Pickleballers play on and on, on Laykold

Laykold chemistry means more playable hours, happier players and healthier facilities

Pickleball, with its impressive growth across the US and emergence into Europe and Asia-Pacific, is a global phenomenon – played by over 19 million people and embraced by all ages. With that growth comes an increasing demand for premium facilities.

As the Official Court Surface of the US Open, Laykold has brought Grand Slam court quality to pickleball, a commitment underpinned by expert R&D that is tailored to the growing sport. The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) has newly appointed Laykold as its Official Surface and the Pickleball Slam 3 recently saw Laykold courts being tested by sporting legends Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi, with more major partnerships to follow.

“With pickleball’s intense play and small court space, surface quality matters more than ever—and Laykold’s superior court chemistry delivers longer life, safer footing, and a better game.”

As clubs and pickleball facilities look to build or upgrade their courts to meet growing demand, having a partner with knowledge of the unique characteristics of the game and superior court chemistry is key.

Here’s five reasons why.

No. 1

Pickleball is more intensive on courts than tennis.

As the global intensity of Pickleball grows, so does its impact on courts. With four players in a small court and an overwhelming concentration of play on the kitchen line, the surface fatigue is similar to the keyhole in 3x3 basketball. The quality of the court product is therefore more important than ever. For an extended life, pickleball courts require an extra durable surface.

Laykold achieves this durability by having the most robust topcoats in the industry. We achieve this durability with our proprietary ‘latex’ formula which features the highest quality acrylic resin, and our unique custom sand blend. This means that Laykold topcoats have a higher weight-by-volume. This superior material density extends the surface life, thereby delivering greater value to your investment.

No. 2

Pickleball’s reduced time and space demands greater stability

A pickleball game is played over a more reduced time and space than tennis. The impact of a slippery court is therefore more significant. A grittier topcoat means a more satisfying and safer player experience because it reduces ball slip and enhances footing helping to avoid rolled ankles or slips that lead to injuries.

Where most court products either include sand in the base layer (applying pigment only as a topcoat) or apply a topcoat that is so thin that the sand sinks, the higher viscosity of Laykold’s topcoats retains the suspension of the sand in the topcoat surface making it grippier for ball and player. There is better ball bite; the ball sits up a bit more which enhances shot accuracy. The result is a more interesting and safer game where players have the stability and confidence to go after those key shots.

No. 3

Pickleball’s accessibility isn’t just about a smaller court.

Pickleball’s accessibility gives the sport immediate and widespread appeal, but accessibility isn’t just about a smaller court. Greater force reduction is also a key factor in attracting new players and keeping existing players playing. But the type of force reduction is crucial 

Laykold’s force reduction courts including our LM5 and Gel systems, uniquely offer the perfect balance of force reduction and energy return. This court ‘sweetspot’ is even more important in pickleball where dynamic movement takes place over a small surface area. Systems that use point elastic mats and roll-out courts can result in knee, ankle and back injuries where the player’s foot gets stuck.

Laykold’s force reduction courts use a mixed inverted elastic system that incorporate both area and point elastic in the same system which respond to the movement pattern and foot strike. This means happy knees for players and coaches and a healthier club as injury reduction means courts are used more often and for longer.

No. 4

Courts demand to be greener for this cross-generational sport

Pickleball has an average player age range of 34.8 years with participation spanning from six to over 60. It’s a game where grandparents can play their grandkids, and this multi-generational profile is rightly sensitive to sustainability.

Laykold courts are the greenest in the industry. With sustainable manufacturing facilities in Pittsburgh, Germany and Melbourne, Laykold is proudly made in the USA, Europe and Australia reducing our shipping footprint. Uniquely manufactured in ISO-certified factories across three continents, our surfaces are built to meet the highest environmental standards.

The Laykold Gel system is made from 60% renewable resources and we are the only court brand to use recycled tennis balls in our surfaces. Through our partnership with RecycleBalls we help to recycle 2.7 million balls a year, a number that is set to double imminently. As we take this innovation beyond tennis, we are looking at recycling five to ten million tennis balls annually in the coming years. This would save enough carbon to charge 382,896,768 smartphones.

No. 5

In pickleball, as in tennis, low cost doesn’t mean high value

While pickleball has its specific requirements that need to be met by its playing surface, it demands the same level of overall quality as tennis. The years of chemistry know-how that Laykold has poured into its tennis courts means that pickleball receives all the benefits of Grand Slam quality when it is played on Laykold.

The purchase decision for facility owners must hinge on knowing what you are paying for. Low cost rarely equals high value. But a court that understands the game it serves and has the R&D experience to translate that to long-term performance is a sure-fire way of protecting your investment and keeping happy players playing on.

Click here for more on Laykold Pickleball, or to speak to an expert.