Finish and construction
An acrylic coating, flexible PVC roll, open-grid tile and supported composite panel are different systems. Compare their full installation requirements, not thickness alone.
ATHREN COURT · Buyer & site planning guide
Choose the right pickleball floor for the way your venue works.
Compare site-applied acrylic, resilient and textured rolls, removable floor packages and modular court surfaces. Then turn the key site decisions into a useful supply quotation brief. The guide does not replace supplier test reports or local design.
Space and supporting base
Playing lines measure 6.10 × 13.41 m. A practical site must also accommodate run-off, drainage, safe access, any fixed obstructions and local approvals.
Verified suitability
These are potential product pathways—not a performance ranking, a certification claim or confirmation that a particular venue is suitable.
01 / UNDERSTAND THE OPTIONS
Compare the construction before choosing a product.
Use a category to narrow the range. Select up to three surface families for a practical side-by-side comparison below.Hard acrylic court
Site-applied · permanent
Dedicated courts and resurfacing with a sound hard base
Ask before selecting
Is the asphalt/concrete stable, adequately drained and ready for crack treatment?
No cushioning layer; base repairs and application tolerances must be resolved
Cushioned acrylic court
Site-applied · permanent
Dedicated courts considering a resilient coating build-up
Ask before selecting
Is the correct asphalt/base pathway and rubber cushion build-up documented?
AX granular coats and RM4 rubber sheet are different systems
Acrylic-coated PVC roll
Factory-made rolls · seams required
Project-specific continuous textured roll court
Ask before selecting
Will the base and approved seam/fixing method suit the venue and exposure?
Do not assume every roll installation can be removed daily
Textured PVC court rolls
Factory-made rolls · variant-specific
Indoor or selected outdoor pickleball programmes
Ask before selecting
Which exact PV version, exposure rating and playing-face texture are required?
PV30 and PV35 are distinct builds, not interchangeable thickness choices
Portable PVC court rolls
Multiple labelled rolls · candidate for events
Temporary venues and hall conversions under a verified handling plan
Ask before selecting
Can the existing floor take the approved joints and repeated pack-down?
Daily removal, adhesive-free use and basketball suitability are not pre-approved
Open-grid PP tiles
Interlocking modular tiles
Outdoor and shared-use hard-base courts
Ask before selecting
Where will water go after passing through the tile surface?
Drainage, ball response, expansion and ramps depend on exact module
Resilient TPE tiles
Interlocking resilient modules
Selected club, school and multi-sport surfaces
Ask before selecting
Is the selected RT model suitable for the sport, climate and base?
Soft-touch does not establish a competition response or certification
Racquet-focused PP tiles
Firm PP modular surface
Dedicated racquet courts and suitable shared-use surfaces
Ask before selecting
Is the actual pickleball bounce, grip and perimeter detail approved?
Firm feel and source reference numbers are not independent ATHREN test claims
Composite panel court
Rigid panel + supporting keel system
Architectural dedicated courts with project-specific support design
Ask before selecting
Has the engineer/installer approved the panel, keel and base interface?
Do not carry over supplier lifespan or performance values without current proof
SIDE-BY-SIDE SHORTLIST
3 selected surfaces
| Decision | MC · Hard acrylic court | CT · Open-grid PP tiles | PR30 · Portable PVC court rolls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | Site-applied · permanent | Interlocking modular tiles | Multiple labelled rolls · candidate for events |
| Project starting point | Dedicated courts and resurfacing with a sound hard base | Outdoor and shared-use hard-base courts | Temporary venues and hall conversions under a verified handling plan |
| Installation / handling | Local installer applies and cures coating layers | Individual panel replacement; edges and movement gaps | Crew, clear access, actual roll weights, storage cores and dry storage |
| Site question | Is the asphalt/concrete stable, adequately drained and ready for crack treatment? | Where will water go after passing through the tile surface? | Can the existing floor take the approved joints and repeated pack-down? |
| Do not assume | No cushioning layer; base repairs and application tolerances must be resolved | Drainage, ball response, expansion and ramps depend on exact module | Daily removal, adhesive-free use and basketball suitability are not pre-approved |
Replacing a selected item after three are chosen removes the oldest item. Materials shown are product-family references; exact variant, samples, sports tests, warranty and fixing remain subject to approval.
02 / FROM A FLOOR TO A FUNCTIONING COURT
Five checks before you request a final specification.
Work through the site and operational questions first. Installation is carried out by the local project team; Apollo supplies the products and coordinates manufacturer information.Confirm court use
Identify pickleball as the primary sport, any shared sports, the standard of play and whether the venue is permanent or temporary.
Useful information: Sport, number of courts, users and operating patternCheck usable dimensions
Use the clear measured footprint, not gross building area. For multi-court sites allow run-off, circulation, columns, egress, access and amenities.
Useful information: Dimensioned plan, court count and obstructionsAssess the supporting base
Record the existing finish, slab/asphalt condition, cracks, flatness, moisture, drainage and whether repairs are likely. Grass or unsuitable soft ground is not a direct flooring base.
Useful information: Base photos, condition, indoor/outdoor exposurePlan fixing and operations
For applied systems check local installers and curing. For rolls check seams, fixing, access and storage; for tiles check expansion, ramps and drainage.
Useful information: Installation permanence, local team, handling and storageRequest verified specifications
Ask for the exact variant, physical samples, model-specific performance evidence, compatibility details, maintenance guidance and delivery/packing documentation.
Useful information: Preferred system, evidence needs and destinationStandard playing rectangle6.10 × 13.41 m
Playing lines only—not a safe total venue envelope.
Minimum total surface reference9.14 × 18.29 m
Planning reference for one court; always review context.
Preferred new-court reference10.36 × 19.51 m
Reference playing-surface envelope before other venue allowances.
Four-, five- and six-court arrangements cannot be verified by multiplying a one-court area. The multi-court space planner helps test rectangular envelopes and orientation, but clear height, columns, fire exits, spectator circulation, accessibility and local design must still be assessed.
03 / GET READY TO ENQUIRE
Create a more useful flooring brief.
Mark only information you already have. Your choices below are carried into Apollo's enquiry form; nothing is submitted until you send the form.What information is ready?
0 of 6 preparation items available
Continue to supply quotation A preliminary quote request can still be submitted with missing details. Apollo can request the outstanding site information and current manufacturer evidence.
04 / MANUFACTURER DOCUMENT CONTROL
What must be verified before final product sign-off?
These items are not automatically confirmed by the preliminary product comparison.Current exact-model technical data sheet and sport-specific test methods
Approved construction / fixing / seam / edge details
Portable roll cut-map, permitted reuse cycles and packed weights where relevant
Full current warranty, care and maintenance schedule
Factory-original high-resolution photographs and publication permission
Product photography already on the ATHREN pages remains illustrative. It is not proof of an exact factory model, installed project, test certification or warranty. No unverified supplier photographs have been added.
Need Apollo to review it?