Padel vs Pickleball – Most Popular Racket Sports Comparison

Padel and pickleball are two different sports. No doubt, these two sports are lookalikes, but the rules, equipment, courts, and game style are completely different. So, confused about which game to play? Before you step into the court, read our complete article to know the major differences between padel and pickleball. 

Pickleball vs Padel Rules

From an outsider’s view, both paddle and pickleball may look the same. But it’s not always about swinging the rackets. There is a lot more behind that runs the games. Every game comes with a unique set of rules that decides a ton of factors like difficulty, entry barriers, entertainment factors, and so on. So, if you are wondering about the difference between the Padel vs Pickleball rules, you have some luck. We have covered everything below: 

Pickleball Rules 

You can call pickleball rules a blend and modification of ping-pong, badminton, and tennis. In this game, you serve underhand and diagonally across the court. But how’s that different from other sports? Well, in this one only the serving team can earn points in a round. The returning team’s goal is simple. Just make their opponents make mistakes. That’s why you must win Pickleball matches by a margin of two points, as the games are played to eleven points. Every serve begins with a score declaration. But how do you get the scores? In the more common doubles format, the score wraps up three numbers: the score of the serving team, the score of the receiving team, and a number indicating which team member is serving. 

Padel Rules 

When it comes to Padel, the rules and gameplay are much different. While the game starts with an underhand, the similarities stop there. In Padel, you bounce the ball against the side and rear walls and fences in addition to hitting it back and forth across a net. The ball is allowed to bounce once on the court and once on the wall before being returned. The scoring pattern of Padel is similar to that of Tennis. The games are played in three sets of six games, and the scoring happens like 15, 30, 40, Game, Deuce, in tennis style. 

Pickleball vs Padel Court

The build and dimensions of courts for every sport are different. Some sports demand big courts while some need smaller ones. So, how are the pickleball courts different from the paddle courts? Pickleball courts are usually small in size. In contrast to padel, pickleball uses a court that is 20 by 44 feet in size, the same size as an international badminton court. The center of a pickleball net is 34″, while the poles measure 36″. You can fit two pickleball courts into one tennis court. Moreover, another feature of Pickleball courts is that they are open without any walls. 

When it comes to the padel courts, they are slightly smaller than a tennis court. So, it’s obvious that they are much bigger than pickleball courts. Coming to the dimension of the Padel court, it stands around 20 meters long by 10 meters broad, or about 66 by 33 feet. Padel nets measure between 88 and 92 centimeters in the middle, or around 34″ in the middle and 36″ at the sides. The main USP of the padel court is its walls which are four meters high in the back and three meters tall on the sides. These allow players to control the game, bouncing the ball, and trying out their strategic moves. 

Padel vs Pickleball Equipment 

When it comes to equipment, you need rackets for playing both Padel and Pickleball. That’s why maybe some people ask the question: Is pickleball the same as padel? But the two games are entirely different, and the rackets you use are also different. 

Rackets

Padel rackets are generally thick, wide, and perforated. But why? Because for such a high-intensity game like Padel, all these traits are super important. The best padel rackets are designed to offer a mixture of power, comfort, and control. Generally, these rackets weigh around 300 to 400 grams, which is slightly on the heavier side when compared to pickleball rackets. That’s because the padel rackets use rigid frames and foam cores, which make them a bit heavier. Typically, good padel rackets are made up of materials like carbon fiber, ethylene-vinyl acetate foam core, and so on. 

On the other hand, come the pickleball rackets that are lightweight, easy to handle, and a bit longer than padel rackets. Pickleball rackets generally measure around 15 inches or more in length. At first glance, these rackets resemble tennis rackets, but with short handles. The short handle design offers a firm and better grip, allowing you to make precise shots. Pickleball rackets generally weigh around 200 to 250 grams, depending upon the material used. These typically come with graphite surfaces and honeycomb polymer cores.

Balls 

While the padel rackets and pickleball rackets look a bit similar, the balls used in these two games are poles apart. Padel balls are replicas of clay court tennis balls, just with a cut of 30% pressure. Padel balls and clay court tennis balls are less likely to collect sand from the courts because of their tighter weave. Padel balls are made especially for the game to offer a consistent bounce on the court.

On the flip side, Pickleball uses a hollow plastic ball popularly called a Wiffle ball. The weight of these pickleballs ranges from 22.11 grams to 26.51 grams. This ball’s modest weight allows it to float and capture air. 

Is Padel or Pickleball easier to get started?

The new faces in the world of racquets often get stuck in the Padel vs Pickleball battle. Hands down, both games are super fun and physically challenging, but choosing the right one as a beginner is important. Both sports promise a unique experience, but there are a bunch of differences that make one better for beginners. So, Pickleball vs Padel: which is an easier sport for newbies? 

In terms of simplicity and accessibility, Pickleball is a clear winner. The game is simple and more beginner-friendly. Its learning curve is straight, and you won’t have to hustle a lot to understand Pickleball rules. Moreover, the size of the court is smaller, which means the game is less physically demanding. Yes, you must be thinking that as the court is compact, it will demand super-fast moves. But that’s not so true. Pickleball is generally played with a lightweight plastic ball that moves at a slower pace. So, you get more time to react and make the perfect hit. 

So, in Padel tennis vs pickleball, does pickleball win in terms of simplicity? Maybe yes. But that does not mean you should not play Padel as a beginner. No matter which game you play, if it’s your first time, you will start from scratch. It’s just that Padel games’ rules and game style are a bit more complicated than Padel’s. However, when you are making a choice, we recommend trying both, just to know your interest. 

Is Padel more expensive than pickleball?

When you are stepping into a new game, it comes with a lot of expenses. You need to get your hands on the gears. While sports gear for both pickleball and padel comes in different price segments, if you want to play the games seriously, you have to dip some money into it. So, the main question that pops out is Padel vs Pickleball: which one is more expensive? 

Pickleball Costs

Pickleball rackets are pretty pocket-friendly. The standard price of the rackets typically ranges between $30 and $100. In case you are an absolute beginner, we would recommend you get a good pickleball paddle from $30 to $50, which will be more than sufficient for your beginner needs. Coming to the ball, you need a lightweight plastic ball for it. That won’t cost you more than $20.

Now, comes the question of where to play, and will you have to bear some charges to enjoy the game? Well, the biggest advantage of pickleball is its accessibility. There are many public parks and recreation centers that come with free or low-cost pickleball courts. 

Padel Costs

When it comes to Padel vs Pickleball rackets, Padel rackets are generally more expensive. The prices range from $100 to $300. If you are a newbie, you can get a good entry-level Padel racket for around $100. But if you push up the quality and want rackets with premium build and materials, you may have to spend a bit more money. For padel balls, you can easily get a pack of three good balls from $30 to $50, which is super pocket-friendly. 

Talking about court access, to enter Padel courts you may have to pay a bit higher fee, typically $10 to $30 per session. However, with the rapid growth of sports in recent times, you may also find some low-cost padel areas near you. 

Does Padel burn more calories than pickleball?

If you are a health freak who is leaning towards these sports to burn some extra calories, you must be wondering about Padel tennis vs Pickleball: Which one burns more calories? Long story short, Padel typically burns more calories than Pickleball. But why? Let’s break down the reason. Padel is a higher-intensity game than pickleball. Padel courts are generally larger than pickleball courts. So, it demands more movement. You will be moving around the court throughout the Padel sessions. That’s not all. Padel focuses on your strength and agility training. On the other hand, pickleball keeps an eye on muscular endurance and toning. 

According to statistics, a session of padel can burn between 700 and 1000 calories, depending on your gameplay and intensity. On the other hand, a casual game of pickleball burns around 422 to 700 calories per hour. But the thing is that the exact number of calories you burn entirely depends on your age, weight, gameplay, and a ton of other factors. 

How to decide if to start playing padel or pickleball?

And now for the big question: which would you prefer, pickleball vs padel? Both games are fantastic. However, your decision is determined by numerous elements, including your preferences, goals, and situation. That seems like such a generic response, doesn’t it? You will figure it out, so don’t worry. The following are things to think about when deciding between pickleball and padel:

Accessibility

If a Padel or Pickleball court is not available in your nearby area, you can’t play it on an open field, right? That’s why the availability of courts is no doubt a deciding factor. Typically, as you turn your head right and left, you will see a pickleball court in public parks or recreation centers, especially if you are from North America or Europe. So, playing pickleball in these areas is simpler in terms of accessibility. But if you have a nearby padel court, and the game attracts you, jump into it. However, the issue is that Padel courts are less common, especially in regions where the sport is still growing. So, always check the availability of courts before investing in any specific sport. 

Fitness Goals

If you are looking to play Pickleball or Padel just to get fit or burn some extra calories, choose Padel. It’s a high-intensity game that pushes you to the next level physically. So, a padel session is equivalent to a good workout session. 

Cost

If you are a rich man, you can skip this section. But you are a beginner on a tight budget; it can be a deciding factor. Pickleball gives you that pinch of adorability that may seem to be tempting for beginners. In comparison with Padel, the equipment cost is on the lower side. So, it’s more budget-friendly, and that’s a major difference between pickleball and padel.