Walk past any sports complex in Spain or France these days and you will hear the distinctive pop of padel. The sport has grown from a niche pastime to one of the most popular recreational sports in Europe in under a decade. But what exactly is it, and how does it compare to tennis?
The court
A padel court is roughly a third the size of a tennis court (20m x 10m) and is always enclosed by glass and metal mesh walls that are part of the playing surface. You can play the ball off the walls — like squash — which is one of the things that makes padel so different and, many people argue, more fun for recreational players.
The equipment
Padel uses a solid racket (no strings) and a depressurised ball that is slightly softer than a tennis ball. The shorter, lighter racket is easier to control, which is why beginners can play a real rally within minutes of picking one up — something that takes months in tennis.
The rules
Scoring is identical to tennis (15, 30, 40, game; games, sets, match). The key differences: the serve is underarm and the ball must bounce before you serve; the ball can be played off the walls in your own half after it bounces; and the sport is almost exclusively played as doubles.
Why padel is growing so fast
The doubles format makes it inherently social. The enclosed court makes the game more forgiving — balls that would be out in tennis stay in play, creating longer rallies and more fun for average players. The learning curve is gentler than tennis, which means people progress faster and enjoy themselves sooner.
If you play tennis and want to try padel, the tactical knowledge transfers. The most challenging adjustment is the underarm serve and learning when to use the walls creatively.
