As of September 2025, around 8,000 tennis courts have been converted into pickleball courts. It’s a startling development between the clash of the two racket sports. One has centuries of tradition and history, while the other has exploded onto the scene with meteoric growth.
As the battle for court space between the two sports continues, thousands are now faced with the decision of which sport to pick up. While tennis and pickleball share similarities, there are notable differences in their history, accessibility, and style of play. Here’s a closer look at what sets them apart.
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Tennis originated in 12th-century France, but the type of tennis that we currently know was patented in 1874. After decades of division between professional and amateur players, the Open Era began in 1968, the current era of tennis. Tennis has since evolved into an international sensation with over 87 million players across the globe. The sport is a multi-billion-dollar industry, with the four grand slams alone making over $1.5 billion in revenue every year.
Tennis has generated an unforgettable history, with iconic champions, historic rivalries, and all-time great games. It has become one of the most popular sports around the world, with courts and communities wherever you look.
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The Upstart Phenomenon
In contrast, pickleball is still in its infancy. It was invented by accident in 1965 as an alternative to badminton. The first formal association for pickleball, the United States Amateur Pickleball Association, was only founded in 1984.
However, pickleball has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. The USAPA went from just over 4,000 members in 2013 to 10,000 in 2015, 30 thousand in 2018, and nearly 80,000 in 2024. Pickleball has been named the fastest-growing sport in America for the past four years and is showing no signs of slowing down.
This astonishing progress can be credited to pickleball’s accessibility. One tennis court can be turned into two pickleball courts with minimal effort, doubling capacity and profit. Parks and gyms across the US are repainting their courts to keep up with this demand.
However, tennis still holds some edges. Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding which sport to choose.
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Tennis Still Has the Edge in Infrastructure
When it comes to resources and opportunities, tennis is still the heavyweight. Tennis has been hosting international tournaments before pickleball was invented. While pickleball has received a recent surge in popularity, chances are still better that tennis is readily available near you compared to pickleball. There are an estimated 270,000 tennis courts in the US, but only 18,300 pickleball courts worldwide.
In the 2023-2024 season, 20,820 US high schools had tennis teams. In that same season, there wasn’t a single district in the United States that offered varsity pickleball at all its schools. Tennis’ long history and tradition have garnered a massive player base that will take pickleball a while to catch up on, no matter how fast pickleball grows.
For a beginner, it’s typically easier to find clubs, coaches, and teams for tennis than for pickleball. The tennis system has stood the test of time and is simply more developed than pickleball’s.
Pickleball is More Beginner-Friendly
Despite tennis having better infrastructure for beginners, pickleball is overall a more beginner-friendly sport. With smaller courts and lighter paddles, it takes far less power and technique to start a rally. Tennis requires full strokes to simply get the ball across the net, but pickleball only needs taps to play points. If you are only looking for a more casual sport, it might not be worth getting over the learning curve of tennis.
Similarly, if you want to be able to quickly start playing at a team or with your friends, pickleball will better suit those needs than tennis. This accessibility is also why many older adults have taken up pickleball, but it also appeals to anyone who wants a fun, low-requirement sport. Pickleball is much more suited for simple fun with friends and social interaction.
Tennis Has More Singles, and Pickleball is All Doubles
Another difference is in how the games are played. Tennis’ main two forms of play are singles and doubles. However, pickleball is primarily played only through doubles.
While there is a singles version, it is much less common, and it would be harder to find such games. If you’d prefer to just play by yourself, then tennis would suit those needs. However, since singles is the more popular form of tennis, you might find pickleball more fun if you want to always be playing with someone else.
Some like being all alone on their side of the court with no distractions, while others find having a partner to play with much more fun. While both sports can work for both types of players, players who want to play singles would probably rather play tennis.
Image Credit: Hans Markutt from pixabay
Pickleball Has Been Much Hotter
Finally, the momentum of this battle matters. While tennis is still a deeply rooted sport, pickleball’s popularity has been skyrocketing. It’s impossible to say which sport will be more popular in a decade. Many of your friends may be taking up pickleball, and the local park may have repainted one of its courts to a pickleball court.
Even if your region currently doesn’t offer much support for pickleball, in a couple of years, it is entirely possible that pickleball will be the sport of choice. Tennis grew a solid 8% in 2024, but pickleball’s player base grew 45.8% and a staggering 311% in the past three years. Pickleball is the new, exciting sport with infinite upside, and it’s unlikely you’ll regret picking it up.
Takeaways
It’s always tough choosing a new sport to take up, and with many similarities between pickleball and tennis, it’s important to note the differences. Tennis has more tradition and global prestige, while pickleball offers accessibility, social play, and skyrocketing popularity. And of course, nothing says you can’t play both. The courts, whatever lines they’re painted with, are waiting.
