Short answer: padel and pickleball are not the same sport, and the best one for you depends on what you want from it. Pickleball is played on a small open court with a light plastic ball and is the easiest racket sport to pick up. Padel is played on an enclosed glass court with a pressurised ball, where the walls are part of the game. Pickleball is quicker to learn; padel tends to offer longer rallies, more movement and more tactical depth.
Both sports are booming in the United States, and plenty of people play both. Here is how they really compare, and a simple way to decide which to try first.
Is padel the same as pickleball?
No. They are often confused because both are fast-growing, social, mostly doubles racket sports with solid paddles or rackets. But the court, the ball and the way points are played are very different. The biggest difference is the walls: in padel, the ball can be played off the glass after it bounces, which completely changes the game.
Padel vs pickleball at a glance
| Padel | Pickleball | |
|---|---|---|
| Court | 10 m x 20 m (about 33 x 66 ft), enclosed by glass and mesh | 20 x 44 ft, open with no walls |
| Walls in play | Yes, after the ball bounces | No |
| Equipment | Perforated racket with a foam core and carbon or fiberglass faces | Flat, solid paddle |
| Ball | Pressurised, similar to a tennis ball with slightly less pressure | Light plastic ball with holes |
| Serve | Underarm, after a bounce | Underarm |
| Format | Doubles | Singles or doubles |
| Scoring | Tennis scoring (15, 30, 40, game, sets) | Games usually to 11, win by 2 |
| Learning curve | Easy to start, walls take a few weeks | Very easy to start |
| Courts in the US | Growing fast, still limited | Widely available |
How the game feels
Pickleball is a game of soft touch and quick hands. A lot of the action happens near the non-volley zone (the “kitchen”), with players trading short, controlled “dinks” until someone gets a ball to attack. Because the ball is light and the court is open, points can end quickly.
Padel is a game of patience and angles. The glass walls keep the ball alive, so rallies are often long, with lobs, volleys at the net and defensive shots off the back wall. It feels closer to a mix of tennis and squash, played with friends.
Which is easier to learn?
Pickleball is slightly easier for a complete beginner: the paddle is light, the ball is slow, and there are no walls to learn. Padel is also very easy to start, and most beginners rally in their first hour, but reading the ball off the glass takes a few weeks to feel natural. If you have played tennis or squash, padel will click quickly.
Which is the better workout?
Padel generally involves more movement. The court is bigger, rallies are longer, and you are constantly moving forward to the net and back to the glass. Pickleball is still a good workout, especially at a competitive level, but it is usually less physically demanding. Both are relatively gentle on the joints compared with tennis. Read more in is padel hard on the body?
Which costs more?
Pickleball is usually cheaper to play. Courts are everywhere, many are free in public parks, and entry-level paddles are inexpensive. Padel courts in the US are mostly at private clubs, and court time is booked by the hour, so it tends to cost more per session. For a full breakdown, see the true cost of playing padel in the United States.
Why some pickleball players are switching to padel
- Longer rallies. The walls keep points going, which many players find more satisfying.
- More variety. Lobs, smashes, wall shots and volleys give the game more layers as you improve.
- The club experience. Many new US padel clubs are built as social spaces, with lounges, cafés and events.
- A global game. Padel is huge in Spain, Argentina, the Middle East and across Europe, so you can play almost anywhere you travel.
Which should you play?
Choose pickleball if you want the easiest possible start, have public courts nearby, and like quick, close-range games.
Choose padel if you want longer rallies, a bit more of a workout, a game with more tactical depth, and a social club atmosphere.
Or try both. They complement each other well, and the quick hands you build at the pickleball kitchen will help you at the padel net.
Frequently asked questions
Is padel bigger than pickleball?
In the US, pickleball has far more players and courts. Globally, padel is much bigger, especially in Spain, Italy, Sweden, Argentina and the Middle East.
Can you use a pickleball paddle for padel?
No. Padel rackets are thicker, perforated and built around a foam core to handle a pressurised ball. A pickleball paddle would not play properly or last long.
Is padel harder than pickleball?
Padel takes a little longer to learn because of the walls, and it is usually more physical. Both are beginner friendly.
Is padel the same as paddle tennis?
No. Paddle tennis and platform tennis are separate sports. Padel is played on an enclosed glass court with tennis scoring and a perforated racket.
Start your padel story
If padel is calling, start with a racket that makes the first hour feel easy. Every moné racket is 100% carbon, with a forgiving teardrop shape and a medium EVA core, made in the same factory as the leading brands. Find your racket and play beautifully.
