In short
Padel and pickleball are both social, beginner-friendly doubles sports, but they play differently. Padel uses an enclosed glass court, a solid foam-core racket and a pressurized ball, with play off the walls. Pickleball uses a smaller open court, a flat paddle and a plastic ball with holes, plus a non-volley zone at the net.
Updated
What is the biggest difference between padel and pickleball?
The biggest difference is where the game is played. Padel happens on an enclosed court with glass walls that keep the ball in play, so rallies flow back and forth between the net and the back glass. Pickleball happens on an open court about the size of a badminton court, and the key area is the seven-foot non-volley zone at the net, called the kitchen, where volleying is not allowed.
That leads to different games. Padel is a game of lobs, overheads and wall rebounds with fuller swings. Pickleball is a game of soft shots into the kitchen, called dinks, quick volley exchanges, and patience at the net.
How do padel and pickleball compare side by side?
| Feature | Padel | Pickleball |
|---|---|---|
| Court | 20 × 10 m (65.6 × 32.8 ft), enclosed | 44 × 20 ft (13.4 × 6.1 m), open |
| Net height (center) | 0.88 m (34.6 in) | 34 in (36 in at the sidelines) |
| Walls | In play after the ball bounces | None |
| No-volley area | None | 7-ft non-volley zone ("kitchen") each side |
| Serve | Underhand after a bounce, two attempts | Underhand (or drop serve), one attempt |
| Opening rule | Receiver lets the serve bounce | Two-bounce rule: serve and return both bounce |
| Scoring | Tennis scoring: 15-30-40, games and sets | Games to 11, win by 2; side-out or rally scoring |
| Equipment | Solid foam-core racket, felt-covered pressurized ball | Flat paddle, perforated plastic ball |
| Format | Doubles | Doubles or singles |
How are the rules different?
Padel uses tennis scoring with points of 15, 30 and 40, games and sets, and often a deciding point at deuce. Its serve is bounced and hit at or below the waist into the diagonal box, with two attempts. After that, each side gets one bounce and may use its own walls. Our padel rules guide covers the details.
Pickleball, according to USA Pickleball's rules summary, is usually played to 11 points, win by two. In traditional side-out scoring only the serving team can score; rally scoring, where every rally scores, is also used. The serve is one attempt, underhand or as a drop serve, made diagonally. The two-bounce rule means the serve and the return must both bounce before anyone volleys, and players may not volley while standing in the kitchen.
How is the equipment different?
A padel racket is a thick, solid paddle with a foam core, a carbon or fiberglass face and holes through it, up to 45.5 cm long with a mandatory wrist cord. A padel ball is felt-covered and pressurized, similar to a tennis ball but slightly smaller and lower pressure. Our racket database and beginner racket guide explain how to choose one.
A pickleball paddle is flat, lighter and has no holes, and the ball is a hard plastic ball with holes. The pickleball ball moves more slowly through the air and does not bounce off walls, which suits the soft, placement-based game at the kitchen line.
How does strategy differ?
In both sports the team at the net usually has the upper hand, but the way you get there differs. In padel, you take the net with lobs, chasing opponents back onto their glass, and defend it with controlled overheads such as the bandeja and víbora. Defense means letting the ball come off the back glass and lobbing again. Our beginner strategy guide covers the basics.
In pickleball, you take the net by hitting a soft third shot that drops into the kitchen, then you dink until someone pops the ball up. Because the kitchen keeps volleyers back, pickleball rewards touch at close range; padel rewards reading rebounds and covering a deeper court.
Which is easier to find and cheaper to play?
Pickleball is much easier to find in the United States. Its courts are small and cheap to build, and many tennis courts have pickleball lines added. Padel needs a purpose-built glass court, so there are fewer courts and play is usually at private clubs with court booking fees. Padel clubs are opening quickly in Miami, New York, Texas and California; see our club directory or how to find padel near you.
Equipment costs are similar at entry level: both sports have affordable starter rackets or paddles, and clubs often rent them.
Should you play padel or pickleball?
Choose pickleball if you want the easiest access, play near home on public courts, and enjoy a soft-touch game at the net. Choose padel if you like longer, more physical rallies, overheads and lobs, and the problem-solving of the walls, and if there is a club within reach. Tennis players often feel at home faster in padel because of the felt ball, tennis scoring and full strokes. Many players do both.
Padel vs pickleball: frequently asked questions
Is padel harder than pickleball?
Most people find pickleball slightly easier in the first hour because the court is smaller and open. Padel's walls take time to read, but its underhand serve and longer rallies make it quick to enjoy too.
Can you use a pickleball paddle for padel?
No. Padel requires a racket that meets FIP's specifications, a perforated foam-core racket with a wrist cord. Pickleball paddles are a different shape and construction.
Is there a kitchen in padel?
No. Padel has no non-volley zone; players can volley anywhere on their side, and standing close to the net is the strongest position.
Which sport burns more calories?
Both are good exercise, and it depends on how you play. Padel rallies are often longer, with more running between the net and the back glass; pickleball involves more short, quick movements at the kitchen line.
Do both sports use the same scoring?
No. Padel uses tennis scoring in games and sets. Pickleball usually plays games to 11, win by two, with side-out or rally scoring.
Can pickleball players switch to padel easily?
Yes, especially for net play and doubles positioning. The main adjustments are letting the ball come off the glass, using lobs, and hitting overheads with control instead of driving everything.
Sources
- International Padel Federation, Rules of Padel (review in force January 1, 2026), checked October 11, 2026.
- USA Pickleball, Pickleball rules summary and What is pickleball, checked October 11, 2026.
- LTA Padel, Master your lobs, checked October 11, 2026.
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