The Difference Between Tennis and Pickleball, According to a Pro in Both

It should be no surprise if you encounter a good pickleball player with a strong tennis background. Generally, tennis skills are fairly transferrable to pickleball and the volley is no exception. We are going to discuss the similarities and differences of volleys between pickleball and tennis, as well as how the rules changes the way people play volley in respective sports.

1. We would like to discuss volley skills and motion in both sports. Pickleball and tennis share the same volley skill movement as players need to tilt the paddle at an angle facing forward with a minimal swing motion. There is not much difference in the way that players volley in both sports, which explains the reason why it is relatively easier for players with tennis background to play pickleball.

2. Despite the similarities in skills, different game rules between tennis and pickleball results in a different way people play the respective sports. No-volley zone prevails in pickleball rules but not in tennis. In a pickleball match, players are not allowed to volley when they get too close to the net whereas tennis players can play aggressively in front of the net.

3. The existence of the no-volley zone results in dinking in pickleball but not in tennis. We rarely see players dink in tennis match because players can move close to the net and volley. Unlike tennis, pickleball players even with tennis background would need to practice dinking in particular as it always comes up in pickleball games.