How Many Calories Do You Burn Playing Pickleball? See My Actual Results

I have researched how many calories you burn playing pickleball so many times, and I wasn’t getting the answer I wanted. If you read my story, I’d like to start a pickleball diet to get healthier and lose 15 Ibs of baby weight. Even Apple has published their research report that shares the health benefits of pickleball outside of just calories burned

So, in this article, I will show you how many calories I burn every hour, provide some insights from what I’ve learned, and then show you how you can track it too.

My Calories Burned in 1 Hour Playing Singles

For 44:45 minutes playing pickleball, I burnt 280 calories total, which equals 373 calories per hour. I weigh about 200 Ibs although I plan to go on a pickleball diet.

Please note that my DUPR range is approximately 3.5-4.0, and this was competitive, but it wasn’t my most strenuous day. I will plan to continue tracking for a higher-intensity day.

In addition, I covered 1.78 miles of distance in the pickleball session.

My Calories Burned in 1 Hour Playing Doubles

My preference is playing singles, but I realized that many of my friends play doubles, so I decided to jump on the bandwagon.

As such, I was able to measure the calories burned playing doubles.

As you can see, the number of calories burned is quite high, so I am planning to test this data again next time I play doubles pickleball.

How You Can Track

I’d suggest that you also consider tracking to get an accurate perspective.

1. If you do not own an Apple watch, you can track the calories you burn on your iPhone via the fitness setting.
2. If you have an Apple watch, please see how to track calories on your Apple watch by visiting this link.
3. If you have an Android phone, please see how to track calories via your Google Fit app.

Let’s look at other sources online.

Doubles Vs Singles Vs 3 Person Pickleball

I address other things to consider below, but one of the biggest determinants of how many calories are burned per hour is potential whether you are playing singles, doubles, or 3-person pickleball. Here’s a quick ranking of where you will most likely lose the most calories to the least calories burned:

1. Singles
2. 3 Person Pickleball
3. Doubles

It’s not to say that you cannot lose more calories in doubles than singles, but it’s just less likely given less court movement. That said, if you are playing a highly competitive doubles match vs a very casual singles match, you could lose more calories in doubles.

What I’ve Read Online

Here are two sources of how many calories you will lose playing pickleball.

1. PPA tour states that a 150-pound person burns an estimated 250-350 calories per hour in a casual/recreational game. In a moderately intense game, that person could lose 350-450 calories per hour. In a competitive match, that person could lose up to 600 calories per hour.
2. Paddletek states that a person weighing 150 pounds could lose 422 calories per hour in a casual game and 704 calories per hour in a competitive match.

You are 100% different than me, and 100% different than everyone else. Someone weighing 155 pounds may lose 250-350 calories per hour, but you may lose much more or less than that.

Let’s look at other things to consider.

Other things to consider

Calorie Burn Breakdown by Gender:

1. Male Players:
   • Male players typically possess higher muscle mass and metabolic rates, resulting in slightly higher calorie burn then females of similar size.
   • On average, men can burn between 270-380 calories per hour, depending on factors like intensity and age.
2. Female Players:
   • Women generally have lower muscle mass and metabolic rates than men, impacting their calorie burn during pickleball.
   • Female players can expect to burn between 230-330 calories per hour, with variations based on intensity and age.

Calorie Burn Variation by Size:

1. Weight Considerations:
   • Heavier individuals tend to burn more calories due to increased exertion during play.
   • For example, a person weighing 180 pounds may burn closer to 300-420 calories per hour, while someone weighing 130 pounds might burn around 200-280 calories.
2. Body Composition:
   • Lean muscle mass contributes to higher metabolic rates and greater calorie burn, regardless of overall weight.
   • Players with higher muscle-to-fat ratios may experience more efficient calorie burn during pickleball sessions.

Impact of Age on Calorie Burn:

1. Your Age
   • Younger players often possess higher energy levels and faster metabolisms, resulting in more vigorous play and increased calorie burn.
   • Adolescents and young adults may burn upwards of 300-400 calories per hour, depending on intensity and size.
2. Metabolism
   • As individuals age, metabolic rates may decline, impacting calorie burn during physical activities like pickleball.
   • Older players may still enjoy significant calorie burn, ranging from 220-330 calories per hour, with adjustments for intensity and size.

Conclusion

I am playing pickleball because it’s the most fun sport, but I also want to stay active in my 30s and 40s.

As such, I needed to understand how many calories are burned playing pickleball versus hiking, running and tennis.

Hopefully, this guide will help you understand how many calories you will burn playing pickleball.