Difference Between Tennis and Badminton

Which racket sport burns more calories? Which is easier to pick up? Let’s settle the badminton vs tennis debate once and for all.

Badminton and tennis are two of the world’s most popular racket sports, played in clubs, schools, parks, and Olympic arenas. Each offers different challenges and rewards, from physical fitness and coordination to cost, equipment, accessibility, and sheer fun.

This blog breaks down every key difference from court dimensions and racket specs to calorie burn and scoring systems, so you can make an informed choice based on your fitness level, budget, space, and personal goals. So you can decide which sport fits you best.

Badminton Court vs Tennis Court: Dimensions, Surface & Markings

Dimensions & Layout

1. A badminton court is much smaller, 13.4 m long by 6.1 m wide for both singles and doubles.
2. A tennis court is about 23.77 m in length and 8.23 m wide for singles and 10.97 m for doubles.
3. Visualise this: you can fit about one and a half badminton courts inside a single tennis court. The space difference translates into differences in movement, stamina and strategy.
   

Surface & Location

1. Badminton courts are usually indoor only, with surfaces such as wooden floors or synthetic mats laid over wood to provide grip and control of shuttle flight. Lighting and air currents are critical indoors.
2. Tennis courts can be outdoor or indoor, and the surface varies: hard court, clay, grass, and synthetic. The surface affects the speed of play, bounce, and maintenance.
   

Line Markings & Zones

Both sports share baseline, service boxes, and sidelines for singles and doubles. However:

1. Badminton has a short service line near the net in service zones, and the net is high at about 1.524 m at the centre to clear.
2. Tennis features no volley zones in doubles, and the ball may bounce once before return. Badminton has no bounce, and the shuttle must clear the net and be hit before it lands.
   

Tennis vs Badminton Racket: Weight, Shape & Tech

Physical Differences

1. Weight: Tennis rackets are significantly heavier (typically ≈ 250-350 grams) than badminton rackets, which are light (around 70-100 grams). The heavier tennis racket helps with power but demands more strength and endurance.
2. Head shape & sweet spot: Tennis rackets have larger, oval or teardrop heads with bigger sweet spots. Badminton rackets often have more isometric or circular heads, smaller but engineered for speed and wrist action.
3. String tension & pattern: Badminton rackets tend to be strung tighter to deliver precision and quick reaction. Tennis strings are less tense overall (though that depends on style) to allow power, deeper bounce, and spin.
   

Grip & Shaft Design

1. Badminton rackets have longer, slender shafts, often no throat to facilitate wrist movement and fast flicks.
2. Tennis rackets include a throat (y or o shape), a shorter shaft relative to full length to provide stability and manage heavier and powerful strokes.
   

Racket Specifications of Tennis and Badminton

Feature	Tennis Racket	Badminton Racket
Weight	~250-350 g	~70-100 g
Head Size	~12.5 in (oval/elongated)	~9 in (isometric/circular)
String Tension	~45-65 lbs	~20-30+ lbs
Shaft & Throat	Shorter shaft, distinct throat	Long shaft, no throat
Purpose	Power, durability, stability	Speed, wrist control, manoeuvrability

Read More: All About Badminton Court Dimensions

Difference Between Badminton and Tennis Shoes

Sole Design & Movement

1. Badminton shoes use non-marking shoes that have gum rubber soles, softer and grip-focused for indoor courts. They are built for fast lateral movement, lunges, quick changes, and jumps. Cushioning is moderate to light; too much cushioning can reduce court feel and agility.
2. Tennis shoes are often heavier, with more cushioning, especially in the heel and forefoot, to absorb repeated impact and outdoor stresses. Soles often have tread patterns suited to surfaces such as herringbone for hard or clay, or specialised patterns for grass. Support, especially for ankle and lateral stability, is structured.
   

Surface Compatibility

1. Badminton: indoor wood or synthetic courts; non-marking soles are essential for grip and to avoid damaging the floor.
2. Tennis: since it’s played outdoors a lot, shoes have to withstand different surfaces such as hard courts, clay, and grass. Tread, durability, and water resistance may matter.
   

Footwear Requirements of Tennis and Badminton

Feature	Tennis Shoes	Badminton Shoes
Sole	Durable, surface-specific tread (herringbone, etc.)	Gum rubber, non-marking, focused grip for indoors
Cushioning	High impact absorption, especially heel and forefoot	Minimal to moderate, with more focus on responsiveness
Ankle Support	Moderate to high, for stability in side-to-side and forward motion	Lower, agility and ankle mobility are often emphasised
Surface Compatibility	Hard, clay, grass, sometimes indoor multi-court models	Indoor wooden or synthetic only

The Shuttlecock vs The Tennis Ball

The Equipment

1. Tennis ball: pressurised rubber, usually 56-59.4 grams, designed to bounce and spin, with a felt cover. Durable for many hits in a match.
2. Badminton shuttlecock (“birdie”): very light (around 4.74-5.50 g), made with feathers (traditional) or a synthetic skirt plus a cork base. No bounce, aerodynamic drag is high, flight path and behaviour depend heavily on wind (if outdoor), shuttle material, and shuttle speed.
   

Gameplay Impact

1. In tennis, bounce allows players more reaction time. Spin, slice, topspin, and serve characteristics are all exploited. Power plays a big part.
2. In badminton, since the shuttle cannot bounce, speed, reflexes, wrist action, deception and placement count heavily. The shuttle slows sharply after peak speed, so shuttle drop, net play, and angle changes are crucial.
   

Ball vs Shuttlecock Comparison

Feature	Tennis Ball	Badminton Shuttlecock
Material	Pressurised rubber + felt	Feathers or synthetic + cork
Weight	~56-59 g	~4.74-5.50 g
Diameter	≈65-68 mm	Feathers circle ≈58-68 mm
Behaviour	Bounces, retains speed or spin	No bounce, decelerates fast
Durability	Can last many games	Feather shuttles often have a shorter lifespan, and synthetic ones last longer

Which Burns More Calories – Tennis or Badminton?

Calorie Burn Comparison (Per Hour, Avg. Adult)

1. Badminton: depending on intensity, you might burn between 300 and 500 kcal/hour for moderate to competitive play.
2. Tennis: especially in singles, longer court coverage, powerful swings, and more sustained rallies. Estimates for calorie burn are higher, roughly 400-600+ kcal/hour depending on intensity and fitness.
3. In doubles (both sports), the burn is usually lower because you cover less ground.

Verdict: Tennis generally yields more calorie burn in the same amount of time, primarily due to larger court size, longer rallies, and more physically taxing strokes. However, badminton has bursts of high intensity, quick reflex demand, which can spike heart rate and make for a very good cardio workout.

Fitness Benefits

1. Badminton: Excellent for agility, reflexes, wrist-eye coordination, balance, quick footwork, and lateral and vertical movements. Good bang for buck in terms of cardiovascular bursts.
2. Tennis: Provides better endurance through longer continuous play, builds strength through full body rotation in serves and forehand or topspin, excellent for leg strength, shoulder or back, and mental staying power.
   

Different Shots Used in Tennis and Badminton

Though both sports share concepts like “smash,” “drop shot,” and “net play,” there are differences in style, technique, and shot variety:

1. Tennis: Forehand or backhand (flat, topspin, slice), serve varieties (flat, slice, kick), volley, smash, lob, drop shot, slice, passing shot. Full body rotation and power from legs and torso are key.
2. Badminton: Shots include clear, drive, lift, drop, flick serve, net shot, and smash. The technique heavily depends on wrist flick, deception, angle, and speed variation. Placement is often more important than raw power.
   

Serving Rules of Tennis and Badminton

Tennis Serving Rules:

1. Must serve diagonally into the opponent’s service box.
   
2. Two attempts per point (first serve or second serve). A fault means loss of a point after two faults.
   
3. Let serves (when the ball touches the net but lands in the correct box) are replayed.
   
4. In matches, players alternate serves by games. In tiebreaks, serves alternate by points.
   

Badminton Serving Rules:

1. Serve must be underhand, and the shuttle must be struck below waist height.
   
2. Serve must be delivered to the diagonally opposite service court.
   
3. No second serve; if the server faults, they lose the serve or point.
   
4. In singles, the player changes sides after winning a point. In doubles, there is a rotation of serve depending on the scoring and position.
   

Duration of Matches in Tennis and Badminton

Average Match Length

1. Tennis: Recreational, best of 3 sets: about 1.5-3 hours. Pro matches, especially Grand Slams, with best of 5: about 3-5+ hours.
2. Badminton: Best of 3 games (21 points each): recreational matches often last 30-60 minutes. Pro matches occasionally reach 75-90 minutes depending on competitiveness.
   

Factors Affecting Duration

1. Tennis: long rallies, changeovers between sets, potential for tiebreaks, let serves, rest breaks.
   
2. Badminton: faster pace per point, shorter breaks, points finish quickly since no bounce, rallies often shorter.
   

Why It Matters for Players

1. Tennis requires endurance, long-term stamina, hydration, and mental focus over longer play.
2. Badminton demands bursts of explosive energy, fast recovery between games, agility, and quick reflexes.

Verdict: Badminton tends to offer more predictable and shorter sessions. Tennis is more of a marathon with more time required and more endurance impact.

Badminton vs Tennis: Which is Better?

For Beginners & Kids

1. Badminton tends to be easier to pick up, with smaller courts, lighter equipment, and simpler physical demands.
2. Tennis has a steeper learning curve, heavier rackets, more complex scoring, a larger space needed, and more physical strain early on.
   

Cost & Accessibility

1. Badminton: gear is generally cheaper, courts can be set up indoors in gyms or halls or even in backyards with nets, lots of local clubs, especially in Asia.
2. Tennis: more expensive overall, court fees are especially high for clay or grass, balls, more specialised shoes, sometimes higher coaching fees, outdoor courts are exposed to the weather, and maintenance is higher.
   

Global Popularity & Career

1. Tennis dominates in global visibility: Grand Slams like Wimbledon and the US Open, massive prize money, high media presence, and superstar athletes recognised globally.
2. Badminton is extremely popular in many parts of Asia, such as China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India, and is an Olympic sport with star players, though its global commercial reach is still less than that of tennis in many Western markets.
   

Skill vs Power

1. Badminton: finesse, speed, deception, and precision of placement often matter more than brute force. It is like chess with rackets.
2. Tennis: much more power-oriented, strong serves, powerful groundstrokes, endurance, ability to sustain long rallies, mental toughness over an extended time.
   

Conclusion

There is no universal winner in the badminton vs tennis debate. The better sport depends on your physical goals, budget, available space, and what you enjoy.

If you want quick bursts of intense cardio, agility, a faster learning curve, and less equipment investment, badminton might be better. On the other hand, if you enjoy long rallies, building endurance and strength, global competition, and don’t mind heavier gear and longer playtime, tennis may suit you more.

So, regardless of which you choose, both sports offer exceptional physical, mental, and social benefits. The key is consistency; playing regularly will give you the gains.

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