Whether you’re designing your own Pickleball court or finding a new place to play, it’s essential that you consider the type of surface that you play on. There are numerous factors that can impact how your game can go, and you need to consider if the surface is right for you.
That’s why we’ve taken a look at the different surfaces available to see which is the best fit for your needs. So first, let’s consider whether you want to play in an indoor court or on an outdoor court.
Depending on the weather, you might need to consider whether you can build your own, or if you want to make one up with some indoor space. Your budget will come into question here, and it’s also best to know how often this court will be used and for what purposes.
Depending on your needs, you might want one for more professional or recreational purposes. If you want to play Pickleball professionally, you might have different needs than a casual player. Not only do you need to consider your purposes, but your comfort too.
While you might think that this aligns with how much you can afford, you also need to consider your needs. You don’t want to have jarred knees from playing the game, so you may want to consider this when you’re coming up with your court.
Indoor Pickleball
If you want to play Pickleball indoors, then you’ll need to hire a contractor to help you. Most indoor courts take advantage of polyurethane surfaces, which you can also use outside. But what is a polyurethane surface?
Well, these tend to have a sturdy rubber mat that can be built over flat surfaces, including concrete. These reduce the amount of stress on the players’ knees, and all have different levels. One great choice for a cushioned surface is by looking at a pro-cushion one.
These give the court a consistent bounce, and can be incredibly comfortable for players. They absorb the shock when you move, and they’re durable too. These pro-cushion surfaces have an acrylic coating system with built-in cushioning, flexible acrylic blinders, or granules.
These are great for both beginner and professional Pickleball players, and they can ensure that not only your knees will thank you, but the court will last a long time too.
Outdoor Pickleball
If you prefer an outdoor court, then there are numerous choices available to you. You can either have your own in your backyard for your own recreational purposes. While you can play on grass, this isn’t the best surface for Pickleball players, nor is asphalt.
But, if you want to play Pickleball on a budget, then those can be suitable options. However, you may want to pay more if you want to design a Pickleball for a club or school, as you want players to learn with the best possible surfaces.
Generally, contractors will use polyurethane when designing a court regardless of whether it’s for indoor or outdoor usage. Of course, all courts include the option of extra-cushioning, which we mentioned previously when discussing indoor courts.
However, there are other options too. You could have a plexiflor surface, which is great for all weather conditions. Plexiflor surfaces keep the concrete preserved and contain silica sand for grip, which also offers consistent bounce for players.
There is also acrylotex, which can also be used for indoor and outdoor courts, which has similar benefits to plexiflor.
Playing Pickleball On Grass
If you want to play Pickleball at home in your garden, you may need to do a lot of maintenance. Of course, you won’t get the same level of practice as if you played on a professional Pickleball court, which makes this better for casual players.
Playing Pickleball on grassy surfaces requires commitment. You’ll need to mow, level, and maintain it at a certain level. So, it’s only considered if you have the time to maintain a court to suit your needs.
There are other issues with playing on grass, but if you just want to have casual games, then it’s not the end of the world. It just depends on how often you want to play, and whether you can keep the court to a standard where Pickleball is playable.
Playing Pickleball On A Tennis Court
If you don’t have the funds to build your own Pickleball court, you could always create a makeshift court using a local tennis court. You can find many tennis courts in schools and clubs, so they’re relatively easy to make.
Two Pickleball courts can be made out of one tennis court, as the surface remains the same. You may need to temporarily add some more lines, but depending on the surface, this can be quite easy to do.
Using chalk or a temporary spray, and add a special Pickleball net and you should be good to go. We should note however, that you should always leave the tennis court as you found it.
After all, as these are originally tennis courts, you don’t want to make it more difficult for tennis players to still enjoy their sport.
Pickleball On Clay Surfaces
If you don’t want to maintain a grassy Pickleball court, nor can you find a tennis court to briefly transform into a Pickleball court, you could always use clay. Some tennis courts are already made with clay, so this won’t be an issue if you came here to find out if you can play on one.
These surfaces will be strong and even, and you should already have a consistent bounce to save your joints. However, let’s say that you want to make a Pickleball court in your yard and build it from clay.
Now, to do this, you’ll need to do everything in your power to make the surface as even as possible, and make sure it’s all level. You should also roll the clay over the surface so that there’s still plenty of bounce on the court.
Final Thoughts On Pickleball
Ideally, it’s better to play Pickleball on a polyurethane surface with rubber coating, as these can be applied to indoor and outdoor courts. However, if you want to generally play Pickleball, we understand that you might not have the funds to create your own court.
If you need to find another court, you can always play on a makeshift tennis court, and adjust it if you have permission. However, you should never adjust a court if you haven’t had permission from the owners of said court.
If you don’t have as much funds but you do have plenty of time, you could make a Pickleball court from grass or clay surfaces. While a grass surface will need to be carefully maintained so that the court is level. Using clay can be a generally better choice.
But if you don’t have any of these surfaces, there is nothing stopping you from playing Pickleball on concrete. However, we recommend not trying this if you have any issues with your knees or joints, as extra cushioning can help provide some relief when playing.
Now that you know, you should have no trouble making or finding your own Pickleball court!
Pickleball has been played for decades, and it is a great way to let off some steam, engage in friendly competition, and improve your fitness levels.
Hi, my name is Joe Polls and my family and I are keen pickleball players. My parents actually met on a pickleball court, and the rest is history.
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