What the Differences Between Tennis, Badminton, and Squash Are

Badminton, tennis, and squash are racket sports. At first glance, they are very similar to each other. However, each of these sports has its own characteristics and distinctive features.

5-Minute Crafts has studied these sports in detail and will tell you how to distinguish them from each other.

Tennis

Tennis is a sport in which 2 players or 2 teams of 2 compete against each other. The goal of each of the players (teams) is to throw the ball to the opponent’s side with a racket in such a way that the opponent cannot reflect it. The player (team) with the most points wins.

• Equipment used in the sport: To play tennis, each player needs a racket, one ball, and a court with a net. A tennis racket has a bigger grip and a bigger racket face than a badminton racket has. A standard racket weighs between 9.8 ounces and 10.9 ounces, and its length ranges from 27 inches to 29 inches. This is due to the large weight of the tennis ball, 2 ounces (58 grams). A tennis ball is usually made of rubber and covered with felt.
• Court size: A tennis court is 78 feet (23.77 meters) in length. The courts used for singles matches are 27 feet (8.23 meters) wide, while doubles courts are 36 feet (10.97 meters) wide.

• Serve rules: The server must release the ball from the non-playing hand in any direction and hit it with the racket before it touches the ground. The service movement is considered completed at the moment the racket touches the ball or misses when trying to hit.
• Scoring and winning: To win a tennis tournament, a player needs to win 2 out of 3 sets. A set is considered won if the number of games won is 6. In a game, points are calculated using 0, 15, 30, 40, and a game.
• Where the sport is played: Tennis is usually played outdoors in a fenced area. Tennis courts can also be found at local high schools or tennis clubs.

Badminton

Badminton is a singles or doubles sport in which players play on opposite sides of a divided court and throw a shuttlecock over the net with rackets. The main goal is to throw the shuttlecock to the other half of the court so that it touches the ground.

• Equipment used in the sport: To play badminton, each player needs a racket, one shuttlecock, and a court with a net. The badminton racket has a long, thin handle and an oval head. A shuttlecock is used as a “ball” in the game. It is usually made of either synthetic plastic or goose or duck feathers.
• Court size: The badminton court is the same length for singles and doubles, 44 feet (13.41 meters). The courts used for singles matches are 17 feet (5.2 meters) wide, while doubles courts are 20 feet (6.1 meters) wide.

• Serve rules: When serving in badminton, the server must hit the shuttlecock in an upward direction with an underarm hitting action. The racket must not be higher than 3.8 feet (1.15 meters) from the floor when hitting. Both feet must touch the floor when hitting the shuttlecock, and the hit must be on the cork, not on the feathers.
• Scoring and winning: A badminton match consists of 3 games. The game lasts up to 21 points. The game is won by the first side to score 21 points. A match is won when one of the players wins 2 out of 3 possible games.
• Where the sport is played: For an amateur game, a field or a beach is suitable. Professional badminton games are played indoors on special badminton courts.

Squash

Squash is an indoor ball and racket game. A player throws the ball against a wall and hits it with a racket in such a way that the other player does not have the opportunity to hit the ball.

• Equipment used in the sport: A special racket and ball is used to play squash. Squash rackets have a long handle and a small racket surface. The squash ball is made of rubber. It has several classes. Each class has its own characteristics.
• Court size: The squash court is 32 feet (9.75 meters) long and 21 feet (6.4 meters) wide. A feature of the squash court is that it has walls of different heights.

• Serve rules: The right of the first serve is determined by draw. The player then chooses which box to serve from. At the first serve, the ball must hit the front wall above the service line and below the out line and, after bouncing off the wall, hit within the back quarter of the court opposite to the server’s box.
• Scoring and winning: A squash match consists of 5 games. Each game of squash lasts up to 11 points. The first player to score 11 points is the winner of the game. A match is won when one of the players wins 3 out of 5 games.
• Where the sport is played: Squash is played in a special room. There are outdoor squash courts, but they are less common.