What is the difference between Pickleball and Padel?
Pickleball and Padel are the two fastest growing racquet sports and have captured the hearts of players worldwide including celebrities and sport stars such as Selena Gomez, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
While both sports may look similar at first glance, there are some notable differences in the equipment used, scoring rules and court size.
Origins of the Game
Pickleball first emerged in the US in 1965 at Bainbridge Island, Washington by Joel Pritchard. It is said that the sport was named after Joel’s dog Pickles but the sport is officially named after a Pickle Boat, which translates to a crew of leftovers in rowing. Pickleball made its way to Singapore in the 1990s and have up to 5,000 active players today across 30 interest groups.
“Pickleball combines elements of ping pong, badminton & tennis.”
Padel began in Mexico in 1969 by businessman Enrique Corcuera who was a vivid tennis fan and build the court in his home where the walls were installed to avoid vegetation from growing to the court. However, he realized the game became more enjoyable after allowing the balls to bounce from the wall. This improvisation led to the birth of padel.
“Padel is a mixture of squash and tennis”.
It is widely played in Europe and Latin America and recently expanded to Singapore in 2020, with over 2,000 active players today.
Differences in the Rules Between Padel & Pickleball
Pickleball
- Can be played as singles (one-on-one) or doubles (two players against two).
- Starts with an underhand serve made diagonally across the net. Before volleying, the ball must bounce once on each side. After two bounces, players can volley the ball or play it off a bounce.
- Features the “kitchen” - a non-volley zone where players cannot hit the ball unless it bounces first.
- Players rally until a fault occurs, such as hitting the ball out or failing to clear the net.
Padel
- Exclusively played as doubles.
- Serves must be underhand, and the ball must bounce in the service box before a return. Players can use the court walls to play and return shots, similar to squash.
- The ball remains in play until it hits the net, goes out of bounds, or bounces twice on the court before being returned.
Court
Pickleball
- The court size is 20 ft wide by 44 ft long, with a non-volley zone called the “kitchen” extending 7 ft on either side of the net.
- The net height is 34 inches in the centre and 36 inches at the sidelines.
- Court is a hard surface of asphalt or concrete with a smooth finish.
- Court markings include a baseline, sidelines, non-volley zone, and service areas.
- The game can be played on converted tennis or badminton courts.
Padel
- The court size is 33 ft wide and 66 ft long, enclosed by glass or mesh walls like a squash court.
- The net height stands at 34.6 inches.
- Larger than a pickleball court but smaller than a tennis court, typically made of artificial turf or concrete.
- Court markings include service boxes and baseline markings, similar to tennis.
Equipment
Pickleball
- Paddles are made of lightweight materials such as composite or graphite. They are solid, without strings, and resemble oversized table tennis paddles.
- The ball is a perforated plastic ball, similar to a wiffle ball.
- The net is placed lower than a tennis net, standing at 34 inches in the center.
Padel
- Racquets are solid, perforated with holes, and made of composite materials. They are smaller and thicker than tennis racquets, heavier than pickleball paddles. They come without strings, offering better control and spin.
- Balls are similar to tennis balls but with less pressure, offering a controlled bounce.
Scoring System
Pickleball
- Uses a rally scoring system, where points are only scored by the serving team.
- Games are played to 11 points, and a team must win by at least 2 points.
- Matches are played in a best-of-three-games format
Padel
- Follows traditional tennis scoring (from 15, 30, 40, to game point).
- Typically, matches are played to the best of three sets, with each set consisting of six games, and winning happens with a two-game margin.
- If a set reaches 6-6, a tiebreaker game decides the winner.
Gameplay Style
Pickleball relies on precision and strategy over power. The smaller court size, slower speed, and the "kitchen" rule is easy for beginners. One hour of play burns anywhere between 350-400 calories.
Padel is faster-paced, combining power with finesse, and the use of walls. This, as part of the game, provides a challenge even for advanced players. Its faster pace gives an intensive calorie burn of up to 800 calories per hour.
There is no better sport - it just depends on what you’re after! If you enjoy a tactical game, go for pickleball and if you prefer a dynamic, fast-paced one, it’s padel. Whichever you prefer, just pick up your paddle or racquet and head to the court and make new friends!
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