Padel vs squash: what's the difference?
Guide · Padel and squash
Padel is a doubles game played over a net on an open glass court, while squash is usually played one-on-one in a closed room, hitting a small ball against the front wall.
Both use walls, and squash players often pick up padel quickly. Padel is easier to start and more social; squash is faster and more of a workout in a short time.
Side by side
| Padel | Squash | |
|---|---|---|
| Players | Mostly doubles | Mostly singles |
| Court | About 20 × 10 m, net in the middle, glass walls | About 9.75 × 6.4 m, four walls, no net |
| Racket | Solid paddle, no strings | Long, light, strung racket |
| Ball | Like a tennis ball, slightly less pressure | Small, hollow rubber ball |
| Serve | Underhand, after a bounce | Overhand allowed, onto the front wall |
| Walls | Ball bounces first, then can come off the walls | Ball must reach the front wall each shot |
| Scoring | Like tennis (15, 30, 40) | Games to 11, win by 2 |
Which should you try?
- If you want an easy start and a social game, try padel. Most beginners rally in their first session.
- If you want a fast, intense workout in 45 minutes, squash delivers it, but it takes longer to learn.
- If you already play squash, padel will feel familiar: the walls, the angles, the quick reactions.
Questions
Questions we hear a lot
Is padel easier than squash?
For most beginners, yes. The underhand serve, the bigger court and the slower ball make rallies easier to start.
Will squash players like padel?
Usually. Reading the ball off the walls carries over, and the doubles game adds a social side.
Does Volta have squash courts?
No. Volta will have six indoor padel courts and six indoor pickleball courts.
Do I need experience to play padel?
No. Beginner clinics and pick-up games at your level are the easiest way to start.
Try padel at Volta.
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