In just a few years, thousands of pitches have been built across the country, transforming the sport into one of the most dynamic disciplines in the sporting landscape. But a scientific study reveals a lesser-known reality: Conflicts between padel courts and local residents occur more frequently in small towns than in large metropolitan areas. .

This situation can be explained by several factors related to urban planning, the density of the territory and the way in which sports infrastructure is located.

With help by EchoPadel et ScienceDirect Let's take a closer look at a topic that sometimes causes a stir…

878 sites studied throughout France

To analyze the potential impact of padel courts on their environment, researchers studied 878 installations spread across the entire French territory .

Each site was analyzed according to several criteria:

distance between the land and the dwellings
population density around the runways
compliance with the implementation recommendations.

Result: 271 sites present a potential risk of nuisance to local residents. i.e 31% of the installations analyzed .

These sites are generally characterized by a close proximity to housing or by being located in sensitive residential areas.

17,000 inhabitants live in the immediate vicinity of a site

The study estimates that 17,000 people now live in the immediate vicinity of a padel court , in configurations where noise pollution may be noticeable.

In some cases, the dwellings are located:

à less than 100 meters from the slopes
sometimes within 50 meters of the grounds .

At these distances, the characteristic sound impacts of padel can be clearly audible.

Acoustic measurements indicate that padel courts produce on average:

89 to 91 dB(A) during the game
with sound levels can exceed 100 dB during the strongest impacts .

These impulsive noises mainly originate from:

ball/racket impacts
rebounds off the windows
vibrations from the metal mesh.

Small towns are more vulnerable

The study highlights a clear trend: Padel courts located in small towns or medium-sized municipalities are more likely to create tensions with the neighborhood. .

Several reasons explain this phenomenon.

Sports areas closer to homes

In large cities, sports complexes are often located in:

areas dedicated to sports
business districts
urban peripheries.

In small towns, sports facilities are often installed in the heart of residential areas , in the immediate vicinity of dwellings.

Less dense urbanization

Population density also plays a role.

In densely populated urban areas, ambient noise is already high due to:

traffic
transports
commercial activities.

In small towns or suburban municipalities, the The ambient noise level is much lower. .

As a result, the impulsive noises of padel become much more noticeable to local residents .

A sometimes rapid implantation

The rapid development of padel has sometimes led to installing playing fields without thorough acoustic studies .

Some municipalities wanted to quickly develop this new sporting activity to meet the demand of residents.

But in some cases, The implementation recommendations were not fully followed. .

Experts generally recommend a minimum distance of 100 meters between the land and the dwellings in order to reduce noise pollution.

However, the study shows that several facilities are located well below this threshold .

Rapid growth of padel

The context of this situation is simple: Padel is experiencing exceptional growth in France. .

According to data from the French Tennis Federation:

about 500 practitioners in France
several thousands of plots of land already developed or planned
one of the fastest growth rates in French sport.

This rapid expansion means that The number of facilities located near homes could continue to increase. in the years to come.

A challenge for local authorities

The researchers emphasize that the problem is not padel itself, but the way in which the sites are situated within the urban environment .

Several solutions can help reduce the risk of conflict:

acoustic studies before construction
noise-canceling screens
choice of sites further away from dwellings
covered or semi-covered fields
game schedule management.

These measures allow for reconciling the development of padel and the quality of life of local residents .

A rapidly growing sport that needs to find its balance

Padel is now one of the most popular sports in Europe. Its development represents a significant opportunity for clubs, communities, and players.

But this growth also imposes to better anticipate the impact of sports infrastructure on the urban environment .

In small towns as well as large cities, the issue is now clear: developing padel while preserving the tranquility of the inhabitants .

Source

Dufour JC., Bonnet C. (2026)
Managing padel-court siting near housing: guideline adherence shortfalls and populations at risk – national evidence from France.
City and Environment Interactions.

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.