Padel vs. Tennis: Key Differences Every Player Should Know

Racket sports continue to grow in popularity, and two standouts are padel and tennis. While they may seem similar at first glance, they are quite different in terms of gameplay, court setup, equipment, and strategy.

Whether you’re a tennis player thinking about trying padel, or a beginner choosing between the two, here’s a complete breakdown of the key differences between padel and tennis.

1. Court Size & Structure

• Tennis: Played on a large open court (23.77m x 8.23m for singles).
• Padel: Played on a smaller enclosed court (20m x 10m), surrounded by glass and mesh walls. These walls are part of the game—similar to squash.

🔑 Key Difference: Padel courts are enclosed and designed for wall rebounds, which changes the dynamics of play.

2. Equipment Differences

• Tennis: Uses a traditional stringed racket and pressurized tennis balls.
• Padel: Uses a solid paddle with no strings and a lower-pressure ball that bounces less.

🔑 Key Difference: Padel paddles are easier to control, making it more beginner-friendly.

3. Serving Technique

• Tennis: Players serve overhand, often with high speed and spin.
• Padel: Serve is underhand and must bounce before being hit below waist height.

🔑 Key Difference: Padel’s underhand serve is less intimidating for new players.

4. Game Format

• Tennis: Can be played as singles or doubles.
• Padel: Almost always played as doubles.

🔑 Key Difference: Padel is a more social sport due to its doubles-only format.

5. Strategy & Gameplay

• Tennis: Focuses on power, spin, and baseline rallies.
• Padel: Emphasizes strategy, volleys, and use of walls. The pace is generally slower but more tactical.

🔑 Key Difference: Padel relies more on positioning and patience than raw power.

6. Scoring System

• Both sports use the same 15-30-40-game format.
• Padel adds the “golden point” rule at deuce: the next point wins the game, making matches faster.

7. Popularity & Accessibility

• Tennis: An Olympic sport with major tournaments like Wimbledon and the US Open.
• Padel: One of the fastest-growing sports globally, especially in Spain, Italy, Mexico, and the Middle East.

🔑 Key Difference: Padel is easier to learn and more accessible to all age groups.

8. Learning Curve

• Tennis: Requires more technical skill to start, especially for serving and rallying.
• Padel: Easier to pick up, with longer rallies and shorter learning curve for new players.

Final Thoughts: Which Sport Should You Try?

If you enjoy high-paced action and strategic gameplay in a social setting, padel is a fantastic option, especially for beginners. If you’re drawn to tradition, individual competition, and high-level technique, tennis may be the better fit.

Whichever you choose, both sports offer great cardio, mental challenge, and community.