Pickleball vs. Tennis vs. Padel: Which Racket Sport Should You Try?

Introduction: Racket sports are booming in popularity, and it’s no longer just about traditional tennis. The rapid rise of pickleball – often called America’s fastest-growing sport – and the global surge of padel have given beginners and enthusiasts more options than ever. But what exactly are the differences between pickleball, tennis, and padel? Whether you’re a curious newcomer or a seasoned athlete looking to try something new, this comparison will break down each sport’s unique characteristics, similarities, and which might be the best fit for you 🙂.

Pickleball: The Fastest-Growing Newcomer 🎾

Pickleball is a relative newcomer that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Played on a small court (about 13.4m x 6.1m, similar to a badminton court) with a low net, it uses solid paddles and a plastic ball with holes (akin to a wiffle ball). Key features of pickleball include:

• Gameplay: Typically doubles play, with quick volley exchanges and a focus on the soft game (the famous “dink” shots near the net). It’s easy to pick up the basics, making it very beginner-friendly and social.
• Scoring: Games are usually played to 11 points (win by 2). Only the serving team can score a point, which is a unique rule in pickleball. This simpler scoring (no complicated 15-30-40 system) keeps games quick and accessible.
• Appeal: Pickleball is known for its inclusivity across ages. It started as a pastime for families and seniors, but today over 36.5 million Americans have tried pickleball at least once. Its participation skyrocketed 311% over just three years, reaching around 19.8 million U.S. players by 2024. This explosive growth 📈 means you’ll find pickleball courts popping up everywhere, from public parks to converted tennis courts.

Why play pickleball? If you want a fun, low-impact sport that’s easy to learn and highly social, pickleball is a great choice. The small court means less running than tennis, yet plenty of action at the net. It’s competitive but with a casual vibe – perfect for a morning hangout or multi-generational play.

Tennis: The Classic Grandfather of Racket Sports

Tennis is the well-established classic. Played on the largest court of the three (a standard singles court is 23.77m x 8.23m, and larger for doubles), tennis uses a strung racquet to hit a felt-covered rubber ball over a 0.9m high net. It’s a sport of power, precision, and endurance. Key aspects of tennis include:

• Gameplay: Can be played singles or doubles. Tennis demands more court coverage – expect lots of running and a focus on varied shots (serves, volleys, groundstrokes). Mastering technique (spin, footwork) can take time, but that challenge is part of the appeal.
• Scoring: Tennis uses the traditional 0 (“love”) – 15 – 30 – 40 – game scoring per game, with sets typically first to 6 games (must win by 2). If a game reaches 40–40 (deuce), a player needs to win two points in a row to close it out. (In padel, by contrast, there is usually no “advantage” – one point after deuce wins the game .) Tennis scoring can be the most complex to grasp for newcomers, but it adds to the sport’s strategic depth.
• Popularity: Tennis has a massive worldwide following and remains hugely popular in the U.S. In fact, 25.7 million Americans played tennis in 2024, marking five consecutive years of growth in participation. It’s a sport with a rich history, from local public courts all the way to Grand Slam tournaments.

Why play tennis? Choose tennis if you crave a full-body workout and a time-tested challenge. It offers intense cardio, one-on-one competition (or teamwork in doubles), and a deep well of strategy and skill development. Tennis might have a steeper learning curve and be more physically demanding, but it’s incredibly rewarding – there’s a reason it’s considered the classic racket sport 🏆.

Padel: The Innovative International Sensation

Padel (sometimes called padel tennis) is a hybrid of tennis and squash that’s taking off globally, though it’s still new to the U.S. Played on an enclosed court roughly 20m x 10m (about one-third the size of a tennis court), padel uses solid paddles (no strings) and a ball similar to a tennis ball but with slightly less pressure for a bit less bounce. What makes padel unique:

• Gameplay: Padel is always played as doubles. The court is enclosed by glass walls and wire mesh fencing, and players can hit the ball off the walls (just like in squash) as part of the game. This leads to longer rallies with creative use of angles and rebounds. The playstyle is fast-paced and reflex-heavy, but the smaller court means less running than tennis. An underhand serve is used (the ball must bounce once before you hit it). Overall, padel is often described as easier to pick up than tennis – the walls help keep the ball in play, and the emphasis is on strategy and teamwork over pure power.
• Scoring: Padel uses essentially the same scoring system as tennis (games scored 15-30-40, etc., and matches usually best of 3 sets). However, many padel games use “golden point” at deuce (40-40) – meaning no ad-in/ad-out; the next point wins the game. This keeps matches moving swiftly.
• Popularity: Internationally, padel is huge – over 30 million people play padel worldwide, with Spain alone boasting around 5+ million players. It’s especially popular in Europe and Latin America. In the U.S., padel is just beginning to grow: as of 2023 there were only about 100,000 players in the States, and a few hundred courts. That said, U.S. interest is rising fast (new padel clubs are opening in major cities like Miami, Los Angeles, and New York), and some predict a boom in the coming years.

Why play padel? If the idea of a fast, strategic doubles game appeals to you – one that mixes the best of tennis’s tactics with the added fun of wall shots – padel is worth a try. It’s very social (since you’re always playing doubles) and a bit more forgiving for beginners than tennis, while still offering plenty of advanced strategy for competitive players. Plus, you get the novelty factor of trying the world’s fastest-growing racket sport (padel is expanding even faster globally than pickleball).

Key Differences at a Glance

All three sports share the basic concept of hitting a ball over a net, but the experience of each is quite different. Here’s a quick rundown of pickleball vs. tennis vs. padel:

• Court Size & Environment: Tennis courts are the largest and open-air. Padel courts are medium-sized and enclosed with walls, which are integral to gameplay. Pickleball courts are the smallest (roughly a quarter of a tennis court) and have no walls (often they’re modified tennis or badminton courts).
• Equipment: Tennis uses a strung racquet and pressurized rubber ball. Padel uses a solid paddle (usually carbon fiber, with holes) and a slightly less bouncy ball (felt-covered, looks like a tennis ball). Pickleball uses a solid paddle (often composite or graphite, with a flat face) and a hard plastic ball with holes. The feel of hitting a pickleball vs. a tennis ball is very different – pickleballs are lighter and don’t fly as fast.
• Play Style: Tennis emphasizes powerful serves, long-range ground strokes, and overall athletic endurance (lots of running). Pickleball is more about reflexes and touch at the net; due to the “kitchen” no-volley zone at the net, players engage in cat-and-mouse dink rallies until someone can smash an overhead. Padel is fast and dynamic, with frequent net play like doubles tennis, but also tactical lobs and use of the walls to set up shots. Padel points can be spectacular with their off-the-wall shots and quick exchanges in a confined space.
• Accessibility: Pickleball is arguably the easiest for total beginners – the small court and underhand serves mean you can start having fun rallying almost immediately. It’s also low-impact physically, which is why you see many seniors playing. Tennis, while widely accessible in terms of public courts, has the steepest learning curve; it may take a while to develop consistent strokes and serves. Padel falls in between: finding a court might be the hardest part currently (depending on your location), but once you do, the game itself is beginner-friendly and less punishing on the body than tennis (yet a great workout).

Which Sport Is Right for You? 🤔

Consider what you’re looking for in a sport:

• For a fun, social game you can enjoy at any age or skill level: Pickleball is a fantastic choice. It’s easy to learn in one session and addictive to play. You’ll find a welcoming community at local parks and clubs, and you don’t need much equipment to start (a paddle and a few balls). No wonder so many people have jumped into pickleball recently.
• For a traditional, high-intensity sport with a competitive edge: Tennis might be your go-to. It offers a classic one-on-one challenge (or two-on-two in doubles) and plenty of room to advance your skills. If you love the idea of long rallies, powerful shots, and even possibly competing in leagues or tournaments, tennis provides that path. Just be ready for a workout – tennis can burn 500–800 calories an hour in singles play, more than pickleball or padel on average.
• For a fresh, exciting twist that blends teamwork and strategy: Try padel if you can find a local court. It’s perfect if you enjoy doubles camaraderie and a bit of flair in your game (yes, hitting off the glass wall feels awesome!). Padel is often cited as easier on the knees than tennis (smaller court, less sprinting) while still providing great exercise and competitive depth. As the sport grows, you could be an early adopter in the U.S. and help spread the trend.

Conclusion

In the end, there’s no single “best” racket sport – each of these has its own charms. The good news is you really can’t go wrong: all three will get you moving, sharpen your reflexes, and offer a fun social outlet. Why not play all of them and see which one steals your heart? Whether you’re dinking on a pickleball court, trading forehands on the tennis court, or slamming a ball off the padel glass, you’ll be part of the growing racket sports community. So grab a paddle or racquet, head to the nearest court, and enjoy the game 🎉!