Padel vs tennis: the key differences in court size, serve, walls, scoring, rackets and balls, and which is easier to learn if you are starting out in Ireland.
Short answer: padel is played as doubles on a smaller, walled court with an underarm serve and a solid, stringless racket. Tennis uses a larger open court, an overarm serve and a strung racket. Padel uses the same scoring as tennis, but most beginners find it easier to start rallying, because the walls keep the ball in play.
- Smaller, walled court A padel court is 20 m by 10 m with glass walls. A tennis court is 23.77 m long and open.
- Underarm serve Padel serves are bounced and hit at or below the waist. Tennis serves are usually overarm.
- Same scoring Both use 15, 30, 40, game, with sets to six games and tie-breaks.
- Easier to start The walls and gentler serve mean beginners rally sooner in padel.
Is padel the same as tennis?
No, although they share a lot. Padel borrows tennis scoring and some strokes, but it is played in an enclosed court where the walls are part of the game. It is almost always played as doubles, which makes it more social and less physically demanding for newcomers.
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Switching from tennis? Start here
You may also hear padel called paddle tennis or padel tennis. In Ireland and Europe, they usually mean the same sport.
How does padel compare with tennis at a glance?
| Players | Padel: almost always doubles. Tennis: singles or doubles. |
| Court | Padel: 20 m x 10 m, enclosed. Tennis: 23.77 m long, 8.23 m wide for singles, 10.97 m for doubles. |
| Walls | Padel: glass and mesh walls in play. Tennis: no walls. |
| Serve | Padel: bounced, underarm, at or below the waist. Tennis: hit before it touches the ground, usually overarm. |
| Scoring | Both: 15, 30, 40, game; sets to six; tie-break at 6-6. |
| Racket | Padel: solid, perforated, no strings, max 45.5 cm. Tennis: strung, longer. |
| Ball | Padel: padel-specific ball made to FIP specs. Tennis: tennis ball made to ITF specs. |
Which is easier to learn, padel or tennis?
For most beginners, padel. The court is smaller, the serve is gentle, and the walls give you a second chance on balls that would be winners in tennis. Most people rally within their first session.
Tennis takes longer to get into. Serving overarm into a small box and controlling a strung racket on a big open court is harder at the start. The flip side is that tennis rewards long-term technique, and players who come from tennis usually pick up padel very quickly.
Do you need different equipment?
Yes. A padel racket is solid with holes, not strung, and it is shorter than a tennis racket. Padel balls are made to padel specifications, and court shoes need a padel, clay or omni sole for sandy turf. Our padel starter kit covers everything, and our best padel rackets for beginners guide is the place to start if you are switching from tennis.
These are the two items we would buy first if you are crossing over.
Round, soft and easy to control
If you are heading to your first session, the Optix V1 is the racket we would start with. The round head and low balance make it easy to control, and the soft foam core is kind on the arm.
| Shape | Round |
| Weight | About 360 g |
| Balance | Low (265 mm) |
| Core | Low-density foam |
| Face | Fibreglass |
| Suits | Complete beginners |
- Very forgiving
- Soft, comfortable feel
- Limited power on smashes
- Basic for improving players
Proper padel grip at an entry price
Sandy turf courts need a padel or clay sole. The Courtquick’s Adiwear tread is made for padel, and the Bounce midsole is comfortable from the first wear.
| Outsole | Adiwear rubber, multi-directional |
| Cushioning | Bounce midsole, Cloudfoam |
| Weight | About 363 g (men's US 10.5) |
| Suits | Beginners and social players |
- Real padel grip for less
- Comfortable straight away
- Less cushioning for long sessions
- Sole wears faster with heavy use
What do the official rules say?
The ITF Rules of Tennis set the court at 23.77 m long, with a width of 8.23 m for singles and 10.97 m for doubles, and require the serve to be hit before the ball touches the ground. They also allow a no-ad option at deuce, much like padel's golden point.
The FIP Rules of Padel require the serve to be bounced and struck at or below waist height, treat the walls and mesh fence as part of the court, and cap rackets at 45.5 cm long and 38 mm thick. See our guide to padel rules and scoring for the full detail.
Is padel easier on the body than tennis?
It is usually less demanding to start, because the court is smaller and rallies are shared between four players. It is not injury-free, though. A systematic review in BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine found the elbow was the most commonly injured area in padel, and the HSE lists both tennis and squash among racket sports linked to tennis elbow. A light, soft racket helps.
Why are so many tennis players switching to padel?
It is quick to learn, sociable and easy to fit into a busy week. A Cavan coach told the Irish Farmers Journal that padel is more forgiving than tennis, because the walls and underarm serve keep rallies going. Many Irish tennis clubs now have padel courts too.
Ready to try it? Find a court in our guide to where to play padel in Ireland, or compare it with another fast-growing sport in padel vs pickleball.
Ready to try it? See how much padel costs in Ireland for court, kit and lesson prices.
Padel vs tennis questions
Is padel harder than tennis?
Most beginners find padel easier to start, because of the smaller court, underarm serve and walls. Both take years to master.
Can you use a tennis racket for padel?
No. Padel rackets are solid, perforated and shorter, and must meet the FIP size limits.
Is padel scoring the same as tennis?
Yes. Points go 15, 30, 40, game, and sets go to six games with a tie-break at 6-6. Many padel games use a golden point at deuce.
Is paddle tennis the same as padel?
In Ireland and Europe, people usually mean padel when they say paddle tennis. In the US, platform tennis and other paddle sports also use the name.
Do tennis players make good padel players?
Often, yes. Tennis players already have good footwork and racket skills, though they need to learn the walls and a more compact swing.