Pickleball vs padel: what is the difference?

The two get mixed up partly because some venues offer both, and partly because the Australian Sports Commission's AusPlay survey groups them together as "pickleball/padel". Here is how they actually differ, from each sport's official rules.

Pickleball vs padel at a glance

How are the courts different?

The International Padel Federation (FIP) rules define a padel court as a rectangle 10 m wide by 20 m long, measured inside, and say the court must be completely enclosed. The ends have walls 3 m high topped with fencing to 4 m, and the sides combine wall sections and metal fencing. The FIP also requires at least 6 m of clear height above the court and suggests 8 m for new facilities.

A pickleball court is about 82 m² against padel's 200 m², with no walls at all. The rulebook's minimum playing surface for pickleball, including run-off, is 9.14 m by 18.29 m. See my court size comparison for a to-scale diagram.

Paddle vs racket

A pickleball paddle is a solid, flat paddle. Its combined length and width cannot exceed 60.96 cm and its length cannot exceed 43.18 cm, with no limit on weight or thickness. The hitting surface cannot be rough or textured to add spin.

A padel racket, under the FIP rules, is a stringless racket with a hitting surface perforated by holes, up to 45.5 cm long. Its faces may be smooth or rough, and it must have a wrist cord of up to 35 cm.

Ball differences

The pickleball ball is a light, hard plastic ball with holes; larger holes are customarily used indoors and smaller holes outdoors. The padel ball is a rubber ball with internal pressure, like a tennis ball. The FIP says a new ball should bounce 135 to 145 cm when dropped from 2.54 m onto a hard surface.

Serving and scoring

Both sports serve underarm and diagonally. In padel the FIP rules say the server bounces the ball in their service box, then hits it at or below waist height, and gets a second serve if the first is a fault. In pickleball there is only one serve, and the server can either volley the ball (below the waist, with an upward swing) or use a drop serve.

Scoring is the clearest difference. Padel uses tennis scoring: points of 15, 30 and 40 inside games and sets, with the option of a "golden point" (no advantage) at deuce. Pickleball games are to 11, win by 2, and in standard scoring only the serving side can score. See pickleball scoring.

Which is easier for beginners?

Both sell themselves as easy to start. Pickleball's small court, light ball and underarm serve make it quick to rally, and Pickleball Australia describes it as for everyone from 9 to 90. Padel adds the walls, which are a skill of their own to learn. If you already play tennis, padel's scoring will feel familiar; pickleball's will not.

Which is more popular in Australia?

I cannot give a fair head-to-head figure. The Australian Sports Commission's AusPlay 2024-25 release lists "pickleball/padel" as one combined activity among the fastest growing for adults. For pickleball on its own, Pickleball Australia's home page showed 29,835 members in November 2026.

Where can I play both?

Some Australian venues offer both sports side by side. Racquet Club lists pickleball and padel courts at its Sydney (Moore Park), Canberra (Fyshwick) and Gold Coast (Robina) locations, and House of Pickle Currumbin lists a padel court alongside its pickleball courts. See my where to play guides.