Why are the French taking up padel? The Observatory of Padel provides clear answers

The Observatory of Padel 2025 , conducted in collaboration with the French Tennis Federation (FFT) et Padel Magazine , focused on a central question to understand the development of padel in France: What are the real reasons that motivate people to start playing padel?

The results confirm some intuitions, while challenging some preconceived ideas, particularly regarding the role of Social Media , relations and public figures .

Why are the French taking up padel? The Observatory of Padel provides clear answers

Word of mouth, the number one driver of padel

The first lesson, and unsurprisingly: the social factor remains by far the main trigger.
62% of practitioners declare having started playing padel to follow a friend, a relative or a colleague who was already playing.

This figure perfectly illustrates the dynamics inherent in padel: a sport accessible , user-friendly which is very often discovered through those around you. A first invitation, a trial on a track… then the practice takes hold.
An almost circular mechanism, since the new player in turn becomes prescriber contributing to further broadening the base of practitioners.

The search for a new sporting activity comes in second place

Another significant piece of data: 34% Players explain that they turned to padel to discover a new and original sporting activity .
This figure is directly linked to the evolution of expectations: desire for renewal , instant pleasure , of a sport at a time playful. et physically engaging , without the initial technical barriers of other disciplines.

Padel precisely meets this search for a balance between play, effort and accessibility .

Proximity to infrastructure, a factor that is clearly on the rise

With the multiplication of complexes, the geographic proximity now plays a real role: 27% Practitioners indicate that they started because the slopes are close to their home .

This figure reflects the direct impact of infrastructure development In France, the more the supply increases, the simpler, more spontaneous, and sometimes even opportunistic the act of taking action becomes.

Social networks, television and media: a limited impact

In the digital age, the result may be surprising: only 13% players claim to have discovered padel via social media or television .
By incorporating the other media levers mentioned — Alpine Paris Major (3%) , open days (2%) , private club advertisements (2%) or, FFT communications (1%) — the overall impact of the media remains secondary .

This data confirms a simple reality: we practice first , then we then becomes interested padel as a sport that is followed, publicized and analyzed.
The media therefore intervene more as support tool , rather than as the initial trigger.

Padel Magazine , present in the landscape since 2012/2013 , accompanied the development of padel long before its current explosion. In its early days, the media outlet was aimed at a restricted community , still under construction, at a time when padel remained largely unknown in France.

Celebrities and former athletes: a largely overestimated influence

This is probably the most striking statistic: only 4% Players claim to have started playing padel after seeing personalities, former athletes or celebrities practice.

A surprisingly low figure, especially considering that padel has become very visible among the former footballers , former tennis players and other public figures.
This data suggests a reversed interpretation: it wasn't the stars who made padel explode, but rather the massive boom in the practice which attracted celebrities to this sport.

In other words, influencers and celebrities have inserted into an already existing dynamic addressing a community already largely initiated , rather than creating the movement. And ultimately, what could be more normal? With the boom in this ultra-trendy sport, everyone wants a piece of the pie and to benefit from the padel phenomenon.

Growth from the ground up

Lessons from the Observatory of Padel The 2025 figures are clear: the development of padel in France relies primarily on a organic growth driven by the players themselves, their entourage and the increasing accessibility of infrastructure.

Social media, the media, and celebrities are supporting this movement, but are not the origin .
Padel has been built by the ground , before gradually establishing itself in the media landscape.

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.