While just a few years ago, 80% of padel players in France came from tennis, the landscape is changing rapidly. A recent survey conducted by Doinsport, a major player in sports club management software, confirms a fundamental trend: football players are now becoming one of the main sources of growth for amateur padel.

Key figures of the study

The survey, based on a panel of 10 players from private partner clubs, breaks down the sporting origins of padel players as follows:

  • Football: 44%
  • Tennis: 38%
  • Squash & Badminton: 8%
  • Other sports: 10%

A striking fact: football is now the most popular sport among new players, ahead of tennis, which is historically linked to the development of padel.

The football player, the new driving force of padel in France?

Romain Taupin's analysis (Padelonomics)

For Romain Taupin, a leading analyst in the world of padel:
"A few years ago, tennis alone represented 80% of the talent pool. Today, this dominance is fading in favor of more diverse profiles, particularly from football."

A dynamic confirmed by its own data:
"In a 2024 survey conducted on my social media, 50% of respondents were not from a tennis background. This is consistent with the Doinsport survey."

Taupin, however, highlights a possible bias:
"The Doinsport survey mainly concerns private clubs, where tennis players are perhaps less represented than in traditional tennis clubs that have integrated padel courts."

But for him, the conclusion remains unchanged:
"This is excellent news for the development of padel. The sport is opening up to diverse sporting cultures. This enriches the experience and attracts a wider audience."

What impact for padel clubs?

This diversity of profiles has a direct impact on club management. Each type of player has their own habits and expectations.

Some prefer a subscription system, others pay by volume. Some want to book online, others at the counter. Some seek competition (tournaments, rankings), while others prefer social formats (leagues, Americanas).

Romain Taupin reminds us:
"A club must be able to adapt to all these demands. Hence the importance of having comprehensive and flexible management software, like that offered by Doinsport."

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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