Padel vs pickleball: what's the difference?
Guide · Padel and pickleball
Both are paddle sports that are easy to start. Padel is played in doubles inside a glass-walled court, and the ball can come off the walls.
Pickleball has no walls, a smaller court, a plastic ball with holes and a no-volley zone near the net. Padel feels closer to tennis. Pickleball feels closer to table tennis on a court.
Side by side
| Padel | Pickleball | |
|---|---|---|
| Players | Mostly doubles | Singles or doubles |
| Court | 20 × 10 m, enclosed by walls | 13.41 × 6.10 m (44 × 20 ft), no walls |
| Net | 88 cm in the middle, 92 cm at the ends | 86 cm in the middle, 91 cm at the sides |
| Racket or paddle | Solid, with holes, up to 45.5 cm long | Solid, flat face, length and width up to 24 inches combined |
| Ball | Like a tennis ball, with less pressure | Plastic, with holes |
| Serve | Bounce, then hit at or below the waist; two tries | Underhand, below the waist, or a drop serve |
| Walls | Part of the game | None |
| Net play | Volleys anywhere | No volleys in the 7-foot kitchen |
| Special rule | Play off the walls | Serve and return must each bounce |
| Scoring | Like tennis (15, 30, 40), sets to 6 | Games to 11, win by 2; points on your serve |
Where they came from
- Padel: Acapulco, Mexico, in 1969.
- Pickleball: Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1965.
Which should you try first?
- If you've played tennis or squash, padel will feel familiar.
- If you want the quickest start and less running, try pickleball.
- You don't have to choose. Volta will have six padel courts and six dedicated pickleball courts under one roof.
Sources
- International Padel Federation: Rules of Padel (current edition) padelfip.com
- USA Pickleball: Official Rulebook (current edition) pickleballcanada.org
- International Padel Federation: history of padel padelfip.com
- USA Pickleball: what is pickleball? usapickleball.org
Questions
Questions we hear a lot
Is padel harder than pickleball?
Both are easy to start. Padel takes a little longer to learn because of the walls.
Which court is bigger, padel or pickleball?
Padel. A padel court is 20 by 10 metres; a pickleball court is 13.41 by 6.10 metres.
Can I play both at Volta?
Yes. Six indoor padel courts and six dedicated indoor pickleball courts.
Do I need experience?
No. A third of the Founders List has never played.
Try both at Volta.
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