Yes, Pickleball has hit the scene as the fastest growing sport because of how fun it is to play, it turns out it is also #1 in fitness benefits!
In a comprehensive analysis, Todd Boss examined the workout value of Pickleball compared to Tennis, Squash, and Racquetball. Using an Apple Watch, he tracked metrics like active calories burned per hour, total calories burned, and average heart rate across different racquet sports. Here are the key findings:
**1. Pickleball Singles (Tournament)**
- **Active Calories/Hour:** 451
- **Total Calories/Hour:** 578
- **Average Heart Rate (BPM):** 116
- **Vigor Level:** 9/10
Pickleball singles emerged as the most intense workout, burning the highest calories and maintaining the highest heart rate among all sports analyzed.**2. Tennis Singles (Tournament)**
- **Active Calories/Hour:** 437
- **Total Calories/Hour:** 563
- **Average Heart Rate (BPM):** 115
- **Vigor Level:** 9/10
Tennis singles followed closely behind Pickleball singles, attributed to the exertion required for serves and rallies.**3. Tennis Doubles (Tournament)**
- **Active Calories/Hour:** 405
- **Total Calories/Hour:** 530
- **Average Heart Rate (BPM):** 105
- **Vigor Level:** 6/10
Tennis doubles still provided a substantial workout, though less intense due to more standing around and waiting for serves.**4. Squash Singles (Competitive)**
- **Active Calories/Hour:** 402
- **Total Calories/Hour:** 523
- **Average Heart Rate (BPM):** 103
- **Vigor Level:** 8/10
Squash singles were surprisingly less intense, potentially due to the rally scoring system and rest periods.**5. Pickleball Doubles (Tournament)**
- **Active Calories/Hour:** 401
- **Total Calories/Hour:** 523
- **Average Heart Rate (BPM):** 112
- **Vigor Level:** 8/10
Competitive Pickleball doubles were 11% less intense than singles, as less movement is required.**6. Racquetball Singles (Tournament)**
- **Active Calories/Hour:** 399
- **Total Calories/Hour:** 524
- **Average Heart Rate (BPM):** 99
- **Vigor Level:** 9/10
Racquetball singles were less taxing than expected, possibly due to downtime between games.**7. Pickleball Doubles (Open Play)**
- **Active Calories/Hour:** 370
- **Total Calories/Hour:** 496
- **Average Heart Rate (BPM):** 101
- **Vigor Level:** 5/10
Open play Pickleball doubles were the least intense, with significant drops in heart rate and calories burned.
**Conclusion:**
For the best workout, play Pickleball singles or competitive doubles with skilled players. Casual open play offers less exercise value due to lower intensity and frequent breaks.
