Padel and pickleball are the two fastest-growing racket sports in the world, and they are often mentioned in the same breath. They are genuinely different games, though — here is how to tell them apart and decide which to try.
The court
This is the biggest difference. Padel is played on a court enclosed by glass walls and metal mesh, and those walls are part of the game — the ball can rebound off them and stay in play. Pickleball is played on a smaller, open court with no walls, more like a compact tennis or badminton court.
The rules and equipment
Both use a solid, stringless bat or racket and are easy to pick up. Pickleball uses a hard perforated plastic ball; padel uses a ball much like a tennis ball. Padel is almost always played as doubles; pickleball is happily played as singles or doubles. Padel's walls give it longer, more dynamic rallies, while pickleball's "kitchen" rule near the net shapes its tactics.
Which is easier to learn?
Both are far gentler for beginners than tennis. Pickleball's smaller court means even less running. Padel's walls take a little getting used to, but they also keep more balls in play, so rallies last longer and feel rewarding sooner.
Which should you try?
If you want a social, doubles-only game with long rallies and a bit of strategy off the walls, padel is brilliant — and courts are opening fast across Australia. If you have read this far, padel probably has your attention. The beginners hub explains the rules in plain English, and the court finder shows where to play near you.