Why does my wrist hurt when I play pickleball but not when I play tennis or badminton?

The key difference is how power is generated. Tennis and badminton generally rely on larger swings involving the shoulder and forearm, while pickleball features more dinks, blocks, and fast drives at the net. Because these movements are smaller and repeated more frequently, beginners often rely too heavily on the wrist or brace it against incoming shots. Over time, that repeated stress can lead to muscle soreness and tendon strain—a common issue among pickleball players.