“Dink” on this: Pickleball seems to have met a new competitor.
The worldwide phenomenon has become a staple summer sport, with a roster of players spanning across generations. But amid pickleball mania, people often forget a similar game that also emerged in the 1960s: padel. The names are similar, the games are alike, but there are key differences. (Spoiler alert: One sport may be more of a workout than the other).
For one, padel courts are larger than pickleball courts and the former have glass walls that adds an unexpected twist since players can volley balls off the walls to one another. (For reference, a padel court measures 33 feet wide and 66 ft long while a pickleball court is 20 by 44 feet, a mere third of the size of a tennis court.) Both sports use similar paddles, but those in padel are slightly heavier and thicker.
Each sport has its own cult following: Players (including celebrities like Taylor Swift!) seem to choose their side, pickleball or padel, and stick to it. If you’re interested in both, check out the below five things to know about the two sports before picking favorites. Let the “paddle” begin.
Meet the experts: Tara Bernstein is a pickleball professional sponsored by Franklin Pickleball. Astrid Gehre is currently ranked the No. 6 best padel player in the U.S. Catherine Parenteau is currently ranked the No. 3 best women’s pickleball player in the world. Rob Autry is the CEO and founder of Swing Racquet and Paddle, coming soon to Raleigh, North Carolina. Lina Padegimaite, DPT, is a pickleball professional.
#1: Pickleball is more popular and accessible stateside.
As of 2023, 48.3 million people in the U.S. alone had played pickleball at least once in the past year, the Association of Pickleball Professionals reports. There are also tens of thousands of pickleball courts in the States, compared to far fewer padel courts, according to Rob Autry, the CEO and founder of Swing Racquet and Paddle.
Padel, though, has more of a global presence: "In Spain and Argentina and now in England and throughout the world, they're selling out 20,000-seat stadiums to watch padel competitions," Autry says.
While that's not happening with pickleball right now, it may be catching up: “I don't think anyone thinks there's any end in sight to the growth that both of these sports can have,” Autry says. In fact, he hopes to see both padel and pickleball in the Olympics in 2032.
#2: Both sports are beginner-friendly, but pickleball has a slight edge.
“Pickleball is more approachable, but when you get on the padel court, you'll see it is not as intimidating as tennis," says Autry. "So you have kind of a small, medium, large approach."
Pickleball and padel both serve underhand, which is a huge advantage, adds pro pickleball player Lina Padegimaite. “Tennis has an overhead serve [which is] harder to learn."
You can also easily pair beginners with advanced players in both padel and pickleball, but not in tennis. (It's worth noting that both padel and pickleball are primarily played in doubles—meaning two players per side—rather than singles.) Since you're not working with "overhead power" coming from the tennis serve, it's more likely a newbie padel or pickleball player can return the serve of a more seasoned player.
“Pickleball's accessibility and sociable ambiance are incredible,” says pickleball pro Tara Bernstein. "The sport seamlessly unites individuals of all ages."
#3: Padel can be more mentally challenging (in a good way).
The mental benefits of padel are linked to just how much brain power it takes to play. Astrid Gehre, currently ranked No. 6 best padel player in the U.S., believes the complexity of the sport improves cognitive ability.
“Padel is more of a complex strategic thinking sport due to the court being bigger and having to use the walls to your advantage, while pickleball emphasizes precise hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes within a smaller court,” says Gehre. “Pickleball involves less strategic gameplay.”
That said, pickleball can still give you a mental pick-me-up: “Pickleball is a key stress-reliever and boosts my mood," says Bernstein. "It elevates my overall well-being in ways I could have never imagined.”
#4: Padel may be more cardiovascularly challenging.
Pickleball gets you moving, too, but according to Gehre, you burn more calories playing padel.
“You’re constantly moving and sprinting around the court, and a padel court is much bigger than pickleball,” Gehre reiterates. “Pickleball is more of a social game. You’re mainly walking around the court or standing in your place and swinging your paddle. Padel is more physically demanding.”
Autry agrees: “Padel for sure is a higher intensity workout, and you are getting more cardio by far because the points are longer and more intense and you're covering a larger piece of real estate than you are in pickleball.”
This is in part because, again, a padel court has glass walls and players can use them to their advantage, hitting a ball off the wall and volleying it to another player.
#5: They can both build some degree of strength—but you should definitely cross train.
Agility and some level of strength come into play with both sports.
“When playing pickleball, there is a lot of rotational movement, which helps strengthen your core,” says Catherine Parenteau, currently ranked No. 3 best women’s pickleball player in the world. “There is also a lot of balance and lower-body strength needed to be in the squatting position when you are at the kitchen line.”
The same could be said of padel, per Autry, who notes that, not for nothing, the padel racket is heavier and thicker compared to a pickleball racket.
Padegimaite stresses the importance of building strength both on and off the court. “If you just play pickleball, you get stuck in the pattern of doing the same thing,” says Padegimaite, who is also a doctor of physical therapy. “Try Pilates so that when you get on the court, you are less injury-prone. Strength is protective, and it’s important to address your individual needs.”
Autry also notes that injuries are unfortunately common in both sports. Both can be a workout and should be treated that way, including being deserving of a good stretch and warmup beforehand.
How To Get Started With Padel Or Pickleball
The decision likely comes down to if you're looking for something that's more beginner-friendly and accessible (pickleball) or slightly more of a workout (padel).
If you opt for padel, Gehre advises searching online to find a padel court nearby and contacting them to learn more about their programs, such as lessons, clinics, open plays, tournaments, and memberships. To learn the basics, consider taking some private lessons from a certified padel coach. Once you improve your game, join a local padel club to meet other players and participate in organized matches or tournaments.
Similarly, Padegimaite recommends doing a search to find pickleball open play hours in your community or looking for a coach who can introduce you to local players.
Better yet, sample both sports if you can, Autry suggests. At Swing, they plan to host “triathlon” style events where people can try padel, pickleball, and tennis all in one session. “Come try 'em all and see which one's your flavor and go from there."
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