Padel, Tennis and Pickleball: What’s the Difference?

Racquet sports are now a familiar part of many of the hotels and resorts we recommend, but they don’t all offer the same experience.

Padel, tennis and pickleball differ in how they’re played, how they feel on court, and how they tend to fit within your time away.

Tennis

Tennis is the most familiar, and usually the most structured.

At many of the resorts we work with, there are multiple courts, experienced coaches and organised sessions running through the week. For those who already play, that’s part of the appeal – although there are plenty of options for beginners too.

It’s also the most demanding. Timing, consistency and movement all matter more, so it’s not something people usually tend to just drop into.

Padel

Padel is different again.

It’s played as doubles, on an enclosed court, using the glass walls. That changes the game straight away, rallies last longer and you don’t need perfect technique to enjoy it early on.

It’s also where people often end up playing more than they expected. It’s easy to join in, relatively easy to play, and doesn’t require much planning.

That said, at the right resorts it’s taken just as seriously as tennis, with strong coaching, organised sessions and a high standard of play. (such as at La Manga or Pine Cliffs).

Pickleball

Pickleball is still less common in Europe, but it’s starting to appear more frequently.

The court is smaller and open (no walls in play!) with a lighter ball and a slower pace. A lot of the play happens around the net, with shorter, more controlled exchanges rather than longer rallies across the court.

There’s also a slightly different feel to how points are played and scored, but you don’t need to know much to get started. It’s easy to pick up, and you’re usually playing properly within a few minutes

It’s also just good fun. Social, easy to play, and a little bit addictive!

Padel vs pickleball

They’re often mentioned together, but they’re not that similar once you’re playing.

Padel has more to it. There’s more movement, more variation, and more ways a point can develop once a rally gets going.

Pickleball is more contained. Most of the play stays around the net, with shorter exchanges and a more controlled feel overall.

Both are easy to get into, but they don’t feel the same once you’ve had a couple of games.

A note on “paddle”

“Paddle” is often used as a catch-all term, but in most cases people are referring to padel.

There are other racquet sports with similar names, such as paddle tennis or platform tennis, but these aren’t as common in the resorts we recommend.

Padel is the version that has become widely established across Europe, and the one you’re most likely to come across. It’s a small distinction on paper, but a noticeable one once you’re playing.

Whether you already know which sport you’re looking for, or you’re still weighing it up, we can guide you based on first-hand knowledge of the hotels and how it all actually works once you’re there.