Tennis vs. padel: what's the difference?
Tennis and padel are both racket sports with some similarities, but there are several key differences:
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Court Size: A tennis court is larger than a padel court. A tennis court measures 23.77 meters in length and 8.23 meters in width for singles, and 10.97 meters for doubles, while a padel court is 20 meters long and 10 meters wide.
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Walls: Padel is played in an enclosed court made of glass or metal walls, which are an essential part of the game because the ball can bounce off them. Tennis, on the other hand, is played on an open court without side walls for rebounds.
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Rackets: A tennis racket has strings, while a padel racket is solid, usually made from composite materials, and contains holes. Padel rackets are also smaller and have no strings.
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Balls: The balls look similar, but a padel ball is slightly softer and has lower internal pressure compared to a tennis ball.
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Scoring System: Both sports use a similar scoring system (0, 15, 30, 40, and game), but there are subtle rule differences, especially regarding service and tie-break formats.
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Serve: In tennis, the serve is overhand and must land diagonally in the opposite service box. In padel, the serve must be underhand and the ball must bounce before being hit.
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Playing Style: Padel is often seen as more accessible and focused on strategy and building points through teamwork in doubles. Tennis places more emphasis on individual skill and athleticism, especially in singles.
In summary, although tennis and padel may appear similar on the surface, differences in court size, equipment, and rules create unique experiences in both sports.