Tipsy Padel

I played padel at 8am this morning (I’m one of those padel addicts).

The bin beside the court was overflowing with beer bottles from the day before. It’s now a thing to combine padel with pints and a boom box. Especially for Gen Z. And honestly? It sounds brilliant. Very Neneh Cherry vibes (showing my age).

It made me think how quant research can often miss the whole story.

If you ask someone: “Do you play padel?” they’d tick 'yes'.

Ask why and you might get; exercise, fitness, being social.

Don't think you'd hear back; getting drunk, dancing and singing.

There's so much more nuance and depth to that simple question. It’s bonding. It's community. Music. Ritual. Get out the house. Identity. Belonging.

It’s replacing the pub. It’s flirting. It’s community. It's relaxing.

That’s the thing with people.

The real story is usually sprawling below the surface. And Gen Z seem particularly good at not fitting stereotypes and living a dichotomy: health-conscious but still risk-taking, digital but deeply social.

The true insight isn’t that they play padel. It’s how they’re approaching life.