Paddleball vs Pickleball: What Are the Differences?
Have you ever heard of pickleball or paddleball? Both are played with paddles and a ball, but they are very different games. In this article, we compare their history, courts, equipment and rules so you can see how they differ.
Breakdowns
Pickleball
Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. It was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, a short ferry ride from Seattle, by three dads (Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum) who were looking for a way to entertain their kids.
The game is played on a court that is the same size as a doubles badminton court, 20 feet wide by 44 feet long, with a net that is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches high in the middle.
The ball used in pickleball is a lightweight, perforated plastic ball similar to a wiffle ball, and the paddles are made of composite materials (or wood in the early days). Pickleball paddles are larger than ping pong paddles and have a solid face with no holes.
The game can be played in singles or doubles, and the objective is to hit the ball over the net and into the opponent's court so that they cannot return it. Only the serving side can score a point, which it does when the receiving side faults or fails to return the ball.
Paddleball
Paddleball is a wall-and-paddle sport related to handball and racquetball. Four-wall paddleball is generally credited to Earl Riskey, a University of Michigan physical education instructor, who developed it around 1930 by using paddles on handball courts. It is played with a solid paddle (some have holes) and a small rubber ball.
There is no net in paddleball. Players take turns hitting the ball against the front wall so that it bounces back before hitting the floor twice. Paddleball is played in singles or doubles, and four-wall games are commonly played to 21 points.
One-Wall Paddleball vs. Four-Wall Paddleball
Paddleball is played in one-wall and four-wall variations. One-wall courts are often found outdoors, while four-wall courts are indoors.
Differences in Court Size and Ball Type
A four-wall paddleball court is the same as a racquetball court: 20 feet wide, 40 feet long and 20 feet high, with four walls enclosing the court. A one-wall court is usually described as 20 feet wide and 34 feet long, with a single front wall. Wall heights and balls vary by organization, so check the rules of your local league.
Differences in Gameplay
In four-wall paddleball, players can use the side walls, back wall and ceiling, so shots and angles are a big part of strategy. In one-wall paddleball, only the front wall is used, and the open court gives the game a different feel. Scoring rules vary between the two versions and between organizations.
Similarities Between the Sports
Pickleball and paddleball are both played with paddles and a ball, and both can be played in singles or doubles. Both are easy to start playing, and both are good fitness options. They are often confused with other paddle sports such as padel and platform tennis, which are different games with their own courts and rules.
Differences in the Games
The most obvious difference is that pickleball is played over a net on an open court, while paddleball has no net and is played off walls. Pickleball uses a perforated plastic ball and a solid paddle, while paddleball uses a small rubber ball.
The serve also differs. In pickleball, players serve underhand, diagonally across the court into the opposite service court. In paddleball, the serve is hit against the front wall and must land within the service zones.
Pickleball also has a non-volley zone (the kitchen) near the net and a two-bounce rule at the start of each rally; in paddleball the ball may bounce only once on the floor before the player returns it.
Paddleball vs Pickleball, A Final Word
Court Size and Equipment
A pickleball court is 20 by 44 feet with a net. A four-wall paddleball court is 20 by 40 feet with four walls and no net. Pickleball is played with a perforated plastic ball, and paddleball is played with a small rubber ball.
Game Play
Pickleball is played over a net, and only the serving side can score. Paddleball is played off walls, and four-wall games are commonly played to 21 points. Pickleball is often seen as the easier game to pick up socially, while paddleball is a faster, more wall-focused game closer to racquetball.
In conclusion, both paddleball and pickleball are fun sports that offer unique challenges and benefits. Whether you prefer pickleball's net play and social atmosphere or paddleball's wall-and-angles game, both are worth trying.
What to Read Next
Pickleball
- USA Pickleball: The national governing body of pickleball in the United States, with information on rules, tournaments, and more.
Paddleball
- USA Racquetball and local handball and paddleball associations can point you to courts and leagues, since paddleball is usually played on racquetball and handball courts.