Is padel more like tennis or squash?

Tennis and squash have historically dominated the world of racquet sports with padel being a recent contender. But just how different are they? Here are their unique differences explained.

The Court

Padel courts are about one-third the size of tennis courts, enclosed by glass and mesh walls. These walls are not just for containment; they’re integral to the game. Players use the walls to rebound shots, adding a strategic layer that tennis lacks, probably why players with a higher IQ have better padel rankings (just kidding). So, from the perspective of learning how to manoeuvre around the court strategically, one could argue that padel emulates squash more than tennis.

The Ball

It's not what you think. Although padel balls resemble tennis balls, they have slightly less pressure. This design offers a balanced bounce, making them ideal for the smaller, enclosed court, allowing players to combine control with power. Clear winner in this domain - Padel and tennis balls are from the same Whatsapp group, with squash balls being the outlier.

The Outfits:

We all have that one friend that doesn’t have a handbrake when it comes to padel outfits. Is this ego related? Well, that’s not for us to say, but we’d argue that padel outfits are more closely aligned with tennis outfits.

The Technique

Tennis players excel in Padel due to their powerful serves, volleys, and clean ball striking, but they must adapt to the slower pace and strategic wall play that Padel demands. Conversely, squash players naturally understand wall rebounds and generally have quick reflexes, but they also need to adjust to the firmer padel ball and develop power for serves and smashes. Both groups must balance their strengths with new techniques specific to Padel, such as mastering underhand serves and tactical wall usage​. It's tough to decide who is at an advantage in this domain when converting from either of the sports to padel.

Conclusion:

The long and short of it is, there's no clear winner between tennis and squash players when it comes to Padel. Padel is a unique blend of both sports, requiring the power and precision of tennis combined with the quick reflexes of squash. It challenges players to be agile, use the walls creatively, and adapt to the dynamics of doubles play (that's if you're not used to that in tennis).

What do you think though?

We’d love to hear your thoughts - leave your thoughts in the comments below.

PS - keep an eye out on our social media as we gear up to go live with No Strings racquets for sale in the next 30 days. More to come on this.

🎾 The No Strings Team