Both padel and pickle ball claim to be two of the fastest growing sports in the world. Since they are both lesser-known racquet sports, their rapid rise has largely been lumped together. However, while padel ball has many similarities to pickleball, they are completely different games with unique characteristics, venues, equipment, rules and techniques.
It is these unique features that attract a wide variety of players and make cricket and pickle ball the fastest growing sport globally. Culturally and socially, both movements have become entrenched in communities across the globe. This helps spread awareness, which increases engagement.
We provide an in-depth analysis of the similarities and differences between cricket and pickleball, their global growth, and the steps required to expand their global expansion.
What is padel?
Padel originated in Mexico in the 1960s under the direction of visionary entrepreneur Enrique Corcuera. The game is traditionally played in a glass cage, a space smaller than a standard tennis court. This allows the player to use the glass walls to bounce the ball. Cocuela came up with the idea for the wall because he wanted a more private tennis-playing space in his home.
Padel has since grown beyond its humble beginnings to establish itself as a vibrant and thriving culture. With famous players involved, national governing bodies established and a burgeoning global industry worth nearly $200 million, cricket has cemented itself as a thriving racquet sport.
With over 25 million fans from 90 countries and impressive participation rates, padel has earned it a reputation as the definitive sport in the post-millennial era. The sport’s meteoric rise is particularly evident in Spain and Latin America. More recently, the cricket craze has spread to Western Europe and is spreading like wildfire in the Scandinavian countries.
Naturally, many Western European countries followed suit, including the UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Portugal. These countries are showing clear signs of exponential growth in both participation and industry revenue. The UK currently has more than 200 stadiums and global icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Andy Murray, David Beckham and Jurgen Klopp have endorsed and actively participated in the sport. In France, meanwhile, the number of paddle tennis courts has doubled to nearly 1,000 by 2021. Of the 1,000 courts, nothing stands out more than the stunning arena of the legendary Roland Garros. Besides that, even French President Emmanuel Macron is a loyal fan and player.
What is a pickle ball?
Pickleball, on the other hand, was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island in Seattle. The sport was invented by three dads just to keep their kids entertained. The sport is played on a court the size of a badminton court, with a slightly smaller tennis net for singles or doubles. Fast forward 50 years and the sport has more than 4.8 million active users in the US alone. In fact, pickleball was named the fastest growing sport in the United States by the American Sports and Fitness Industry Association. Launched in 2021, the star-studded MLP (Major Pickleball League) boasts such illustrious owners as Tom Brady, LeBron James, Nick Kyrgios, and even Michael Phelps.
The future of pickleball seems very bright, with popularity steadily rising in the UK. The UK has a thriving community of over 4000 active players and a network of 120 venues across the country. David Lloyd Leisure recently introduced 45 pickleball courts to its franchise and more are coming soon.
The reason for the sport’s growing popularity is its versatility, as it can be played both indoors and outdoors. From a global perspective, the fact that pickleball has already conquered the US market underpins its enormous appeal and prospects for further growth.
What are the Similarities Between Padel and Pickleball?
Both sports are easy to play and attract athletes of all ages and skill levels. This is because they are easy to learn and have relatively low physical requirements. Once you’ve mastered a few basic rules, you’re free to enjoy both games in their entirety. Beyond that, pickleball and cricket emphasize social interaction and community building. This provides players with the opportunity to engage in both recreational and competitive gaming. This has been proven to improve social well-being, physical and mental health, and economic development within the community.
Both sports focus on doubles, fostering teamwork and strategic play. This makes the sport way more fluid and seamless to play with friends or family. They are both considered low-impact exercises that reduce the risk of injury and are suitable for individuals of different fitness levels. Both types of exercise are known to enhance cardiovascular and strength performance and greatly improve motor skills and coordination.
What’s the difference between padel and pickleball?
As mentioned earlier, pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court with a slightly different net than a tennis net. You can play singles or doubles, hitting a punched ball with a solid racquet. These are usually made of wood or composite materials. If the defending team hits the ball out of field parameters or fails to return it, the server wins. There is also an area near the net called the “kitchen” where volleying is prohibited.
Padel uses tennis-like equipment and has a larger court with walls, although padel players use unique rackets. Padel follows a similar scoring system to tennis, with games played by teams on opposite sides of the net. A goal is scored when the ball hits past the opponent and lands within the court boundaries. Every serve must be lowhanded and bounce in the opponent’s service box.
Pickleball is usually played on outdoor or indoor hard courts, while cricket is usually played on artificial turf or synthetic surfaces. This allows for a faster pace of play in padel, as opposed to a slightly slower pace in pickleball. As mentioned earlier, pickleball uses a perforated ball with holes, while padel has a pressurized ball similar to a tennis ball.
What does padel and pickleball need to do to continue growing?
According to Sandy Farquharson, founder of The Padel School: “Both sports need to focus on structure. Whether it’s implementing regulations that favor players and coaches, or supporting national federations to promote amateurs to professionals. In entertainment, For local cricket and pickleball clubs to grow and attract the best talent, more investment in education and foundations is needed.”
Sandy goes on to say: “Take padel in Sweden as an example. The popularity of the sport exploded and clubs sprung up all over the country. So fast, in fact, that clubs could be built anywhere without an organized project structure.” The pitches, and the pitches are fully booked. So many clubs have now been installed, they are entering a period of oversaturation. They are developing the structure heavily now, but the process will be simpler from the start. Cricket and Pick The ball needs to learn from previous sports and leading countries.”
what do you think? What do you think about padel versus pickleball, do they have the ability to rival the biggest sport in the world anytime soon? If you play both sports regularly, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Or, if you have any questions, please contact us today!
