What is Padel?

Ever wondered what this sport is all about? Padel is a blend of both tennis and squash; the perfect combination of action filled with fun and keeps you fit. It doesn’t matter what age you are; padel is a fantastic activity for people of all. It’s Easy to pick up and play, allowing anybody to enjoy the thrill of this sport. With an easy-to-hold stringless racket and a low compression tennis ball, the game is highly addictive and has seen a rise in the number of people taking part in this activity. Padel is usually played in doubles.

The Differences Between Padel and Tennis

You may have understood now how these two indoor racket sports vary from one another. Let’s dive deeper and learn more about these sports, from the rackets to the rules.

The Racket

Some of the most notable differences are the appearances of the rackets.

Padel Rackets

A padel racket is robust with a short handle for better control.

It also features a sturdy foam core and durable fiberglass surround.

Tennis Rackets

A tennis racket has a longer handle to put even more power behind every shot.

It has a head strung that consists of racket strings. The larger the racket head, the more power it will generate.

The Rules

Both sports have their own unique set of rules. The biggest difference in the rules includes:

1. The serve. In padel, the serve is usually done underarm while in tennis, the service can be done both under or over. 
2. In padel, the rules mean that the surrounding walls, including the back and the side wall can be used, unlike in tennis, where the ball must stay within the markings of the court. 
3. Because of the use of walls, rallies tend to be longer when playing padel, as opposed to tennis.
4. Padel is always played in doubles, whereas tennis can be played in doubles or singles.
5. In padel, the scoring means that points are usually won by strategy rather than through strength and power.

The Court

Another difference between sports is the court. We touched upon how padel makes use of the back walls and side walls to score points. Let’s take a further look at how padel courts differ from tennis courts.

• Padel courts are usually 20m long and 10m wide.
• Tennis courts are 23m long and 11m wide.
• Padel courts have walls that contribute to the overall gameplay. 
• Padel rules allow players to play outside of the court, while tennis does not.

The Ball

Despite the similarities, there are a few differences between a padel ball and tennis ball.

• Padel balls are slightly softer, with lower air pressure than tennis balls.
• Due to the higher air pressure in tennis balls, tennis balls are slightly bigger than paddle balls.
• A tennis ball must have a diameter distance between 6.54cm and 6.86cm.
• A padel ball must have a diameter distance between 6.35cm and 6.77cm.

How does Padel scoring work?

Padel scoring is identical to tennis scoring.

• All games are played in sets of 3 and consist of 6 games.
• The points go up by 15, 30, 40, and then the game.
• If both teams tie on 40, this is called a deuce. 
• A team can win if they are able to take the lead by two clear points.

Is Padel easier than Tennis?

Due to the simpler nature of the sport, padel is much easier to play than tennis. Padel rules are a little less strict compared to tennis rules and padel uses more strategy than strength.

Where can I play padel in Dubai?

There are plenty of places where you can play padel in Dubai. Some of these include:

• Padel Pro UAE
• RRA PADEL DUBAI
• Padel Point Al Quoz
• Padel Park Dubai