If you’re interested in learning more about the differences between padel vs pickleball, you wouldn’t be the first to wonder which sport is right for you.
Both racket sports are considered two of the fastest-growing sports globally and while they do share some similarities, both sports are derived from different influences and have different rulesets and gameplay mechanics.
In the UK, padel continues to explode with over 300 courts and around 90,000 players! Pickleball is huge in the USA; here in the UK there are approximately 270 venues and around 7000 players so far.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain the differences between padel tennis and pickleball and cover the unique rules and social and physical elements that make up each great game!
History of Pickleball
Pickleball has a very wholesome history!
Parents made it up for their bored kids and used the myriad of sporting equipment they had at their disposal to create this unique game. Pickleball rapidly spread all over the US, initially with older people given the accessibility of a small court, but is now played by all.
About Padel Tennis
Padel was accidentally created by Enrique Corcuera in 1969 when he built a smaller tennis court due to a lack of space and added walls to stop the ball bouncing away!
Since then Padel has truly gone global, first gaining widespread appeal in Spanish-speaking countries before captivating the masses in the UK and Europe!
Padel is an exciting mix of tennis and squash typically played in doubles on an enclosed court.
If you’re wondering why padel has gained such popularity, check out our article on why padel is the fastest growing sport in the UK.
Similarities Between Padel and Pickleball
Both have low nets that divide the courts with four player boxes and serving lines, also known as baselines.
Pickleball and padel were designed to be enjoyed in both a single and doubles format, with the latter being the most popular.
Similarly, both use a diagonal underhand serve to start the games.
Both have extremely fun and social aspects that can be enjoyed by players of all ages and abilities with lively communities to help support and develop future talents and hobbyists alike. Whichever you choose, both sports are excellent choices for anyone looking to be more active and social with friends and family.
What Are the Differences Between Padel vs Pickleball?
Both sports have evolved from distinct influences that have resulted in differences in their courts, equipment, rules of play, scoring system and more.
Understanding these differences can help you decide which sport is right for you and your interests.
Padel vs Pickleball Court Dimensions and Features
A padel court is slightly larger than a pickleball court (padel tennis courts are 20m x 10m whereas pickleball uses smaller courts that are only 13.41m x 6.09) and is enclosed by glass walls and a mesh cage, similar to a squash court. Walls around the enclosed court can be used to play the ball off of to create unique rallies and angles. This is when things get really exciting!
Pickleball courts are open like traditional tennis courts, with ball play occurring only within the designated play fields. These courts are the same size as a doubles badminton court.
A major difference is that pickleball courts have a unique no-volley zone, known as the kitchen, which is the full width of the court and extends on either side of the net. We’ll cover the specific rules around the kitchen shortly.
Pickleball focuses on a more traditional tennis approach with volleys playing a key role as well, similar to badminton.
Padel vs Pickleball Equipment
Starting with the rackets, padel tennis rackets are short and thick with the faces perforated with holes that allow for excellent sweet spots. Padel tennis paddles come in three shapes – round, diamond, and teardrop.
They are usually made from carbon fibre or fibreglass and have a strap at the bottom of the handle for secure attachment to your wrist during gameplay.
Pickleball paddles have a longer, flatter face with a more solid rectangular head. They are usually made from various plastics, graphite, carbon fibre, fibreglass, and even wood. No strap is required for pickleball paddles.
A padel ball is similar to tennis balls only a more depressurised tennis ball, ensuring it doesn’t bounce too high, allowing for more controlled gameplay in the enclosed padel court.
A pickleball is similar to a wiffle ball and is a lightweight perforated plastic ball with between 26 and 40 holes so that it also doesn’t bounce too high, making it ideal for the smaller court and controlled rallies.
Differences Between Padel vs Pickleball Rules and Gameplay
Pickleball
The rules of pickleball combine elements from tennis, badminton, and ping-pong.
To start, you serve underhand diagonally across the court and over the net. Players must first return and allow the ball to bounce once on either side of the court, this is known as the double bounce rule. Only then can volleys start.
In pickleball, serves can’t bounce in the kitchen and only the serving team can score each round.
Once in play, the ball can’t bounce twice on the same side of the court before being returned otherwise a point is conceded so be sure to return the ball after one bounce!
The unique no-volley zone is known as the kitchen. It is a 7-foot area on either side of the net. If you have any part of your body in the kitchen, no volleys can be hit until leaving the designated area.
This allows for exciting gameplay as teams will usually fulfil the double bounce rule and then quickly attack the edges of the kitchen to start thrilling rallies to gain the advantage!
Padel Tennis
Padel features very dynamic gameplay thanks to its exciting combination of tennis and squash.
Serves are also underhand, targeted diagonally across the padel court into the opponent’s field of play. However, the inclusion of the walls is what makes padel so special!
Once the ball is in play, shots can be returned off of the side and back walls of the padel court or played into the walls for unique, hard-to-counter angles. This allows for fast-paced and thrilling gameplay while teams compete for that advantage or unique shot.
Padel shots need to be returned before bouncing twice within your field of play.
To get a deeper understanding of padel’s gameplay, refer to our comprehensive guide on padel tennis rules.
Padel vs Pickleball Scoring
Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis. Matches are played in three sets of 6 games, with the winners of two consecutive games being declared overall winners.
The padel scoring system follows the traditional tennis scoring system of 15, 30, 40, and Game. In the event of a tie at 40-40, a deuce is called when teams will then need to win by two clear points. Alternatively, a golden point can be used where the winner of the next point wins the match.
Pickleball scoring is the same as badminton and is scored as the first to 11 points but this must also be by a clear two-point advantage. Scores are announced at the start of every serve and consist of three numbers (6-3-2 as an example).
- The serving team score is always first
- The receiving team score is second
- Lastly, either 1 or 2 will be used to indicate which player on the team is serving
Padel vs Pickleball - Which Is Easier to Learn?
As a new player, both sports have quite forgiving learning curves and rulesets. It’s hard to say which sport is easier to learn as this will depend largely on you, your fitness level and your experience with racket-based sports overall.
Because padel courts are bigger and the gameplay pace is faster, there is more ground to cover playing padel. The rallies also tend to be longer due to shots being played off the ground, back, and side walls, so keeping the ball in play does require more physical exertion overall.
Pickleball does tend to require less physical effort but can still be demanding for newbies. Because there are no walls to contain the ball, more running can be involved if you miss the ball.
Overall, both sports require some level of fitness. Pickleball tends to have a slower pace that is suited to players who want more gentle gameplay and start gradually building their confidence.
All of us here at Padel Tennis Guide naturally love padel but can see the attraction to pickleball and encourage everyone to give both a go and see what suits you best!
Padel vs Pickleball - Availability of Courts in the UK
According to the LTA, both padel and pickleball have a healthy amount of courts sprinkled across the UK.
There are currently over 300 padel courts and about 270 pickleball venues with more being built all the time so keep checking for what’s coming up in your area and stay in the loop!
Find padel courts near you using our Padel Near Me guide.
Padel vs Pickleball - The Social Elements
Outside of the games, both sports have lively and fast-growing communities of like-minded enthusiasts, eager to participate in all sorts of social events and competitions!
Today, padel tennis and pickleball are enjoyed by players of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels.
Corporate funding into both padel and pickleball is also slowly increasing throughout the UK, with more pop-up courts and community-driven park projects being sanctioned every year, allowing these great games to reach more players and communities.
Padel vs Pickleball FAQs
Is pickleball or padel tennis better for fitness?
Padel tennis likely burns more calories than pickleball due to the higher gameplay intensity, larger court size, and longer rallies due to the ball playing off the walls.
What is the main difference between padel vs pickleball?
The main difference is the court. A padel court is enclosed with walls you can play off like squash whereas pickleball has the kitchen which is the no volley zone.
What are the health benefits of playing pickleball and padel?
Both sports offer a great low-impact cardiovascular workout. Potential benefits can include improved fitness, flexibility, mental health, and cognitive skills. Muscle fibres and joints are also stimulated during matches, which can help to reduce pain and inflammation for some people.
Padel vs Pickleball - Great Games for Racket Sports Enthusiasts!
There are fantastic communities involved in both sports with excellent courts spread out across the UK so we hope you feel inspired to pick up a paddle or racket and get active!
While there are similarities between padel vs pickleball, we hope knowing what makes each sport so fun and unique will help you find your preferred sporting activity with friends and family.
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