Pickleball vs Padel: What's the Difference?
Pickleball and padel are two different racket sports that only look similar at first glance. Pickleball is played on a small, open court with a solid paddle and a perforated plastic ball, while padel is played in an enclosed glass court with a stringless racket and a pressurised ball similar to a softer tennis ball. Both are fun, social and easy to pick up, but the equipment, court and pace are quite different.
Written byTeam Custom Your Pickleball
Because both sports use a solid bat rather than a strung racket, people who have never tried either often assume they are the same game with a different name. They are not. Here is what actually sets them apart.
Pickleball vs padel at a glance
| Aspect | Pickleball | Padel |
|---|---|---|
| Court | Small, open, about 13.4m x 6.1m | Enclosed, about 20m x 10m, with glass and mesh walls |
| Equipment | Solid paddle, no strings | Solid stringless racket with holes |
| Ball | Hard, perforated plastic ball (like a wiffle ball) | Pressurised rubber ball, softer and lower-bouncing than a tennis ball |
| Walls | No walls, ball out of play if it leaves the court | Glass and mesh walls, ball stays in play off the walls |
| Pace | Slower ball speed, more finesse and net play | Faster rallies once walls come into play |
| Where to play | Outdoor or indoor courts, often shared with tennis or basketball courts | Dedicated padel courts, usually indoor or covered |
What is pickleball?
Pickleball is played on a court roughly the size of a badminton court, with a net similar height to tennis. Players use a solid paddle, usually with a polymer honeycomb core and a carbon or fiberglass hitting surface, to hit a lightweight perforated plastic ball over the net. There are no walls, so a ball hit outside the lines is simply out. The game is known for its “kitchen”, the no-volley zone near the net, which rewards patience and touch over raw power. It suits players who enjoy a social, easy-to-learn game with short rallies and a low barrier to entry.
What is padel?
Padel is played in an enclosed court surrounded by glass and mesh walls, roughly half the size of a tennis court and almost always played in doubles. The racket is solid and stringless, perforated with holes, and the ball is a pressurised rubber ball similar to a tennis ball but softer and with less bounce. The walls are part of the game: the ball can bounce off them and stay in play, which creates longer, more dynamic rallies. Padel suits players who enjoy a faster-paced, more physical game with a steeper learning curve around wall play.
Which sport should you try?
If you want a game that is quick to learn, easy on the joints and playable almost anywhere with a net, pickleball is the more accessible starting point. If you enjoy a faster, more tactical game and have access to a dedicated glass court, padel is worth trying. Many players end up enjoying both, since the racket-sport instincts carry over even though the equipment and rules differ.
If pickleball is the one you pick up, a well-chosen paddle makes a real difference from your first session onward. Once you know your level, you can design your own custom paddle for €39, incl. VAT, with a carbon hitting surface and your own design on the face, made in the Netherlands and shipped within 7 days.
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