Wiffleball vs Pickleball
Both are casual at their core, when Wiffleball Vs Pickleball is placed into perspective it seems they follow their predecessors quite stringently as Pickleball seems to be a lovechild of badminton and Wiffleball is termed as a miniature baseball.
Regardless of your opinion on them though, everyone of every age is finding these sports extremely addictive since getting accustomed to their game mechanics is as simple as snapping your fingers which is why both of them have gained quite a lot of notoriety across the globe.
And it goes without saying that’s exactly why it caught my attention, henceforth, in this article, we are going to explore each and every nook and cranny of both of these sports in detail.
Wiffleball Vs Pickleball – Swing or Flick, What Would it Be?
Let’s take a look at some of the striking resemblance and key differences between these two sports.
1. How It’s Played Out
Most of the elements in Pickleball happen to be inherited from other sports such as badminton and tennis and are played in a similar fashion. For starters, each team is divided in singles or doubles format which implies up to 4 players can enjoy a session at any given time.
The rules of the game are simple, any team that makes their way up to 11 points with 2 score leads wins the match.
A point is scored if the ball lands outside the boundaries or isn’t repelled across the net in due time by any player.
As for Wiffleball, each team includes 5 players on each side, and only 3 are allowed on the field while 2 players known as the pitcher and the batter can actively play.
In order to score, the batter at home plate has to hit the ball and cover all four bases before he is tagged by the opposing team.
The scoring system is also oriented towards an inning game structure which sometimes has a time limit and any team that secures the most points within three or 5 innings wins the sessions.
2. Court Type
The court dimensions are also pretty much similar to baseball when it comes to wiffleball. Typically, each base is 35 feet apart and the pitcher’s mound is 42 feet measured from home plate, where the batter has to stand. On the flip side, the centerfield is 105 feet apart while the left and right fields are 95 feet from the batter’s region in the court.
These are just the general rules to ensure the game remains fair for both sides, however, depending on your settings, you can tone down the measurements by twofold.
Wiffle Ball courts are typically made of clay material or naturally trimmed grasses which have to be leveled across all its sides.
Pickleball, on the other hand, is made on asphalt or concrete surfaces and is painted with acrylic or epoxy colors. The court is segmented in two parts by the net which hangs 36 feet at the sides while being 34 feet at the center area.
Right beside the net, there is a 7-foot kitchen zone which indicates a Non-Volley Zone for both teams. The overall court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long.
3. The Equipment Used
The best part about both of these sports is that the equipment used does not require you to go through mumbo jumbo and is considerably cheaper so almost anyone can afford it and play the game.
Pickleball players have to get their hands on wooden paddles which resemble a ping pong paddle which has a maximum length of 17 inches and is 1.25 inches thick while weighing no more than 9.5 ounces.
The ball has around 26-40 holes and is made from plastic composite with a hollow body. Depending on the settings, it may or may not be rigid to compensate for wind resistance.
As for Wiffleball, you need to attain 35 inches long and have a diameter of 1.25 inches. Since it’s made from plastic composite it doesn’t weigh more than 7 ounces.
The ball used in the Wiffle Ball game has oval-shaped 8 holes which enhances the airflow depending on the intensity of the force it is hit with. The air output resembles a vortex shape which determines the direction it will be heading once it makes contact with the bat.
Bottom Line
The Difference between Wiffle Ball Vs Pickleball is pretty much apparent as there are minimal similarities between the two except both are played in casual settings and do not require you to spend a pretty penny just to get your hands on the basic equipment.
Nevertheless, both of them have seen a steady rise in their demographics charts which fortunately doesn’t seem to be declining anytime soon. So if by any chance you do want to get in shape or simply want to partake for recreational purposes, now might be the most optimal time to start.
