Padel vs Tennis: Which Should You Start With?
Padel or tennis?
Both are racket sports, both are booming in Egypt, but they feel very different on court. Here's a quick comparison.
The court
Padel is played on a smaller enclosed court (20 × 10 m) with glass and mesh walls you can play off. Tennis courts are much bigger and open, usually hard court or clay.
Learning curve
Padel is easier for beginners: underarm serve, solid racket with no strings, slower ball and walls that keep rallies alive. Tennis takes longer to learn but rewards technique and power.
Social factor
Padel is almost always played in doubles, so it's very social. Tennis works in singles or doubles.
The shoes are different too
- Padel shoes have a herringbone/omni outsole for artificial grass with sand – see the padel collection.
- Tennis shoes have a tougher outsole for hard courts and support for sliding along the baseline – see the tennis collection.
Using tennis shoes for padel (or the opposite) means less grip and faster wear. If you play both, it's worth having a pair for each. Not sure where to start? Read our padel shoe guide and tennis vs indoor shoes.