Outdoor Vs. Indoor Pickleball: Which One Is Better For You?
Pickleball has been growing in popularity amongst diverse communities in the US and around the world. More people are starting to realise how much fun this sport is! You may have played a few games yourself and wonder what the differences are between outdoor and indoor pickleball. In this article I will be discussing the main differences as well as how both can be beneficial to our game.
Environment
Firstly, we need to be aware of the differences in the environment we are playing in. When it comes to outdoor pickleball courts, the majority are a combination of concrete and acrylic, similar to what you would find on a tennis hard court. Many players enjoy playing on this type of surface as it provides a good amount of traction. Outdoor courts are also liked by many pickleballers due to the fresh air and sun that comes with being outside. In Singapore, there are outdoor pickleball courts at Eighth Floor Tennis In Bedok and ActiveSG Jurong.
When it comes to indoor pickleball courts, the majority of the courts in Singapore have wooden floorings. This makes for faster and lower bounces. This is a popular option for many players in Singapore, as indoor sessions can proceed rain or shine! So provided you can secure a slot at one of the many indoor sports halls, your training will be weatherproof. Our favourite indoor pickleball court is Red Quarters Kallang due to its spacious and conducive environment.
Ball
Now let’s discuss the differences in the ball used for outdoor and indoor pickleball. Yes! Different balls are used depending on what type of court you are playing on. For outdoor pickleball courts, most players will use a standard outdoor 40-hole ball. The outdoor ball is thicker and heavier than the balls used for indoor pickleball. This is to help it deal with wind resistance. The ball used for indoor pickleball will usually have 26 holes, are thinner in material and lighter in weight in comparison to its outdoor counterpart.
Gameplay
The final thing we will be considering is the way points are played on outdoor and indoor pickleball courts. Although, it is common belief that pickleball gameplay should remain the same whether it be outdoor or indoors, there are some key differences that will impact your gameplay experience when playing indoors and outdoors.
On many indoor pickleball courts, the bounce tends to be lower and faster with the wooden floorings and lesser air resistance on the ball. With a faster court surface, we have found that many of our players prefer to adopt a more aggressive playing style. This means that they will attack the kitchen line more often to dink and volley in order to finish off points quicker. While on outdoor courts we have found that players have a higher margin for error when playing from the baseline as the bounce on an outdoor court tends to be slower and more predictable. Therefore, making it easier to perform groundstrokes consistently in comparison to the fast, skidding indoor courts.
So, which one is better for you? Well, it really depends on your playing style and personal preferences. For those of you that enjoy a faster gameplay that is weatherproof, then indoor courts are the way to go! If you prefer a slower speed, with natural breeze and a touch of vitamin D from the sunlight, then outdoor pickleball is definitely a pleasant experience.
Outdoor pickleball in the evenings is my personal favourite! You can also enjoy the best of both worlds and book indoor or outdoor pickleball courts depending on the weather. Do check out our pickleball court write-ups if you are looking for a court near you. There are many indoor and outdoor options in Singapore.
