Pickleball and badminton share more than people expect. The doubles court is exactly the same size, 20 by 44 feet, and pickleball’s inventors in 1965 even used a badminton court and lowered the net. Beyond the footprint, though, they are very different games: pickleball uses a solid paddle and a perforated plastic ball that bounces, with a low net and a no-volley zone; badminton uses a light racket and a shuttle that must be hit out of the air over a net five feet high.
Pickleball vs badminton in brief
- Court: same 20 x 44 ft doubles footprint
- Net: pickleball 34 in at centre; badminton 5 ft
- Equipment: solid paddle and plastic ball vs strung racket and shuttle
- Bounce: required on serve and return in pickleball; never in badminton
- Scoring: pickleball to 11 (win by 2); badminton to 21 rally scoring
- Pace: pickleball is slower and easier to start; badminton is faster and more athletic
Side-by-side comparison
| Pickleball | Badminton | |
|---|---|---|
| Court (doubles) | 20 x 44 ft (6.10 x 13.41 m) | 20 x 44 ft (6.1 x 13.4 m) |
| Net height | 34 in at centre, 36 in at sidelines | 5 ft at centre, 5 ft 1 in at posts |
| What you hit | Perforated plastic ball, 22.1 to 26.5 g | Shuttlecock, 4.74 to 5.50 g |
| Equipment | Solid paddle | Strung racket, about 75 to 95 g |
| Bounce | Must bounce once on each side before volleys (two-bounce rule) | Never: rally ends when it lands |
| Special zone | 7 ft non-volley zone (“the kitchen”) each side of the net | None: you can play anywhere |
| Serve | Underhand, diagonal | Underarm, below 1.15 m, diagonal |
| Scoring | Traditionally only the serving side scores; games to 11, win by 2 | Rally scoring, games to 21, best of 3 |
| Typical setting | Outdoors and indoors | Mostly indoors |
Court and net
The footprint is identical, which is why many gyms paint both sets of lines on one floor. The nets are not: pickleball’s net is about 26 inches lower at the centre, so the ball travels flatter and the game revolves around low dinks and drives. In badminton, the high net means most shots go up and down, with steep smashes and drops. Measurements: badminton court dimensions.
Equipment
Pickleball paddles are solid, larger than a table tennis bat and heavier than a badminton racket. The ball is a hollow plastic ball with holes. Badminton rackets are long, light and strung, and the shuttle is a feathered cone. Pickleball equipment is very durable; badminton shuttles, especially feather ones, wear out quickly.
Rules that change everything
- Two-bounce rule (pickleball): the serve and the return must each bounce before anyone can volley. This slows the start of every rally.
- Non-volley zone (pickleball): you cannot volley while standing in the 7 ft zone next to the net. Badminton has no such rule; standing at the net and killing loose shots is a key skill.
- No bounce (badminton): every shot is a volley, so movement and anticipation dominate.
Scoring
Traditional pickleball uses side-out scoring: only the serving side scores, games go to 11 and must be won by 2, and in doubles each player serves before the serve passes over. Some leagues have adopted rally scoring. Badminton uses rally scoring to 21 in all official play. See badminton scoring.
Which is easier?
Pickleball is easier for complete beginners. The ball is slow, the paddle has a big sweet spot, the court is small and the two-bounce rule gives you time. Many people play a competitive game on their first day.
Badminton is easy to rally but harder to play well. Once opponents smash and use deceptive drops, it becomes very fast and physically demanding. Its skill ceiling and athletic demands are higher.
Which is better exercise?
Badminton generally involves more sprinting, lunging and jumping, especially in singles. Competitive badminton is rated at 7.0 to 9.0 MET in the Compendium of Physical Activities (roughly 490 to 630 kcal per hour for a 70 kg adult). Pickleball is gentler on most players, which is part of its appeal for older adults and beginners. See badminton benefits.
Which is more expensive?
Both are inexpensive. A decent pickleball paddle and balls cost about the same as a good beginner badminton racket and shuttles. Pickleball balls last longer than shuttles; badminton is more often played on hired indoor courts, while pickleball has many free outdoor public courts in the US.
Why is pickleball more popular than badminton in the US?
Pickleball has grown fast in the US thanks to its easy learning curve, social doubles format, and a wave of new public courts and conversions of tennis courts. Badminton, by contrast, is huge in Asia and Northern Europe but has a smaller organised club scene in most of the US, and is often thought of as a backyard game. See where badminton is most popular.
Which should you play?
| Choose pickleball if you… | Choose badminton if you… |
|---|---|
| Want the easiest possible start | Want a faster, more athletic game |
| Prefer outdoor, social doubles | Prefer indoor, year-round play |
| Want low-impact exercise | Want an intense workout and a high skill ceiling |
| Have public pickleball courts nearby | Have a badminton club or leisure centre nearby |
FAQ
Is a pickleball court the same as a badminton court?
The size is the same (20 x 44 ft). The lines and nets differ: pickleball has a non-volley zone and a lower net.
Can you play pickleball on a badminton court?
Yes, if you lower the net to 34 to 36 inches and mark the non-volley zone, which is why many gyms use one court for both.
Which is harder, pickleball or badminton?
Badminton is generally harder to master and more physically demanding; pickleball is easier to start.
Is badminton faster than pickleball?
Yes. A badminton smash leaves the racket far faster than any pickleball shot, and rallies are quicker.
More comparisons: badminton vs tennis, badminton vs padel and badminton vs table tennis.
