Key takeaways: pickleball and padel are two different sports. Padel is played in a glass-walled cage with a perforated racket and a pressurised ball, scored like tennis. Pickleball is played on an open, smaller court with a solid paddle and a plastic ball, with its own scoring and a no-volley zone. Pickleball is cheaper and quicker to learn; padel is more athletic and its courts are pricier to book.
Both sports have exploded in popularity, both use solid rackets and both are mostly played in doubles, so they are easily confused. Here is how they actually differ.
Side-by-side comparison
| Pickleball | Padel | |
|---|---|---|
| Court | 20 × 44 ft (6.10 × 13.41 m), open | 10 × 20 m, enclosed |
| Walls | None | Glass and mesh walls, in play |
| Racket | Solid paddle, about 8 oz | Perforated foam-core racket, heavier |
| Ball | Perforated plastic ball | Pressurised ball similar to tennis, slightly less pressure |
| Net height (centre) | 34 in (86 cm) | 88 cm |
| Serve | Underhand, diagonal, volley or drop serve | Underhand after a bounce, below the waist |
| Special rule | No volleys in the 7-ft kitchen; two-bounce rule | Ball may rebound off the walls after bouncing |
| Scoring | Games to 11, only the serving side scores | Tennis scoring (15-30-40, games, sets) |
| Format | Singles or doubles | Almost always doubles |
How each game feels
Pickleball is a game of patience at the net. The kitchen stops players volleying from close in, so points are built with soft dinks until someone pops the ball up and gets attacked. Rallies are quick, reflexes matter and the court is small enough that movement is short.
Padel is about using the walls. The ball stays in play after rebounding off the glass, which gives long rallies, defensive lobs and smashes that bounce out of the cage. It is more physical, with more running and more overhead shots.
Learning curve
Both are easy to start. Pickleball is usually quicker: the underhand serve and slow plastic ball let beginners rally in the first session. Padel takes a little longer because reading the ball off the walls is a skill of its own, but tennis players adapt fast to both.
Physical demands
Padel is generally the more intense workout, with more sprints, more overheads and more time on court per point. Pickleball is lower impact, which is why it attracts players of every age, including people coming back to sport. Both are hard on the knees and ankles without proper court shoes.
Cost and access
- Equipment: an entry pickleball paddle costs less than an entry padel racket, and pickleball balls are cheap.
- Courts: padel needs a purpose-built glass court, so courts are booked by the hour and can be pricey. Pickleball can be played on tennis courts, in sports halls or on a driveway with a portable net.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose pickleball if you want a social game you can learn in an hour, play with any age group and set up almost anywhere.
- Choose padel if you want a faster, more athletic game, enjoy smashes and lobs, and have a padel club nearby.
Many players do both. If pickleball is new to you, start with what is pickleball and the rules.
FAQ
Is pickleball the same as padel?
No. Padel is played in a walled court with a perforated racket and a pressurised ball, scored like tennis. Pickleball uses an open court, a solid paddle and a plastic ball, with its own rules and scoring.
Which is easier, pickleball or padel?
Pickleball is usually easier for complete beginners thanks to the underhand serve and slower ball. Padel is also beginner-friendly but the walls take some getting used to.
Can you use a padel racket for pickleball?
No. Padel rackets are heavier, perforated and larger than the dimensions allowed for pickleball paddles, and they play very differently.
Which burns more calories?
Padel generally involves more running and overhead shots, so it tends to be the more intense workout. Singles pickleball is more demanding than doubles.