Padel vs pickleball vs tennis: What's the difference?

02 Dec.,2024

 

Padel vs pickleball vs tennis: What's the difference?

In recent years,

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from fortune.

padel

, pickleball and

tennis

have surged in popularity, each attracting enthusiasts for different reasons. Here&#;s a breakdown of their differences and what makes each sport appealing.

01

What's pickleball?

Pickleball has seen exponential growth in popularity, primarily in the United States. The sport originated there in the mid-s and has spread rapidly across the country. Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net. Players use a solid paddle that's usually made of wood or composite materials and a perforated plastic ball, akin to a wiffle ball. The game can be played as singles or doubles and the objective is simple: score points by hitting the ball over the net and into the opponent&#;s court, while following a few basic rules.

Pickleball is easy to learn and perfect for beginners thanks to straightforward rules. It's social and fosters community interaction, with closer courts for chatting and making friends. It's a great workout without the physical intensity of tennis, making it ideal for older adults and those seeking low-impact exercise.

02

What's padel?

Padel straddles the line between tennis and squash

© Premier Padel/Red Bull Content Pool

Padel was invented as recently as , by Mexican Enrique Corcuera, as a hybrid of tennis and squash. The game was designed to be played in enclosed spaces with walls and using solid paddles with small holes on the surface instead of strung rackets. It quickly gained popularity in Spain and later spread across Europe and the Americas, becoming a favored sport for its social aspect and accessibility.

03

What's tennis?

Tennis has royal roots: It started in the 12th century as a handball game called 'jeu de paume' in France and was first played by aristocrats before it evolved into the racquet sport with mass appeal that we know today. In tennis,

two (one versus one, called singles) or four players (two versus two, called doubles)

hit a small yellow ball over a net into the other player's side of the court using racquets.

Tennis is one of the world's most popular sports

© Oriol Castello/Red Bull Content Pool

The aim is to hit the ball in a way that the other player can't return it, thereby

scoring points

. The game is played on different surfaces, like

grass, clay

or hard courts, and the first player to win a set number of games and sets wins the match.

04

How to play: padel vs pickleball vs tennis

Court dimensions

Padel courts are compact and enclosed

© Jaime De Diego/Red Bull Content Pool

Tennis is played on a rectangular court, typically 23.5m long and 8m wide for singles, with a net that stands 0.9m high at the center. Players use strung racquets to hit a felt-covered rubber ball over the net. Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court (13.5m x 6m) with a net similar to tennis, but slightly lower.

Tennis courts are the biggest of the three sports

© Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool

Padel on the other hand is played on a smaller, enclosed court (20m x 10m), with walls that players can use to bounce the ball. Padel racquets are solid and perforated, while the ball is similar to a tennis ball but slightly less pressurized.

05

Equipment

In tennis, players use strung racquets to hit a felt-covered rubber ball over the net. The standard padel paddle is solid and perforated, while the ball is similar to a tennis ball but less pressurized. In pickleball, players also use solid paddles, but hit a perforated plastic ball instead.

06

Rules

While tennis, pickleball and padel share some basic elements, they vary significantly in court dimensions,

scoring systems

, service rules, ball types and net heights.

All three sports involve using a racket to hit a ball over a net and they all use a point system to determine winners of games and sets. However, they differ in how points are counted, whether they use advantage after deuce and how sets are won. Tennis and padel use a more traditional scoring method, with advantage, while pickleball simplifies the scoring and eliminates the advantage concept.

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Tennis has the most complex and involved rules

© Mihai Stetcu/Red Bull Content Pool

The scoring in tennis progresses as follows: 0 (love), 15, 30, 40 and then the game. If both players or teams are tied at 40-40 (deuce), one must win two consecutive points to win the game. Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis, but there's no advantage played. Instead, the next point wins the game after deuce. Pickleball has its own unique scoring system where points can only be scored by the serving team.

07

How is padel different from pickleball and tennis?

Padel courts are smaller than

tennis courts

and they are enclosed by glass walls and wire mesh. Pickleball courts are even smaller than padel courts, with a lower net and boundary lines similar to badminton. Padel is played with solid paddles, like pickleball, but with a depressurized tennis ball that has lower bounce. Pickleball uses a plastic ball with holes.

Padel is the most unique sports, allowing plays to be made off the walls

© Premier Padel/Red Bull Content Pool

The main difference between the sports is that padel allows the ball to be played off the walls, introducing an element of strategy involving angles and bounces. Tennis involves more running and uses a larger court, with more emphasis on powerful serves and ground strokes.

08

What are the similarities between padel, pickleball and tennis?

All three are racquet sports played with a ball, requiring players to hit the ball over a net using the racquet. All three sports are played on a court divided by a net, although the dimensions of the court and the height of the net vary. Tennis has the largest court, followed by padel and then pickleball. All three also use a scoring system based on points , with the aim of winning games, sets and matches.

09

Does athleticism matter in tennis, padel or pickleball?

Ale Galán puts in the work in the gym to excel on the padel court

© Alberto Nevado/Red Bull Content Pool

Engaging in any of these sports provides cardiovascular exercise, improves agility and enhances hand-eye coordination. All three require a combination of speed, agility, coordination, endurance and strategic thinking to excel.

In tennis, upper body strength is really crucial for powerful serves and ground strokes, while lower body strength aids in quick movements and stability on the larger court. Pickleball, on the other hand, demands quick lateral movement and agility to cover the smaller court efficiently.

Whichever your racquet sport, get out there and enjoy it

© Jan Kasl/Red Bull Content Pool

10

Padel vs pickleball vs tennis: which is better?

That&#;s a question everybody has to answer for themselves. Each sport has its own charms and benefits. Tennis offers tradition, athleticism and the thrill of the individual challenge. Pickleball brings accessibility, speed and a sense of community that's hard to beat. Padel offers innovation, teamwork and a relaxed playing style that appeals to many.

Ultimately, whether you gravitate towards the elegance of tennis, the dynamism of pickleball or the inclusivity of padel, the joy lies in picking up a racket and giving it a swing.

What's the Difference Between Padel & Tennis? | Azadea UAE

What is Padel?

Ever wondered what this sport is all about? Padel is a blend of both tennis and squash; the perfect combination of action filled with fun and keeps you fit. It doesn&#;t matter what age you are; padel is a fantastic activity for people of all. It&#;s Easy to pick up and play, allowing anybody to enjoy the thrill of this sport. With an easy-to-hold stringless racket and a low compression tennis ball, the game is highly addictive and has seen a rise in the number of people taking part in this activity. Padel is usually played in doubles.

The Differences Between Padel and Tennis

You may have understood now how these two indoor racket sports vary from one another. Let&#;s dive deeper and learn more about these sports, from the rackets to the rules.&#;&#;

If you want to learn more, please visit our website covered padel courts.