m (44 x 20 ft) | 23.77 m x 10.97 m (78 x 36 ft) |
| Court size (singles) | 13.4 m x 5.18 m | 23.77 m x 8.23 m |
| Net height at centre | 1.524 m (5 ft) | 0.914 m (3 ft) |
| What you hit | Shuttlecock, 4.74 to 5.50 g | Ball, 56.0 to 59.4 g |
| Bounce | Never: the rally ends when it lands | Allowed once; volleys also allowed |
| Racket weight | About 75 to 95 g | About 250 to 340 g |
| Serve | Underarm, below 1.15 m, diagonal, one attempt | Usually overhead, two attempts |
| Scoring | Rally scoring, 21-point games, best of 3 | 15-30-40, games, sets, tiebreaks |
| Where it is played | Mostly indoors | Indoors and outdoors |
| Olympic sport since | 1992 | 1896 (with a long gap until 1988) |
1. Court and net
A tennis court is roughly three and a half times the area of a badminton court. Tennis players cover big distances along the baseline; badminton players cover a small court but in explosive bursts, including lunges to the net and jumps at the back. The badminton net is about 61 cm higher, which is why badminton is played so much in the air. See badminton court dimensions.
2. Shuttle vs ball
This is the biggest difference. A tennis ball is heavy and bouncy, so it keeps its speed and gives you time after the bounce. A shuttlecock weighs about a tenth as much and has a feather skirt that creates huge drag. It leaves the racket extremely fast and then decelerates sharply, often dropping almost vertically. You must hit every shot out of the air, which makes footwork and anticipation central. More in our shuttlecock guide.
3. Rackets and technique
Badminton rackets weigh roughly a third as much as tennis rackets and are mostly swung with a fast forearm rotation and finger squeeze. Tennis strokes use the whole body in longer, heavier swings, with lots of topspin. Players who switch sports often find the wrist and grip actions feel very different: tennis players tend to swing too long and stiff-armed at first in badminton.
4. Serving
The tennis serve is an overhead weapon and a big part of winning points. The badminton serve is underarm, must be struck below 1.15 m and gives little advantage, so rallies start on more equal terms. Badminton allows only one serve attempt. See badminton serve rules.
5. Scoring
Badminton uses simple rally scoring: every rally wins a point, games to 21, best of three. Tennis uses its traditional 15-30-40 game scoring within sets, with deuce, advantage and tiebreaks, and matches can be best of three or five sets. Badminton matches are usually shorter and more predictable in length. See badminton scoring.
6. Speed: which is faster?
Off the racket, badminton is faster. Guinness lists the fastest badminton hit at 565 km/h, far beyond the fastest tennis serves, which are measured at around 250 to 265 km/h. But the shuttle loses most of its speed within a few metres, while a tennis ball keeps much more of its pace. In terms of rally pace and reaction time, top-level badminton feels faster; in terms of ball speed arriving at the opponent, tennis can be quicker.
7. Fitness and calories
Both are excellent workouts. In the Compendium of Physical Activities, tennis singles is rated at 8.0 MET and competitive badminton match play at 9.0 MET, roughly 560 and 630 kcal per hour for a 70 kg adult. Badminton has more short, explosive efforts; tennis has longer rallies over larger distances. See badminton benefits.
8. Which is harder?
At the elite level, both demand extraordinary fitness and skill, and arguments about which is harder never end. For beginners, the answer is clearer:
- Badminton is easier to start. Most people can rally in their first session because the shuttle slows down and the racket is light.
- Tennis takes longer to get going. Controlling a bouncing ball with a heavier racket takes many sessions before rallies flow.
- Badminton gets very hard, very fast, once opponents start attacking with smashes and deceptive drops.
9. Cost and access
Badminton is usually cheaper: a good graphite racket costs around $50 to $100, shuttles are inexpensive if you use nylon, and indoor courts are bookable year-round. Tennis rackets and balls cost a little more, but outdoor public courts are often free. See best badminton rackets.
10. Injury profile
Badminton’s sharp lunges and changes of direction put stress on ankles, knees and Achilles tendons; proper court shoes matter. Tennis puts more repetitive load on the elbow and shoulder from heavier rackets and serves. In both, a warm-up and good footwear prevent most problems.
Which should you choose?
| Choose badminton if you… | Choose tennis if you… |
|---|---|
| Want quick results and fun rallies from day one | Enjoy playing outdoors in good weather |
| Prefer indoor, year-round play | Like longer rallies and powerful groundstrokes |
| Have limited space or want to play in the garden | Have free public courts nearby |
| Enjoy fast reactions and doubles at the net | Want a sport with a big amateur league scene in your area |
Many people play both. The skills transfer partly: footwork, anticipation and tactics carry over; grips and swing mechanics do not.
FAQ
What is the main difference between badminton and tennis?
Tennis uses a heavy bouncing ball on a large court with a low net; badminton uses a light shuttle that must be hit before it lands, on a small court with a high net.
Is badminton harder than tennis?
Badminton is easier to start and harder to master at speed; tennis is harder to start. Both are very demanding at high levels.
Can tennis players play badminton well?
They usually move and read the game well but need to relearn grip, swing length and wrist action.
Which came first, badminton or tennis?
Modern tennis (lawn tennis) and modern badminton both took shape in England in the 1870s. Both grew out of much older games: real tennis and shuttlecock games. See the history of badminton.
Compare more sports: pickleball vs badminton, badminton vs table tennis and badminton vs squash.
