Badminton versus table tennis
Badminton and table tennis are Olympic sports played with racquets. You will come to know Badminton versus table tennis and a lot of similarities and differences among these when we make a comparison of these games. A person, who is quite familiar with both games, will view both games differently. While a person, who does not know about badminton and table tennis, will consider both games in the same category. Details of comparison will become more interesting for you because this article will give you information about how similar these two games are. Badminton and table tennis also differ in various aspects and become entirely different.
A badminton and table tennis comparison will help you find which game you want to play. If you want to become an audience, referee, or player, the most significant thing is to have a vast knowledge about both games. Differences in these games help you make the right decision according to your interest. Badminton is played on the court while table tennis is on the table. Another difference is racquets, longer racquets are used for badminton sports to hit shuttles, but small racquets are used for table tennis to hit the plastic ball. Here we will make an interesting comparison of Badminton versus table tennis to know better about both games.
Badminton versus table tennis
What are the similarities between badminton and table tennis?
Although, there are many differences between badminton and table tennis as equipment and rules. Some factors make them similar too. Both games are indoor sports, played with racquets, and are Olympic Games.
Indoor games:
Badminton and table tennis are indoor sports. When we talk about badminton, the reason for playing indoors becomes clear. Indoor games provide neutral conditions for competitive matches as the wind speed is not affecting the route of the shuttle. Similarly, weather affects the table’s surface, changing the movement of the ball, its speed, and the grip of players on blows. This is the reason for playing indoor tournaments and championships. Playing indoors increases the precision of the competition because conditions remain the same for every player.
Racquet games:
Racquets are essential for playing whether you want to play badminton or table tennis. These racquets consist of a head, shaft, and grip. Badminton racquets have longer handles of 680mm according to BWF equipment guidelines, while in table tennis, you can use racquets of any length. Whatever the shape or size of the racquet is, you have to play the games badminton or table tennis using racquets. The difference may exist in the material of racquets or the shape of the head.
Olympic Games:
When we make a comparison of badminton sport versus table tennis, we come to know that they are both Olympic Games. Although people play these games for enjoyment, these games are competitive also. Table tennis has been a part of the Olympics since 1988, while the badminton game appeared as an Olympic game in 1992.
Difference between badminton and table tennis:
Along with a few surprising similarities, there are various distinct differences between these games. These games differ in equipment, rules, and playing surfaces. International competitions for badminton and table tennis also differ.
Equipment for Badminton versus Equipment for Table tennis:
Badminton and table tennis differ vastly from each other when you look at the equipment of both games.
- The badminton racquets are longer ( metallic frame measures 680mm while head region measures 280mm) and weigh less ( 2 or 3 ounces almost) because we use them for longer hits. In contrast, table tennis racquets are heavy because the wood covered with plastic makes them. Table tennis racquets are also called paddles, having a handle and blades. The blade is the portion of the racquet that you use to hit the ball, 85% is wooden, and 15% is pimpled rubber.
- In Badminton, shuttlecocks weigh less than one-fifth of an ounce. A plastic ball of 2.7 grams, according to the International Table Tennis federation’s equipment guidelines, is used in table tennis. The ball is orange or white mostly to make a visual contrast with the table on which table tennis is played. The badminton racquets hit the small piece of leather at the shuttle’s base, while the other part of the shuttle is of feathers or nylon that make a circle. The length of the shuttle is mostly 60mm to 70mm which is best for tournaments. This badminton equipment is according to the guidelines of the Badminton world federation.
Field of play:
It is also a big difference between the games badminton and table tennis. Badminton is played on vast courts while table tennis is on the table. In badminton sport, players can move freely in a broad area that is 20 feet wide while 17 to 22 feet long. If you want to consider it in square meters, it is 69.49 square meters for singles (one player vs. one) and 85 Square meters for doubles (two versus two). Both games require a net, but in badminton versus table tennis, the badminton nets are higher than in table tennis.
In the case of table tennis, players have a limited area to move because it is on tables that are 2.74 meters long and 1.525 meters in width. The table must be seventy-six meters above the ground according to the ITTF’s standards. The same table is used for singles and doubles in table tennis in contrast to badminton games where court length differs for singles and doubles. Here only a center line is present, which is only three millimeters dividing the playing area. The net used in table tennis is smaller compared to badminton sport.
Rules of badminton sport versus table tennis:
Badminton and table tennis also differ in the official rules. The most contrasting rules are score-cap and the order of service. In a badminton game, the player has to score 21 points to win the competition. It means if both players are making twenty points, the game continues. The only player making the twenty-first point score-cap is the winner. The question may arise in your mind, how to make a score in a badminton game. It is a fascinating process when you are playing on the ground and hitting the shuttle; if the shuttle falls in your court, the point is for the opponent. You will earn a point if the shuttle falls outside the court. Score-cap becomes only eleven points when we look at table tennis. Here the player needs to make an eleventh point score-cap to win the competition. Is the point-making process the same for table tennis as in badminton sport? The answer is no because in this game, you have to hit the ball before it bounces twice in your court or it falls from the table. Your opponent will get a point if you are unable to do so.
The comparison becomes more interesting when we talk about the order of service in badminton and table tennis. The coin toss and points in the first rally in badminton sport determine the service order. The player who earns a point first will have a right of service. In the case of table tennis, the order of service is something different. It does not depend on the points, but the service order changes after a pair of the rally, which is something like one round, starts from service hit to shuttle and will end when the shuttle falls back.
International competitions:
Badminton and table tennis are different in various distinct dimensions. Their international competitions are also distinct because of their separate organizations. Badminton sports competitions are organized by Badminton World Federation, while the International Table Tennis Federation organizes the table tennis tournaments. The event of table tennis include the world Table tennis championships, but the BWF held Thomas Cup, Sudirman cup, etc.
Conclusion:
Both badminton and table tennis are entertaining racquet sports. This comparison gives you a detailed view of the similarities and differences of both games. you can go for any of these games but you must be a fast-moving, determined and skilled player. Agility and focus will make you shine in badminton or table tennis.
