Pickleball vs Padel vs Tennis: What's the Difference?

Pickleball, padel and tennis are booming — but what's the difference, and which should you try? Here's a quick comparison.
Is Babolat Pure Strike the underrated Tennis Racket? Reading Pickleball vs Padel vs Tennis: What's the Difference? 1 minute Next Tennis Racket Grip Size: A Simple Guide

Three of the fastest-growing racket sports in the UK — but they're quite different. Here's the quick comparison.

Tennis

The classic. Larger court, stringed rackets, played singles or doubles. Shop tennis rackets.

Padel

Played in an enclosed glass court, usually doubles, with solid (stringless) rackets. Easy to pick up and hugely social. Shop padel.

Pickleball

Smaller court, solid paddles and a perforated plastic ball — the fastest-growing sport in the world. Shop pickleball.

Which should you try?

All three! Padel and pickleball are quick to learn and ideal for social play; tennis rewards long-term progression and is still the most-played racket sport in the UK. Whichever you choose, we stock everything you need to get on court.