Most commonly, pickleball court surfaces are made of concrete, like tennis courts. Indoor pickleball courts often use gym floor surfaces similar to basketball courts. Other pickleball court surface options include clay, asphalt, polyurethane sports surfaces, and grass.
Pickleball Court Surface Options
Pickleball can be played on a variety of surfaces. Each surface has its own characteristics that influence the way the game is played.
There are four main types of court types:
- Clay Courts
- Hard Courts
- Grass Courts
- Carpet Courts
Hard Courts
Hard courts (asphalt and concrete) are composed of uniform rigid materials, often coated with an acrylic surface layer to provide a more consistent bounce.
Although hard courts are faster than clay courts, they are not as fast as grass courts. The amount of sand added to the paint can have a significant impact on the rate at which the ball slows down.
Grass Courts
Grass courts are the fastest pickleball court surface. These surfaces are made up of grass grown on hard soil, adding additional variables to the equation. Bounces are determined by the health of the grass, how recently it has been mowed, and the amount of wear and tear it has undergone.
Grass courts were once a common tennis surface but are now more rare due to their high maintenance needs. Grass courts should be watered daily and mowed often, and they take longer than hard courts to dry following rain.
Generally, grass courts aren’t ideal for pickleball. If the grass is too long, or if the court is too wet, the pickleball ball does not bounce well.
Clay Courts
Clay courts, which are made of crushed shale, stone, or brick, tend to slow down the pickleball and produce a high bounce.
As a result, clay courts eliminate many of the advantages of strong serves, which makes it difficult for players who rely heavily on serve-based play to dominate. Clay courts are less expensive to construct than other types of courts, but the cost of maintaining a clay surface is higher.
Carpet Courts
Carpet courts are made up of artificial turf carpeted with sand. Carpet is a fast surface with a low ball bounce. Carpet courts are installed over hard surfaces like concrete and need regular maintenance.
Indoor Pickleball Courts
Indoor pickleball court surfaces generally use polyurethane sport surfaces. Over a flat or concrete surface, a sturdy rubber mat provides a cushion, reducing impact and stress on the player’s knees, ankles, feet, and body in general.
Different levels of cushioning or coatings are available, including some that can absorb up to 32% of the shock.
Pickleball Court Surface Coatings
Pro-Cushion Surface
An ideal playing area surface should provide a consistent bounce while also being comfortable for the player with effective shock absorption layers.
A pro-cushion surface is an acrylic coating system with built-in cushioning, such as flexible acrylic blinders or granules.
- Consistent and smooth.
- The traction and grip are excellent.
- A long-lasting and durable product.
- It is suitable for both beginners and professionals
- Feels good and looks good.
- Low impact on joints and excellent for the body.
Acrylotex
Acrylotex is an indoor or outdoor court surface that is laid over concrete or asphalt.
Different types of grips are available, with different surface textures, depending on the type of grip you require.
Plexiflor
Plexiflor is a smoother acrylic coating that has been reinforced and can be applied over concrete or asphalt. It is textured, non-abrasive, and suitable for all weather conditions.
There are several benefits to using an acrylic surface.
- Reduces the glare on a surface.
- Preserves the concrete.
- Provides a consistent bounce and game.
- Provides a custom-designed texture that is safe and good for grip.
- The presence of silica sand enhances the grip.
- Has a low VOC content, making it environmentally friendly.
Playing Pickleball on A Tennis Court
Playing pickleball on tennis courts is straightforward. There is no change in the surface. Although four pickleball courts can fit on a tennis court, it is recommended that you do not place more than two or three courts at a time to allow players sufficient space.
To prevent spoiling the tennis courts when they are used for tennis, you only need to add temporary lines and a pickleball net that is included in a kit. In general, tennis courts have a hard surface, although they can also have clay or grass surfaces, both of which are suitable for pickleball games.
