Tennis vs Padel: 7 Key Differences in Court Size, Rackets & Scoring (2026)
Lawn tennis and Padel share scoring systems and net principles, but differ fundamentally in court enclosure, wall rebound legality, and racket string composition.
| Regulatory Attribute | Lawn Tennis | Padel |
|---|---|---|
| Governing Authority | International Tennis Federation (ITF) | International Padel Federation (FIP) |
| Court Dimensions | 23.77m × 8.23m (Singles) / 10.97m (Doubles) | 20.0m × 10.0m (Always Doubles) |
| Walls & Enclosures | No walls; ball out of play if passes perimeter lines | Glass and metallic mesh walls actively in play after bounce |
| Racket Construction | Strung frame with woven stringbed (max 73.7cm length) | Solid perforated composite paddle without strings (max 45.5cm) |
| Service Technique | Overhead or underhand from behind baseline | Mandatory underhand serve struck at or below waist height |
Official Structural Takeaway
Tennis relies on open court geometry, overhead serving, and high racket inertia on expansive courts, whereas Padel is played within an enclosed glass-and-mesh court where walls are in play and underhand serving is mandatory.
Sources & Verification
Rule Comparison FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions: Lawn Tennis vs Padel
Padel is always played in doubles on an enclosed 20m × 10m court with glass walls that players can use to bounce the ball off, using solid perforated paddles. Tennis is played on an open 23.77m court without walls, using larger strung rackets, and allows powerful overhead serves.