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

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Pickleball, paddle tennis, and Padel are three racket sports that have been more popular lately. At first appearance, these three sports appear to be extremely similar.

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

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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 a popular game in the United States and Canada.

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

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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.

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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.

The Four-Wall Paddleball

Similar sports tend to be done on one-wall paddleball styles. The four surrounding walls of a four-wall paddleball can also be played outdoors by single or double tennis players.

The same court is divided into different service zones. Solid wooden paddles are used in a racket sports game, similar to how the normal racquetball is played indoors.

Only the serving player can score, like in a pickleball paddles game and they should stand in front of the service line.

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 is growing in popularity across both coasts in the US. You can read more in our articles about Padel coming to New York, Where to play Padel in Texas, Where to play Padel in California, and Where to play Padel in Miami.

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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.

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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.

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.

What Sport Is the Better Fitness Workout?

Due to the sheer heating underground, anyone may play platform tennis at any time of year. Paddle tennis is a speedier game that people may play outdoors and inside.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

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