Padel is played in doubles on a 20 by 10 meter court enclosed by glass walls, with solid perforated rackets, underhand serves and tennis-style scoring. Tennis uses a larger open court, strung racquets and overhead serves, and takes longest to learn. Pickleball uses a small court the size of a badminton doubles court, solid paddles, a plastic ball with holes and a non-volley zone near the net. Padel and pickleball are quicker to learn than tennis.
Padel, tennis and pickleball are all racquet sports played over a net, but they feel very different. Here is how they compare.
Side by side
| Padel | Tennis | Pickleball | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court size | 20 x 10 m | 23.77 x 10.97 m (doubles) | 13.41 x 6.10 m (44 x 20 ft) |
| Walls | Glass and mesh, part of play | None | None |
| Usual format | Doubles | Singles and doubles | Singles and doubles |
| Racket | Solid, perforated, no strings | Strung racquet | Solid paddle |
| Ball | Pressurized, similar to tennis (slightly less pressure) | Pressurized tennis ball | Plastic ball with holes |
| Serve | Underhand, below waist, after a bounce | Overhead | Underhand |
| Scoring | Tennis scoring | 15, 30, 40, game | Points to 11, win by 2 (common format) |
| Learning curve | Quick | Slowest | Quickest |
Padel
The walls are what make padel unique: the ball can be played off the back and side glass after it bounces, much like squash. Rallies last longer, and doubles makes it social. Tactics revolve around controlling the net and using lobs.
Tennis
Tennis has the biggest court and the most demanding technique, especially the serve. It rewards power and fitness, and it can be played as singles or doubles.
Pickleball
Pickleball’s small court, light paddle and slow plastic ball make it the easiest to start. A non-volley zone (the “kitchen”) near the net prevents players from smashing every ball at the net, which rewards soft, controlled shots.
Which should you try?
- Social, fast to learn, longer rallies: padel.
- Athletic challenge and singles play: tennis.
- Easiest start, smaller court, all ages: pickleball.
Equipment to start
- Padel: a round-shaped racket, padel balls and court shoes.
- Tennis: a forgiving racquet with a larger head, balls and tennis shoes.
- Pickleball: a paddle, outdoor or indoor balls and court shoes.
Common questions
Is padel easier than tennis?
Most beginners find padel easier to pick up: the court is smaller, the serve is underhand, and the walls keep rallies going. Advanced padel is still very tactical.
Can you play padel singles?
Padel is almost always played as doubles. Some clubs have narrower singles courts, but they are rare.
Is padel scored like tennis?
Yes. Padel uses tennis scoring: 15, 30, 40, game, with sets usually to six games.