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Pickleball vs. Padel

Pickleball vs. Padel

Fazil Baker @

Padel vs Pickleball: a Battle of Courts. 

In recent years, two racquet sports have earned recognition and popularity really fast: padel and pickleball. These sports have grabbed the attention of people of all skills and ages because of how flexible padel and pickleball are. Let’s dive deeper into the similarities and differences between padel and pickleball.

Padel vs Pickleball: A Short Visit To History

Pickleball

A relatively young sport, pickleball was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard and his friends in Bainbridge Island, Washington, United States. The sport was invented one Saturday when everyone couldn’t find something to do and was getting bored. Using an old badminton court, ping pong paddles, and some plastic balls, pickleball was born. Pickleball was inspired by badminton, ping pong, and tennis. This sport quickly rose to fame as more and more people heard about it. Although one of the fastest-growing sports in America, this sport boomed more during the COVID-19 pandemic when people craved interactions due to the lockdowns. 

Padel

One of the things that padel and pickleball share is that they are both relatively new compared to other sports. Padel, also called padel tennis, was invented in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera in Acapulco, Mexico. Corcuera used his squash court and modified it to be able to play platform tennis. A padel's court used to have concrete walls but since the audience can't watch the game through this, the walls were eventually changed to glass.

Padel vs Pickleball: Understanding the Basics

Court 

  • Pickleball - a pickleball court looks like a small tennis court, measuring 44 feet long and 20 feet wide. It has a 7 feet space on both sides of the net called the pickleball kitchen or non-volley zone.
  • Padel - a padel court is bigger than a pickleball court, but smaller than an average tennis court. It measures 65.6 feet long and 32.8 feet wide. A major difference between padel and pickleball besides the size is that a padel’s court is enclosed by glass walls.

    • Equipment

    A difference between padel and pickleball is the equipment being used. 

  • Pickleball 
    •
      • Pickleball Paddle - pickleball uses a paddle made of (usually) composite materials like fiberglass or carbon fiber. It can also sometimes be made of wood.

    Interested in playing pickleball? Get yourself a premium paddle that will help elevate your game on the court! Check out 101 Pickleball Paddles now!


  • Pickleballs - a distinct difference between padel and pickleball is the ball being used. Pickleballs are made of plastic that have holes. There are also different kinds of pickleballs used depending on whether you will be playing indoors or outdoors. Indoor balls are lighter and have fewer, bigger holes so it’s easier to control in an indoor setting. Outdoor balls are heavier and have more, smaller holes so it’s not easily affected by wind.
  • Padel

    •
    • Padel Racket - padel uses a racket that looks like a pickleball paddle that is also made of synthetic materials like carbon fiber and fiberglass. The difference between padel and pickleball is that a padel racket is perforated.



    • Padel Balls - padel uses balls that look like tennis balls but are less pressurized.


     

    Rules

    Pickleball

  • Serve - a pickleball serve is usually made with an underhand and you must stand behind the baseline. The ball must be hit below the waist and the paddle head must be below wrist level. The ball must go diagonally to your opponent’s court.
  • Drop Serve - you can also do a drop serve where you drop the ball first before hitting it. 
  • Scoring - the game is typically played up to 11 points, win by 2. 
    • Only the serving team can earn a score. If the serving team makes a fault, the serve will go to the opponent. 
  • Players - can be played as singles, doubles, or with just 3 players called the King of the Hill Pickleball.
  • Double-Bounce Rule - one of the basic rules of pickleball is the double-bounce rule where the players have to let the ball bounce first before hitting it during the return of serve and third drop shot in pickleball.

    • Padel

  • Serve - a padel serve is made with an underhand and must also travel diagonally across your opponent’s court. The ball must bounce at least once before the server hits it and the server must keep at least one foot on the ground.
  • Scoring - padel uses the same scoring system as tennis using sets. A game of padel is typically played to the best of 3 sets. A set is made up of 6 games.
  • Players - padel is usually played as doubles, but can also be played as singles.
  • Bounce Rule - the ball can bounce on the walls and net as long as it bounces on the ground first.

    • Padel vs Pickleball: Similarities of the Sports

    While both sports are very different from each other, padel and pickleball share some similarities as well.

  • Social Sports - padel and pickleball are social sports. They can both be played as doubles and can be enjoyed by all ages. If you want to make friends or bond with people who share your interests, these sports are the way to go. Just always remember your padel and pickleball etiquette.
  • Skills are Needed - these sports require skills, strategy, and hand-eye coordination so it would be useful to improve in these areas. 
  • Underhand Serve - both sports use the underhand serve.

    • These are some similarities that both sports share. Let’s now discuss the difference between padel and pickleball.

    Padel vs Pickleball: Differences of the Sports

    Although both are racquet sports, padel and pickleball have differences that set them apart from each other.

  • Court - the difference between a padel and a pickleball court is that a padel court is bigger and has glass walls around it.
  • Ball - padel uses a pressurized ball while pickleball uses a perforated, plastic ball.
  • Paddle - although they look similar, the difference between a padel and a pickleball paddle is that a padel racket has perforations.
  • Gameplay - padel combines the elements of squash, tennis, and badminton while pickleball combines the elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong.
  • Physical Demand - padel requires higher intensity and focuses more on agility, power, and precision. On the other hand, pickleball only requires lower intensity.

    •  

    Feature Padel Pickleball
    Core Concept Racket sport Racket sport
    Social Aspect Highly social Highly social
    Skill Requirement Requires skill, strategy, and hand-eye coordination Requires skill, strategy, and hand-eye coordination
    Serve Underhand serve Underhand serve
    --- --- ---
    Differences
    --- --- ---
    Court Size Smaller than a tennis court, enclosed court Smaller than a tennis court, open court
    Ball Less pressurized tennis ball Perforated plastic ball
    Paddles Solid paddles with a perforated surface Solid paddles
    Gameplay Combines elements of tennis, squash, and badminton, uses walls Emphasizes dinking and strategic play
    Physical Demand Higher intensity Lower intensity

     

    Padel vs Pickleball: Which Sport is for You?

    Choosing between padel and pickleball can be a tough decision, as both sports have their benefits and challenges. Here's a quick breakdown to help you decide which sport might be the best fit for you:

    Pickleball

    • Beginners -  pickleball is a great sport for beginners as it's easy to learn and less physically demanding than padel.
    • Social Players -  pickleball is a highly social sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels.
    • Strategic Players - pickleball emphasizes strategy, dinking, and soft shots. It's a great sport for those who enjoy a more tactical approach to the game.

    Padel

    • Competitive Players - if you enjoy a fast-paced, strategic game that requires agility, power, and precision, padel is a great choice.
    • Social Players -  padel is a social sport that can be enjoyed with friends and family. The enclosed court and the use of the walls create opportunities for exciting rallies and strategic play.

    Both sports are great ways to stay fit and active and have fun. Ultimately, the right sport to choose will depend on you. There’s no harm in trying both sports until you find the one that best suits you. You can even try other racket sports too, if you’re feeling adventurous. Check out the comparison between tennis and pickleball so you have all the information you need to decide.

    To Wrap It Up

    Both padel and pickleball have the elements that make them exciting and engaging sports. While they share some similarities, such as their social nature and emphasis on skill, they differ significantly in terms of court size, equipment, and gameplay.

    Padel, with its enclosed court and focus on strategic wall play, offers a high-intensity experience that requires agility, power, and precision. Pickleball, on the other hand, is a more relaxed and strategic game that emphasizes dinking and soft shots.

    The choice between padel and pickleball depends on your personal preferences and goals. If you enjoy a fast-paced, competitive sport that challenges your physical abilities, padel might be the perfect fit. If you prefer a more social and strategic game that is easy to learn, pickleball could be the ideal choice.

    No matter which sport you choose, both padel and pickleball offer a fantastic opportunity to get active, have fun, and connect with others. So, grab your racket and head to the court!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    1. What are the key differences between padel and pickleball?
    • Court size: Padel courts are larger than pickleball courts and are enclosed by walls.
    • Equipment: Padel uses a solid paddle and a pressurized ball, while pickleball uses a perforated paddle and a plastic ball with holes.
    • Scoring: Padel uses a traditional tennis scoring system (sets and games), while pickleball uses a rally-based scoring system.
    • Gameplay: Padel involves more aggressive play and utilizes the walls for creative shots, while pickleball emphasizes dinking and soft shots.
    1. Which sport is easier to learn?
    • Pickleball: Generally considered easier to learn due to its simpler rules and slower pace.
    • Padel: Requires more skill and coordination due to the use of walls and the faster pace of the game.
    1. Which sport is more physically demanding?
    • Padel: The enclosed court and the use of walls make padel a more physically demanding sport, requiring agility, power, and endurance.
    • Pickleball: While still a physically active sport, pickleball is generally less demanding on the body.
    1. Which sport is more popular?
    • Pickleball: Currently, pickleball is more popular in the United States and Canada.
    • Padel: Padel is more popular in European countries, particularly Spain and Argentina.
    1. Can I play both sports?

    Yes, you can play both sports. While they have different rules and techniques, both sports share some similarities, such as the use of a racket and a ball.

    1. What are the benefits of playing padel or pickleball?

    Both sports offer a variety of physical and mental health benefits, including:

    • Improved cardiovascular health
    • Increased muscle strength and endurance
    • Enhanced coordination and agility
    • Stress relief and mental well-being
    • Social interaction and community building

    Key Takeaways

    Feature Pickleball Padel
    Court Size Smaller Larger, enclosed court
    Ball Perforated plastic ball Less pressurized ball
    Racket Solid paddle Perforated racket
    Scoring System Simplified scoring (11 points) Traditional scoring (sets)
    Physical Intensity Lower intensity Higher intensity
    Gameplay Style More strategic, focused on dinking and soft shots More physically demanding, with emphasis on power and precision
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