LTA Padel

Padel balls differ to tennis balls in both pressure and diameter but see the same requirements when it comes to the weight of the ball in competitions.

Pressure differences

A tennis ball has to be at a pressure of 14psi brand new compared to a padel ball which sits at 11psi when brand new.

Diameter difference

A tennis ball must have an exact diameter of between 6.54cm and 6.86cm.

A padel ball must have an exact diameter between 6.35cm and 6.77cm.

The extra size from the tennis ball is a direct result of the increased pressure when bumped up in production.

Weight similarities

A tennis ball must weigh between 56.0 grams and 59.4 grams.

A padel ball must weigh between 56.0 grams and 59.4 grams.

There is no difference in the weight of a tennis and padel ball in competition use.

Find out more about how to choose the right padel racket, balls, kit & trainers in our padel eqipment guide:

View equipment guide

Padel was invented in Mexico in the 1960s. Although a similar sport was played on British cruise ships and in Washington and New York in the 1910s – a game appropriately named platform tennis – it was in 1969 when padel, as it is played today, was created.

While there are a small number of courts designed for singles padel games, the game is originally designed to be played as doubles due to the smaller court and the higher speed of the game makes it difficult to cover the court when playing on your own.

Mexican businessman Enrique Corcuera set up the first-ever padel court at his holiday home in Acapulco – and the rest is history.

From Mexico to Britain via Argentina and Spain –  discover more about the history of padel here:

Learn more

No, you can't play padel on a tennis court. Padel courts are designed for four players and are roughly 25% smaller than the size of a tennis court.

Want to play padel alongside tennis? Read our tips for tennis players looking to get into padel:

Find out more

A padel court is 20m long by 10m wide, and is made up of glass and wired mesh for the rebound walls. The wall can also be made up of any other hard surface like concrete to allow the ball to rebound off it.

Padel's the fastest-growing sport in the world - it's a fast-paced, social sport that's easy to pick up, but difficult to put down. It can be played by anyone and everyone, no matter your age or ability.