To the untrained eye, badminton and tennis may appear to be very similar sports but other than the use of a racket, there are some clear differences between the two. Furthermore, just because you are great at one, it does not necessarily mean that you will excel at the other.
In this article, we will be looking at the differences between these two popular racket sports and finding out which is faster, which burns more calories and whether playing badminton will ruin your tennis skills.
Is Badminton Easier Than Tennis?
For people who want to play a recreational game with their friends or family, it is widely accepted that badminton is far easier.
In the main, this is because the shuttlecock flies at a much slower pace than a tennis ball - primarily due to the shape and weight. This makes it easier to control each shot and requires far less movement from the player.
However, according to some professional badminton players, this sport is far more physically demanding than its more popular counterpart.
Players claim that there are far more strokes and intricacies involved in badminton and therefore, it can take a lot longer to learn. Additionally, while tennis matches usually last a lot longer than badminton matches, the latter is typically a lot more physically demanding.
We aren’t saying that tennis doesn’t require some extreme physical exertion - because there’s no doubt that it does. However, badminton requires players to be far more agile, and there are moves involved that aren’t common in tennis, such as jumping.
Essentially, both sports are physically challenging and take a lot of skill and practice to master. Some people may find badminton easier whilst others will have more luck with tennis. And of course, personal preference plays an important role.
Which Is Faster, Badminton Or Tennis?
When we talk about speed, we are referring to both the duration of the game as well as the rate at which it is played.
In the main, badminton is far more fast-paced than tennis, for many reasons. Primarily, badminton matches do not last anywhere near as long as tennis.
The longest badminton match ever recorded was played between Japanese and Indonesian doubles and lasted a whopping two hours and forty-one minutes. This far exceeds the average of around 45 - 60 minutes.
However, when compared to tennis, this is still a relatively short game since on average a tennis match can last anywhere from three hours right through to five hours!
As well as the length of the match itself, we should consider the speed at which the players must move, hit and play. You may be surprised to learn that badminton is exceptionally fast-paced and a lot is expected from the players.
It is thought that during a single sixty-minute badminton game, players will run around the court twice as much as those playing tennis, so it isn’t difficult to see which game is faster.
Which Burns More Calories - Badminton Or Tennis?
Both of these racket sports will undoubtedly be an excellent workout, and you can feel confident that playing either will keep you fit, healthy and nimble. But which burns more calories? Badminton or tennis?
Many players will tell you that tennis is more of an endurance sport whereas badminton leans more towards a cardio work-out than a test of stamina.
Furthermore, badminton players consider that if you had to play badminton for the same amount of time as tennis, you simply wouldn’t be able to. This is down to the vast difference in movement that is required in each game.
It may come as a surprise, then, that the number of calories that are burned in a single game doesn’t differ all that much.
According to a reliable source, badminton players can expect to burn between 475-675 calories depending on whether the game is social or competitive. Tennis players can be expected to burn between 575-775, again this depends on the nature of the game.
It is important to remember that this number will also depend on the physical make-up of the player, for example, their weight.
Does Badminton Ruin Your Tennis?
There is quite a lot of conflict in the sporting world over whether badminton ruins your tennis. For example, some players will swear that playing badminton improves their footwork and serve but can be potentially detrimental to some of the more complex tennis shots.
In contrast, some suggest that the two sports are not interchangeable, and this is mostly down to muscle memory. There is a concern that playing badminton will ruin the muscle memory you have built-up playing tennis, and this could spoil your game.
Another concern is that since badminton rackets are far lighter than their tennis counterparts, this could prove problematic when transitioning back to a heavier piece of equipment.
In the main, if you wish to play both sports, you should be mindful not to confuse your techniques.
Which Is The Hardest Racket Sport?
Whilst tennis and badminton, and potentially squash may be considered to be the three main racket sports; there are 31 in total. But which is the hardest racket sport?
It is widely believed that squash is the most physically demanding and difficult of all the racket sports.
This is based on studies that took place during the Squash World Tour in which player’s heart rates were measured - they regularly exceeded 190bpm which far exceeds the average heart rate of other players in other sports.
Conclusion
Tennis and badminton may look similar, and the set up of each game is almost identical - two or four players, a court, a net and throw in some rackets for good measure.
But there is a very clear distinction between the two sports; it may even surprise you to learn that playing one may ruin your skills at the other.
Furthermore, the physical demands of each sport are grossly different, with badminton being far more fast-paced in a shorter amount of time.
It isn’t difficult to see why the two are similar, but when you dive a little deeper, the differences become apparent.
