Padel vs. Pickleball vs. Paddle Tennis: What’s the Difference?

Home » Articles » Padel university » Padel vs. Pickleball vs. Paddle Tennis: What’s the Difference?

Padel, pickleball, and paddle tennis are three racket sports that have exploded in popularity across the US — but they play very differently. Padel has grown from a niche sport to a mainstream game with thousands of courts and a professional league in the US, while pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the country for several years running. On the surface they look similar, but once you step on the court the differences are obvious.

	Padel	Pickleball	Paddle Tennis
Court size	65.6 ft × 32.8 ft (enclosed)	44 ft × 20 ft (open)	60 ft × 27 ft (open)
Walls	Yes — glass & mesh walls in play	No	No
Ball	Pressurised rubber ball	Perforated plastic (wiffle-style)	Depressurised rubber ball
Racket	Solid foam/carbon paddle, no strings	Solid composite paddle	Solid perforated paddle
Scoring	Tennis scoring (games, sets)	First to 11 points	Tennis scoring
Doubles?	Always played in doubles	Singles or doubles	Singles or doubles
Serve type	Underarm only	Underarm only	Underarm only
US popularity	Fast growing — 1,000s of courts	Fastest growing sport in the US	Niche, primarily East/West Coast

Other similar sports that use racquets and tennis balls include Padel Ball, Beach Tennis, Squash, etc.

---

An Overview of Pickleball

Pickleball is a fun sport that mixes tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. On a playing area with a slightly modified tennis net, it is played both indoors and outdoors.

A Brief History of Pickleball

Joel Pritchard and his friends invented pickleball in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Pickleball grew from humble beginnings–mostly handcrafted equipment and basic rules–to become the fastest-growing sport in the United States, a title it has held for several consecutive years. Participation has surged to tens of millions of players across the country.

The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) regulates and promotes pickleball in the United States.

---

An Overview of Paddle Tennis (Pop Tennis)

A newer version of Tennis that takes a different approach to the classic game is called pop tennis.

Pop Tennis uses the very same rules and scoring format as Tennis.

It is played on smaller courts with low aspect tennis balls with green spots for adults and orange ones for children.

A Brief History of Paddle Tennis (Pop Tennis)

Frank Peer Beal, an Episcopal preacher, founded the sport in lower Manhattan in 1915.

He asked the city’s public recreational division to install facilities in Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village to have a leisure activity for neighborhood kids.

---

An Overview of Padel, the Fastest Growing Racket Sport in the World

Padel is played in pairs on glass and mesh-enclosed courts, roughly one-third of a tennis court size at first glance. You can look into the official rules of Padel here.

Padel’s growth in the US has been remarkable. By 2026 there are thousands of courts across the country, from California to Florida to New York, and a professional league (the Premier Padel League) operating in North America. You can find courts in our US padel locations and tournament guide or browse state-by-state guides like California, Texas, and Florida.

Where They’re Usually Played

Paddle tennis is commonly played in the USA. It initially became popular on the East Coast, until it became known on the West Coast and in the Middle East.

Padel has grown rapidly across the US, with courts now in every major metro area. You can read more in our articles about Padel in New York, Where to play Padel in Texas, Where to play Padel in California, Where to play Padel in Miami, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

---

---

What Type of Equipment Do I Need for Pickleball, Paddle Tennis, and Padel?

You need to know what kind of equipment you need to enjoy these sports.

Pickleball Rackets

Once you start playing pickleball, you need to use paddle tennis paddles smaller than the usual tennis racquet but larger than the paddle and wiffle balls.

Paddle Tennis Rackets, the Paddle

Although the paddles used throughout paddle tennis and pickleball are fairly similar, one important distinction is to note.

This is regarding the paddles’ texture. You should use smooth paddles, but paddle tennis paddles can be bumpy or contain holes.

Padel Rackets

The balance is a key consideration when selecting a padel racquet. A soft padel racket is a wonderful choice for beginners since it helps you get faster speeds.

Note that padel balls are not the same as tennis balls. They are normally softer.

---

Differences in Gameplay and Style

Paddle tennis has a purpose, and pickleball gets mixed up so frequently. Each of these games follows a similar format.

You could think both pickleball and paddle tennis are the same game if you don’t know the distinctions. But how does pickleball vs padel compare? Let’s go through some of the main differences.

Is the balls in Pickleball, Paddle Tennis, and Padel Similar?

Pickleball is played using a little perforated plastic ball that looks like a Wiffle ball. These balls usually contain holes and are very light.

A paddle standard tennis ball is a rubber ball that has been completely sealed.

Balls used for padel normally has less pressure (than a tennis ball) which means it bounces less and invites to longer rallies on the court.

Scoring System

These two games have completely distinct scoring systems. Padel uses the same scoring style as tennis, including tiebreaks — you can learn more about how tiebreaks work in padel here.

Pickleball, on the other hand, has its scoring system. In most cases, the winner must score at least 11 points. Furthermore, they must have at least two points more than the other player.

Differences in Playing Techniques

Now we’ll dive into the key difference between these sports and which one works best to play with.

Pickleball Tennis Court Techniques

This is the only stroke you have control over, from the toss to the timing to the pace. Keep these suggestions in mind before doing a serving style.

Use the third shot drop of solid paddles well. This is typically played when players hit hard and is a skill most essential for pickle ball. Only the serving team can score a point as well.

Padel Tennis

Position behind the service line, let the ball bounce and then hit it to the opposing field before it rises beyond our waist.

We can attempt to carry the opponent’s body to the wall or the ‘T’ on the opposite side of the track. The conditions and positioning of your opponents will determine how it is carried out.

Level of Technical Difficulty – What’s Easiest to Get Started With?

Pickleball is played on a court similar in size to badminton but with somewhat different sections. This sport is also extreme in the sense that it combines a little bit of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It’s quite the mix!

Padel is played in doubles within an enclosed court, and its size is about 1/3 of a traditional tennis court. Understanding and getting used to the glass walls is probably the biggest learning curve for players, regardless if you’ve played tennis or other racket sports before (squash being the exception).

Pickleball and Padel are both generally considered very easy to learn for players of all ages. If you want to get started with padel, our beginner’s guide to padel covers everything from the rules to basic technique.

Which Sport Gives You the Better Workout?

All three sports deliver a solid aerobic workout, but they differ in intensity and style.

Padel is the most physically demanding of the three. The enclosed court means constant movement — chasing balls off the glass walls, rapid directional changes, and frequent overhead smashes. A competitive padel match burns roughly 600–900 calories per hour and gives your legs, core, and shoulders a serious workout.

Pickleball is lower-impact by nature. The smaller court means less running, which makes it excellent for older players or anyone returning from injury. It still gets your heart rate up, especially in fast-paced dinking exchanges, but the intensity ceiling is lower than padel or tennis.

Paddle tennis sits somewhere in between — the larger court than pickleball means more movement, but without the glass-wall rebounds that padel demands.

If raw calorie burn and athleticism are your goal, padel wins. If you want a sport you can play at any age without beating up your joints, pickleball is hard to beat. Either way, you’ll be moving — and having fun doing it.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Look at the commonly inquired topics regarding pickleball vs paddle tennis vs padel court games.

---