Differences Between Tennis and Badminton

The distinctions between badminton and tennis include the location of play, the equipment needed, the rules, the scoring system, and the various sorts of standard shots. Because of these variations, the gameplay in these two sports varies greatly and necessitates various skill sets to win. So, go with Teeanime for all your doubts!

Where Are Badminton and Tennis Played?

Badminton is played in a high-ceilinged warehouse or multipurpose structure. Due of the light shuttlecock, badminton is played indoors. All badminton professionals play indoors.

If you don’t have access to a badminton gym, you can play badminton outside, but the experience will be very different because court size, wind, and sun can all effect game play. The Badminton World Federation (BWF), the sport’s governing body, has recently developed Air Badminton, a new outdoor setup that mimics the action of indoor badminton. You may read more about it here.

Tennis is often played outside in a fenced-in area to prevent the ball from bouncing too far away. Tennis courts are frequently found at your local high school or tennis club. Because a tennis ball is significantly heavier than a shuttlecock, wind has no effect on game play. Tennis can be played indoors to avoid the sun, but it isn’t as important as badminton.

What Equipment Do Badminton and Tennis Require?

To play badminton, you need a racket for each player, one shuttlecock, a net, and a badminton court. If you’ve never seen a badminton racket before, it might look a little strange. It’s a long, skinny racket with a slim handle and a head that looks like an oval. The “ball” of the game is a shuttlecock, which is also called a “birdie.” It is usually made of plastic or goose feathers, but duck feathers can also be used. Professional players only use shuttlecocks made of goose feathers because they always fly the same way. If you go to a badminton gym, the net is set up for you. If you want to set up your own net at home, you can find badminton kits online.

Check out our page on Badminton Equipment to see what kinds of badminton products are on the market. We put all of our posts about badminton gear in one place so it’s easy to find what you need to get started.

Tennis, on the other hand, needs a tennis court, a tennis racket for each player, and a tennis ball. A badminton racket has a smaller grip and a smaller racket face than a tennis racket. The shaft of the tennis racket is quite thick and strong. This is mostly because the tennis ball is heavier than a shuttlecock, so it takes more force to hit it back at the other player. A tennis ball is usually made of rubber and covered with felt. It weighs about 58 grams (2 ounces), while a shuttlecock weighs only 5.5 grams (0.2 ounces). This is a difference of more than 10 times!

How Do You Win Points in Badminton and Tennis?

The fundamental distinction between badminton and tennis regulations is that badminton does not allow for a bounce before hitting the ball, but tennis allows for a single bounce before hitting the ball. While the gameplay is vastly different, the rules for scoring a point are generally the same.

In badminton, a point is scored when:

1. the shuttlecock fails to land within the opponent’s boundaries (by hitting the shuttlecock into the net, into the same side of the court, or out of bounds)
2. the shuttlecock lands within the boundaries of the opponent’s court
3. a fault is called (touching the net or shuttlecock with your body, moving before your opponent serves, etc)

In tennis, a point is scored when:

1. the ball fails to land within the opponent’s boundaries on the first bounce
2. the ball bounces twice before the opponent strikes the ball
3. a fault is called (similar to badminton)

This is how badminton and tennis score points. If you want to learn more badminton rules, see our rules post. It’s written well and covers everything you need to play badminton. It’s at Badminton: The World’s Fastest Racket Sport.

What’s the Scoring System in Badminton and Tennis?

Each game ends when a player reaches 21 points with a 2-point lead in 2020. The game ends if a player wins 2 of 3 games. Every player gets a point under a rally scoring system, no matter who serves. In badminton, players could only score points by serving.

A game must be won by two points. No one has won if the score is 21 to 20 because the first player holds a one-point lead. Whoever gets their 30th point first wins, even with a 1 point advantage.

Tennis points are also tracked per rally. Scoring is more sophisticated than in badminton. Win 2 of 3 sets to win. To win by 2 games, a player must win by 6 games in a set. If the score is 6 games apiece, players play rallies until there is a 2-point difference. A player wins a set by two points.

Game scores are 0, 15, 30, 40, and game. Winning a rally increases your score (0 to 15, 15 to 30, 30 to 40, 40 to winning the game). Both players at 40 must win by 2 more rallies. A player with a “advantage” is one point ahead.

What are the Standard Shots in Badminton and Tennis?

In badminton, there are 5 standard shots outside the serve

1. Clear
2. Drop
3. Drive
4. Lift
5. Smash

A clear is a shot in which the player hits the shuttlecock all the way from one end of the court to the other end. It can be played very high, which is a defensive clear, so that the opponent can’t cut it off, or it can be played lower, giving the opponent less time to react to the shot.

A drop shot places the shuttlecock close to the net and can be played from anywhere on the court. The purpose of the shot is to get the opponent to move and dig for the shot as well as to get the rally set up for a smash.

A drive is a shot that is straight and just goes over the net. Drives are usually very fast and can be played both defensively and offensively from the middle of the court to the front.

A lift is a defensive shot that is usually done from the front of the court. It involves hitting the shuttlecock high and far to move it to the back of the court. Lifts are a common way to respond to drop shots, since the shuttlecock is close to the net and other shots that hit downward are hard to do.

A smash is a fast shot that goes down and is usually aimed at the middle or back court of the opponent. The smash is used to put pressure on the other player or to win the rally. It is the most offensive of the 5 standard shots and can be played anywhere on the court as long as the shuttlecock can be hit downward.

Tennis has 4 standard shots outside the serve

1. Drop
2. Forehand/backhand ground strokes
3. Lob
4. Volley

A drop shot in tennis is pretty similar to that in badminton – it’s a shot that places the ball close to the net, making the opponent run in order to retrieve it.

The forehand/backhand ground strokes are the bread and butter in tennis. These are typically performed at the baselines of the court and attempt to keep the opponent far away from the net by hitting the ball flat and far into the opponent’s court. The badminton equivalent would be a drive.

A lob is a high shot that attempts to get the ball over the opponent and to the back of the court. The badminton equivalent would be a lift.

A volley is a shot where a player hits the tennis ball before it bounces on the ground. This shot is typically used near the front of the court to put pressure on the opponent and win the point.

Should I play Badminton or Tennis?

Both badminton and tennis have their advantages and are excellent sports in their own right – it all depends on your preferences. Each sport, however, tests the player’s cleverness, fitness, and technique in quite different ways. There is a lot more vertical movement and jumping in badminton, but there is a lot more horizontal movement in tennis. Tennis requires stronger arm strength whereas badminton requires more forearm strength. Tennis racket movements are broad and expansive, whereas badminton racket movements are rapid and nuanced. While I am prejudiced towards badminton (as you may have noticed, the website is called BadmintonBites for a reason), I would recommend trying both sports out and deciding which you prefer. Have fun playing!

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