Padel vs Tennis — What's the Difference? The Honest UK Guide

Padel is the fastest growing sport in the UK right now — and most people discovering it are coming from tennis. Same scoring, similar court, completely different game. This guide breaks down exactly what's different, what's better, and which sport is right for you.

The 6 key differences between padel and tennis

1. The court is enclosed

A padel court is surrounded by glass walls and metal mesh. The ball can bounce off the walls and remain in play — just like squash. This is the defining feature of padel and what makes it unique. In tennis, anything that hits the fence is out. In padel, the walls are your allies.

2. The racket is completely different

Padel rackets are solid — no strings. They're shorter, lighter, and have holes in the face for aerodynamics. You can't swing as hard as in tennis, which actually makes the game more about placement and tactics than raw power.

3. The serve is underarm only

In padel you must serve underarm, bouncing the ball below waist height before striking. No overarm serves, no aces, no serving advantages. This single rule change dramatically levels the playing field and makes padel far more accessible to beginners.

4. It's always doubles

Padel is almost exclusively played as doubles — four players, two per side. Singles exists but is rare. This makes it inherently more social than tennis and more dependent on communication and partnership than individual skill.

5. The court is smaller

A padel court is 10m x 20m compared to tennis's 10.97m x 23.77m for doubles. The smaller court means less running, faster exchanges, and a game that's kinder on your joints. Perfect for players returning from injury or those who find full tennis courts too demanding.

6. The scoring is identical

Padel uses exactly the same scoring as tennis — 15, 30, 40, deuce, advantage, games, sets. If you know how to keep score in tennis, you already know how to keep score in padel. One less thing to learn.

Padel vs Tennis — side by side

Is padel easier than tennis?

Yes — and it's not close. Most complete beginners can sustain a proper rally within their first session of padel. In tennis, it typically takes weeks of practice to achieve the same. There are three reasons for this:

• The underarm serve — removes the hardest shot in tennis entirely. You just bounce and hit from waist height
• The smaller court — less ground to cover, more time to react, shorter distances to run
• The walls — they slow the game down and give you extra time. A ball that goes past you isn't lost — it rebounds off the glass and comes back to you

This accessibility is the main reason padel has exploded in the UK. People who found tennis frustrating to learn are falling in love with padel within their first session.

Which is cheaper to play in the UK?

Tennis is slightly cheaper per session — public courts through parks and leisure centres can be free or very low cost. Padel courts typically cost £12–£25 per person per session in the UK, though this varies by location and time of day.

Equipment costs are similar. A beginner padel racket starts from around £60, similar to entry-level tennis rackets. You'll need court shoes for both.

Padel for tennis players — what to expect

If you're a tennis player trying padel for the first time, here's what will surprise you:

• Your groundstrokes will feel wrong — padel requires a much more compact swing. If you come in with a full tennis backswing, you'll hit the glass wall. Shorten everything
• The wall will confuse you at first — don't fight the rebound. Let the ball come off the glass and then play it. You have more time than you think
• Net play is everything — padel is won and lost at the net. Your tennis net game will transfer immediately — use it
• You'll be hooked within an hour — almost every tennis player who tries padel says the same thing. It's addictive in a way that's hard to explain until you've played
• Your fitness won't transfer as directly — padel requires more explosive short movements than tennis. Expect sore legs after your first few sessions

Which sport is right for you?

Honestly? Most people who discover padel end up playing both. They're different enough to complement each other — padel for the social sessions and fun rallies, tennis for the competitive singles and outdoor summer play. You don't have to choose.