Pickleball and Tennis: What’s the Difference?
It’s no secret that tennis and pickleball have a lot in common. After all, pickleball was created as a fun fusion of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton back in 1965. But just like its name, there’s much that’s unique about the sport that’s taking the country by storm!
To help beginners feel more comfortable joining in the fun, CA pickleball coordinator, Duane Sinclair, explains what makes pickleball distinct from tennis.
Equipment differences
- Pickleball paddles are smaller than tennis racquets, with shorter handles. Unlike tennis racquets, which are simply frames with strings added, pickleball paddles are solid and have a face made from various materials. Carbon fiber is a popular material that helps impart spin on the ball, much like tennis strings “grip” a tennis ball to allow players to add top spin and hit slices.
- Pickleball uses a small plastic ball, which means it doesn’t bounce as high as a tennis ball. It’s similar in appearance to a whiffle ball.
The pickleball serve
- While tennis requires an overhand serve, pickleball serves must be underhand, with the ball struck below the waist.
- Picklers serve diagonally to the opposite side of the court, just like in tennis
- The pickleball serve can be a simple motion that’s similar to bowling a ball. It’s much easier for beginners than the overhand serve in tennis, though more advanced pickleball serves more closely resemble a low “groundstroke,” whereby the server hits the ball below the waist, but with an upward swing and follow through that imparts top spin. Other more advanced serves can also impart spin in differing directions.
Become a Member and Play Pickleball for Free
CA members can play pickleball at our six dedicated pickleball courts at Owen Brown and at Supreme Sports Club! Interested in learning more about how you can start playing pickleball in Columbia today by becoming a member? Use the form below to reach out to us an a membership advocate will tell you more.
Membership Has Its Advantages!
Members can get access to our gyms, tennis courts, golf courses, pools, ice skating rink, pickleball courts, and much more! Use the form below to have a member advocate get in touch with you about becoming a member.
The “no-volley zone”
- The non-volley zone (also known by picklers as the NVZ or “the kitchen”) is an area that extends 7 feet from the net on each side of the net and runs the width of the court. The serve must clear this area, and players aren’t allowed to hit the ball out of the air (a volley) when they’re standing in the kitchen or have their foot on the kitchen line. It’s fine to go in the kitchen to hit a ball, but it must bounce first!
- The kitchen exists so that rallies can be maintained, since slamming the ball from directly in the front of the net is very easy and would end most points very quickly.
- Pickleball also has a unique two-bounce rule. After you serve, the returning team has to hit the ball after one bounce (they can’t volley it out f the air). Then, the serving team has to let it bounce once before hitting it back. After that, it’s game on! This rule is in effect at the start of every point.
Play pickleball at CA
Want to learn more? Check out our blog on the benefits of pickleball and follow Columbia Area Pickleball on Facebook!
If you’re ready to play, Owen Brown has six newly built pickleball courts waiting for you! To reserve a spot at Owen Brown, call Long Reach Tennis Club at 410-423-4120.
