Pickleball is a great sport bringing fun and fitness at the same time. It sounds like the more time you play, the more time you enjoy.
But does this hold? Do longer pickleball games provide more enjoyment or become tiring?
Or are there any rules on how long a pickleball game should last?
If you’ve been pondering these questions, you are in the right place to fulfill your quest. In this article, I will look at the factors that influence the duration of a pickleball game.
Stay with me till the end!
Table of Contents
How Long Does a Pickleball Game Last?
There is no time limit on how long a pickleball game should last, however, the average single pickleball game can last between 15 and 25 minutes for an 11-point game. Additionally, the length of the game depends on several other factors, including the players’ fitness, skills, levels, and experiences. Furthermore, the game type, such as whether it’s a friendly match or a tournament, influences the duration of the game. And finally, the condition—whether it’s a singles or doubles game—matters.
What are the Factors That Determine a Pickleball Game’s Duration?
There are a whole lot of conditions that will determine the game’s duration. For instance, if you are a newbie, you will not be able to make it last like a pro. On the other hand, if it’s a friendly match where your primary goal is to have fun, you’ll try to extend the game without the serious shots that you’d see in a tournament. And there is another obvious reason, are you playing singles or doubles?
And finally, is it a recreational game or a tournament game?
First, let me explain the factors that contribute to these two categories’ lengths of a friendly game and a contest game.
What is the Length of Pickleball Game in Tournaments
On average, a tournament match takes 40 to 60 minutes to complete consisting of three games, where two are played for 11 points and the third one for 5 points. This is because tournaments involve multiple rounds where players compete against each other for the championship, doing their best to win, which can lead to every single point longer. Due to the intense competition, the point system is often increased to 15 or 21 instead of 11, which takes much more time to finish than a normal friendly game.
In tournament matches, usually, when a team or a player earns 11 points leading by at least 2 points than their opponents, the game is finished. Players then take 2 minutes rest and start the next game.
If the game is tied by 10-10, the game will be longer unless any one player or team gets led by 2 points.
If both teams win one set each, a third game might be played to 5 points with a 2-point lead requirement, and accordingly, the match time gets longer.
In addition to the standard 11-point game, a single 15-point game may be played instead of three when there is limited time. This short form of games is usual in the consolation vent also. Like, the regular point system, here also the winner has to be ahead by at least 2 points.
- A player or team has to win 2 out of 3 games, similar sets to a tennis game.
- Each match is played in 3 games
- To win, any player or team has to win 2 out of 3 games.
- To win a game, a player has to win by 2 points.
- If no one leads by 2 points in 11 points, like a draw of 10-10, the games will continue until one is ahead by 2 points.
- As I said earlier, sometimes, a 15 or 21-point game is arranged instead of 3 sets of 11 points.
There are special para-pickleball competitions, where players with a disability compete. Those games are also played with the same rules and guidelines, following about 20 minutes for a single game.
What is the Length of Pickleball Game in Recreational Matches
Now you can ask me if is there any difference between a friendly match and a tournament match.
Yes, my friend, there are differences. Because in a tournament the divisions or categories are precise, followed by the segments of gender, mixed, age, skills, singles or doubles, etc.
But in a friendly match, we usually don’t think of so many changes like the resting time between the games or matches. However, the rules and point systems are still the same.
The following factors can influence the duration of a pickleball game:
- Number of Faults And Rallies
Increased Number of Faults and Rallies
Professional players compete in a tournament, where they are already skilled and make fewer faults and rallies. On the contrary, you play recreational games for some excitement and to maintain fitness. Here fun matters over perfection.
Frequent faults, which result in game pauses, ultimately lead to longer game durations. That means the more faults the more long game.
And then there are rallies, which means continuous playing between a serve and a fault. Accordingly, the fewer rallies that happen in the game, the less it lasts. More rallies extend the game.
So we can say in conclusion:
More faults= longer games.
More rallies = prolonged pickleball games.
How Long Do Pickleball Tournaments Last?
In pickleball tournaments, there are separate divisions according to the player’s gender, age, level, and some other considerations, like whether the matches will be singles or doubles.
In a tournament, usually, there are no options for friendly matches. Here the skilled players compete with each other, and between them, often a single match lasts up to one hour, followed by three sets of games. Any team leading by two points has to win two of the three games.
Consequently, the overall duration of the tournament depends on the total number of matches, which again depends on the number of participants. However, the initial plan for the duration of a pickleball tournament could be 4-8 hours. This applies to a round-robin league with a shootout style for 8 teams, in which each team might need to play 6 matches. If you are at the top, however, that amount of time depends on the number of courts used in the tournament. Plus, the level of the players influences it, which means they end up with more rallies.
Or think that the tournament you are attending has eight teams. There will be four matches in the first round, two matches in the second round, and one final match. So there are a total of seven matches.
Now the calculation is straightforward. If there are two courts, and thus two matches are held at a time, it will take four hours plus some other extra minutes to observe seven matches. On the other hand, if each match is played one by one, the duration will be at least seven hours.
Also, the number of participants and delays between the games or matches make a tournament’s duration longer than usual.
Finally, if a match has three sets of games, the first two are followed by 11 points, and the third (if necessary) by 5 points.
The length of the tournament thus depends on the number of games and teams. More teams mean a longer tournament, while more courts mean a shorter tournament. So a tournament can take all day or it can be finished in 3 to 6 hours. I found a tournament that took only 3 hours, though there were around 80-plus players.
How Many Games Are in a Pickleball Set or Match?
In pickleball, the best two formats are followed. That means, usually, three games are planned or held in a single match, but if a team wins the first two, the third is not played. As a result, matches consist of a minimum of two games and a maximum of three games.
Is outdoor game longer than Indoor pickleball?
Indeed, outdoor games typically have longer durations compared to indoor ones. Something is missing in the indoor game, like the impact of windy air and other distractions. Also, the outdoor balls are thicker having lots of holes to be less affected by air, which helps the players make smashing shots. The outdoor environment provides a livelier atmosphere for players than the controlled indoor environments.
Nevertheless, indoor games can be longer too. The balls used in indoor games are often softer, which leads to longer rallies as they are less conducive to hard-hitting.
Does it take longer to play pickleball as doubles than singles?
Yes, typically, doubles will be longer than singles. But is there any specific reason? Pickleball, like any other racket sport, is all about attacking and defending. The more you can defend, the longer the rally will last. Two players can better defend in a doubles match than one in a singles match. Thus the game becomes longer, but that only happens when both sides are equally strong.
However, that’s not the sole reason; in doubles, one side can be significantly weaker than the other. So it’s the skill set of the players that influences the length of a double game.
How many games do you need to win a pickleball match?
Pickleball matches typically follow a best two-out-of-three format, where the first two games are followed by 11 points and the third one by 5 points. To win a game, a team has to lead by two points. Thus if a team already wins the first two games, the third game is no longer held.
Final Thoughts
The number of players, including their skillset, purpose of the game, etc., determines the length of a pickleball. You can play singles, battling one opponent. Alternatively, you can form a team of two, adding an extra element of enjoyment to your game.
I hope you find this post helpful in understanding the factors that influence the pickleball game, match, and tournament length.
