Table of Contents
Millions and millions of players play racket sports or racquet sports professionally or for leisure worldwide. There are roughly around fifty different types of racket sports and games, and the list continues to extend as new games, renditions, and combinations are continually being invented by racket sports enthusiasts.
In this article, we’ll explore the top racket sports played worldwide, exploring the five most popular ones and many lesser-known racket games. Also, we’ll share the benefits of playing racket sports and the skills required to play them.
An Overview of Racket Sports & Games
Racket or racquet sports are games played with a racket and a ball or shuttlecock. Fundamentally, a racket or racquet is a circular or oval frame with a solid face like a paddle or an open hoop containing a network of tightly stretched cords. The open frame is usually made with wood or composite materials like fiberglass or carbon fiber.
In the USA, the preferred spelling for the equipment is racket, while the British spell it as racquet which is the correct spelling in British English.
The sport’s origin dates back to 11th century France, the game of the palm being the first racket sport. The middle French word for the game was jeu de paume. Even though French raquette or middle French raquette was not played with tennis rackets then, it was the game of the palm that eventually evolved into the most popular racket sport; tennis.
Then, in the 16th century, wooden racquets emerged onto the scene. Since then, many renditions, types, and versions of the French raquette have become popular worldwide, and quite a few are now staples in mega sporting events like the Olympics.
A reason for the ever-rising popularity of racket sports is its simplicity and versatility. Also, they are easy to learn, fun, and exist in multiple categories, including high, medium, and low impact.
Not to forget, racket sports and games have many health and fitness benefits. These factors make racket sports one of the best and most popular worldwide.
A Complete List of Racket Games and Sports
Badminton
Badminton is a fast-paced sport played with a lightweight racquet and a shuttlecock. Its court is like tennis, the objective is the same, while the racket is also not much different than the standard tennis racket and uses nylon stretched nets. However, the rules differ. For instance, you can’t let the shuttlecock hit the ground in badminton, while a bounce is allowed in tennis.
Ball Badminton
As the name suggests, ball badminton is a variant of badminton played with woolen balls instead of shuttlecocks. Also, its court is relatively larger, and wooden solid-faced rackets are used to play the game.
Basque Pelota
Basque Pelota belongs to a group of traditional Basque sports and is played using wooden solid-faced rackets and a leather ball.
Beach Tennis
As the name suggests, beach tennis is a variant of tennis. It is played on sandy courts or the beach using paddles similar to pickleball paddles rather than tennis rackets.
Crossminton (Speedminton)
Another fast-paced racket sport, crossminton is a relatively new sport and is a fusion of tennis, badminton, and squash. The game is played outdoors with lightweight badminton rackets and a speeder on a court without a net.
Four-Wall Paddleball
A more competitive and multiplayer version of paddleball, four-wall paddleball is played on a small, enclosed court using solid-faced paddles and bouncy balls. The goal is to outmaneuver the opponent and make them miss.
Frescobol
In many ways, Frescobol is a Brazilian rendition of Matkot and Jokari. However, in Frescobol, you must keep the ball in the air or continue the rally rather than trying to strike the ball aggressively and make the opponent miss.
Frontenis
The rules of Frontenis are quite similar to squash. It is played on a three-walled court using wooden rackets and a rubber ball.
Jokari
A lesser-known racket sport, Jokari is a Finnish racket game played on an asphalt or concrete court with wooden paddles and a hard rubber ball.
Matkot
Matkot is an Israeli beach paddle sport similar to Jokari and is played with a short-handled paddle and a small rubber ball. Even though the sport is played on the beach, it is famous for its aggressive powerplay.
Miniten
A miniaturized variant of tennis, miniten is played on a badminton-sized court using a relatively shorter tennis racket and a special foam ball.
Paddleball
A one-person sport, Paddleball is fun for kids. The objective is to create a rally of shots. The game is played with a wooden racquet attached to a bouncy ball with a string.
Further Reading:
Paddle Tennis (Platform Tennis)
Contrary to other racket sports, paddle tennis is played on a small, elevated court surrounded by a wire mesh. Instead of hollow rackets, solid-faced paddles like pickleball paddles and a depressurized tennis ball are used to play platform tennis.
Padel
Padel is another rapidly growing sport and is a fusion of squash and tennis. Padle is typically played in doubles inside an enclosed court with solid-faced paddles instead of hollow rackets and depressurized tennis balls.
Pickleball
Arguably the fastest-growing racket sport, pickleball is relatively new yet equally fun, exciting, and healthy. A fusion of tennis, ping pong, and badminton, it is played on a badminton-sized court divided by a tennis-style net with solid-faced paddles like the ones used in ping pong and a perforated plastic ball.
Further Reading:
Qianball
A Chinese racket sport, Qianball combines elements of badminton and table tennis and is played using lightweight rackets and small, hard balls on a badminton-sized court.
Racquetball
The sport is a lot like squash and is also a high-intensity racket sport. It is played on a small, enclosed court with a rubber ball and tennis-like rackets. The main difference between the two sports is the size of the court.
Also, in racquetball, the players can move across the court freely and even hit the back wall, whereas the rules of squash are stricter. The players must stay within their box, and the ball shouldn’t strike the back wall.
Real Tennis
Also known as royal tennis, lawn tennis, or court tennis, real tennis is the precursor to modern tennis and is played indoors and on a large court with angled walls. The sports equipment remains the same: a hollow tennis racket like a squash racket and a rubber ball.
Soft Tennis
Another variant of tennis, it is played using a slightly larger tennis racquet and a soft rubber ball. It is more popular in Southeast Asia and East Asia.
Speedball
Speedball is a fast-paced racket sport played with small, bouncy balls and special rackets designed for powerplay. It is fun yet incredibly demanding.
Squash
Squash is played on a four-walled court with a solid rubber ball. Unlike pickleball, it is a high-intensity sport and is often regarded as one of the hardest racket sports in the world. The objective is to strike the ball against the walls and make the opponent miss the return. A squash racket or squash racquet is like a tennis racket but has a narrower oval frame.
Stické
Stické is a French word, and the sport is like ping pong. It is played with solid wooden rackets and cork balls on a wooden board divided by a net.
Table Tennis (Ping-Pong)
Unlike badminton and tennis, which can be played indoors and outdoors, ping pong is an indoor racket sport. The sport is played on a solid table divided into two halves with a net. Also, it uses solid-faced, lightweight, and short-handled paddles rather than hollow tennis rackets with a network of strings in the middle.
Tennis
Arguably the most popular racket sport, tennis is played on a rectangular court divided into two halves by a nylon net using tennis rackets with strings stretched and hollow rubber balls. The goal is to outmaneuver the opponent and make them miss.
Touch Tennis
Another sport similar to table tennis, touch tennis is a relatively new sport played on a curved surface using lightweight paddles instead of rackets and a large, soft ball.
Five Most Popular Racket Sports and Games
Having explored the extended list of racquet sports played worldwide, it is time to narrow the focus to the top five.
Tennis
The World’s Most Popular Racket Sport
Tennis is arguably the oldest and the most widely recognized racquet sport in the world. It is a high-intensity game, excellent for health and fitness. However, not everyone can play tennis as it requires a mix of unique skills, strength, and agility to swing a tennis racket and play the sport properly.
Many tennis tournaments and series are held worldwide, including Grand Slams and Wimbledon, and the sport is also a part of the Olympics.
As said above, tennis is a high-intensity workout. This means it helps improve overall fitness and metabolism, lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce body fat, and enhance muscle tone, strength, and agility.
Further Reading:
Badminton
Fun and Easy-to-Learn Racket Sport
Badminton is played with relatively lighter equipment and requires less strength and stamina than tennis. However, it is also a high-intensity activity due to its fast-paced nature and mobility requirements.
Also, excellent hand-eye coordination, agility, and flexibility are required to play badminton. That said, it is one of the easiest racket sports and you can learn the game quickly and begin playing for leisure almost immediately.
Badminton is played professionally and competitively worldwide and is also part of the Olympics. Some consider it the most popular sport, even more popular than tennis.
Squash
Fast-Paced Action Sport
Squash is a high-speed and action-packed sport played on an indoor court, requiring quick reflexes and high fitness levels. Players use racquets to hit a small rubber ball against the front wall.
Naturally, squash is not a sport ideal for all, yet it is fun and exciting for those with average to above-average fitness and excellent mobility. Also, it is an incredible high-intensity workout alternative. An hour of squash burns almost 1,000 calories.
Table Tennis
Simple and Fun Table Sport
Perhaps the most portable sport on the list, table tennis or ping-pong, is a world-famous recreational activity enjoyed by people of all ages. Undoubtedly, it is a sport requiring the most precision, but it is equally fun and easy to learn.
Ping pong is also played professionally and is an Olympic sport. It is famous for its flexibility and versatility, and its low mobility requirement makes it ideal for senior players or those with limited movement.
Also, it is a low-intensity workout that works many groups of upper body muscles, but it is not a complete workout as it doesn’t work the lower body.
Pickleball
The World’s Fastest-Growing Racket Sport
Pickleball is the world’s fastest-growing racquet sport. Also, it is the most flexible and versatile sport on the list.
A low-impact sport, pickleball is perfect for players of all ages, including senior players or those with limited mobility. Moreover, it is not as static as ping pong and works the complete body, including upper-body and lower-body muscles.
Further, pickleball is incredibly fun and is played competitively around the world. Not to forget, it uses lightweight paddles and a perforated pickleball ball and can be played on many surfaces including hard ones like concrete and asphalt and soft ones like clay and grass.
Above all else, pickleball is easy to learn and helps improve cardiovascular health, hand-eye coordination, reflexes, and mental health.
Further Reading:
Health and Fitness Benefits of Playing Racket Sports
Racket sports and games are not just fun activities, they have many health and fitness benefits. However, every racket sport is different, and the benefits vary from sport to sport.
Improves Cardiovascular Health
No matter the type of racquet sport, almost every kind improves cardiovascular health. That said, some are better than others. For instance, tennis, badminton, squash, and pickleball are better than table tennis or other low-intensity sports.
Further Reading:
Enhances Hand-Eye Coordination and Reflexes
Hitting the ball with rackets and paddles requires quick reflexes and hand-eye coordination, and playing the sport routinely helps you significantly improve these abilities
Improves Overall Health and Fitness
Not every racquet sport is ideal for everyone. However, sports like pickleball are low-impact and perfect for people of all ages. They provide an excellent workout to work the entire body and improve overall health and fitness.
Helps Manage Weight
Playing racket sports and games helps you manage weight in a fun and easy way. They are easy to play routinely, unlike traditional workout plans and exercises which are incredibly difficult to sustain.
Boosts Mental Health
Most racket sports and games are played in doubles, making them a perfect workout. Also, they help you socialize, and active socialization has many health benefits, including extending or prolonging years of life.
How to Get Started with Racket Sports?
Here’s what you need to do if you like what you read and would like to give racket or racquet sports a try:
Find Your Sport
There are many racket sports and games but finding the perfect one is essential. Here, it is important to consider mobility or skills requirements, benefits, and personal preferences.
For health and fitness purposes, it is best to begin with low-impact sports like pickleball and work towards more robust and high-intensity ones like tennis.
Get the Equipment
Have you found the right sport? The next step is to get the equipment. Fundamentally, rackets or paddles and balls, shuttlecocks, or speeders are required. Getting the right equipment is essential, as a terrible racket or a wrong ball could spoil the fun.
Here, you can choose from many options, like the latest weight-reducing racket, which improves agility and reduces strain on your body. You must also get the right footwear and other accessories to make the experience fun, like wristbands and clothes that allow you to move freely.
Learn the Basics
Many racket sports and games, such as badminton and pickleball, are incredibly easy to learn. You can learn the basics via videos and practice yourself.
That said, it is better to work with experts or trainers who understand the game better than you, as they can help you play properly without putting unnecessary strain on your body.
Skills Required to Play Racket Sports & Games
Racket sports and games are fun and easy to learn but you still need some basic skills to play them properly. These include physical skills like hand-eye coordination, footwork and agility, balance and stability, stamina, and mental skills like quick reaction, strategic thinking, focus, concentration, and adaptability.
That said, most skills are easy to learn and with routine practice and active play, you can master these skills over time.
Conclusion
There are many racket sports and games and every type is fun. Some are played professionally while others are merely recreation activities. Regardless, almost every racquet sport is good for your health. However, finding the right sport that aligns with your skills and piques your interest is essential.
Find a Trustworthy Pickleball Equipment Manufacturer
With the rapid rise of pickleball’s popularity, high-quality equipment has become essential. Fyful stands out as a leading professional pickleball gear manufacturer, catering to players at all levels. We specialize in manufacturing premium paddles, balls, and net sets designed to enhance your game.
Fyful also offers custom services, allowing clients to tailor products to their specific needs. If you’re looking to stock or customize top-tier equipment, Fyful is your trusted partner for all things pickleball. Contact us to get more information!
FAQs
Is it racket or racquet?
Racquet is the alternative spelling for racket. The former is preferred in the UK or British English, while the latter is common in the USA. So, there is no single correct spelling. Both are right.
What is the most popular racket sport?
Tennis is the most popular racquet sport, followed by badminton. Pickleball is the fastest-growing racket sport.
What is the fastest racket sport in the world?
The fastest racquet sport in the world is badminton. According to the Guinness World Records, the fastest smash recorded in badminton was 426 km/h (264.7 mph) by Fu Haifeng of China during the 2005 Sudirman Cup. This speed is achieved due to the lightweight nature of the shuttlecock and the rapid wrist action used in striking it.
What is the hardest racket sport in the world?
Squash is often considered the hardest racket sport. It demands intense physical fitness, rapid reflexes, precise control, and strategic thinking. Players navigate a small, enclosed court at high speed, making quick changes in direction and enduring prolonged rallies, which tests their stamina and mental resilience.
Do people who play racket sports live longer?
According to a study conducted by the Copenhagen City Heart Society, it is observed that playing badminton adds 6.2 years to one’s life, while tennis adds 9.7 years.
Why are racket sports good for your brain?
Racket sports boost brain health by enhancing hand-eye coordination, reaction time, and strategic thinking. They stimulate cognitive functions like decision-making and concentration. Regular play also promotes neuroplasticity, helps manage stress, and encourages social interaction, which is essential for maintaining mental well-being and cognitive sharpness.