Padel vs Tennis vs Squash: Key Differences You Need to Know
Why Compare Padel, Tennis, and Squash?
Racket sports have always been popular, but with the rise of padel sport, many players are asking how it compares to tennis and squash. While these three games share some similarities, they differ in equipment, rules, courts, and playing style.
If you’re deciding which to try — or want to understand why padel is growing so quickly — this guide breaks down the differences.
🏟️ Court Size and Design
Tennis: Played on a large open court (23.77m x 8.23m for singles). No walls.
Squash: Played in an indoor, four-walled court (9.75m x 6.4m). Walls are central to the game.
Padel: Played on an enclosed court (20m x 10m), with glass or mesh walls. The walls are in play, creating exciting rallies.
👉 Verdict: Padel’s court size is more compact than tennis but larger than squash, making it accessible and social.
🛠️ Equipment Differences
Tennis Rackets: Strung rackets, typically 250–350g, used to generate spin and power.
Squash Rackets: Longer and lighter, designed for speed and wall rebounds.
Padel Rackets: Solid, perforated surfaces with no strings, usually 340–390g, designed for control and quick reactions.
Balls:
Tennis and padel balls look similar, but padel balls have slightly less pressure for slower bounce.
Squash balls are much smaller and bounce less, often colour-coded for speed.
📊 Scoring Systems Compared
Tennis & Padel: Same scoring system (15, 30, 40, game; best of 3 sets).
Squash: Uses point-a-rally (PAR) scoring, usually up to 11 points per game.
👉 If you know tennis scoring, padel feels instantly familiar.
⚖️ Gameplay and Rules
Tennis: Powerful serves and baseline rallies dominate. Requires strong physical endurance.
Squash: Fast rallies, intense movement, and heavy use of wall rebounds.
Padel: Doubles format is standard. Walls are used like squash, but with tennis-style scoring. Underarm serves and compact courts make it easier to learn.
💡 Difficulty and Accessibility
Tennis: Steeper learning curve, as serves and strokes require technique and power.
Squash: High-intensity game, physically demanding, often intimidating for beginners.
Padel: Quick to pick up, lower physical barrier, highly social, and beginner-friendly.
🌍 Popularity Around the World
Tennis: Global sport with centuries of tradition, four major Grand Slam tournaments.
Squash: Strong following in countries like Egypt, Pakistan, and the UK, but less mainstream.
Padel: Fastest-growing racket sport in Europe, booming in Spain, Italy, France, UK, Sweden, and expanding globally.
🛠️ Which Sport is Right for You?
Choose Tennis if you love tradition, singles play, and outdoor competition.
Choose Squash if you want a fast-paced, indoor, high-intensity workout.
Choose Padel if you want a fun, social, easy-to-learn game with long rallies and quick progress.
👉 Thinking of starting padel? Browse our Padel Shop for beginner rackets, balls, and clothes designed to get you playing right away.
🚀 Final Thoughts
Padel, tennis, and squash all have unique appeals, but padel offers the best mix of accessibility, fun, and strategy. It combines the scoring of tennis, the wall rebounds of squash, and a more social doubles format that makes it perfect for players of all ages.
If you’re looking for a racket sport that’s growing fast and easy to enjoy, padel might just be your next obsession.