Badminton and tennis are racket sports played on a rectangular court. Both these sports are widely played worldwide and can be played individually or in sets of two.
These two sports are also regularly played in prestigious championships such as the Olympics. Badminton began to be played in the Olympics in 1992, while tennis was competed at the Olympics much earlier, since 1896. However, they have many similarities and differences.
And today, in this article, we will discuss some common similarities and differences between badminton and tennis.
So let’s dive in:
Badminton Vs. Tennis
Let’s begin with:
1. Equipment and gear
Rackets and nets are the similar and primary gear used in badminton and tennis. But the weight and shape of these rackets are different, as tennis rackets weigh between 255-368 grams, which makes them heavier than a badminton racket, which weighs between 100-200 grams.
On the other hand, badminton nets are shorter in comparison to tennis nets. The net’s width is 20 feet, and the height of the posts is 5 feet 1 inch long from the ground. While its height at the center is 5 feet, and its overall height is 2 feet and 6 inches.
2. Court layouts
Badminton courts are smaller in size as compared to tennis courts. The standard badminton court size measures 13.4 meters (44 feet) in length and 6.1 meters (20 feet) in width, while a tennis court measures 23.77 meters (78 feet) in length and 8.23 meters (27 feet) in width for singles matches and 10.97 meters (36 feet) in width for doubles matches.
But both badminton and tennis courts have similar markings, such as the singles and doubles lines, the center line, and the service lines.
Rather than this, a badminton court is typically made of synthetic materials or wood, while a tennis court can be made of various surfaces such as clay, grass, or hard court.
3. Ball and shuttlecock
Tennis players use a round ball covered with flannel, whereas a shuttlecock is used by badminton players, which is conical in shape and open at the end. A shuttlecock comprises a left wing of goose feathers or synthetic materials. On the other hand, a tennis ball is made up of rubber and is covered with a felt fabric.
Talking about the size and weight of tennis balls and badminton shuttlecocks, then let me inform you that a shuttlecock is smaller and lighter in comparison to a tennis ball, and a shuttlecock weighs between 4.74 to 5.50 grams and has a diameter of 25 to 28 millimeters, while a tennis ball weighs between 56 to 59.4 grams and has a diameter of 65.41 to 68.58 millimeters.
4. Scoring system
The scoring systems of tennis and badminton are quite different from each other. A tennis match is composed of points, games, and sets. The first player to win six games wins the set.
If the score is tied at 5-5, the game continues until one player has a two-point lead. In a tiebreak, the first player to win seven points with a two-point lead wins the tiebreak, and the set is over.
On the other hand, a badminton match consists of the best three-game sets of 21 points each, and players can only score when they are serving.
The first player to reach 21 points and have a two-point lead wins the game. If the score is tied at 20-20, the game continues until one player has a two-point lead.
5. Service
Service is one of the basic aspects of racket sports, and tennis and badminton have completely different serving patterns.
In badminton, the service is made below the waist level and underhand. On the other hand, in tennis, a service can be done overhand and underhand.
Also, in tennis, you get a second opportunity if you fault in the first service, which does not apply to badminton.
6. Standard shots
In badminton, there are 6 types of shots which include:
1. Clear shot
Clear is a high overhand shot played with the forehand gripping technique, where the player tries to hit the shuttle from his court to the opponent’s rare end court.
There are two different types of clear shots:
- Forehand clear.
- Backhand clear.
2. Smash
Smash is one of the best offensive and fastest shots, usually performed when the shuttle lands in the middle of the court. It is played downwards and straight with full energy and power.
There are two different types of smash shots:
- Forehand smash.
- Backhand smash.
3. Drop shot
The drop is also one of the basic shots, which allows you to force your opponent to move toward the front court. You can even perform a slow drop or a fast drop.
The slow drop allows you to land the shuttle as close to the net so that your opponent will have a very short time to respond and return the shuttlecock. And the fast drop allows you to land the shuttle on the mid-court sides.
There are two different types of drop shots:
- Forehand drop.
- Backhand drop.
4. Drive shot
The drive shot is played on a horizontal or a bit downward path and down the court’s sidelines. It is one of the safe ones, which can force your opponent to hit an upward return, which gives you a chance to attack and win a rally.
There are two different types of drive shots:
- Forehand drive.
- Backhand drive.
5. Serve
A badminton match begins with a toss, and the toss-winning side gets to serve first. A serve or service is a shot played before starting a rally, using an underarm hitting action, because it should always be performed upwards.
There are four different types of services:
- High serve.
- Low serve.
- Forehand serve.
- Backhand serve.
6. Lift
The lift shot is one of the excellent defensive shots played to clear all shots near the net.
It is played from your frontcourt to the opponent’s backcourt, and the main motive behind playing it is to land the shuttle near the opponent court’s baseline.
There are two different types of lift:
- Forehand lift.
- Backhand lift.
In tennis, there are 5 types of shots, which includes:
1. Drop shot
This shot is played with a gentle touch, which lands just over the net and bounces low, making it difficult for the opponent to reach. It can be used to surprise opponents.
2. Lob
This high, defensive shot is hit over the opponent’s head to push them back from the net. It can be used to create space on the court or to set up an attacking shot.
3. Volley
This is a shot hit before the ball bounces on the court and is played at the net. It requires good reflexes and hand-eye coordination.
4. Half-volley
This is a difficult shot played by hitting the ball just after it has bounced off the court. It requires quick reactions and good timing.
5. Serve
This is the shot used to start each point and is hit from behind the baseline. It can be hit with a variety of spins and speeds, and players often try to hit aces or unreturnable serves to win points.
7. Difficulties
Both badminton and tennis are physically demanding sports that require skill, agility, and endurance. Some of the difficulties faced in these sports include:
- Footwork- Both badminton and tennis players require a lot of energy and stamina to move quickly around the court, which can be challenging if they are not used to fast-paced movements and changes in direction.
- Timing- In badminton, the shuttlecock travels at high speeds, making it difficult to time shots accurately. While in tennis, the ball travels at high speeds, making it difficult to time shots accurately.
- Physical endurance- Badminton and tennis matches can be long and grueling, requiring players to have good physical endurance to keep up with the game’s pace.
8. Worldwide participation
It is estimated that there are over 300 million people play badminton worldwide, which makes it one of the most popular sports in the World. And you might get surprised after knowing that badminton is one of the World’s top 10 most participated and the second most sports in the World.
On the other hand, tennis is the 6th most participated sport in the World, with an estimated 60 million people around the World.
Rather than this, both these sports are played at the Olympic Games and other major international tournaments, with millions of fans tuning in to watch the World’s top players compete.
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Final Words
So, now you might have known that badminton and tennis have many similarities and differences. And all these similarities and differences will help you to know more about these sports and identify them easily.
If you are still unsure which one to play, don’t worry; visit a local tennis and badminton courts with your friend, try both games, and then choose which is better.
And in case you have any queries or questions going on in your mind regarding this post. Then feel free to ask us or pin up your questions in the comment section below.