Differences between Padel, Pickleball, and Squash

There is life beyond tennis. The king of racquet sports has competitors such as padel, pickleball, and squash, which gain more followers every season. Aspects such as technique or body movements are similar, but there are unique components to each that must be mastered in order to start playing with assurance.

Despite the similarities that these three sports may share at first glance, in today’s article we will highlight the main differences between them so that players can know firsthand how to approach their first matches before entering the court.

Differences between Padel, Pickleball, and Squash

Padel, pickleball, and squash are known for their popularity and unique characteristics, each with a community of loyal followers that allows them to continue growing internationally. This article delves into the fundamental differences between these three sports, from their history and rules to the culture surrounding them. For you, players:

History and Rules of Padel, Pickleball, and Squash

Padel is a sport that, although mainly practiced in South America and Spain, originated in Acapulco (Mexico) in 1962 by Enrique Corcuera, who decided to include walls on the tennis court he had on his estate so that the ball could bounce off them.

It is played in pairs, and the winner is the team that manages to score two sets (of six games with a two-point advantage) on their scoreboard. The padel rackets are usually made mainly of carbon fiber or glass and must have at least one hole on the surface.

The court is 20 meters long by ten meters wide and is enclosed by four walls. It is allowed for the ball to bounce off the walls as long as it has bounced on the surface first. After the serve, which must be diagonal to the opposite court quadrant (as in tennis), the play becomes completely free among the four players.

Pickleball can be played either as singles or doubles, and the balls used in this sport have perforations that make the game slower, thus it is a sport that rewards patience and technique.

The match is won by whoever manages to score two sets in their scoreboard. A set is won by the first player to reach eleven points (with a two-point advantage), but this sport has the feature that points can only be scored by winning the service. It is not allowed to touch the ball in the ‘no volley zone’, which is near the net and delimited by a line.

The court must measure 6.10 meters wide by 13.41 meters long, and after the serve, which must be performed without the ball bouncing on the ground and below the waist, the game is free among the players. It is played with pickleball rackets which are usually made of graphite or wood and do not have holes.

On the other hand, squash began to be played in the 18th century in English prisons. It is played individually, with a rubber ball and indoors. The two players facing each other take turns hitting the ball towards the front wall, aiming for it to bounce in the space between a metallic band at the bottom and a line at the top.

Matches are usually best of five sets, and a set is won by the player who reaches eleven points (with a two-point difference). The player loses the point if they fail to hit the ball against the wall before it bounces twice on the surface. Moreover, players must do everything possible to not interfere with their opponent’s play during the game. Generally, racquets are usually made of graphite and have a shape and stringing similar to tennis, although their weight is significantly lighter (between 110 and 200 grams).

Most Known Shots in Padel, Pickleball, and Squash

In padel, there are shots that share names and meanings with tennis such as the lob, volley, or smash, but there are also others with a life of their own. This is the case with the bandeja, the chiquita, or the finishes that bounce off the wall and exit the court, for example.

The bandeja is a shot halfway between a finish and a volley. It is usually a defensive shot to stay close to the net and is generally done at medium speed. On the other hand, the chiquita is a shot that allows a counterattack from defense to attack and consists of gently touching the ball so that it just clears the net by a few inches.

In the case of the finishes, we find the finish by three and the finish by four characteristic of padel. The by three occurs when the player finishes and the ball bounces off the wall and exits above one of the side walls (which measure three meters). Meanwhile, the finish by four is the one that directly bounces on the ground and leaves the court behind the back wall (which measures four meters) and automatically ends the point.

Pickleball also receives a lot of influence from tennis in this respect, although it features two very characteristic shots that are the most used on the courts: the drive and the dink.

The drive is a defensive shot made from the back of the court with the aim of keeping the game alive, although it can become offensive if done with a lot of spin. On the other hand, the dink or drop shot is a soft and controlled shot that passes close to the net. It is usually done diagonally and allows the player to maintain an attacking position.

As for squash, a series of shots with unique characteristics such as the parallel, the cross, or the touch or cut drop can be drawn.

The parallel is the shot that serves to direct the ball close to the side wall, forcing the opponent to make their shot with greater difficulty. On the other hand, the cross consists of making a diagonal shot to keep the ball in play.

As for the drops, the touch drop requires minimal impact so that the opponent has to rush to try to touch the ball before it touches the ground, while the cut drop is performed from top to bottom and with effect to complicate things even more.

In which countries is padel, pickleball, and squash most played?

Despite having originated in Mexico, today Spain and Argentina are the main countries where padel is played, although others such as Italy, Sweden, and Belgium are expected to become references in this regard in the coming years.

It is estimated that there are about 40,000 padel courts worldwide and around 25 million active players in more than 110 countries. About 63% of the players are men and 37% are women, and it is expected that in the coming years padel will exceed by 6.9% the business volume it has generated in recent courses (around 327 million euros).

Pickleball, on the other hand, is one of the sports that has experienced the most growth in the United States and is beginning to grow in popularity in countries such as Spain or India. Currently, it has almost five million active players in the North American country and more than nine million worldwide, and the figures are expected to continue to grow over the years.

Lastly, squash is a sport that is currently played in more than 185 countries, with England, Pakistan, and Egypt being its main exponents. It is estimated that there are approximately 20 million players practicing squash worldwide​​. In Europe, the United Kingdom leads with about 269,000 players​​. Pakistan is also notable, being a country with a strong tradition and a large number of elite players​.

Best Players and Professional Circuits of Padel, Pickleball, and Squash

Currently, padel is governed at the professional level by the International Padel Federation. The most prestigious circuit in the world is Premier Padel, which this year has taken over from the World Padel Tour, the reference from 2013 to 2023.

In the male field, it is considered that the best player in history is Fernando Belasteguín, who is still active at 44 years old. He has been the world number one for 16 years, 13 of them alongside the left-handed Juan Martín Díaz, a figure that no one has managed to equal.

In the female circuit, the best player in history is Alejandra Salazar, who has been the world number one on four occasions and has lifted 50 titles of the World Padel Tour, a record.

On the other hand, in pickleball the main professional circuit is the PPA Tour. This includes tournaments in various categories, such as singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, and is mainly carried out in the United States.

Among the best players in the world, names stand out in the male circuit such as Ben John, considered so far as the best of all time, Jey Devilliers or Matt Wright, and Anna Leight, Lucy Kovalova and Callie Smith in the female.

Lastly, in the world of squash the PSA World Tour is the main professional circuit that dominates the sport. This is divided into different levels of events, ranging from Challenger tournaments to the prestigious PSA World Championships, which offer the largest prizes in money and points for the world ranking.

Among the most laureated players in the history of squash, figures such as Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan, both from Pakistan, stand out. Another prominent name in squash is the Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy, who has been a dominant player in the modern era, winning multiple titles of the PSA World Tour, including several world championships. Alongside him, his compatriot Ramy Ashour has also won several world championships and has been a central figure in the sport for many years.

In the female field, Nicol David is one of the most outstanding having lifted eight world titles and having been number one for several consecutive years. Another prominent player is Sarah Fitz-Gerald, who won five world titles and also was number one in the world for several periods in her career.