Padel is often described as a mix between tennis and squash. While it shares common roots with its “big brother” tennis, such as the yellow ball or the central net, it radically diverges as soon as you step onto the court. Many tennis players think they’ll master padel in a few minutes, only to encounter the complexity of the glass walls and the game’s tactics.
Whether you’re a tennis purist or a curious beginner, understanding these nuances is fundamental to avoiding technical errors.
Here are the 7 key differences that separate these two racket sports.
1. The Court: A Closed World
This is the most obvious difference. In tennis, the court is open and the boundaries are the white lines. In padel, the court is smaller (20m x 10m compared to 23.77m x 10.97m for doubles tennis) and is entirely enclosed by walls (glass and mesh). In padel, the ball is “alive” after hitting the glass, which completely changes space management.
2. The Racket: Strings vs Carbon
A tennis racket is large, with a long handle and a string bed with taut strings that act like a spring. In padel, the pala is smaller, thicker (38 mm), and stringless. It has a foam core (EVA or FOAM) and a perforated surface. This material difference reduces leverage and requires a much shorter stroke.
3. The Serve: The End of Brute Force
In tennis, the serve is a weapon of mass destruction, struck overhead with maximum power. In padel, the serve is purely tactical. It must be performed underhand, after one bounce on the ground, and the impact must be below the waist. The goal is not to hit an “ace,” but to get to the net to take position.
4. Scoring: The “Golden Point”
While traditional scoring is the same (15, 30, 40, game), professional padel has introduced a rule that changes everything: the Golden Point. Unlike tennis, where deuces can last indefinitely (advantage/deuce), padel (Premier Padel circuit) uses a decisive point at 40-40. The receiving team chooses the side, and the winner of this point wins the game. This adds immediate dramatic tension.
5. Using the Walls
In tennis, if the ball gets past you, the point is over. In padel, the match often begins when the ball gets past you. Knowing how to let the ball pass to play it after it bounces off the back glass wall is the foundation of the game. This “third dimension” transforms padel into a permanent chess game where patience takes precedence over brute force.
6. Team Composition
Tennis is historically an individual sport (singles is the premier discipline). Padel, however, is exclusively a doubles sport (in competition). Playing as a pair requires constant communication, synchronized court coverage, and tactical complicity that is less common in recreational tennis.
7. Stroke Technique: Less Topspin, More Slice
Modern tennis is based on topspin (lift) to make the ball dip. In padel, topspin is the player’s enemy because it makes the ball rise after bouncing off the glass, offering an easy opportunity for the opponent. In padel, slice is used almost exclusively to keep the ball low and make it hug the wall.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Serve | Tennis: Overhead. Padel: Underhand (below the waist). |
| Power | Tennis: Decisive. Padel: Secondary (after placement). |
| Learning Curve | Tennis: Difficult at first. Padel: Very fast and fun. |
| Rally Duration | Tennis: Short to medium. Padel: Long and physical. |
Tennis remains the sport of elegance and athletic power, while padel establishes itself as the sport of strategy and social conviviality. One doesn’t preclude the other, but beware: once you’ve tasted the pleasure of the glass walls, it’s often hard to give it up!
Have you ever tried switching from one to the other? What was the hardest part for you: giving up your powerful serve or learning not to be afraid of the glass wall?
Key takeaways
- Padel is played on an enclosed court (glass + mesh): managing bounces changes everything.
- The pala (stringless) requires shorter strokes and a “placement” rather than “leverage” approach.
- The serve in padel is a tactical trigger: the goal is to get to the net, not to hit an ace.
- The Golden Point (at 40-40) increases pressure and the management of key moments.
- The game’s logic often favors slice and construction, rather than pure topspin.
