Supporting pickleball players—literally!

With summer approaching, the rhythmic "thwack" of a pickleball paddle hitting the ball will return to courts across the country. Pickleball, a racket sport that is similar to tennis, is exploding in popularity—USA Pickleball, the sport's national governing body, plans to register 1,000 new pickleball facilities annually. Courts have popped up on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and in New York City's Central Park.

Alongside the sport's rising popularity, companies have stepped in to develop their own products to support the craze. There are now "more than 40 brands of paddles on the market, at least 10 companies producing balls, and more than a dozen selling nets."

Equally important as the paddle in hand and ball in play, however, is the quality of the playing surface. Playing surfaces can have real ramifications on the quality of play and the health and safety of the players, and recycled rubber flooring provides the perfect surface for pickleball play. Ecore recently designed and launched a new high-performance indoor pickleball surface that includes an 8mm vulcanized composition rubber base layer and can be used in a wide range of facilities, including fitness clubs, indoor athletic domes, gyms, and convention centers.

The flooring is engineered for high-intensity play. The surface enables heavy foot traction and a high ball rebound rating. Moreover, the flooring has a force restitution rate of 17% and an energy restitution rate of 80%, which "helps minimize body stress, provides optimal comfort for series and recreational athletes alike, and promotes safety and ergonomic benefits while allowing for longer play time." 

Consistent with the recycled rubber industry's long commitment to sustainability, the flooring is made from 62% post-consumer recycled content, helping to give new life to scrap tires and keeping them out of landfills. 

Next time you walk onto a pickleball court, give thought to the flooring underneath. If it's made with recycled rubber, it's not only providing you with safer, higher quality play but also protecting our environment.