What is padel in France?

Padel Craze in France: A Growing Popularity

CHARITY THOMAS / HANS LUCAS FOR LE MONDE

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At La Pommeraie tennis club, the vibrant ocean blue has overtaken traditional clay surfaces. This expansive 2,600-square-meter indoor facility, nestled in the quaint Normandy town of Biéville-Beuville, boasts six courts that are smaller than conventional tennis courts, each measuring 20 meters by 10 meters, separated by a net and bordered by glass and mesh walls.

Established just eight kilometers from Caen, this tennis club has fully embraced the rapidly growing sport of padel, originally popular in Spain and now thriving in France and throughout Europe. In less than five years, the country has witnessed a remarkable expansion in the number of courts. According to the Union Sport & Cycle, around 500,000 French individuals, including 140,000 newcomers, tried the sport at least once last year. Their games took place across approximately 1,800 facilities, including clubs linked to the Fédération Française de Tennis (FFT), private entities, and even hotels and campsites.

Despite the excitement, many people still mistakenly associate padel with "stand up paddle," a water sport that involves paddling on a board. "We've had a few visitors come in swimwear," chuckled Damien Jean, 38, who manages La Pommeraie with his family. "Some even keep searching for the pool!"

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Understanding Padel: The Sport

Using small, unstrung, perforated rackets, four players, mostly around 30 years old, gathered on court number two of the club. The lively sound of the balls, which resemble tennis balls but are slightly less pressurized, filled the air as they bounced on the ground, allowing players to strike from any position. The walls and mesh fencing add a unique dynamic during rallies, moving away from tennis's lengthy runs towards a more compact gameplay- aiming to enjoy the game rather than just score quickly. Padel eliminates the traditional winning serve, starting play with a "spooning" motion from below the hips, after which the ball must bounce before hitting.

Julien, 29, who works as a technician for the local government, frequents the club two to three times a week, typically during lunch or after work. He was introduced to padel by a cousin and, much like his teammates for the day, he had no prior experience with tennis. "Padel is very accessible, you can have fun right away and see your progress shortly after," he shared, noting that he met his padel companions through a community group that brings together nearly 80 amateur players from the area to engage in matches. "It's a very enjoyable and collective sport because it's always played with four players (two teams of two). Regardless of your skill level, everyone can have a great time," he added, gearing up to join his friends on the court.

Padel In France: Rules, Popularity and Places to Play

What is Padel?

Padel is a racket sport played in doubles on a 20×10 meter court, separated by a net and encircled by glass walls, standing at 4 meters at the back and 3 meters on the sides. The glass walls allow the ball to bounce back, extending the effective playtime. Like tennis, matches are played in sets, and points are counted similarly.

For further information, please visit Regulation Padel Court FX-P04 Project in France.

A Hybrid Sport Originating from Mexico and Spain

Padel originated in Mexico, where Enrique Corcuera, an amateur tennis player, created the sport by adding walls to his court to maintain proximity to his garden and reduce the time spent chasing balls. He discovered the transformative use of walls for rebounds and subsequently designed specific paddles and rules for this innovative game. Padel rackets are smaller than tennis ones, lacking strings, and are made with a soft, perforated surface (FOAM or E.V.A. rubber). While they may look like tennis balls, padel balls are actually softer and smaller.

The sport swiftly crossed over to Spain, thanks to Corcuera's friends who were captivated by the game. Though growth in the number of players was initially gradual, the 1990s marked a turning point, leading to an explosive interest in paddle sports. The International Padel Federation currently boasts over 300,000 licensed members and 12 million active players worldwide!

Padel: A Fun and Accessible Sport for Everyone

Situated between squash and tennis, padel is gaining traction, with around 50,000 players in the game today. The sport's allure lies in its playful nature, the straightforward gameplay that allows for freedom on the court, and its accessibility to novices. Even beginners can engage in lengthy rallies thanks to the walls, shorter court length, and the introductory service system, which add rhythm to the games.

Despite its accessibility, padel remains a highly technical sport, offering vast creative freedom and diverse shot possibilities due to potential rebounds off the walls. From bandeja and sliced smashes to lobs and returns, padel matches are engaging and varied, ensuring exhilaration for players.

Padel Courts: Features and Layouts

Since its introduction in France, padel has been in the spotlight, leading to a surge in the construction of courts nationwide. High demand and an increasing player base necessitate the availability of more facilities. Today's courts come in two types: indoor and outdoor.
Indoor courts provide a dependable playing space regardless of weather conditions.

Optimal conditions also include factors such as ceiling height to prevent obstruction during lobs, with a recommended height of 8 meters. The cutting-edge construction of SMC2 padel courts ensures an ideal playing experience, encompassing controlled temperatures, pleasant lighting, minimal echo, and ecological friendliness. Interested parties can obtain a quote for their padel court construction project online.

To discover more, visit our site for the sale of padel courts.