Padel or pickleball: which should you try first?
Padel and pickleball are the two racket sports everyone seems to be talking about. New courts are popping up in leisure centres, tennis clubs and old warehouses, and friends who never played sport are suddenly booking games. If you're curious but not sure which one to try first, this guide is for you.
The short answer: both are easy to start and great fun. But they feel quite different on court, and one of them will probably suit you better.
Padel in a nutshell
Padel is played in doubles on an enclosed court a little smaller than a tennis court, 20 metres by 10 metres, surrounded by glass walls and mesh fencing. You use a solid, stringless racket with holes in it and a ball that looks like a tennis ball but has slightly less bounce.
The big difference from tennis is the walls. Like squash, you can let the ball bounce off the back and side walls and still play it, so rallies last longer and you get second chances on shots you'd miss in tennis. You serve underarm, and scoring is the same as tennis: 15, 30, 40, game.
Padel has taken off in Britain. The LTA says around a million people now play, up from about 15,000 in 2019, and there are over 1,800 courts across the country.
Pickleball in a nutshell
Pickleball is played on a small, open court, 13.4 metres by 6.1 metres, which is the same size as a badminton doubles court. You use a solid paddle, a bit bigger than a table tennis bat, and a light plastic ball with holes in it, similar to a wiffle ball. The ball moves slower than a tennis or padel ball, which gives you more time to react.
You can play singles or doubles, though doubles is most popular. You serve underarm, and games are usually played to 11 points, winning by 2. The defining feature is the "kitchen", a zone either side of the net where you're not allowed to volley. It stops players camping at the net and smashing everything, and it leads to the soft, tactical "dink" shots the game is known for.
The key differences
Walls or no walls
Padel's glass walls are the heart of the game. Reading the ball as it comes off the glass takes a little practice, but once it clicks, it's hugely satisfying. Pickleball has no walls, so it's closer to a mini version of tennis.
Pace and physical demands
Padel covers a bigger court with longer rallies, so it's usually the more energetic workout. Pickleball's smaller court, slower ball and shorter rallies make it gentler on the body and especially popular with people returning to sport or looking for something lower-impact.
Scoring
If you know tennis scoring, you already know padel scoring. Pickleball has its own system, with games to 11. It's simple once you've played a few points, and the call-out of the score before each serve helps everyone keep track.
Where you can play
Padel needs a purpose-built court, so you'll book one at a padel venue or club. Pickleball can be played on a dedicated court or on a badminton court with the lines taped out, so many sports halls and leisure centres run sessions.
Skill crossover
Tennis and squash players tend to feel at home in padel, thanks to the familiar scoring and the wall play. Badminton and table tennis players often take quickly to pickleball's touch and quick hands at the net. Complete beginners can pick up either.
Which should you try first?
Try padel first if you:
- want a fast, energetic workout;
- like the idea of a social doubles game with a group of friends;
- have played tennis or squash before;
- enjoy long rallies and a bit of strategy.
Try pickleball first if you:
- want something easy on the joints;
- are returning to sport after a break, or playing with a wide range of ages;
- prefer touch and placement over power;
- have a sports hall nearby that runs sessions.
Still can't decide? You don't have to. Plenty of people play both, and the skills you build in one, like footwork, watching the ball and working with a partner, carry over to the other.
Get ready for your first game
Whichever you choose, the first session is always easier when you know the basics before you arrive. Our guides cover everything a beginner needs: choosing your kit, the rules and scoring in plain English, court diagrams, grips and simple drills.
- Your First Rebound: the beginner's guide to padel, including how to play off the walls.
- Your First Kitchen: the beginner's guide to pickleball, including the kitchen rules and scoring.
Want both? With our Mix & Match offer, any two guides are £30 together.
See you on court,
The Racket Master team
Sources
LTA Padel (May 2026). 1,000,000 padel players in Britain.
Decathlon UK. Pickleball vs padel: what's the difference?