Although pickleball might have a somewhat amusing name, it has for some time now been considered a legitimate sport, a combination of table tennis or ping pong, badminton, and tennis. In recent years, its popularity has spiked immensely, and one of the reasons for it is because it’s so easy to learn.
Although many people engage in tournaments and are extremely competitive, this is a sport that anybody and everybody can try, young and old, beginners, and athletes alike.
However, if pickleball isn’t quite the sport for you, or you’ve grown bored of it, then there are many others that are similar to it that you might like to try. Let’s take a closer look at 17 games that are similar to pickleball in terms of being very social, fun, and a little competitive too.
1. Tennis
Perhaps the most similar sport to pickleball is tennis, and although you might not aim to be the next Roger Federer or Andre Agassi, the competitive nature of tennis is great for people like a bit of intensity mixed in with their fun.
Just like pickleball, it requires strategy, hand eye coordination, and a bit of patience too. Tennis is a great alternative for those who want a slightly more physically demanding sport, as it involves a fair amount of exertion, making it a great form of exercise.
Just like pickleball, tennis can be played as a singles sport or a doubles sport, making it ideal for those who like working alone or in teams. Because tennis is so popular, finding a court shouldn’t be a problem either.
2. Squash
Squash, although also a racket sport, like tennis and pickleball, is played indoors, within the confines of four walls, known as a squash court.
Squash is a very fast-paced game that requires great skill, coordination, and physical effort. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart in terms of having to break a sweat.
It involves quick exchanges back and forth, with players smashing a squash ball against the wall as hard as possible, with the aim being to make the other player miss their swing.
It makes for really great exercise, and it’s also fantastic for developing much faster reflexes and agility. It’s both physically and mentally stimulating, making it a good option for those who need a break from their mundane and sedentary lives.
3. Badminton
Switching gears a little bit, here we have badminton, a much calmer and more relaxed sport, something that’s ideal for both young and old alike, as well as for people looking for some light exercise. It features what is known as a shuttlecock instead of a ball, as well as very lightweight rackets.
Badminton involves a leisurely pace, and doesn’t require nearly as much physical output as squash, tennis, or pickleball, making it ideal for those who want to socialize a little bit, get outdoors, and get in some minimal exercise.
It’s also something that works really well at the beach, in a backyard, or virtually everywhere. Badminton is also something that’s played around the whole world, making a court and equipment easy to find.
4. Table Tennis (Ping Pong)
Switching gears once again, we then have table tennis, otherwise known as ping pong, like a miniature version of tennis. Although table tennis may look very simple and unassuming, it requires extremely sharp reflexes, quick skill, and the ability to react within milliseconds.
There are some really serious table tennis tournaments out there, ones with big prizes, a testament to how much skill is required in this sport. People even wager on ping pong!
What’s nice is that table tennis can be extremely competitive, and played by solo players, or it can be more of a social interaction between teams. The fact that all you need is a small ping pong table that can be set up virtually anywhere just adds to its appeal.
5. Racquetball
Racquetball is quite similar to squash, in the sense that it involves striking a ball against a wall within an enclosed court.
Just like squash, it’s also very physically demanding, requires great skill, and it’s something that will most certainly work your cardiovascular system.
The fact that it’s played indoors in a small space makes it just that much more difficult, making it ideal for those who enjoy a bit of a challenge.
6. Volleyball
If the main appeal of pickleball is being outside in the sun, then you’ll really like volleyball. This is especially the case with beach volleyball. A day spent smashing a ball back and forth on a volleyball court is pretty hard to beat!
It might not involve any rackets, but it still requires good spatial awareness, speed, strength, and in many cases teamwork too. Volleyball is ideal for team and group settings, as teams can consist of many people, making it a great option for a friendly gathering on a summer’s day.
Recently, a volleyball event in Nebraska smashed world records for the number of attendees at a single volleyball game, a whopping 92,003 people!
7. Spikeball
Somewhat similar to volleyball, we then have spikeball, a sport that although it has not been around for a very long time, is rapidly gaining popularity.
Spikeball involves a small and round net that is set at no higher than the ankles, with the point being to hit the ball into the net in a way so that the opponent cannot return it. It might sound very simple, and it looks like a game that young children might play, but it’s actually very difficult.
Due to the close-quarter nature of spikeball, your reflexes have to be very fast. It might only be played over a few square feet, but it actually requires a fair bit of endurance and skill.
8. Four Square
If all you’re looking for is a bit of outdoor fun, light-hearted competition, and time spent with your friends, playing Foursquare could be right for you. This is most often considered a children’s game, but it really doesn’t have to be.
The game is very simple, as it involves various players bouncing a ball within four quadrants, with the aim being to not have the ball bounce more than once in your area. It’s fantastically simple, barely has any rules, and is ideal for people of all ages and skill levels. It’s more fun than anything else.
9. Beach Tennis
One of the most interesting pickleball alternatives on the list is beach tennis, a combination of beach volleyball and tennis. Here, paddles are used instead of rackets, and a depressurized tennis ball is what players strike.
It’s a combination of the relaxed atmosphere of the beach and the competitive spirit of racket sports. What’s nice about beach tennis is that it can be both relaxing and ideal for social situations, as well as very competitive and ideal for those looking to get a bit of a workout in. It’s a great addition to any beach day spent swimming in the surf.
10. Beach Volleyball
Yes, we already mentioned volleyball, but it would be a shame to forget about beach volleyball. Regular volleyball is of course played indoors on a solid court, whereas beach volleyball is played outdoors on the sand.
If you’re already swimming at the beach, you may as well add some beach volleyball to the mix. It’s all about being able to enjoy the great outdoors and get some sunlight, while also offering a bit of competition and exercise.
It’s also nice because volleyball is something that can be played by two or twelve people, and anywhere in between.
11. Padel
Next is a sport that most people probably haven’t heard of, padel, a combination of squash and tennis. It’s played indoors, like squash, and like tennis, involves hitting a ball over a net so that the opponent can’t return it. This is a legitimate sport, with celebrities the likes of Jimmy Butler even competing in sanctioned tournaments.
This game can be played in either singles or doubles format, and involves the use of solid and stringless rackets.
It’s a very social sport, perhaps one of the most similar to pickleball of all, with a great emphasis on teamwork and strategy. Although it might look unassuming, this is actually a very physically intense sport that will most certainly have you sweating.
12. Pop Tennis
If what you’re looking for is a bit of relaxation and social interaction, then pop tennis might be right up your alley. Pop tennis is characterized by using a depressurized tennis ball, much smaller courts than usual, and solid paddles.
It’s a really fun sport that although it can get competitive, doesn’t require all that much skill or physical prowess.
It also involves a relatively relaxed pace that doesn’t have you sweating too hard. It’s an ideal sport for those who want to feel like they’re doing something, without actually doing all that much. It’s a great way to spend some time with friends and family.
13. Paddleball
On the other hand, we have paddleball, a sport that can be played on the beach or in a court. It’s all about using a solid paddle to hit a small rubber ball in such a way that the opponent can’t return it.
It sounds simple, deceivingly so, because it actually requires a lot of strategy and skill. Paddleball requires you to be fairly quick, have endurance, and it requires a bit of strength too.
14. Platform Tennis
If you happen to live in a cold climate, you might try playing platform tennis. Platform tennis is often known as a winter-friendly sport, as it’s just a game of tennis played on a raised aluminum platform surrounded by wire fencing.
The court is a bit smaller than with regular tennis, and the ball is slightly spongier, but don’t let the small court or softball fool you, because this is a fairly demanding sport that requires both physical and mental prowess.
Thanks to the court’s raised nature, it’s perfect for colder climates that don’t see much sunlight or warm weather.
15. Pitton
Pitton is a sport that you’ve likely never heard of either. Pitton is a combination of tennis and badminton, players use solid paddles to hit a hard birdie over a net, with rules about returning the ball similar to those of badminton.
It can be played as a singles game, a doubles game, or even a team sport of up to four people.
It’s simple to learn and doesn’t have all that many rules, and can be played in both a relaxed manner and in a much more competitive way as well. As long as you have a bit of coordination, you should do just fine at this sport.
16. Speedball
Now for something totally different than anything you’ve seen so far, speedball, a combination of tetherball and pickleball.
Tetherball is a sport that involves a pole to which a ball is tied, with the aim being to continuously hit the ball in the same direction until it’s fully wrapped around the pole, while your opponent tries to do the same in the opposite direction.
Well, speedball involves this same gameplay, but instead of hitting the ball with your hands, you use a paddle. It might just be the fastest-paced pickleball alternative out there! It can be played by teams, making it one of the more interesting options on our list today.
17. Butts Up
Last but certainly not least, we have butts up, a fun and casual game where players throw a tennis ball against a wall. The main goal is to catch the ball on the rebound or to touch the wall before you’re hit by the ball.
It’s an easy game most often played on schoolyards, but this doesn’t mean that adults can’t play either. All you need is something like a tennis ball, a wall, and a few people willing to play a simple game.
Pickleball Alternatives – Final Thoughts
Whether it’s butts up, speedball, pop tennis, or something a little more common, like regular tennis or volleyball, there are plenty of pickleball alternatives out there that require both skill and the willingness to have a bit of fun.
Whether you’re looking for something more challenging and fast-paced or something a little more relaxed and socially engaging, there’s something on this list for everyone. Get together with your friends, pick any of the sports we’ve talked about today, and get ready to break a sweat!
Jamie is the founder of Action Sporter. He is the chief zipline writer and the lead editor. He has 5 years of zipline experience being a tour guide in Newfoundland. Most of the time you can find Jamie adventure traveling, hiking, skiing, skateboarding, or anything action related!
