Padel vs Tennis vs Pickleball: Which Should You Play?

Padel vs pickleball is the question a lot of people are asking, with tennis never far behind. All three are racket sports you can play in doubles, and all three are booming in the UK. But they feel very different once you are on court, and one will suit you better than the others.

This guide compares the courts, the rules, the kit, the cost and how easy each one is to pick up, then gives a plain answer on which to try first. If you want to have a go at all three, these are good starting points.

One for each sport

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Padel, tennis and pickleball at a glance

	Padel	Tennis	Pickleball
Court	20 m by 10 m, enclosed by glass and mesh	23.77 m by 10.97 m, open	13.41 m by 6.1 m, open
Racket	Solid, short, with holes	Strung	Solid paddle, no holes
Ball	Low pressure, tennis style	Pressurised tennis ball	Light plastic ball with holes
Serve	Underarm, after a bounce	Overarm	Underarm
Walls in play	Yes	No	No
Scoring	15, 30, 40, game	15, 30, 40, game	Games to 11, win by 2
Usual format	Doubles	Singles or doubles	Doubles mostly

Padel vs pickleball: the main differences

First of all, the biggest difference is the walls. In padel, the ball can come off the glass and stay in play, so rallies go on longer and you get a second chance at shots you would miss on an open court. Pickleball, by contrast, has no walls. Instead, it has the kitchen, a strip two metres deep on each side of the net where you are not allowed to volley.

The balls are different too. A pickleball is a light plastic ball with holes, so it moves slowly through the air and does not bounce much. A padel ball is a felt ball like a tennis ball, with slightly less pressure. As a result, padel is quicker and more physical, while pickleball is more about placement and soft touch at the net.

Scoring works differently as well. Padel uses tennis scoring. Pickleball games go to 11 points, and you have to win by two. In the traditional format, only the serving side can win a point, which takes a little getting used to.

Padel vs tennis: what changes

Two thirds of padel players in Britain also play tennis, according to the LTA, so this is the switch most people make. Padel is played on a court about a third of the size, so there is far less running. The serve is underarm, and the walls mean you can let the ball pass you and still get it back.

In general, most tennis players find padel easy to pick up and quickly enjoy it. The hardest habits to unlearn are the big swing and hitting the ball before it reaches the glass. On the other hand, tennis offers singles, more courts and a bigger workout, so plenty of people play both.

Which is easiest to learn?

In the padel vs pickleball race to a first rally, pickleball usually wins. The court is small, the ball is slow and the paddle is light, so most people can rally within minutes. Padel comes a close second, because the short racket and small court make the ball easy to control. Tennis is the hardest of the three to pick up, and it usually takes a few lessons before games feel like games.

However, getting good is a different matter. All three take years to master. In padel, the hard part is reading the ball off the glass, while in pickleball it is the patient, soft game at the kitchen line.

Which is the best workout?

Singles tennis is the hardest work, because you cover the most ground. Padel comes next, with constant short movements and long rallies, and pickleball is the gentlest. For the detail on calories and fitness, see our guide to whether padel is good exercise.

Which costs the least?

Tennis can be the cheapest, since some park courts are free and many cost only a few pounds an hour. Pickleball sessions are usually run in sports halls and community centres, with a small charge per person. Padel courts cost more to hire, but split four ways it usually comes to about £5 to £12 each for an hour outside London. Our guide to padel prices in the UK has the detail.

Where can you play in the UK?

Tennis courts, of course, are everywhere. Padel is catching up fast, with 2,445 courts at 682 venues in Britain according to the LTA, and our UK padel court finder lists them region by region. Pickleball is mostly played on badminton courts in sports halls, or on tennis courts marked up for it, so check with your local leisure centre.

Padel vs pickleball: your questions answered

Is padel the same as pickleball?

No. Both are racket sports with an underarm serve, but padel is played inside glass walls with a short racket and a low pressure tennis style ball. Pickleball is played on an open court with a solid paddle and a light plastic ball full of holes.

Is pickleball easier than padel?

For the first hour, usually yes. The court is smaller and the ball is slower. Padel catches up quickly, though, and most people are having proper rallies in their first padel game too.

Can you play padel on a tennis court?

No. Padel needs its own enclosed court with glass walls and mesh. Pickleball, on the other hand, can be played on a tennis court with temporary lines and a lower net.

Is padel more popular than pickleball in the UK?

Yes, by some distance at the moment. The LTA counted 1.5 million padel players in Britain in October 2026. Pickleball is growing fast, but it is still mostly played in sports halls and at tennis clubs.

Which is best for older players?

Pickleball is the gentlest of the three, with the least running. Padel is close behind, and the walls give you a second chance at many shots. Tennis is the most demanding, especially in singles.

New to padel? Start with our guide to what padel is and how it works, then our padel for beginners guide.