Pickleball vs padel vs tennis: which should you play?

A few years ago, most Australians would have given you a blank look if you mentioned pickleball or padel. Now both are everywhere. Pickleball courts are being painted onto tennis courts across the country, padel venues are opening in the major cities, and tennis — Australia's long-standing racquet sport — is as popular as ever.

So which should you play? We're obviously a pickleball brand, so we'll declare our bias up front. But all three are brilliant sports, and plenty of people play more than one. Here's an honest comparison to help you decide.

At a glance

	Pickleball	Padel	Tennis
Court size	13.41m × 6.1m	20m × 10m, enclosed	23.77m × 10.97m (doubles)
Walls	No	Yes — glass and mesh walls are in play	No
Equipment	Solid paddle, perforated plastic ball	Solid perforated padel bat, low-pressure ball	Strung racquet, pressurised felt ball
Serve	Underhand, diagonal	Underhand, after a bounce	Overhead, usually
Scoring	To 11, win by 2 (usually)	Tennis scoring	Tennis scoring
Usual format	Doubles (singles also played)	Almost always doubles	Singles and doubles
Learning curve	Very gentle	Gentle	Steep
Where to play	Councils, tennis clubs, halls	Dedicated padel venues	Tennis clubs, councils

Pickleball

Pickleball is played on a small court with a solid paddle and a light, perforated plastic ball. The serve is underhand, the ball is slower than a tennis ball, and two rules shape the whole game: the two-bounce rule (the serve and return must both bounce before anyone volleys) and the kitchen, a 2.13m non-volley zone on each side of the net.

The result is a game where rallies are long, points are often won with soft touch rather than raw power, and beginners can have genuine rallies in their first session. It's extremely social — most sessions rotate partners constantly — and it suits an enormous range of ages and fitness levels.

Best for: people who want to be playing proper games quickly, social players, couples and families, ex-tennis and squash players, and anyone who enjoys a tactical, touch-based game.

Watch out for: the soft game takes real skill to master. Pickleball is easy to learn and hard to get good at — which, for most people, is exactly the appeal.

If you're new, our guide to pickleball rules explained simply will get you up to speed in ten minutes.

Padel

Padel is played in doubles on an enclosed court about 20m × 10m, surrounded by glass and mesh walls. Like squash, the ball can be played off the walls after it bounces. Players use a solid, perforated bat (no strings) and a ball similar to a tennis ball but with lower pressure. The serve is underhand, and scoring follows tennis.

The walls make padel forgiving and fun: balls that would be winners in tennis come back into play off the glass, so rallies last. It's fast-paced and physically engaging, with plenty of lobs, smashes and clever angles.

Best for: people who like a fast, athletic game, ex-squash players (the walls will feel natural), and groups of four who want a guaranteed booking at a dedicated venue.

Watch out for: padel needs a purpose-built, enclosed court. In Australia, that usually means booking time at a dedicated venue, which tends to cost more per hour than a council pickleball or tennis court — and venues are still concentrated in the bigger cities.

Tennis

You probably know the drill: a big court, strung racquets, a pressurised ball, overhead serves and tennis's famous scoring system. Australia has a deep tennis culture and a huge network of clubs and courts, from local council courts to major facilities.

Tennis is a wonderful sport, but it has the steepest learning curve of the three. Serving well, rallying consistently and covering a large court all take time to develop. It's also the most physically demanding, especially in singles.

Best for: people who want a classic, athletic sport with deep competition pathways, and players who enjoy the challenge of mastering technique over years.

Watch out for: for complete beginners, it can take months to reach the point of enjoying proper rallies.

Which is easiest to learn?

Pickleball, comfortably. The small court, slower ball, underhand serve and solid paddle mean most beginners are rallying within minutes and playing proper games in their first session. Padel is also approachable, thanks to the walls keeping the ball in play. Tennis takes the longest to feel comfortable.

Which is best for fitness?

All three will get you moving, and the best one for fitness is the one you'll play regularly.

• Tennis is generally the most demanding, particularly singles on a full-size court.
• Padel is fast and intense, with lots of short sprints, lunges and overheads.
• Pickleball covers less ground, but fast exchanges at the net, constant small movements and long sessions add up. It's also lower impact, which makes it easier to keep playing week after week.

Which costs the least to start?

Costs vary a lot by location, but as a general guide:

• Pickleball is typically the cheapest to start. Paddles and balls are affordable, and many council courts are free or cheap to book, with social club sessions often costing just a few dollars.
• Tennis sits in the middle. A racquet, balls and shoes, plus court hire or club membership.
• Padel is usually the most expensive per session, because it needs a specialised enclosed court, typically at a commercial venue.

Which is most social?

All three have strong social scenes, but pickleball is arguably the most naturally social. Most sessions rotate partners every game, the small court means everyone is within chatting distance, and the queue system at many clubs keeps people mixing. Padel is social too, especially because it's almost always played in fours — you just need to organise your group and your booking in advance. Tennis socials are a great institution at many Australian clubs, though the bigger skill gap between players can make mixed-ability games harder to balance.

What about age and injuries?

Pickleball has become hugely popular with older Australians for good reason: it's lower impact, the court is small and the pace is manageable, while still being competitive. That said, it isn't risk-free. Quick changes of direction can strain calves and ankles, and backwards movement is a common cause of falls. Good court shoes, a proper warm-up and turning (rather than back-pedalling) to chase lobs make a real difference.

Padel's walls mean less running to retrieve balls, but it involves lots of overheads and twisting. Tennis places the highest demands on shoulders, elbows and knees. Whichever you choose, ease into it, and see a physio about any pain that sticks around.

Can you play all three?

Absolutely, and many people do. Skills transfer in useful ways: tennis players bring footwork and ball-striking to pickleball and padel, squash players take to padel's walls, and pickleball's soft hands can make you a better volleyer in all three. The main thing to watch is technique crossover — for example, tennis players often need to shorten their swing for pickleball. Our guide to pickleball for tennis players covers exactly that.

Our (admittedly biased) take

If you want the quickest route from "never played" to "I'm hooked", with the lowest cost and the friendliest crowd, it's hard to beat pickleball. It's the racquet sport most likely to have your parents, your kids, your neighbours and your old tennis partner all on court together on the same Tuesday night.

But honestly? Try all three. Book a padel court with friends, hit some tennis balls, and head to a pickleball social session. You'll know pretty quickly which one has you checking the booking app at work.

When you're ready to get your own gear, start with our guide to the best pickleball paddle for beginners in Australia, or take the two-minute Paddle Guide quiz.