Pickleball
Pickleball in Bangkok
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing racket sports in Bangkok, and some of the city's padel clubs now have pickleball courts too. Here is where to play, how to book, and how it compares with padel.
Clubs in our guide with pickleball
- Sterling, Sukhumvit 24, near Phrom Phong BTS. A sport and wellness club with pickleball and squash next to five indoor padel courts. Book in the Sterling app.
- Beat Discovery, Sukhumvit 66/1 in Bang Na, near Udom Suk BTS. Pickleball beside four covered padel courts. Book through the club's LINE account.
Our guide covers padel clubs, so this list is short. Bangkok also has venues that only do pickleball: ask in the Facebook group and members will point you to the nearest one.
Pickleball or padel?
Both are mostly played as doubles and both start with an underhand serve, but they feel very different.
- Court: pickleball is played on an open court of about 6 x 13 m with no walls. Padel uses an enclosed 20 x 10 m court, and the ball can be played off the glass.
- Equipment: pickleball uses a flat solid paddle and a light plastic ball with holes. Padel uses a stringless foam-core racket and a low-pressure ball like a tennis ball.
- Scoring: pickleball games usually go to 11, won by 2, and only the serving side scores. Padel uses tennis scoring.
- Feel: pickleball rewards soft shots at the net and quick hands. Padel is about the walls, lobs and winning the net.
Our full comparison is in Padel vs pickleball.
How to start
Book a court at one of the clubs above, bring three friends, and ask the club whether it lends or rents paddles before you go. Learn two rules first: the ball must bounce once on each side before anyone volleys, and you can't volley from the "kitchen", the zone next to the net. If you want to try padel as well, our beginner guide explains how to book your first game, and the prices page compares every padel club.
Questions about pickleball in Bangkok
- Where can I play pickleball in Bangkok?
- Two padel clubs in our guide also have pickleball courts: Sterling on Sukhumvit 24, near Phrom Phong BTS, and Beat Discovery on Sukhumvit 66/1 in Bang Na, near Udom Suk BTS. There are also venues that only offer pickleball; ask in the Bangkok Padel Community Facebook group for the nearest one.
- Is pickleball the same as padel?
- No. Pickleball is played on a smaller open court with a flat paddle and a plastic ball, and games go to 11 points. Padel is played on an enclosed court with glass walls, a foam-core racket and a tennis-style ball, with tennis scoring.
- Which is easier for beginners?
- Both are quick to pick up. Table tennis and badminton players often take to pickleball fastest, and tennis players usually find padel more familiar. The best way to choose is to try both.
- How do I book a pickleball court?
- At Sterling, book in the Sterling app. At Beat Discovery, book through the club's LINE account. Prices change, so check with the club when you book.
See also: Courts · How to start playing padel in Bangkok · Prices