Pickleball is a fun sport that is not very difficult to learn. It is a great way to socialize and stay active and can also be a great workout. One question many people have about pickleball is whether or not it burns calories.
Since pickleball is a full-body workout involving moderate to intense activity for a period of 30 minutes on average, it does help to burn calories. Calories burned during a game of pickleball depend on a person’s build and the game’s intensity.
Pickleball is quite similar to badminton and tennis, but it is less aggressive, so anyone can play it. And since it contributes to weight loss and offers many other health benefits, it is also recommended for middle-aged and older people.
In this article, we will look at the average number of calories a person can expect to burn during a game of pickleball. We will also discuss other health benefits of this popular sport for people of all ages and see how it helps with weight loss.
How Many Calories Does Pickleball Burn?
Pickleball is a cardio exercise involving working the arms, core, and leg muscles. It is considered a full-body workout and a great one for burning fat.
There are a few factors that contribute to the number of calories you burn when you are playing pickleball. These include your weight and the intensity of your game. As a general rule, the heavier you are, the more calories you will burn.
On average, pickleball burns about 11 calories per minute. This means that, in a one-hour game, a person can expect to burn 660 calories. However, a typical game of pickleball lasts about 30 minutes, so the average number of calories you can expect to burn during this time is around 330.
Read more about what decides how long a game is here: How Long Does a Pickleball Game Last?
If you play more aggressively, you can add 100 to 150 calories on top of that. And if the game lasts longer, you can expect to burn even more calories.
Of course, the number of calories burned will also vary depending on a person’s weight, height, and level of intensity. However, even at a moderate level of intensity, pickleball is an excellent way to burn calories. It has even been seen as better than walking for some individuals, particularly middle-aged people when it comes to burning calories and staying fit.
How Does Pickleball Help with Weight Loss?
The most obvious outcome of burning calories is weight loss. So, pickleball helps burn calories, improves your overall fitness, and makes you healthier.
So, how exactly does pickleball help with weight loss?
For starters, pickleball is a very active sport. You constantly move around the court, running, jumping, and hitting the ball. This all adds to a lot of calories burned in a single game.
Secondly, pickleball is a full-body workout involving both cardio and strength training. It is also considered by strength trainers as a moderate-intensity workout. Such an exercise is good for lowering your blood pressure, improving cholesterol and blood sugar regulation, and consequently helping you maintain an optimum weight.
Pickleball is considered even better than walking when it comes to burning calories. A study conducted in 2022 observed that people burned 40% more calories in a single game of pickleball than walking for 30 minutes if they kept in the moderate-intensity workout zone.
Moreover, the study revealed that middle-aged and elderly people who played pickleball three times a week had considerable improvement in their blood pressure and cholesterol over a period of six weeks.
Other Health Benefits of Pickleball
In addition to burning calories, pickleball has several other health benefits. For example, pickleball is a great way to improve your cardiovascular health. Additionally, pickleball can help to improve your coordination and balance. Finally, pickleball is a great way to stay mentally sharp, as it requires quick thinking and strategic planning.
Cardiovascular Health
Pickleball, like tennis, requires quick movements and short bursts of energy. This helps to increase your heart rate, so the heart can pump blood to the body more actively. Consequently, this improves your cardiovascular fitness and helps to reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Do you wonder: Is Pickleball Easier than Tennis?
Coordination and Balance
Pickleball is recommended for the elderly because it helps to improve coordination and balance. By concentrating on the ball and learning to control their bodies while moving around, older people can experience a huge change in their life.
Players constantly move their paddles along with their bodies to ensure they don’t miss a shot. Since the game requires hand-eye and foot coordination, this agile activity helps tone their muscles. When your balance and movement are improved, it helps to prevent falls in old age.
Mental Sharpness & Reduced Depression
Since pickleball offers a great opportunity for players to socialize and get together for a quick game and chit-chat, it serves as a way to reduce depression and improve mental health.
It is also a game that requires a lot of perseverance. Players need to be able to keep going even when they are tired or when they make a mistake.
Players need to make quick decisions in pickleball. They must decide where to place the ball, how much power to use, and what type of shot to hit. This type of decision-making can help in other areas of life.
For example, if you are faced with a difficult decision at work, you can use the same process that you use on the pickleball court. Break the decision down into smaller parts, consider the options, and then make a choice.
Mental sharpness and physical activity help people sleep better and lead happy and fulfilled life. Therefore, pickleball is a very healthy sport that helps burn calories, lose weight, and improves overall health.
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Check them out here: Mental Sharpness Supplements.
So, pickleball is a great option if you’re looking for a fun and challenging way to stay active and burn some fat. Not only will you manage to burn calories and improve your cardiovascular health, but you’ll also get to work on your coordination, balance, and mental sharpness.
