At first glance, pickleball and pop tennis (formerly known as paddle tennis) may look pretty similar.
In fact, it could be challenging to tell them apart if you’ve never played either of them before!
So what are the differences between pop tennis vs pickleball?
Well, there are quite a few actually!
Whether you’re looking for a new sport to play or simply curious about how these two popular sports differ, we’ll cover everything you need to know.
One thing is for sure: both sports offer a great workout, can be enjoyed both indoors and outdoors, and have a great community of players.
To help you understand the difference between pickleball vs pop tennis, we’ve put together this guide on the main differences that make each game unique. Let’s dive in!
(Note: While paddle tennis officially changed its name to pop tennis a few years ago, we know many players still prefer to use its former name.)
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Similarities between pickleball and pop tennis
Before we look at what differentiates pickleball from pop tennis, it helps to take a look at how the sports are similar.
Perhaps most obviously, both pickleball and pop tennis are loosely based on the sport of tennis.
For this reason, both sports are played on a court divided in half by a net. In fact, many pickleball courts are simply converted tennis courts!
Another similarity is that, like tennis, both pop tennis and pickleball use a racket (or a paddle!) and a ball, and this ball must always land within a certain area on the court.
In this way, the two sports are quite similar in their format – and both very similar to tennis – and therefore many players like to switch between them.
Indeed, if you’ve ever played pop tennis, you’ll have an advantage when getting started with pickleball (and vice versa) because of these similarities!
One final similarity between the sports is that they were both invented in the United States.
However, while pop tennis was invented in Manhattan in 1915 – by the name of paddle tennis – pickleball wasn’t invented for another half-century in Washington state (and has kept its unusual name along with its other quirky vocabulary!).
RELATED READ: The best pickleball shoes (for all types of players)
What is the difference between pop tennis and pickleball?
So, now that we’ve looked at the similarities, how about the differences between pickleball vs pop tennis?
Since there are several differences between the two sports, we’ll break this section down into four sections: the equipment, the courts and the rules.
Differences in equipment
Both pickleball and pop tennis use the same essential equipment: a ball and rackets.
However, although pop tennis and pickleball both utilize similar tools, they’re not quite the same.
In fact, they’re quite different. Here’s how:
Type of ball
The ball is probably the most noticeable difference between pickleball and pop tennis.
While the pop tennis ball is a depressurized tennis ball composed of rubber, a pickleball ball is a plastic ball with holes.
No matter whether you’re playing with an indoor pickleball ball or an outdoor pickleball ball, it is substantially lighter than a pop tennis ball.
The pop tennis ball weighs between 56.0 and 59.4 grams, or 1.98 and 2 ounces, and measures between 6.35 and 6.77 cm, or 2.5 and 2.67 inches.
The diameter of a pickleball ball is between 2.874 and 2.972 inches (7.30 and 7.55 cm), and its weight is between 0.78 and 0.935 grams (22.11 to 26.51 ounces).
A pickleball ball is made from plastic and features a number of holes.
A pop tennis ball is a depressurized tennis ball.
Pop tennis racket vs pickleball paddles
The other big difference between pop tennis vs pickleball is the type of racket used.
In fact, in the game of pickleball, isn’t even called a racket – the correct name is a paddle!
And it’s not just in the name that the games’ equipment varies.
A pop tennis paddle is bigger than a pickleball paddle in terms of size.
Compared to a pickleball paddle, the surface area of each face on a pop tennis paddle is longer and wider. This allows players to hit the ball with more power and force.
It is the same type of racket used in the game of padel (which is another similar, tennis-inspired game!).
A paddle for pickleball is typically 16 inches long and shouldn’t be longer than 17 inches, while a paddle for pop tennis is 18 inches long.
A pickleball paddle – like this Niupipo paddle – is flat and solid.
A pop tennis racket – like this Head Flash racket – can also be used for padel.
Pickleball court vs pop tennis court
Even though the basic layout of a pop tennis court is similar to a pickleball court, they aren’t quite the same.
Pop tennis is a game that may be played indoors or outdoors, and the pop tennis court is normally one-third the size of a tennis court.
In recent years, an official pop tennis court spans 60 feet (18.29 meters) from baseline to baseline and 21 feet (6.40 meters) wide – 27 feet (8.23 meters) for doubles matches.
However, the original pop tennis rules required a court to measure 50 feet (15.24 meters) by 20 feet (6.09 meters).
It is still possible to play on pop tennis courts with these dimensions, and it is usually referred to as ‘Pop Classic’.
On the other hand, pickleball courts typically measure 44 feet long (including lines) and 20 feet wide.
It’s not a massive difference, but it is something you’ll want to consider if you’re switching from pickleball to pop tennis or vice versa!
Scoring system
Pickleball and pop tennis are two popular variations of tennis, and therefore you may expect that scoring would be similar as well.
The scoring system differs slightly between pop tennis vs pickleball, but it’s fairly simple to grasp once you’ve gotten used to it.
In pop tennis, the first player to win three games wins the match. The scoring is the same as in tennis. So, if you’re familiar with tennis, scoring pop tennis should be simple.
The game will be scored on a four-point scale. First at 15, then at 30, then at 40, and finally at game. To win, the player needs to be ahead by a margin of two games over his rival.
In pickleball, each game consists of 11 points. One of the game’s more peculiar scoring rules is that you can only score when you are on the serving side.
FAQs about pop tennis vs pickleball
Still got questions about the difference between pickleball and pop tennis?
Here are the answers to the questions we hear most often!
Can you play pickleball on a pop tennis court?
Absolutely! Pickleball is a game played on a court almost the size of a pop tennis court.
That means that you’ll only need to make some minor adjustments if playing on a dedicated pop tennis court.
More commonly, however, pop tennis is simply played on an existing tennis court, using only the inner space.
Therefore, it may make more sense to follow the standard practice for converting a tennis court into a pickleball court – forgetting about pop tennis altogether.
Is pop tennis easier than pickleball?
Due to the similarities, many people who play one of these racket sports casually also choose to try out the other.
But which one is easier if you’re choosing between the two?
Well, it depends. Pop tennis is a little more complicated and requires more stamina than pickleball, so it might not be the best choice if you want something gentler on your body.
However, if you’re looking for a sport similar to tennis but less physically demanding (and thus more accessible), pop tennis might be just what you’re looking for.
On the other hand, pickleball may be ideal if you’re looking for a game that’s simple enough for anyone to learn and doesn’t require nearly as much strength or stamina as tennis.
Pickleball is also an incredibly social sport and a great way to socialize with friends or family members who enjoy playing games together!