Examining the Tennis and Badminton Differences
By
Richard Janvrin
Contributor Updated: 20 June 2024
Richard Janvrin Contributor
Richard has been writing about sports since he was a teenager. Still, his first professional role came in 2015, covering all things NFL and fantasy football-related. From there, in December 2018, he started in the sports betting industry, covering sportsbook reviews before arriving to where he is today.
Tennis and Badminton Differences
When you look at tennis and badminton, you can’t help but notice how similar they are. Despite the use of rackets and a similar-looking court, there are unique tennis and badminton differences you may not have been aware of.
The difference primarily relates to the court size, the equipment used, the scoring, and the game’s overall strategy.
Understanding the differences between tennis and badminton is important because you can bet on badminton matches online and tennis.
Below, we’ll explore the difference between tennis and badminton.
- Tennis vs Badminton: Court Size and Dimensions
- The Difference Between Tennis and Badminton Equipment
- How the Games Are Scored
- The Serves, Movement, and Overall Strategy
- What Is the Difference Between Tennis and Badminton: Wrapping Up
Tennis vs Badminton: Court Size and Dimensions
The court size kicks off our tennis vs. badminton comparison. It’s likely not a surprise, but the tennis court is larger than the badminton one.
The average speed of a tennis serve is upward of 160 miles per hour, while badminton strikes are close to the same — serves are underhand, so there’s virtually no speed on these. According to Business Standard, Indian shuttler Satwiksairaj Rankireddy posted a speed of 565 kmph, equivalent to 351 miles per hour.
This is important when considering the court size.
The tennis court is 78 feet long and 27 feet wide. The width increases to 36 feet for doubles matches. The court is a rectangular shape, which is the same as badminton.
In terms of dimensions for, the badminton court, it’s 44 feet in length and 20 feet wide. There’s no difference between singles and doubles.
For tennis players, the bigger court calls for more endurance and lateral athleticism, whereas badminton is incredibly fast-paced, and the shuttlecock can reach blazing speeds, as mentioned.
The Difference Between Tennis and Badminton Equipment
The main difference between tennis and badminton rackets is primarily the weight. Tennis rackets are heavier and designed to take on the increased mass of the tennis ball. Badminton rackets are not only lighter but also easier to swing around because the sport calls for lightning-quick reflexes. Tennis rackets can weigh up to 12 ounces, whereas badminton rackets weigh around three ounces.
Tennis balls are covered with green felt and rubber underneath, whereas the shuttlecock used in badminton is made of a lightweight material.
To be exact, tennis rackets can be up to 115 square inches, whereas badminton ones are about 70 square inches.
How the Games Are Scored
While the overall look of each sport might seem relatively similar, the scoring is vastly different.
For tennis, you have a game, set, and match. A match consists of a best-of-three sets. A set consists of a player winning six games and has a two-game lead over the opponent. A game is won by a player who scores four points and has a two-point lead.
The points include Love (0 points), 15 (1 point), 30 (2 points), 40 (3 points), and game (4 points when leading by at least 2).
For badminton, you have a game and a match. A match is the best-of-three game in most settings. If a player/team wins two games, they win the match. In the Olympics, you might find matches that consist of the best of five games.
A game in badminton is won when a player scores 21 points and has a lead of at least two points.
Tennis matches are typically longer than badminton due to the more intricate scoring system whereas badminton is far more straightforward. According to the Olympics, the longest badminton match was two hours and 41 minutes. The Olympics also notes that the longest tennis match was 11 hours and five minutes.
The possibility of things like that happening makes betting on tennis matches even more exciting. So much can happen throughout the course of a match.
The Serves, Movement, and Overall Strategy
To round out our answer to the question, “What is the difference between tennis and badminton?” we’re exploring the serves, how players move, and the strategy while playing.
Serves
- Tennis: In tennis, players line up diagonally from one another. Players will receive two attempts per point. Serves are performed overhand. If a player messes up two serves, they’ll receive a double fault and lose the point. This is a crucial part of a tennis match, as the player serving has a chance to hit the ball in a way that makes it difficult to hit it back.
- Badminton: The server in badminton couldn’t be any more different. These serves are performed underhanded and meant to go below the waist of the competitor. Here, you only get one chance at one serve. The goal could be to put your opponent in an uncomfortable position while delivering ferocious strikes back and forth.
Player Movement
- Tennis: Players tend to move laterally but run all over the court. These moves could require all-out sprints and side shuffles, and you’ll see plenty of players ready to move, constantly moving their feet.
- Badminton: Badminton is incredibly fast-paced, so players move all around the court. Due to the size of the court, the moves are far more abrupt and sharp. The stances of the players could appear to be more geared toward offense or defense.
The Strategy Of Each Game
- Tennis: A big part of the strategy of tennis is having a strong serve, and placing your shots in a way that puts the opponent in a compromising position while varying speeds. There are numerous types of shots including topspin, slices, and more. You’ll want to use power and precision.
- Badminton: In badminton, players aim to control the net and set up shots that make it difficult for opponents. Here, you’ll want quick shots near the net with aggressive hits. Players will want to leverage their speed and shot placement instead of power and precision.
What Is the Difference Between Tennis and Badminton: Wrapping Up
As you can see, tennis and badminton have numerous attributes, including what to focus on as a player, the serves, the equipment, and court size.
If you’re a sports bettor, you can wager on both of these sports, but it’s important to evaluate the performance differently as top players possess traits that may not necessarily be transferable to the other sport, regardless of how similar they are (a similar court and racket).
When you leave this page, we hope you not only understand these differences more but also have a new appreciation for the athleticism players in each sport have.
