Table tennis vs badminton
In badminton the shuttle can never touch the floor: every shot is a volley, on a 44 x 20 ft court with a net about 5 ft high. Table tennis is the opposite: the ball must bounce once on the table before every shot. Badminton plays games to 21 and demands more jumping and running; table tennis plays games to 11 and relies more on spin and close-range reflexes.
In this article
Badminton and table tennis are two of the most played racket sports in the world, especially in Asia, and they show up together in PE classes, rec centers and the Olympics. But on court, almost everything is different: the object you hit, the net, the movement and even the logic of a rally.
Here is how table tennis and badminton compare, and which one might suit you better.
The key difference: bounce or volley
In badminton, the shuttlecock must never touch the floor on your side. Every shot is hit in the air. If it lands on your court, your opponent wins the point.
In table tennis it is the reverse: the ball must bounce once on your side before you hit it. Hitting it over the table before the bounce gives your opponent the point (see can you volley in ping pong?).
That one difference changes everything: in badminton you run and jump to reach the shuttle high; in table tennis you wait for the bounce and read the spin.
The differences in numbers
| Badminton | Table tennis | |
|---|---|---|
| Playing area | 44 x 20 ft court (13.40 x 6.10 m) for doubles; 17 ft (5.18 m) wide for singles | 9 x 5 ft table (2.74 x 1.525 m) |
| Net | 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) at the posts, 5 ft (1.524 m) at the center | 6 in (15.25 cm) above the table |
| What you hit | Shuttlecock with 16 feathers and a cork base, about 5 g | Plastic ball, 40 mm and 2.7 g |
| Racket | Strung, light and long | Wooden blade with rubber, short |
| Scoring | Games to 21, best of 3 | Games to 11, best of 5 or 7 |
| Serve | Underhand, crosscourt into the service court | Ball bounces on your side, then the opponent's |
| Olympics | Since Barcelona 1992 | Since Seoul 1988 |
Shuttle vs ball: opposite behavior
The shuttlecock leaves the racket very fast on a smash, but the feathers act like a brake: it slows down quickly in the air and drops almost straight down. That makes touch shots like net drops possible and forces players to cover the whole court.
The table tennis ball is light and spins a lot. Spin makes it dip, float or curve, and changes how it bounces on the table and comes off the opponent's paddle. Much of the game is reading and producing spin (see table tennis spin).
Which is faster?
Both are among the fastest racket sports, in different ways. A badminton smash leaves the racket extremely fast, but the shuttle loses speed quickly. In table tennis, the ball travels a much shorter distance, so players have less time to react to each shot, even if the ball itself is slower than a badminton smash at its peak.
Movement and fitness
Badminton: long movements, jumps, lunges to the net and recoveries to the back. Full-arm overhead strokes. It is tough on legs and shoulders.
Table tennis: short, explosive movements close to the table, with fast side steps. Shorter strokes driven by the forearm and trunk rotation. It demands a lot of coordination and reaction time (see table tennis footwork).
On energy use, badminton usually comes out ahead. In the Compendium of Physical Activities, the most common reference for estimating calories, social badminton has a somewhat higher value than table tennis, and competitive badminton higher still. The numbers are in how many calories does ping pong burn.
Which is harder?
It depends on what you mean by hard:
- Fitness: badminton needs more jumping, more ground covered and more endurance.
- Fine technique and spin: table tennis has a long learning curve because of spin. Reading a backspin serve and returning it low takes time.
- Reflexes: both demand a lot. Table tennis has less distance and less time per shot; badminton has explosive smashes.
- Getting started: both are accessible. In badminton you can rally on day one if you have room. In table tennis you just need a table.
Which is better for you?
| If you... | Try |
|---|---|
| Have little space at home | Table tennis |
| Want a tougher leg workout | Badminton |
| Like spin, tactics and fast close-range play | Table tennis |
| Like jumping and covering a big court | Badminton |
| Want to play on your phone too | Table tennis, in RealTT |
Both work great in schools: no physical contact and both play well in doubles. Teachers can find a ready-made plan in table tennis PE lesson plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between badminton and table tennis?
In badminton the shuttle can never touch the floor and every shot is a volley, over a net about 5 ft high. In table tennis the ball must bounce once on the table before each shot. Badminton plays games to 21; table tennis, to 11.
Which is harder, badminton or table tennis?
Badminton is more physical, with jumps and long movements. Table tennis demands more spin technique and close-range reflexes.
Does badminton burn more calories than table tennis?
Usually yes. Reference tables give badminton a higher value, especially competitive play. Your own intensity changes the result a lot.
Are badminton and table tennis Olympic sports?
Yes. Table tennis since Seoul 1988 and badminton since Barcelona 1992.