Padel vs pickleball has become a hot topic as both racket sports skyrocket in popularity worldwide. Though they may look similar at first glance, their courts, equipment, and playing styles set them apart in fascinating ways.
In recent years, racket sports have been undergoing a quiet revolution. Beyond the traditional dominance of tennis, two new contenders have been winning hearts around the world: pickleball and padel. If you’ve scrolled through social media or visited a sports club lately, chances are you’ve heard people debating these two fast-growing games. But despite both involving rackets, courts, and a net, they are far from the same sport.
So, what exactly sets pickleball and padel apart? Who wins in the comparison of padel vs pickleball? From the court dimensions to the rules, from the equipment to the playing style, this guide will break down the key differences. Whether you’re curious about trying one of them or simply want to impress your friends with some sports knowledge, read on—this side-by-side comparison will clear things up.
Origins and Popularity
Every sport has a story, and both pickleball and padel were born out of creativity and experimentation.
Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. Legend has it, the game began as a way to keep the kids entertained with leftover badminton equipment and a perforated plastic ball. Over the decades, pickleball evolved into a structured sport with clear rules, associations, and tournaments. Today, it’s considered the fastest-growing sport in the United States, with millions of players ranging from retirees to young professionals.
Padel, on the other hand, was born in Mexico in 1969 when Enrique Corcuera modified his home tennis court by adding walls, creating a game that was easier for friends and family to enjoy. The sport soon traveled to Spain and Argentina, where it absolutely exploded. Now, padel is a top recreational sport in Spain, rivaling tennis in popularity, and it is steadily gaining ground in the U.S., UK, Middle East, and Asia.
In short, pickleball is dominating North America, while padel has become a European and Latin American favorite—though both are increasingly global.
Court and Playing Environment – Padel vs Pickleball
One of the most obvious differences between the two sports lies in their playing environments.
Pickleball
Pickleball is played on a court similar in size to a badminton court—20 feet wide by 44 feet long. The surface is flat, usually made of hard court materials, and the game is played either indoors or outdoors. The net is 34 inches high in the center. Importantly, there are no walls—so once the ball is out, the rally ends.
Padel
Padel, in contrast, is played on an enclosed court that is 20 meters long by 10 meters wide. The defining feature is the use of glass or mesh walls, which the ball can bounce off, much like squash. The court always has a net in the middle and is designed primarily for doubles play. The environment creates a faster, more dynamic game with strategic wall rebounds.
Equipment and Gear
Step onto each court and you’ll quickly notice that the gear is different too.
Pickleball
Pickleball uses paddles that are solid and usually made of composite, graphite, or wood. They are larger than table tennis paddles but smaller than tennis rackets. The ball is a perforated plastic ball (wiffle-like) with holes, which reduces speed and makes it easier to control.
Padel
Padel, by contrast, uses a racket that looks like a hybrid between a tennis racket and a beach paddle. It has no strings; instead, it is solid with perforations (holes) for aerodynamics. The ball is similar to a tennis ball but slightly less pressurized, giving it a softer bounce.
As for gear costs, pickleball paddles are generally cheaper and widely available in sporting goods stores, while padel rackets and balls are slightly more specialized and often sold in padel clubs or European markets. Footwear also differs—pickleball players often use general court shoes, while padel requires tennis-style shoes with better grip for sliding movements.
Rules and Scoring
Now comes the part that really separates the two: how the games are played.
Pickleball rules
- Can be played as singles or doubles.
- The serve is underhand and must be made diagonally.
- Only the serving side can score points.
- Games are usually played to 11 points, win by 2.
- There is a “no-volley zone” near the net, commonly called “the kitchen,” where players cannot smash volleys. This adds a layer of strategy.
Padel rules
- Almost always played in doubles.
- The serve is also underhand, but it must bounce once before crossing the net.
- Standard tennis scoring is used: 15, 30, 40, game.
- Matches are typically played as best-of-three sets.
- The ball can bounce off the glass walls, keeping rallies alive and forcing players to think ahead.
So while pickleball games are shorter and quicker, padel matches tend to last longer with extended rallies and more complex strategies.
Playing Style and Experience
The gameplay experience of pickleball and padel feels very different.
Pickleball is known for its slower pace and emphasis on placement over power. Short rallies, “dinking” (soft shots just over the net), and reflex volleys dominate the style. It is low-impact, making it ideal for older people, beginners, and mixed-age groups.
Padel, in contrast, combines the power of tennis with the strategy of squash. Rallies can be long and fast-paced, especially since the ball can rebound off walls. Players must use lobs, smashes, and angled shots to outwit opponents. It requires quick reflexes, agility, and a bit more stamina than pickleball.
For beginners, pickleball is often easier to pick up within a few games, while padel rewards persistence and offers more depth once mastered.
Accessibility and Growth
One reason both sports are exploding in popularity is accessibility.
Pickleball: In the U.S. and Canada, community centers, schools, and parks have embraced the sport. Courts are inexpensive to set up, often using existing tennis or badminton lines. Its appeal spans generations, but especially older adults looking for a social, low-stress sport.
Padel: While less common in North America, padel clubs are booming in Europe, with celebrities like Rafael Nadal and David Beckham endorsing it. Dedicated padel courts are required, which makes it harder to expand quickly compared to pickleball. However, where courts exist, the sport attracts both recreational players and competitive enthusiasts.
Both are trending upward globally, with major investments pouring into new facilities.
Which One Should You Play – Padel vs Pickleball?
So, pickleball or padel—what’s right for you?
Choose pickleball if you want a fun, social, and easy-to-learn sport. It’s perfect if you’re looking for something lower impact, highly accessible, and community-driven.
Choose padel if you love longer rallies, enclosed courts, and the mix of tennis power with squash strategy. It’s ideal if you want a physically engaging sport that challenges both your mind and body.
Of course, the best option is to try both—you may find yourself hooked on each for different reasons.
Is padel easier than pickleball?
When comparing padel and pickleball, “easy” depends on what you mean—picking up the basics or mastering the craft. Pickleball usually wins on accessibility. Its court is smaller, the plastic ball moves slower, and the underhand serve feels intuitive even for first-timers. Within minutes, beginners can rally and laugh their way through a game. Padel, however, introduces walls, rebounds, and a scoring system borrowed from tennis. It’s still considered easier to learn than traditional tennis, but it demands sharper footwork and spatial awareness. The glass walls create angles and strategies that take time to read and anticipate. That said, many find padel less intimidating than tennis because the rackets are lighter, serves are underhand, and rallies last longer, giving players more chances to recover. So, while pickleball is quicker to grasp, padel offers a slightly steeper but more rewarding learning curve that keeps players hooked.
Which is growing faster, pickleball or padel?
Pickleball is currently the fastest-growing sport in the United States, with participation more than doubling between 2020 and 2023 and millions of new players joining community courts each year. Its appeal lies in accessibility—low-cost equipment, easy rules, and availability in schools and parks. Padel, meanwhile, is surging in Europe and Latin America, with Spain boasting over 20,000 courts and professional tournaments drawing global attention. While padel is expanding internationally at a rapid pace, especially in Europe and the Middle East, pickleball’s explosive growth rate in North America makes it the frontrunner in sheer speed of adoption.
Why is padel so expensive?
Padel feels pricey not because of the racket or ball, but because of its infrastructure demands. Unlike pickleball or tennis, padel requires a specialized enclosed court with glass walls, steel mesh, and artificial turf, all of which are costly to build and maintain. Limited availability of courts in many regions drives up club fees, as operators recover construction and upkeep costs. Imported rackets and balls, often from Spain or Italy, add to the expense. On top of that, padel’s growing popularity creates high demand in exclusive clubs, where membership and booking fees reflect its rising “premium sport” status.
Can a pickleball court fit in a padel court?
Yes, a pickleball court can fit inside a padel court, but with space to spare. A standard pickleball court measures 20 x 44 feet, while a padel court is much larger at 66 x 33 feet (20 x 10 meters) and fully enclosed with walls. This means you could easily mark out a pickleball court within the padel space. However, the walls and surface design of padel might affect gameplay, so while it’s possible, the experience wouldn’t feel identical to a true pickleball setup.
Final Words on the Debate – Padel vs Pickleball
Pickleball and padel may share similarities as racket sports, but their differences are striking. Pickleball thrives on open courts, wiffle-like balls, and quick matches, while padel shines in enclosed courts with wall rebounds and longer rallies.
Both sports have skyrocketed in popularity because they are accessible, social, and incredibly fun. Whether you’re picking up a pickleball paddle in your local park or stepping onto a glass-walled padel court in Spain, you’ll find a sport that keeps you moving and smiling.
So why choose? Give both a try, and discover firsthand whether you’re a pickleball strategist, a padel tactician—or maybe both.
