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There is often a lot of confusion surrounding the differences between pickleball and paddle ball.

At first glance, these two sports may seem very similar to one another!

However, there are several notable differences that separate these sports and make them unique.

If you are interested in learning about the differences, just keep reading! We will be covering the ball, paddle texture, game scoring, enclosure design, and the serving style.

Let’s get into it.

Pickleball Vs. Paddle Ball: What’s The Difference?

Pickleball At A Glance

Pickleball is an outdoor or indoor paddle/racket spot. It can be played with 2-4 players, and is a lot like tennis or badminton.

In many ways, this sport is a combination of ping-pong, badminton, and tennis.

The basic goal of the game is to score points by hitting the ball over the net in the middle.

This game was only invented in the 1960s, making it a newcomer in the world of sports.

While mostly popular with the elderly, pickleball can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of age (see also ‘What Is The Average Age Of Pickleball Players? [Pickleball 101]‘).

This sport is also very popular among those with disabilities, as it is easier to play.

Paddle Ball At A Glance

Paddle ball shares a strong resemblance with lawn tennis. This game is much older than pickleball, and has been played for over a century already.

It is played in a small court, much like pickleball, and uses a paddle rather than a traditional racket like in tennis.

A player wins a set by leading by a margin of two over his opponent. Overall, scoring and gameplay is much like tennis.

How Are These Two Sports Similar?

Court Size

To the untrained eye, the court size might at first appear similar. However, there are some notable differences in the official rules of the games!

In a paddle tennis court, the measurements are 44’ x 20’, and the court is divided into service boxes and service zones.

This court sits on a raised platform, too!

In pickleball, the minimum measurements will be 30’ x 60’, but it can be larger. This game is played on a badminton court, and is set up differently.

Here, the center of the net is set 34’ lower compared to the paddle ball net. The “kitchen” is a no-volley zone that sits near the net area.

Here, you are not allowed to return a direct volley, and the ball has to bounce before hitting it back, or else you lose a point.

Game Style

The playing style for these sports is very similar, and they both use paddles instead of rackets.

In both games, you need to hit the ball back and forth over a net in the middle and keep score.

If you aren’t familiar with the details of each game, you will likely think they are the same!

Paddle Design

Finally, since both of these games are played using a paddle instead of a racket, it can get confusing. Even the paddles will basically be the same.

You may initially think that tennis is being played, but those paddles will make you take a second look.

Pickleball Vs. Paddle Ball

How Are These Two Sports Similar?

The Ball

The first key difference to note is the ball itself! In pickleball, you use a small, plastic ball.

This will look a lot like a wiffle ball. They are lightweight, and will have holes in it.

In paddle ball, on the other hand, the ball will be a tennis ball! However, the tennis ball will be depressurized and made of rubber.

This is so that it doesn’t travel as fast and is more suitable to a slower paced game. You may look at these balls and think it’s a ping pong ball, but don’t be fooled!

They are a little bigger than a ping pong ball and heavier, since they need to travel a further distance and not be blown away in the wind.

Paddle Texture

The paddles used for both of these games may look very similar, but there are a few small differences to bear in mind.

The paddle used in paddle ball may have holes in it and be quite textured. In comparison, the paddle used in pickleball will be smooth and have no holes.

If a paddle has too much texture, it will be an unfair advantage to the player.

Because of this, special tools are even used to measure how textured the paddle is to make sure things are as fair as they can be.

Game Scoring

Scoring is one of the biggest differences between these two games. In paddle tennis/paddle ball, scoring is much the same as it is in regular tennis.

Every game is made of six opportunities to score, and the score is as follows: 15, 30, 40, and game. It also takes six games to make a set.

In pickleball, however, the scoring is completely different. Here, the winner will typically need to reach 11 points at the minimum.

The player will also need to have two more points than their opponent to win.

Because of this scoring difference, games can go above 11, as scores could be 13 to 11, 14 to 12, and so on.

Design Of Enclosure

Both sports have some kind of enclosure that you play in.

However, in paddle ball, you rely on a screen to keep the ball in play. This is because the ball will move around faster, and could easily get lost.

Pickleball is played within a fence that will simply help to keep the light balls on the court.

As this sport is a lot like badminton, the ball will fly around more than you think it will!

The fence helps you track the ball and not lose it, similar to paddle ball.

Serve Style

Finally, the serving style is different between these two games. Paddle ball rules dictate that serving isn’t too strict, but you only have one chance to serve.

If you fail to serve in any way (e.g. miss the ball, or the ball hits the net), your opponent scored a point. You can serve any way you like – overhand or underhand.

In pickleball, however, rules are more strict. Like paddle ball, you only have one opportunity to serve, or else your opponent will get a point (see also ‘How Many Points Is Pickleball Played To?‘).

You also have to serve underhanded. Not only that, but the ball is not allowed to touch the no-volley zone when you are serving.

Overall, pickleball has stricter rules to follow, which only adds to the fun!

Final Thoughts

Pickleball and paddle ball, while similar at first glance, are two very different sports!

Yes, they are both played with paddles, have smaller courts, and have a similar game style, but don’t forget the differences.

The balls are different, but so is the texture on the paddle’s surface, the scoring method, serving style and design on the enclosure.

So, next time you see two or four people playing a ball game with a paddle, why don’t you try to distinguish which one they’re playing?

Maybe even take up one of the games yourself if you are able to!