Why fitness coaches prefer tennis to pickleball
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Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America, but when it comes to fitness, tennis outshines its younger cousin.
The big picture: Tennis players sprint across a wider court, swinging at heavier balls than pickleheads.
The average heart rate recorded on an Apple watch while playing pickleball was 143 beats per minute, while tennis averaged 152 beats per minute, according to a study by Apple Heart and Movement.
- Tennis players also spent 9% more time in a higher-intensity heart rate zone compared to pickleball players.
What they're saying: Nearly 73% of fitness coaches agree that playing tennis is overall a better workout than pickleball, according to a recent survey of 100 coaches by fitness app Future.
- "Ultimately the best workout is whichever one you'll do consistently," Renee Zernicke, director of performance at Future, tells Axios. "But, overall, when both sports are played at the median intensity, tennis would provide a better workout."
Between the lines: Although the length of tennis matches and pickleball games vary, pickleball courts are about a quarter of the size of a tennis court, giving players less ground to cover.
- Tennis leads to "more exertion on the swing, and greater bounce from a heavier ball which requires even more movement from the player," Zernicke said.
- Zernicke has several years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach and director for college sports, including basketball, golf, volleyball, water polo, soccer and tennis.
The other side: Pickleball does require speed and quick reaction, leading to a good core workout. Plus, it's more accessible for beginners and social play.
The bottom line: Whether you want to stick to being a picklehead or enjoy a higher-intensity workout that is tennis, both sports are great for staying active and healthy.
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