How Many Calories Do You Burn Playing Pickleball?

Pickleball is a fun sport and a great cardio workout. It can be so enjoyable, you can forget that you’re burning calories!

Pickleball is great for getting you moving, which may make you wonder, how many calories do you burn playing pickleball?

Well, the answer depends on a few things, which we’ll get into in this article.

How Much Time Does Pickleball Take To Play?

The calories burned while playing pickleball depends on how long you play for. The United States of America Pickleball Association states that when playing in a tournament, matches must be played at the best 2 out of 3 games to 11 points.

This means most matches end in under an hour, with the average time being 50 minutes. A set of pickleball takes around an hour, while two sets take 2 hours.

The number of calories burned also depends on what kind of pickleball you’re playing. A simple game with a friend might mean that you play at an easier, slower pace.

This means you wouldn’t move as much, and your heart rate would stay at a lower level. However, if you’re playing in a competition or a fierce game with a rival, you’re likely to move more and burn a greater amount of calories.

Calories Burned Playing Pickleball And Tennis

Tennis and pickleball are pretty similar sports. The biggest difference between the two is that you serve underhand in pickleball, overhead in tennis. A pickleball court is also smaller than a tennis court. However, more statistics estimate the calories burned for tennis rather than pickleball.

When playing at an intermediate-level singles game, a 150-pound person can burn 414 calories in an hour, while a 200-pound person can burn 524 calories in the same time.

These estimates might ring true for tennis, but they aren’t accurate for pickleball. Pickleball players cover a shorter area due to a smaller court. It’s similar to the area covered during doubles tennis.

When playing pickleball, a 160-pound person can burn 250 calories in 30 minutes of friendly play. A 200-pound person can burn 350 calories in the same time and intensity. A competitive game burns more calories.

When playing harder, a 160-pound person could burn 350 calories, while a 200-pound person can burn 475 calories. It’s also estimated that while playing pickleball, your step count can be anywhere from 4000 steps to 7000 steps, depending on your playstyle and intensity.

How Many Calories Are Burned In A Pickleball Game?

From this information, we can assume that a typical 3 pickleball sets take around an hour to complete. Depending on how hard you play, you can burn 500-700 calories in a full game.

When you play pickleball, the main factor which determines how many calories you’ll burn is the intensity at which you play. Working harder means your body will use more calories.

So, if you want to burn more calories, play more competitively! Run faster, jump higher, use your strength and power to try and win.

This will get your heart rate high, pump blood around your body, and have you sweat more as you use up stored energy. Just be sure to stay hydrated!

As you exercise, your body tries to stay cool by sweating. This can dehydrate you if you don’t replenish its water supply. Keep a bottle of water nearby, and challenge a friend to a fun, but competitive game!

Can I Lose Weight Playing Pickleball?

As we’ve seen here, pickleball is a fantastic way to burn calories. But can it make you lose weight? The answer is, yes – as long as you’re in a calorie deficit!

We’ve talked about how tennis and pickleball are similar. Tennis can be a difficult game to jump into, as it’s intense and competitive.

Pickleball can be played at an easy pace, which is great if you’re just starting out exercising. You’ll be able to keep your body active for longer, burning more calories over time. This can all help you lose weight.

However, playing pickleball isn’t an excuse to eat whatever you’d like! Physics can’t be changed. To lose weight, you need to burn more energy than you take in.

Planning your meals can help you avoid overeating. Make sure that any snacks you have don’t put you over your daily calorie intake.

If you’re in an energy deficit, then playing pickleball can help you lose weight. Don’t expect instant results, but you should see yourself slimming down over time.

Is Playing Pickleball Good Exercise?

Pickleball can help you lose weight, but there are many other reasons why it is a fantastic exercise! Here are some benefits of pickleball that might tempt you to pick up a racket.

Cardiovascular Health

Just like any other physical activity, pickleball can improve your cardiovascular health. Cardio exercise helps to keep your heart rate up, which makes your body pump blood around faster.

This means your body gets oxygen to important organs, like the heart and lungs, keeping them in shape. Unlike tennis or running, pickleball can be a gentle sport, which is great if you’re older or just starting out exercising.

Increases Strength

Pickleball can make your muscles stronger over time. Players use many movements to reach the ball: they bend down, squat, and reach overhead. These motions repeatedly use different muscles.

As the muscles are challenged, they get bigger and stronger. Keeping your strength up means that you can perform tasks easier, such as lifting objects or climbing steep stairs.

This is also important as we get older. Losing strength is an inevitable part of life, but putting in the effort means we’ll be less dependent on others as we age.

Mental Health

Keeping physically active is important for managing your mental health. Finding an exercise you love is important for your wellbeing, as you’re more likely to keep consistently active.

Pickleball is a fun and easy game to pick up, which can help you de-stress and relax as you play. Exercise also increases your serotonin levels, which can do wonders for your mood.

If you suffer from regular stress, playing pickleball can be a way to get some quiet, quality time to yourself.