Padel vs Pickleball: Which Sport Should You Start Playing in the UK?

Padel and pickleball are two of the most talked-about racket sports in Britain right now, but they are not the same experience. Padel is played on an enclosed court with walls, uses depressurised tennis-style balls, and is almost always played as doubles. Pickleball is played on an open court with paddles and a perforated plastic ball, with a style that blends elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. Official court sizes also differ sharply: a padel court is 20m x 10m, while a pickleball court is 20ft x 44ft (about 6.1m x 13.4m).

The main differences between padel and pickleball

The quickest way to understand the difference is this: padel feels bigger, faster and more dynamic, while pickleball feels simpler to access and easier to learn quickly. Padel uses surrounding glass and mesh walls as part of play, so rallies continue after rebounds and the game rewards movement, anticipation and teamwork. Pickleball has no walls, a smaller court, and a lighter paddle-and-ball setup that makes it more approachable for complete beginners.

Padel also tends to attract players who want a more tennis-like workout without needing full-size tennis-court coverage. Pickleball, by contrast, is popular because the smaller court reduces running demands and helps new players enjoy rallies almost immediately. That is one of the biggest reasons both sports are growing, but often with different audiences. This fitness comparison is an inference from the official court dimensions and the way each sport is structured.

Which sport should you choose to start playing?

For most beginners, the better first choice depends on what you want from sport.

Choose pickleball if you want:

• the easiest learning curve
• lower entry costs
• less court coverage
• a more casual, social first step into racket sports

Choose padel if you want:

• a more athletic workout
• a sport that feels closer to tennis
• longer, more varied rallies using walls
• a game with stronger current momentum in the UK

My overall recommendation is this: start with pickleball if your priority is accessibility and affordability; start with padel if your priority is excitement, movement and long-term competitive appeal in the UK. Based on current UK momentum, padel has the stronger growth story and broader consumer buzz, while pickleball remains the easier low-pressure entry point.

Which sport has more courts in the UK?

Padel has more dedicated courts in the UK. The LTA said Britain reached 1,000 padel courts across 325 venues in 2025, and later noted totals were already expected to be higher.

For pickleball, the picture is different. Pickleball England’s ecosystem includes hundreds of clubs and places to play, but dedicated facilities were still limited: its 2025 AGM reported 7 dedicated facilities in 2025, with 14+ anticipated in 2026. That means pickleball may be available in many community halls and multi-use venues, but padel clearly leads on purpose-built court infrastructure.

Which sport has more players in the UK?

On the available published numbers, padel has more players in the UK.

The LTA reported over 400,000 adults and juniors in Great Britain played padel at least once in the previous 12 months.

Pickleball England’s 2025 AGM cites the Sport England Active Lives Survey showing 41,500 people in the 2023–24 report said they had taken part in the last 28 days. That is a different measurement and covers England, not all Great Britain, so it is not perfectly like-for-like. Even with that caveat, the published participation scale for padel is currently much larger.

Which sport is growing faster in the UK?

Padel is growing faster in the UK right now. The LTA’s published strategy aimed to take annual padel players from 129,000 to 400,000 and courts from 350 to 1,000, and by 2025 those milestones were reached. Separate 2026 reporting tied to Playtomic platform data said monthly UK padel bookings rose from 76,695 players in January 2025 to 172,564 in December 2025, a rise of roughly 125%.

Pickleball is also growing strongly. Pickleball England’s AGM reported 396 new clubs, 98.75% club growth, and 10,000 additional members since the previous AGM. That is impressive, but in visibility, infrastructure and total participation, padel currently appears to be expanding at a faster national pace.

Which sport is cheaper to play?

Pickleball is usually cheaper to play. In London examples, pickleball sessions can start from £10 at Lee Valley VeloPark, while a 40- or 60-minute booking at Swiss Cottage is listed at £18.80 for non-members. Equipment is often provided in beginner sessions.

Padel is typically more expensive because you are booking a specialised enclosed court. At the LTA National Tennis Centre, padel is listed at £25 per half hour, which is £50 per hour, and racket hire is extra.

In practice, split four ways, padel can still be reasonable for doubles. But if the question is which sport is cheaper for a beginner to try regularly, pickleball wins.

Which sport is more athletic and requires more fitness?

Padel is generally more athletic and fitness-demanding. The court is much larger than a pickleball court, rallies involve rebounds off walls, and players cover more space while reacting to more angles and ball trajectories. That usually means more movement, more changes of direction and more sustained physical work. This conclusion is an inference from the official court sizes and rules structure.

That said, high-level pickleball can still be sharp, reactive and competitive. It just tends to be less physically demanding for the average beginner because the court is smaller and easier to cover.

Which has the larger court?

Padel has the larger court.

• Padel: 20m x 10m = 200 square metres
• Pickleball: 6.1m x 13.4m ≈ 81.7 square metres

So a padel court has well over twice the playing area of a pickleball court.

Final verdict: padel or pickleball?

If you want the simplest, cheapest and most beginner-friendly option, pickleball is the easier sport to start.

If you want the sport with:

• more dedicated UK courts
• more UK players
• faster UK growth
• a bigger court
• a more athletic playing style

then padel is the stronger choice right now.

Quick Answers:

Padel vs pickleball: which is easier?
Pickleball is easier for most beginners.

Which is cheaper in the UK?
Pickleball is usually cheaper.

Which is growing faster in the UK?
Padel.

Which has more courts in the UK?
Padel.

Which has more players in the UK?
Padel, based on current published participation data.

Which is more athletic?
Padel.

Which has the larger court?
Padel.

If you are thinking of starting either of these fantastic racket sports, at padelspeed.com we have a huge selection of beginner padel rackets and beginner pickleball paddles. Below we have selected 2 to showcase.

Beginner Padel Racket Suggestion:

NOX Equation Soft (2026)

Beginner Pickleball Paddle Suggestion:

Tecnifibre TF Command

• Shape: Standard (more maneuverable, larger sweet spot).
• Surface: 700K raw carbon for spin.
• Technology: 15mm polypropylene core with a vibration-reducing T-Feel handle.

Shop All Padel Rackets

Shop All Pickleball Paddles