Padel vs tennis
Padel keeps tennis scoring but throws out the strings, shrinks the court and adds walls. Here is how the two sports really compare.
Padel and tennis share the same 15/30/40 scoring, but they play very differently. Padel is played in doubles on a smaller enclosed court (20 m by 10 m) with glass walls that are in play, using solid stringless rackets and an underhand serve. Tennis is played on a larger open court with strung rackets and an overhead serve. Padel rewards placement and touch; tennis rewards power and reach.
Key takeaways
- Scoring is shared: 15/30/40, games and sets.
- Padel courts are smaller and fully enclosed; tennis courts are open.
- Padel rackets are solid and stringless; tennis rackets are strung.
- Padel serves are underhand; tennis serves are overhead.
- Padel walls are in play, adding a squash-like tactical layer.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Padel | Tennis |
|---|---|---|
| Court size | 20 m x 10 m, enclosed | Larger, roughly 24 m x 11 m for doubles, open |
| Walls | In play | None |
| Racket | Solid, stringless, perforated | Strung frame |
| Serve | Underhand, below the waist, bounces first | Overhead, powerful |
| Format | Almost always doubles | Singles or doubles |
| Scoring | 15/30/40, games and sets | 15/30/40, games and sets |
| Emphasis | Placement, touch, playing the walls | Power, reach, baseline athleticism |
What tennis players notice first
The strung racket becomes a solid padel racket, the swing shrinks, and the serve goes underhand. The biggest adjustment is the walls: a ball you would chase down and lose in tennis can be left to rebound off your own back glass and played calmly. Signature shots like the bandeja exist precisely to control these situations.
New to the sport entirely? Begin with what is padel? and the rules of padel. Coming from pickleball instead? See padel vs pickleball.
FAQs
Does padel use the same scoring as tennis?
Yes. Padel uses the same 15/30/40/game structure and set format as tennis, including deuce, though many formats settle deuce with a single golden point.
Is padel easier than tennis?
For most beginners, yes. The court is smaller, the underhand serve is simpler, and the walls keep the ball in play, so new players rally sooner than they typically would in tennis.
Will tennis skills transfer to padel?
Partly. Footwork, timing and scoring transfer well, but padel rewards touch, placement and playing off the walls rather than the big swings and power of tennis.
Last updated August 12, 2026 · PadelAnywhere Editorial
Sources
Comparison based on the official rules of play published by padel and tennis governing bodies, together with published manufacturer specifications for rackets and balls. Court dimensions are given to the nearest published figures.