When people think of racket sports, there are two games that come to mind. The first is, of course, tennis, while the second is usually badminton.
Both badminton and tennis are considered to be very similar to each other, even though there are so many differences. The main reason why they are often confused is largely due to the fact that they are played with a racket. However, by that logic, golf and cricket should be confused because they both use balls.
Both badminton and tennis are elite sports enjoyed around the world. Of the two, tennis is considered the more competitive and popular, but don’t be fooled because badminton still has its place in the modern world and is still an Olympic sport, along with tennis.
So what are the differences between badminton and tennis? Well, let’s find out. Here are some key differences between the two racket sports.
Rackets and Nets
Both tennis and badminton use rackets and nets. That, however, is where the similarities end.
Tennis rackets and badminton rackets are incredibly different from each other. Tennis rackets are much bigger and heavier than badminton rackets. Tennis rackets can weigh between 255 and 368 grams on average. However, a badminton racket weighs around 100g, or even less.
The networks used are also very different. Tennis nets are much larger and also hang low so they touch the ground. Badminton nets, however, are set up hanging much higher in the air and not close to the ground.
Balls and Shuttlecocks
Another key difference between badminton and tennis is the fact that tennis uses tennis balls while badminton uses what are known as shuttlecocks.
The frills are conical in shape with one open end. They are usually made of synthetic plastic, although some are made from bird (usually goose or duck) feathers.
Professional badminton players use shuttlecocks made of goose feathers as they provide the best and most accurate flight.
Tennis balls, however, are covered in yellow fuzz, filled with gas, and sealed in pressurized cans to provide a consistent bounce. As soon as the seal is broken and the balls are exposed to air, they begin to leak air as the pressure equalizes with atmospheric pressure, causing the ball to deteriorate over time.
Courts
Both tennis and badminton are played on courts, although they are also very different.
Tennis courts are much larger than badminton courts, although they have the same rectangular shape, with different, fuller line markings.
In terms of size, the tennis courts are noticeably larger, with a court measuring 23 x 10 metres. By comparison, badminton courts are much smaller, measuring only 13 x 6 meters.
Interior vs Exterior
When we think of tennis, more often than not, we envision the game being played outdoors. While tennis can be played indoors and indoors if necessary (rain, wind, snow, etc.), it is usually held on an outdoor tennis court.
Badminton, however, is almost always played inside a covered gym or sports hall with a high ceiling. The main reason for this is due to the fact that the shuttlecocks used are very lightweight, which means that even the slightest gust of wind could cause them to blow away or at the very least disrupt play.
How are points earned?
Badminton does not allow the shuttlecock to bounce or hit the ground, unlike tennis, which allows for a bounce of the ball.
Despite this, the point system in tennis and badminton is very similar.
In tennis, a point is scored when:
- The ball does not land in bounds of an opponent on the first bounce.
- A foul is called when a serve does not land in the opposing player’s service box, or the ball hits the net during a serve. A double fault results in the loss of a point by the server.
- The ball bounces twice before the opponent can hit it.
In badminton, a point is scored when:
- A player touches the net or shuttlecock with their body or when moving before their opponent has served.
- The shuttle does not land in bounds of the opponent by either landing out of bounds or hitting the net.
- The shuttle falls within the bounds of your opponent’s part of the court.
Punctuation system
Both tennis and badminton adopt a match play system that uses sets.
The key difference, however, is that badminton matches are played as the best of three games. The first player to reach 21 points first, with a difference of 2 points, will win that game. The player who wins the difference of 2 games wins the match.
The scoring system in tennis is much more complex, and a scoring system of 15, 30, and 40 points is adopted to win a single game. In tennis, to win a match, a player must win 2 out of 3 sets. Each set is won by winning 6 games, winning by at least 2 games.
In the event that the established score is 6 games each, a tiebreaker game is played. Here, rallies are played continuously until one player reaches 7 points or more, with a difference of 2 points. The player who succeeds will be declared the winner.
