Racket sports · 6 min read
Padel vs pickleball vs tennis: which should you play?
How padel, pickleball and tennis compare on court size, equipment, learning curve and cost, so you can pick the right game for your group.
All three are net games played with a ball and a racket or paddle, but they suit different groups. Here is how they compare when you are deciding what to book.
| Tennis | Padel | Pickleball | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court | 23.77 × 10.97 m | 20 × 10 m, walled | 13.41 × 6.10 m |
| Usually played | Singles or doubles | Doubles | Doubles |
| Equipment | Strung racket | Solid perforated racket | Solid paddle, plastic ball |
| Serve | Overhead | Underarm, after a bounce | Underarm |
| Learning curve | Steepest | Gentle | Gentlest |
Tennis
Tennis has the biggest court and the most demanding technique, especially the serve. It rewards practice and works well for singles. If you are new, a few lessons with a coach make the first sessions far more fun.
Padel
Padel is played in doubles inside glass walls, and the ball can be played off them. Rallies are long and sociable from the first session. Because four people share the court, the cost per player is often lower than tennis.
Pickleball
Pickleball uses a small court, a light paddle and a slow plastic ball. Most beginners are rallying within minutes, which makes it a good choice for mixed-age and mixed-ability groups.
Try all three
- Rent the gear instead of buying: rackets and paddles can be added to any booking.
- Book a beginner clinic to learn the rules and scoring quickly.
- Pick a venue that offers all three and rotate through them.