Two paddle sports · Bali
Pickleball vs padel
in Bali
Both are mostly doubles, both use a solid paddle with no strings, and both start with an underhand serve. Padel is played inside glass walls with a tennis-style ball and tennis scoring, and the ball can be played off the walls. Pickleball is played on an open court the size of a badminton court, with a light plastic ball, a no-volley zone by the net and games to 11. Pickleball is quicker to learn; padel is the harder workout.
From the team at Bali Pickleball, in Purwakerti, Amed. We play pickleball and have no padel courts, so read this with that in mind. Last updated November 2026.
Side by side
| What | Pickleball | Padel |
|---|---|---|
| The court | Pickleball13.4 × 6.1 m, the size of a badminton doubles court. Open, no walls. | Padel20 × 10 m, enclosed by glass and mesh walls. |
| Players | PickleballDoubles mostly. Singles works too. | PadelDoubles, nearly always. |
| Paddle and ball | PickleballA solid paddle and a light plastic ball with holes in it. | PadelA solid racket with holes in its face, and a pressurised ball like a tennis ball. |
| The serve | PickleballUnderhand, diagonally across the court. | PadelUnderhand after one bounce, diagonally across the court. |
| Walls | PickleballNone. A ball that lands out is out. | PadelAfter a bounce, the ball can come back off the back and side walls and stay in play. |
| At the net | PickleballNo volleys from the kitchen, the two metres either side of the net. | PadelVolley from anywhere. |
| Scoring | PickleballGames to 11, win by 2. Only the serving side scores. | PadelTennis scoring: 15, 30, 40, game, in sets. |
| Price in Bali | PickleballAt our courts, 100k per 30 minutes for a private court, or 80k a person for open play, 5:00-9:00p. | PadelVaries a lot by club and time of day. Check the club’s own booking page. |
| Where in Bali | PickleballOur four courts are in Amed, East Bali. Other towns may well have courts too. | PadelClubs in several parts of Bali. Check where the nearest one is to where you are staying. |
Which is easier to learn?
Pickleball, for most people on their first day. The court is small, the ball is slow and light, and there are no walls to read, so you spend your first half hour hitting, not chasing.
Padel is easy to start too: the serve is underhand and the racket is short. The walls are the part that takes time, because you have to judge where the ball will come off the glass.
Which is the better workout?
Padel, usually. The court is bigger and the walls keep points going, so there's more running.
Pickleball has less ground to cover and short, quick exchanges at the net. That's a big part of why open play here mixes so many ages and fitness levels.
Which suits you?
You've never played a racket sport
Pickleball
The quickest way from never holding a paddle to playing a real game.
You're here with kids
Pickleball
A lighter paddle and a slower ball. We run a kids class on Saturdays at 10:00a, roughly ages 6 and up.
You're coming on your own
Pickleball
At open play everyone mixes and rotates through the games, so you don't need to bring three friends.
You want a hard workout
Padel
More court, more running, longer points.
You play tennis
Either
Padel’s ball and scoring will feel familiar. Pickleball’s swing is shorter, and your eye for the ball carries over.
Looking for padel in Amed?
We don’t have padel, only pickleball: four courts, two of them covered, less than 5 minutes from central Amed. If you came looking for a paddle game, pickleball is the closest thing we have, and the easiest to start.
The free intro is every day at 4:30p: 30 minutes with one of our coaches, with the court, paddles and balls included. Just turn up. Open play follows from 5:00p, every day.
Never played? What pickleball is, and what to bring
Why not try both?
They're different games, so it's worth playing both. If you're in Bali for more than a few days, play padel where you're staying and come up to Amed for pickleball, the snorkelling and a slower few days.
Questions people ask
Is padel or pickleball cheaper in Bali?
It depends on the club. At our courts in Amed a private court is 100k per 30 minutes, one price however many of you play, and open play is 80k a person from 5:00-9:00p. Padel prices vary a lot between clubs and times of day, so check the club you have in mind.
Can I play padel at Bali Pickleball?
No. We only have pickleball: four courts in Amed, two covered and two open-air.
Which is better for kids?
Pickleball, for most kids. The paddle is lighter, the ball is slower and there are no walls to work out. Our kids class is on Saturdays at 10:00a, for roughly ages 6 and up.
Do I need my own paddle?
Not with us. Paddles are for rent at reception, and the free intro includes them. For padel, ask the club whether it rents rackets.
Can I play both on one trip?
Yes. Amed is about 3 hours from Canggu and about 2.5 hours from Ubud, so pickleball here fits well into a few days in East Bali, with the snorkelling and diving.