Padel vs Pickleball: What's the Difference? (And Which Should You Play?)

AIXO Scorpion Country Club 3K carbon pickleball paddle

Padel vs Pickleball: What's the Difference?

Key takeaway (the short answer): Padel and pickleball are two different racket sports. Padel is played on a larger enclosed court (20m x 10m) with glass walls you can play off, using a solid stringless racket and a low-pressure tennis-style ball, and it uses tennis scoring (15, 30, 40). Pickleball is played on a smaller, badminton-sized court (13.4m x 6.1m) with no walls, a flat holed paddle and a hard plastic ball with holes, and it is usually played first to 11, win by two. Both are easy to start, doubles-friendly and serve underarm.

What is padel?

Padel is a racket sport that blends elements of tennis and squash. It is almost always played as doubles on an enclosed court roughly 20 metres long by 10 metres wide, surrounded by glass walls and metal mesh. The walls are part of the game: the ball can rebound off them, much like in squash, which keeps rallies alive and rewards positioning over raw power. Players use a solid, stringless padel racket, typically made from carbon fibre or fibreglass with a foam core and a perforated (holed) face that reduces air drag. The ball looks like a tennis ball but is slightly less pressurised.

What is pickleball?

Pickleball mixes tennis, badminton and table tennis. It is played on a court the size of a badminton court (13.4m x 6.1m, or 44ft x 20ft) with no walls, so every point comes down to shot placement and patience. A defining feature is the "kitchen", a seven-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net where you cannot hit the ball out of the air, forcing tactical, controlled play. The pickleball paddle is solid and stringless like a padel racket, but it is flat with no holes and usually made from composite materials or graphite, built for control and precision. The ball is hard plastic with holes, similar to a wiffle ball, so it bounces lower and moves slower than a padel or tennis ball.

Padel vs pickleball: side-by-side comparison

Feature Padel Pickleball
Court size 20m x 10m, enclosed 13.4m x 6.1m (44ft x 20ft), open
Walls Glass walls in play No walls
Racket / paddle Solid, stringless, holed face Solid, flat, no holes
Ball Low-pressure tennis-style ball Hard plastic ball with holes
Net height 0.88m centre / 0.92m ends 34in centre / 36in posts
Serve Underarm, must bounce first, below waist Underhand/backhand, upward motion
Scoring Tennis style (15, 30, 40, deuce) First to 11, win by 2
Format Almost always doubles Singles or doubles

Court size and layout

The biggest visual difference is the court. A padel court is enclosed by glass and mesh, and those walls actively shape rallies. A pickleball court is open and smaller, about the footprint of a badminton court, with that distinctive non-volley "kitchen" near the net. If you like the squash-style rebound game, padel will feel more dynamic; if you prefer a compact, placement-led game, pickleball suits you.

Equipment differences

Both sports use solid, stringless bats, but they are not interchangeable. A padel racket is thicker, has a perforated face and a foam core tuned for power and spin off the wall game. A pickleball paddle is thinner and flat, prioritising touch and control. The balls differ too: padel uses a depressurised tennis-style ball, while pickleball uses a light, holed plastic ball that travels more slowly. If you are kitting out for either sport, matching your grip and dampening to your style matters as much as the racket itself.

Serving and scoring

Both sports keep serving beginner-friendly by requiring an underarm serve, with no intimidating overhead serve to master. In padel, you bounce the ball behind the service line and strike it below waist height. In pickleball, the serve is made with an upward underhand or backhand motion (a volley serve in the air, or a drop serve after a bounce). Scoring is where they split most clearly. Padel borrows tennis scoring outright (15, 30, 40, game, with deuce and advantage, played as best of three sets). Pickleball is typically played to 11 points, win by two, and traditionally only the serving side can score.

Which is easier to learn, padel or pickleball?

Both are far gentler entry points than tennis, which is exactly why they are booming. Pickleball is often called the quickest to pick up because the court is small, the ball is slow and rallies build gradually. Padel is also beginner-friendly thanks to its underarm serve and the walls keeping the ball in play, but the wall game adds a layer that takes a little longer to master. For total beginners chasing instant rallies, pickleball edges it; for players who want depth and a more athletic game, padel rewards the time invested.

So, which should you play?

Choose padel if you want a fast, social, doubles-led game with squash-style walls and tennis scoring. Choose pickleball if you want a compact, tactical, easy-access game you can pick up in an afternoon. Many players do both, the skills overlap and the gear is affordable to start. Whichever you choose, the right racket or paddle, a fresh grip and a good ball make all the difference on day one.

Frequently asked questions

Is padel the same as pickleball?

No. They are separate sports with different courts, equipment, balls and scoring. Padel uses glass walls and tennis scoring; pickleball uses an open badminton-sized court and scores to 11.

Can you use a padel racket for pickleball?

No. A padel racket has a thick, holed face built for the wall game, while a pickleball paddle is flat and thinner for control. Each sport requires its own bat.

Which is more popular in the UK, padel or pickleball?

Both are growing fast. Padel has expanded rapidly through dedicated clubs, while pickleball is spreading quickly through leisure centres and community courts. Availability near you is often the deciding factor.

Is padel or pickleball better for beginners?

Pickleball is usually quicker to learn because of the small court and slow ball. Padel is also very accessible thanks to its underarm serve and walls that keep rallies going.

Do padel and pickleball use the same ball?

No. Padel uses a low-pressure tennis-style ball; pickleball uses a hard plastic ball with holes that bounces lower and moves slower.

Gear up with AIXO

Ready to put this into practice? AIXO paddles cover every level – same bold looks, three carbon builds:

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More of a padel player? Start with the AIXO Sundae 3K carbon padel racket.