Pickleball vs tennis vs padel: what's the difference?
By the PaddleBag team · Updated October 5, 2026
Pickleball and padel are both growing fast in the Philippines, and both get compared to tennis. They look similar but play very differently. Here's how they compare.
Quick comparison
- Court: pickleball 20 × 44 ft (6.1 × 13.4 m); padel 10 × 20 m with walls; tennis doubles 36 × 78 ft (11 × 23.8 m).
- Gear: pickleball uses a solid paddle and a plastic ball with holes; padel uses a solid racket with holes and a low-pressure ball; tennis uses a strung racket and a felt ball.
- Serve: pickleball and padel serve underhand; tennis serves overhand.
- Scoring: pickleball games go to 11, win by 2; padel and tennis use 15-30-40 games and sets.
- Walls: only in padel, where the ball can be played off the glass.
Pickleball vs tennis
Pickleball is played on a much smaller court with a lighter paddle and a slower ball, so there's less running and shorter swings. The kitchen rule keeps players off the net, which makes soft touch shots as important as power.
Tennis players usually pick up pickleball quickly, but have to unlearn big swings and learn the soft game at the kitchen.
Pickleball vs padel
Both are mostly played as doubles with underhand serves. The big difference is the walls: padel is played in a glass-and-mesh enclosure, and using the walls is a core skill. Pickleball has no walls and is won or lost at the kitchen line.
Pickleball courts are smaller and cheaper to build, so they often fit on existing basketball or tennis courts. Padel needs a dedicated enclosed court.
Which is easiest to learn?
Pickleball is usually the easiest to start. Most beginners can rally in their first session. Padel is also beginner-friendly, and tennis takes the longest to play a real rally.
Many players do more than one. If you're new to racket sports, pickleball is a low-cost way to start.
FAQ
Is pickleball easier than tennis?
For most beginners, yes. The court is smaller, the paddle is lighter, and the ball is slower, so you can rally sooner.
What is the difference between pickleball and padel?
Padel is played in an enclosed court with walls that are part of play, uses tennis-style scoring, and a low-pressure ball. Pickleball has no walls, games to 11, a plastic ball with holes, and a non-volley zone near the net.
Can you play pickleball on a tennis court?
Yes. You can tape pickleball lines on a tennis court and use a portable net. One tennis court can usually fit up to 4 pickleball courts.