Padel vs. Pickleball vs. Tennis vs. Paddle Tennis: What’s the Difference?
You’ve heard the chatter. Everyone’s playing something with a paddle, but nobody can seem to agree on what it’s actually called. Is it paddle? Padel? Pickle? Paddle pickle? And where does tennis fit into this mess?
If you’ve found yourself nodding along while your friends debate “court size” and “non-volley zones” like it’s fantasy football, don’t worry, we’re here to make sense of it all. Whether you're looking to join Padel United Sports Club or just want to sound like you know your backhand from your dink shot, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s Clear Up the Names First
First off: Padel ≠ Paddle Tennis.
We know. It’s confusing. They sound alike, and people often swap the terms like they’re synonyms—but they’re not.
Padel: Born in Mexico in the 1960s. It involves walls and strategy. Think tennis meets squash… in a cage.
Paddle Tennis: Made in the U.S. earlier in the 1900s. No walls, smaller court, but still very much a cousin to tennis.
Then there's:
Pickleball: Invented by bored dads in Washington in the '60s. It involves paddles, a plastic ball, and a court the size of your living room.
Tennis: The classy grandparent of the group. Big court, big swings, big grunts.
A Brief History (Because You Deserve Context)
Tennis goes way back to French monks slapping balls in monasteries (no joke). It’s royalty-approved and requires a court the size of a small parking lot.
Paddle Tennis was invented when Reverend Frank Beal decided tennis needed to be a bit more…compact. He cut the court, softened the ball, and told people to bring paddles instead of racquets.
Padel came from one man’s frustration with losing tennis balls to his garden. Enrique Corcuera, a legend, built walls around his court to keep the balls in play. Accidentally invented a global sport.
Pickleball started when three friends wanted a game the whole family could play with whatever equipment they had lying around. Ping pong paddles? Wiffle ball? Sure, why not.
Court Confusion: Size (and Personality) Matters
If the size of the court tells you something about the personality of the game:
Tennis is the marathon runner—huge court, high-speed, serious tone.
Padel is the tactician—medium-sized, enclosed, loves angles and rebounds.
Paddle Tennis is practical—smaller than tennis, but still open-air.
Pickleball is the extrovert at a dinner party—small court, chatty players, and plenty of kitchen rules (literally).
Let’s simplify:
| Sport | Vibe | Court Size | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennis | Traditional, intense | Largest | Open court, stringed racquet |
| Padel | Strategic, social | Medium, enclosed | You can play off the glass walls |
| Paddle Tennis | Urban, no-fuss | Small-ish | No walls, but a low-bounce ball |
| Pickleball | Fun, fast, and friendly | Smallest | Has a “kitchen” zone (no smashing!) |
Equipment: What Are You Holding?
Tennis: Big, strung racquet. Fast ball. Serious business.
Padel: A solid paddle (called a pala), usually made from carbon fiber. Ball looks like tennis but is less bouncy—like it needs coffee.
Paddle Tennis: Solid paddle, smaller than padel’s, and a squishier tennis ball.
Pickleball: Flat paddle (sometimes looks like it belongs in a pizza oven) and a plastic ball with holes. Like a wiffle ball but somehow more smug.
A side-by-side image shows paddles and racquets for padel, pickleball, tennis, and paddle tennis
Rules and Scoring: Game, Set… Dink?
Tennis:
Scoring is 15–30–40–game. You need endurance, a solid serve, and probably a chiropractor on speed dial.
Padel:
Same tennis scoring—but you can use the walls to bounce shots back into play. There’s no “advantage” after deuce. Next point wins. It’s cutthroat, but in a friendly way.
Paddle Tennis:
Basically tennis rules, but with underhand serves. Like tennis’s chill cousin who still plays but doesn’t want to pull a hamstring.
Pickleball:
Only the serving team can score. First to 11 wins, must win by 2. You must let the ball bounce twice before smashing it. There’s a “kitchen” zone near the net where volleys are forbidden. Think ping pong with gym class drama.
So Which One Should You Play?
Want to feel like a pro athlete?
Tennis. Just know it's the most physically demanding.
Want fast, team-based strategy with lots of action?
Padel. It's social, smart, and just chaotic enough to keep things interesting.
Want a lower-key tennis substitute that’s great for urban play?
Paddle Tennis. The underdog. Old school, but with charm.
Want something social, easy to pick up, and ideal for all ages?
Pickleball. Show up, dink a few balls, and you’re one of the gang.
Final Thoughts (with No Drama)
At Padel United Sports Club, we’re obviously partial to padel. But that’s not just bias—it’s because it combines the best of everything. You get the teamwork, the smart shot angles, the fast rallies, and, yes, the joy of smashing a ball off a wall with dramatic flair.
And if you still call it “paddle,” don’t worry—we’ll correct you with love and a free court tour.
“Padel is the perfect mix of excitement and accessibility. Players of all levels pick it up fast and stay hooked,” says Amanda S., Head Coach at Padel United Sports Club.
According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. with over 36.5 million players in 2023.
Want to dig deeper?
Ready to hit the court? Come by our Cresskill location or book through the Padel United Sports Club app. Whether you’re a padel purist or new to the racquet world, we’re here every day from 8 AM to 10 PM.
FAQ
-
Paddle tennis is a variation of tennis played on a smaller, wall-less court using a solid paddle and a low-bounce ball. It originated in the United States and is known for being a more compact, urban-friendly version of traditional tennis.
-
Padel tennis is a hybrid racquet sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. It’s played on a smaller, enclosed court with walls that are used during gameplay, and it emphasizes strategy, teamwork, and quick reflexes. It's often just called "padel" but is distinct from paddle tennis.
-
Padel is a racquet sport played in an enclosed court with walls. It combines elements of tennis and squash and is typically played in doubles using a solid paddle and a low-compression ball.
-
No. Padel is played in an enclosed court with walls and rebound shots, while paddle tennis is more similar to tennis and has no walls.
-
Pickleball is a paddle sport played with a plastic ball on a small court. It has unique rules like a "kitchen" zone near the net and is popular for its accessibility and fun social atmosphere.
-
Pickleball is usually easiest to learn. It has a slower pace, smaller courts, and simple rules that make it family-friendly.
-
Padel is played on a smaller, enclosed court and incorporates walls into gameplay. It’s typically doubles only and uses a solid paddle instead of a strung racquet.
-
Yes, it’s growing quickly, especially in urban areas. More clubs like Padel United are opening to meet rising demand.
