How to Calculate Pickleball Calories Burned? The Easy Way

calories burned playing pickleball

Pickleball combines everything you love about tennis and badminton into one game. It’s fast-paced and competitive; it also offers the perfect blend of strategy and skill. Plus, it’s a great way to get your heart rate up and burn calories without feeling like you’re just another person pounding away on the treadmill, or running in place, for that matter! You’re here wondering how many calories you can burn playing pickleball.

We will break down everything you need to know and some things that may surprise you. Here’s the quick answer:

Depending on the style of play and duration, you can burn up to 480-702 calories playing pickleball per hour. That’s around 8-12 calories per minute of average play. Take the median of 10 calories per minute and multiply it by however long you’re on the pickleball court. 

Pickleball is a great cardio workout because it’s a fast-paced game that requires quick movements, agility, and endurance. During each point, you must hustle to the ball, quickly moving into position and defending against your opponent’s next shot. All these movements are calories burned playing pickleball. 

It may sound strange at first if you haven’t heard of pickleball before. But once you understand how to play this high-energy game, you will want to play it all the time! 

Let’s explore two studies conducted about playing pickleball and its health benefits.

Playing Pickleball Is A Fun Way To Burn Calories.

Pickleball Calories Burned - Study by Western Colorado State University

A few studies conducted by Western State Colorado University and Brigham Young University in Idaho found that participants’ average heart rate was 108 beats per minute. They took measurements before and after from around 25-30 pickleball players over a six-week timeframe. On average, the players burned 335 calories per match and improved their health with regular play.

“Indeed, playing Pickleball for six weeks resulted in significant improvements in the lipid profile, blood pressure, and cardiorespiratory fitness,” the researchers said. 

While it’s hard to know exactly how many calories you burn playing pickleball, I found these studies helpful in getting a range. Playing pickleball is an exciting sport that will help you improve your cardiovascular health and hand-eye coordination and keep you in good shape. It’s also a great way to meet new people and make friends (We have a great post if your looking for a pickleball court or games near you) It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro; there are plenty of things to love about pickleball. Here are just a few reasons why you should give it a try:

While it’s not an Olympic sport(yet), pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. It’s played by young and old and is fun to spend time outside. 

There are many ways that pickleball can improve your health and well-being, such as improving heart health and helping to prevent weight gain. The cardiovascular workout helps to burn calories and increase your heart rate. While it’s not as intense as tennis, it can be especially beneficial if you’re seeking moderate exercise.

(In this dedicated post, you can learn how to play pickleball on a tennis court.)

How Much Exercise Time Should I Spend a Day?

Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Even small amounts of activity can have benefits. The amount of exercise you need depends on age, health, and activity type. You should aim for at least 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking or light aerobics.

More intense exercise, such as running or playing sports (like pickleball), is also recommended. If you have certain medical conditions, talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program. 

In addition to improving your health, playing pickleball can increase your energy levels, reduce anxiety, and help you feel less stressed.

The goal is to get moving, have fun, and burn calories playing pickleball. Once you start burning calories regularly, you may feel a sense of accomplishment and start to look forward to it. You’re also more likely to keep up your routine as time goes on.

Need to brush up on the pickleball scoring system? Read our new post.

Pickleball calories burned

Which Muscles Does Pickleball Work?

Pickleball is a low-impact sport that works many muscles in your body. It can help improve overall strength and flexibility. It can also help improve your balance and coordination.
It’s easy to pick up and will be a fun way to burn calories with some added health benefits. 

Some of the muscles worked are:
• Core muscles (the abdominal, back, and hip muscles)
• Shoulder muscles
• Arm muscles
• Leg muscles
• Foot and ankle muscles

Core Muscles

It works your core muscles, which are located in your stomach, back, and abdominals. By playing the game, you will get in some cardio and resistance training at the same time. When you’re running around on the court, you’re constantly leaning forward and backward, sideways and diagonally, which puts a huge demand on your core muscles. Be sure to start by warming up, you should walk or stretch for around five or ten minutes before you start your game.

Cardiovascular Health

Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death in the United States. One of the primary risk factors for both heart disease and stroke is high blood pressure. The good news is that playing pickleball may reduce your risk of these conditions.

Increases Strength

As you play, you’ll build up your forearm muscles, core strength, and cardio fitness (you’ll burn lots of calories). Playing pickleball can increase hand-eye coordination and lower stress levels. It can also improve balance and flexibility. There are also many types of paddles available for players to choose from, so you can customize your equipment to suit your needs.

Practicing Pickleball Drills is a great way to burn calories!

Can I Lose Weight Playing Pickleball?

Well, yes and no; pickleball is a great exercise activity, especially for people who have trouble moving around. If you’re looking to lose weight by playing pickleball, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, pickleball isn’t necessarily a full aerobic workout, but it could improve weight loss.

The Western University researchers also stated, “Results from the present study indicate Pickleball can be classified as “moderate” according to various organizations’ definition of physical activity intensity.”

So, if you’re looking to burn calories, you may need to incorporate other activities into your routine. Second, be sure to hydrate regularly, so you don’t experience any side effects from dehydration. Lastly, if you’re new to the sport, start slow and build up your stamina as you get used to the motion and exercise intensity. Once you feel comfortable and confident with the movements, it will be much easier to play at a faster pace.

Is Pickleball Good for Weight Loss?

During a game, you can burn more than 700-900 calories per hour. In addition to burning calories, pickleball also improves your cardiovascular health by increasing your heart rate and strengthening your cardiovascular system. If you want to lose weight while playing pickleball, try the following tips: 

  • Choose a low-fat diet. Instead of eating fatty foods, choose lighter options like salad or fruit. 
  • Engage in some additional lightweight resistance training. This will help build muscle tone and improve overall strength and endurance. 
  • Lastly, stay active during the game and out on the pickleball court. Also, avoid overheating when playing in hot weather and stay hydrated.

Conclusion

Now that you know how many calories are burned playing pickleball, you may wonder how often you should play. Generally, you should play pickleball at least once or twice a week. It is important to remember that the number of calories you burn while playing will vary based on several factors, including your intensity level, singles or doubles pickleball, and the time of day you play.

We hope this post gave you some helpful information, so what are you waiting for? Get out there and burn calories playing pickleball!

Don’t Forget to Look good out on the court! What to wear to play pickleball.