Padel vs Tennis - TennisLeo

Padel and tennis are very similar sports, but they also have their own differences. In this article, you will find 7 examples of how Padel differs from Tennis.

7 Differences

7 Differences

1. Racket

One of the more notable differences between padel and tennis is the racket. The padel racket looks completely different just by looking at it, but how exactly does it differ from the tennis racket?

Hitting zone

The most significant difference is that a paddle racket does not have strings like a tennis racket, but the hitting area of the racket is solid and perforated. These holes help to reduce the air resistance of the racket and allow for the generation of spin.

Length

Another notable difference between a padel and a tennis racket is the length. The maximum dimensions of a padel racket are 45.5cm long, 26cm wide, and 38mm thick. A tennis racket, on the other hand, can be a maximum of 73.66cm long and 29.21cm wide.

The padel racket is therefore considerably smaller than a tennis racket, which is also apparent from the length of the handle. The handle of a padel racket can fit one hand, whereas the handle of a tennis racket can fit two hands.

Weight

The third major difference between a padel racket and a tennis racket is weight. Padel rackets usually weigh between 355 and 370 grams, while the average tennis racket weighs around 300 grams.

In tennis, a racket weighing more than 300 grams is already considered heavy. So padel racquets are considerably heavier than tennis racquets, although beginners’ padel racquets tend to weigh less, about 330-340 grams.

The exception, however, is that top tennis players use tennis rackets that are almost as heavy as padel rackets. For example, the racket used by Roger Federer weighs 354 grams, but it is very heavy for a tennis racket and requires a lot of skill.

Because of the extra weight, heavier tennis rackets have better control and produce more power, but they are only suitable for professional players.

2. The Ball

Although padel and tennis balls look exactly the same, they have some differences.

Ball Diameter and Weight

Padel balls are smaller than tennis balls. Tennis balls have a diameter of 6.541-6.858cm while padel balls have a diameter of 6.35 cm-6.77 cm. Although padel balls are smaller than tennis balls, they weigh the same, between 56.0 and 59.4 grams.

The Pressure of the Ball

In addition, padel balls have lower pressure than tennis balls, so they bounce lower. Padel balls have a pressure of 0.68-0.75 bar while tennis balls have a pressure of 0.96 bar.

Because of their smaller size and lower pressure, padel balls are slower and bounce lower than tennis balls.

3. The Court

One of the main differences between padel and tennis is the court. The padel court differs from the tennis court in size and boundaries.

Size of the Padel Court

The padel courts are 20 meters long and 10 meters wide, while the tennis court is 23.77 meters long and 10.97 meters wide (for doubles).

The padel court is therefore shorter and narrower than a tennis court.

The Boundaries of the Padel Court

The boundaries of a padel course differ from those of a tennis court in a few ways. Firstly, there are only doubles lines in the padel court because padel is not officially played as a singles game.

Secondly, the side lines of the padel court consist of 2 m high walls and the back lines consist of 3 m high walls. In other words, during play, the ball cannot leave the court unless it is hit over a wall or through a side gate.

A player can also leave the court through the side gates if the ball goes over the wall.

Net of the Padel Court

The net for padel courts is lower than the tennis net. In tennis the net is 0.914 cm high and in padel 0.88cm high.

The Surface of the Padel Court

The surface of the padel court can be made of asphalt, cement, concrete, wood, artificial grass, or any material on which the ball can bounce. Therefore, it is no different from a tennis court in terms of its surface material.

There is, however, one very practical feature that distinguishes padel courts from tennis courts. This characteristic is that they assembled and dismantled.

Padel courts can be dismantled and transported to the competition site, where they are assembled according to the competition. Tennis courts are permanent and cannot be dismantled and reassembled in the same way as padel courts.

4. Strokes

You’ve probably heard of the different strokes in padel, such as Vibora and Chiquita, and wondered why padel has invented and named its own strokes. Why couldn’t Padel just use the same strokes as tennis?

However, they have deliberately invented new strokes for padel. This is because padel is different from tennis in terms of the game. style The ball moves slower and the rallies are longer.

The following section explains the different strokes in padel and how they differ from tennis.

Forehand

Padel also uses a forehand stroke, but it is different from the forehand stroke in tennis. In tennis, the player uses a forehand grip and usually hits the ball with topspin.

In Padel, the player uses a hammer grip and the ball is hit with a backspin. The padel’s forehand stroke is therefore very similar to the slicing stroke in tennis.

Serve

The padel serve differs from the tennis serve in that it is served from inside of the boundaries, behind the service line by underhand motion.

In a serve, the player drops the ball into the court and hits it from one bounce with the contact point being below the waist.

Back Glass Shot

In Padel, you can also hit the ball over the net through the back glass. A situation may arise where the ball falls very close to the back glass, so the best option may be to hit it hard against the wall and over the net.

Bandeja

Bandeja is a smash-like overhead shot. However, it differs from the tennis smash in that in Bandeja the production of spin is more important than power. The purpose of the Bandeja is to slow down the game or to return the opponent’s lob down in a controlled manner.

Bajada

Bajada is a shot where the ball bounces high off the back wall and the player hits it directly from the air overhead. Bajada is a similar shot to Bandeja but requires the ball to have bounced high from the back wall first.

Salida

Salida is a very challenging shot, but also a very flashy shot. It involves a player running out of the court through the gates to rescue a ball that has bounced over the wall.

To perform the Salida, an experienced ball eye is required to predict the trajectory of the ball.

Cadete

Cadete is a more stylish shot, where the ball is hit from behind the back. It can be used in situations where the ball falls close to the sidewall and the player has no room to hit from backhand.

Víbora

Víbora is a similar shot to Badeja but differs in that the goal is to produce more power than spin.

Chiquita

The Chiquita is similar to the tennis drop shot. The aim is to get the ball to drop close to the opponent’s net. The Chiquita’s short bounce forces the opponent to hit the ball from a bad position and at a slower speed.

Hitting the Ball Over the Wall

In Padel, it is also possible to hit the ball over your opponent’s wall. Hitting over the wall is very similar to the tennis smash, but you have to hit the ball down at a steeper angle so that it can bounce more upwards.

5. Game Format

Padel can be played in singles or doubles, doubles being the official game format of Padel. For example, in official Padel tournaments, the game is played only in doubles.

Although padel and tennis are both played as a game of doubles, they have different styles of play. In tennis, one player is usually at the net and the other at the back. In Padel, both players of the serving team are at the net after the serve.

6. Rules

The rules of padel are very similar to the rules of tennis. The only major difference is that the serve must hit below the player’s waist and from a bounce

7. Beginner-Friendliness

Perhaps the most enjoyable difference between padel and tennis is its beginner-friendliness. Tennis is known to be a very challenging sport and it takes dozens of hours of play just to learn the basics. In Padel, on the other hand, almost anyone can pick up a racket and have a good game.

In Padel, the starting level of the players is also less important than in tennis, as the court, racket, and ball make the game much slower. The slower game and smaller court make Padel suitable for players of all levels and ages.

In addition, the padel court is usually made of artificial grass, which is much softer and more forgiving than the hard court of tennis. A soft artificial grass court slows down the movement of the ball, as well as providing more suspension which puts less strain on the player’s legs and back.

Because of the padel’s easiness and beginner-friendliness, it also allows you to progress much faster than tennis.

Tennis strokes are much more complex than padel strokes, as they have to take into account the racket position and the topspin. In padel, all strokes are usually hit with the same hammer grip and topspin is very rarely used.

Why is Padel Equipment Different From Tennis Equipment?

Padel equipment is different from tennis equipment because of the speed of the game. Padel is intended to be a slower sport than tennis, as it is played on a smaller court. The thick racket and soft court allow the ball to move more slowly.

FAQ

Why can’t I play Padel with a tennis racket?

– Padel cannot be played with a tennis racket because it produces too much power on the ball

Can I play Padel with a tennis ball?

– Padel can be played with worn-out tennis balls, but playing with new balls is not recommended.

Why there is sand on the padel court?

– Sand is sprinkled on the padel fields to slow down the speed of the game and avoid injuries. A sandy court allows the ball to bounce more slowly and makes the player’s movement on the court more predictable.