Britain has managed to fall for two new racket sports at once, and they get confused constantly. Both are played in doubles, both have underarm serves, both are easier to start than tennis. After that, they’re very different games, and the right one for you depends on what you want from it.
The courts
Padel’s court is bigger and enclosed by glass and mesh walls that are part of the game: the ball can be played off them, a bit like squash. Pickleball’s court is the size of a doubles badminton court, open on all sides, with the non-volley zone at the net shaping everything.
The kit and the ball
- Padel: a solid, stringless racket with holes, and a low-pressure ball like a tennis ball.
- Pickleball: a solid paddle and a perforated plastic ball that moves more slowly through the air.
The rules that matter
| Pickleball | Padel | |
|---|---|---|
| Serve | Underarm, diagonal, must clear the kitchen | Underarm, after a bounce, below the waist |
| Scoring | Games to 11, only the serving side scores (side-out) | Tennis scoring: 15, 30, 40, games and sets |
| The big rule | No volleying from the non-volley zone | Walls are in play after the ball bounces |
| Usual format | Doubles | Doubles |
Cost and access in the UK
This is where pickleball shines. Padel needs purpose-built walled courts. Pickleball fits on any badminton court with a portable net, so a leisure centre can start running sessions next week, which is why Pickleball England counted 1,350 venues offering it by June 2026.
That shows up in price. A typical UK pickleball session costs well under £10 per person (our price index has the current median), often with paddles provided. Padel is usually booked by the court for an hour and split four ways, and purpose-built venues have to cover the cost of those courts.
How fast pickleball is growing
Pickleball England has over 19,000 members, more than three times as many as at the end of 2023, and Sport England’s Active Lives survey estimated 74,800 players in England by late 2025. The full picture is in our UK pickleball statistics.
Why people choose pickleball
- It’s on your doorstep. It runs in ordinary leisure-centre halls, so there’s very likely a session near you.
- It’s cheap to start. Sessions are typically under £10, and many venues lend paddles.
- You can turn up alone. Club sessions rotate partners, so you’ll play with everyone.
- You’ll rally on day one. The small court and slower ball mean long, fun rallies from your first evening.
Find pickleball near you, and if you’re coming from another racket sport, our comparisons with tennis and badminton cover what carries over.