Pickleball vs. Padel: What’s the Difference—and Which One Should You Play?

If you’ve been hearing the word padel thrown around lately and wondering what it has to do with pickleball, you’re not alone.

They're both booming racket sports. They both use paddles. And they both look kinda similar at first glance.

But they actually feel totally different once you’re on the court.

So here’s a quick breakdown of how pickleball and padel stack up—and how to choose the one that fits your style best.

Court Size and Play Style

Let’s start with the basics.

Pickleball is played on a small, open-air court (44 ft x 20 ft). It’s fast-paced, reactive, and filled with short, punchy points. Singles or doubles—your call.

Padel, on the other hand, is always doubles. It’s played on a larger enclosed court with glass or mesh walls that keep the ball in play way longer. Think tennis meets racquetball.

TL;DR:

• Pickleball = quick bursts, clean lines, no walls

• Padel = angles, rebounds, strategy galore

Paddles, Balls & Gear

Pickleball paddles are solid with no strings. The ball is plastic, with holes—basically a wiffle ball on steroids.

Padel uses a thicker racquet (still solid, no strings) but plays with a low-compression tennis ball. The gear's a bit heavier, and the walls totally change how you hit.

Bottom line:If you love finesse and resets, go pickleball.If you’re into tricky angles and power shots? Padel might win you over.

🏃‍♂️ Movement & Physical Demand

Pickleball is more about quick footwork, dinks, and explosive transitions. You’ll be hustling, but not across a football field.

Padel requires more endurance. You’re constantly chasing rebounds, adjusting for wall angles, and covering a bigger court.

Pickleball feels more reactive.Padel feels more athletic. Both will make you sweat—but in different ways.

🌍 What’s More Popular Right Now?

In the U.S., pickleball is king.More courts, lower cost, easier to get started.

Padel is massive in Spain, Latin America, and parts of Europe. It’s growing in the U.S., but still mostly in major cities with private facilities.

Translation: If you're in Bloomington or anywhere like it, you'll find a lot more pickleball courts and players than padel (for now).

🎯 So Which One Should You Play?

If you're curious, here's a simple cheat sheet:

If you...	Go With Pickleball	Try Padel If...
Want to start today	✅ Easy to access	❌ Less common in the U.S.
Like singles or doubles	✅ Choose either	❌ Only doubles
Prefer compact, fast games	✅ Dinks & drives	❌ Rebounds & rallies
Want wall strategy and power play	❌ Not really a thing	✅ Walls are the whole game
Are trying to get really sweaty	🤷 Depends on your hustle	✅ Bigger court, more movement

Why We’re Still Betting on Pickleball at BPW

We love what padel brings to the court—but for now, we’re all in on pickleball.

It’s way more accessible. The learning curve is shorter. The gear’s affordable. The community’s strong.

And let’s be real—most of us don’t have space to build a glass-walled padel box in our backyard.

Final Serve (Okay, last racket pun—we promise)

If you're paddle-curious, you can't go wrong trying both.But if you want a sport you can play this weekend with your friends and get better at fast, stick with pickleball.

We'll be here with the courts, the crew, and all the gear to get you going.