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.