Pickleball ever more popular, but tennis is better for fitness.
I’ve only played pickleball once but thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s not nearly as big a deal in the UK as it is in the US, though it’s something I’d be open to playing more.
But fitness coaches say that tennis is better when it comes to fitness.
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.
What gets missed is that it’s not usually decisions between pickleball and tennis that people are making; it’s between pickleball or tennis and nothing.
So, if you’re enjoying pickleball, there’s no need to feel bad!
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.
(Not loving the name ‘picklehead’!)
