Both tennis and badminton are racket sports that may sound and look similar. But in reality, they are very different. Tennis is played with a bouncy ball on a court, whereas badminton uses a lightweight shuttlecock and a smaller court. Just like this, there are several other differences between tennis and badminton. So, wanted to know them all? Let's explore this more here through this blog. Read more to know more.

Tennis vs Badminton

Well, when we look at the similarities, both tennis and badminton are racket sports and played in a well-structured court with nets. The similarities are exclusive, including the playing techniques, skillset, fitness, and strategy. Both sports require excellent agility, speed, and hand-eye coordination.

Both sports work on the principle of rally point scoring, which means even if either of the players is not serving, they will be rewarded with a point depending on the actions of their opponent.

Differences Between Tennis and Badminton

Harder Tennis or Badminton 

When we talk about the difficulty level of both tennis and badminton, it could be hard to derive a conclusion because the term harder could mean different to different people.

Both tennis and badminton require different skills and physical attributes. This is what determines the difficulty level of the game and how much skill and time is needed to master proficiency.

Badminton requires raw speed and agility because the court is smaller, and the shuttlecock has a faster shot, which requires a fast move throughout the court in different directions.

In contrast, the tennis game requires muscular strength due to the higher weight of the tennis racket.

Endurance Level

Tennis requires higher aerobic endurance, especially when playing single tennis because the larger court size of the tennis mandates more running.

Power Sustainability

Both sports require explosive power. In badminton, the speed of your force development is more important and impactful, whereas in tennis, the most crucial factor is force or strength.

Physical Activity

In terms of physical activity, tennis involves more running because of its larger tennis court. Whereas in badminton, since the court size is smaller, you don't have to run so much.

Speed and Agility

When you are playing badminton, you should have speed and agility. You should also concentrate on quick moves, which should be considerably higher when compared to playing tennis. Playing tennis also requires less.

Equipment 

Even the equipment of both tennis and badminton is different. Tennis uses a heavy, bouncy rubber ball, whereas badminton uses a lightweight type of shuttlecock, usually made up of feathers and plastic.

The rubber ball is designed in this way for higher bounce and durability. The weight and the size of the ball make it a suitable one for powerful groundstrokes. On the other hand, the birdie, profoundly known as the shuttlecock, is lightweight and has an aerodynamic design, allowing changes rapidly in different directions.

Court Size

The court size of tennis is comparatively larger than that of badminton, with a measurement of 78 ft (23.77 m) long × 27 ft (8.23 m) wide (approx) for singles and 36 ft (10.97 m) wide (approx) for doubles because a larger court means more run-based play.

On the other hand, the badminton court is relatively smaller than the tennis court with a measurement of 44 ft (13.4 m) long × 17 ft (5.18 m) wide (approx) for singles and 20 ft (6.1 m) wide (approx) for doubles. Even the smaller court demands quicker reflexes and agility.

Serving Rules

When we talk about the serving rules in tennis, an overhand serve is allowed, and the ball must land in the diagonal service box. A missed serve is considered a fault; two faults result in a double fault, which leads to the loss of points.

Whereas in badminton, the underhand serving rule is a kind of strict underhand serve must hit below the waist height. No second serve is allowed, and for every fault, a point is lost.

Playing Surface

The tennis is played on surfaces such as clay, grass, or hardcourts, which impacts the ball's speed and bounce. Mostly, tennis can be played both indoors as well as outdoors. But in the case of badminton, it is mainly played indoors, as they are easily affected by the wind. Courts have synthetic or wooden flooring for a better grip.

Endurance and Explosiveness

Tennis requires stamina, strength, and long-distance running. Players often slide on the clay or sprint baseline to the net. At the same time, badminton players have to give out more explosive jumps, quick lunges, and also wrist flexibility. It requires more aerobic bursts than endurance.

Duration of Matches 

In tennis, the grand slam matches can last up to 3-5 hours. E.g., Wimbledon's 11-hour Isner-Mahut match. Mostly, the matches typically end in 30-60 minutes due to the faster scoring. In short, the game of tennis is the test of endurance, whereas badminton tests the speed and agility of the players.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Difference Between Tennis and Badminton

Which Is Faster, Tennis or Badminton?

Badminton is the fastest racket sport in the world, with a reach of over 300 mph, while the fastest tennis shot is only 160 mph. Badminton rallies are also quicker due to the shuttlecock's rapid declaration.

Which Sport Is More Physically Demanding?

Tennis requires more endurance and has long matches and extended rallies compared to badminton, which demands quicker reflexes, agility, and explosive movements. Both sports are of high intensity but in different ways. On one side, where tennis is like a marathon, badminton is like a sprint.

Why Do Badminton Players Wear Different Shoes than the Tennis Players?

It is because the badminton shoes have gum rubber soles, which are suitable for a better grip on indoor courts. Whereas tennis shoes have a durable outsole, which helps handle outdoor surfaces such as clay and hard courts.

Both tennis and badminton are fun racket sports with some differences. Where the tennis game is all about long rallies and big courts, badminton is faster with its quicker reflexes and sharp shots on a smaller court. Tennis uses a bouncy ball, and badminton uses a light shuttlecock. However, both are exciting in their ways. Hope the difference between tennis and badminton is clear now.

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