As pickleball explodes in popularity, a large number of new courts are opening up across the United States. Each one is a space for a community to come together in the name of fun and shared passion. Whether people prefer to spectate a tournament or just play a casual game every other Saturday, there is something to enjoy at the local court.
Many court owners are taking advantage of this fact by enhancing their offerings. Shade is one of the best accommodations your business can offer players and spectators. It increases comfort, protects the court and much more. The most effective solution is to invest in custom pickleball court shade structures. These can be tailored to your specifications and transform your court.
Learn more in the guide to shade structures for pickleball courts below.
Types of Shade Solutions for Pickleball Courts
Shade structures come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, giving your business many options to choose from. The following are some of the leading types from USA SHADE:
- Squares and rectangles: These are the simplest and most budget-friendly shade structures available from USA SHADE. Their straightforward designs allow them to blend into virtually any space. Individual structures can extend up to 40 feet in length and width, allowing them to provide wide-reaching shade for everything from pools to pickleball courts.
- Multi-sided: These structures offer shade to areas with more uneven layouts. They extend as far as 60 feet in diameter, allowing them to reach further and shade more area. Octagons, hexagons and more also make for a more eye-catching structure, which can draw in new customers.
- Sails: One of the most exciting benefits of shade structures is their aesthetic appeal, and sails are some of the most attractive. With their multiple anchor points and unique shape, they grab the eye of anyone who sees them while also providing shade to those beneath them. The anchor points can even be adjusted in height to create a truly one-of-a-kind look.
- Cantilevers: These structures have supports placed on the sides or back, allowing them to hang over spaces without interrupting them. This makes them perfect for walkways, bus stops and more. Cantilevers come in a range of sizes and styles so that you can pick the one that most suits your facility’s needs.
- Single post: Simple and compact, these shade structures work in tight spaces to provide comfort for a single person or a small group. They are also easy to install.
Custom and Specialty Shade Structures for Pickleball Courts
If your facility’s needs aren’t met by any preset designs, custom shade structures may be the right choice. They can take on unique shapes and expand further than other options can. So, whether you’re looking for a powerful way to enhance the court’s visual appeal or cover as much ground as possible, custom shade structures have your business covered.
Many facilities invest in shade structures with unconventional shapes, such as butterflies, flowers and more. Specialty shade structures like these can provide shade in spaces with irregular needs while offering an aesthetic boost to your facility.
The dimensions of your play area and the layout of your facility will have a direct effect on which shade structure styles can be used. Working with an expert can be an advantageous way to determine the right shade solutions for your business’s pickleball courts.
8 Reasons to Add Shade to Your Pickleball Court
The benefits of shade structures for pickleball courts are vast and, in some cases, unexpected. They can protect the health of players, improve spectator visibility and even extend the life span of your courts. And that’s only the beginning.
Learn why shade is essential for pickleball courts and how the right structures can significantly improve your facilities below.
1. Shield Players from UV Rays
When pickleball is held outdoors, players are naturally exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Vitamin D production relies on this radiation, but it can also lead to sunburn in the short term. Using sunscreen and keeping skin exposure to a minimum can help combat the effects of UV rays, but many pickleball players need to wear comfortable clothing like shorts and t-shirts in order to play well.
This is where shade structures come in to minimize sun exposure for players and spectators, protecting them from unwanted UV rays. While shade structures do not fully block UV radiation, they do provide an important barrier between your facility’s users and the sun.
Installing shade structures around your pickleball court is an effective way to give patrons greater peace of mind, especially on those sunny summer days.
2. Keep Players, Workers and Spectators Cooler
Sun exposure can also contribute to heat-related illnesses, especially during the summer months. Players in outdoor athletic facilities are particularly vulnerable to these illnesses, as they are consistently exposed to the heat of the sun while exercising. Pickleball shade structures help by minimizing the court’s exposure to sunlight, which results in cooler temperatures for the court and surrounding areas.
While players need to stay hydrated and apply sunscreen, the shade structure ensures that everyone has at least some protection. Spectators can also benefit from the additional shade, helping them remain cooler from their perch in the bleachers or along the side of the court.
3. Enhance Player Comfort and Performance
One of the best benefits of shade structures is their ability to keep players comfortable and playing at the top of their game. For one, the sun can hinder players’ eyesight, giving one side of the court an unfair advantage over the other. This can make practice more difficult and even alter the outcomes of games.
The heat of outdoor pickleball courts can also exhaust players more quickly, leading to shorter, more uncomfortable pickleball sessions. This discomfort can also impact player joy and shorten practice times, inhibiting growth and experience.
Shade structures combat both the light and heat from the sun simultaneously. They can provide ample shade for both sides of the court, inhibiting the advantage provided by facing away from the sun. Shade structures can also reduce heat-related fatigue by providing shade and maintaining a lower average temperature than surrounding areas. In these ways, pickleball court shade structures encourage fair and active play, allowing everyone to enjoy the court for longer.
4. Extend Playing Hours
During the summer, some pickleball courts grow too hot at peak hours of the day. If your courts are overheating, people will be less likely to come play. Typically, the heat is worst in the early afternoon, anywhere from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Unfortunately, the intense heat can lead to decreased revenue for courts and frustration for players and spectators.
Shade structures ensure that the court is usable and comfortable during all hours of the day. Their presence tells new and returning players that they can play hard while staying cool, even during the heat of the day in the hottest months of the year.
5. Increase Spectator Comfort and Build Community
Larger pickleball courts and complexes often include seats for spectators. This is especially true if the courts host official matches or tournaments, which can draw significant crowds. These spectators are just as susceptible to the heat and light of the sun as the players are. If metal bleachers are being used for seating, their experience may even be more uncomfortable than the players’.
Bright sunlight can also impede the experience for both the spectators and referees, making enjoying the game and judging it accurately more difficult. Providing shade for spectators and referees resolves all of the problems above. It keeps things cool so that spectators can sit comfortably, and it cuts down on glare so that spectators and referees can observe the game closely without squinting or hurting their eyes.
Shade structures support the viewing of matches and facilitate the growth of a social atmosphere and active community around pickleball.
6. Preserve the Court Surface and Equipment
One of the most important and unrecognized benefits of pickleball court shade structures is their ability to protect the court itself. Since the court is always outside, it is constantly being exposed to the heat of the sun. Over time, that heat can cause the court surface to fade, crack and degrade. As a result, the quality of play decreases.
Balls may take odd bounces when they hit cracks or portions of the court that have degraded. Players may even be more likely to trip and slip than usual, which can frustrate and even hurt them.
Many court owners deal with this problem by filling in cracks with acrylic filler and resurfacing the court periodically. However, these measures can be expensive, especially if you’re having to perform maintenance activities regularly.
Shade structures combat these problems by protecting the court surface and extending its life span. They shield the court from direct sunlight, which in turn reduces the heat the court is regularly exposed to. Cracks and fading take longer to occur as a result of heat, and both become less common as a result. Repairs are therefore less common as well. You will still need to resurface the court periodically and fill in the occasional crack, but the annual cost of repairs often decreases after shade structure installation.
7. Improve Facility Appearance and Brand Appeal
Shade structures for pickleball courts are an opportunity to draw the eyes of both pickleball players and the general public. Their potential for customization means your business can outfit your facility with a design that aligns with your business’s brand. Their unique aesthetic also sets your court apart from all the others in your area. Together, these elements enhance both your brand’s identity and reach within the community.
8. Increase Facility Usage and Revenue
All of the benefits outlined above can coalesce in both increased attendance and increased revenue for your pickleball facility. Shade structures ensure that returning players are able to use the courts during peak hours in the heat of the summer. They also ensure that those players are able to perform at their best. They need not worry about who’s facing the sun or whether they will be too hot to play a full match.
New players will also be attracted by the distinct look and benefits of shade structures. They may become curious about what the structure is attached to and consider giving pickleball a shot, especially if they can play in the shade. They may also recognize your brand in the future if it is incorporated into the structure. Plus, players new and old are more likely to attend your facility if it has shade accommodations.
Increased usage directly leads to increased revenue opportunities. Enhanced offerings, such as rental equipment, refreshments and merch, can take those benefits even further.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pickleball Shade Structures
The following are some of the most commonly asked questions about shade structures for pickleball courts:
- How much cooler is it under a shade structure? Shade can feel as much as 20 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than direct sun. The exact number will depend on the weather, shade fabric, airflow and humidity on a given day.
- Are shade structures durable enough to withstand wind and severe weather? Yes. USA SHADE shade structures are engineered to local codes and site conditions. Designs account for wind, snow and seismic loads per applicable standards to support longevity and durability in inclement weather.
- What maintenance is required for pickleball shade structures? To keep your shade structures in peak condition, perform periodic inspections and tension checks. Businesses can keep the materials clean with mild soap and water. Hardware and fabric should be inspected annually.
- Will shade structure posts interfere with play or fencing? No —designs typically place columns outside of the play area and fencing. Our experts can help your business choose the right structures, such as cantilevers, to minimize obstructions.
- What clear height is recommended over pickleball courts? Designs often target about 20 feet of clear height to reduce ball contact with the structure. Again, our experts will help your business determine the right solutions for your unique facility.
Partner With USA SHADE Today
Shade structures can transform a good pickleball court into a great one. USA Pickleball, the National Governing Body of pickleball in the U.S., has officially partnered with us because of the immense value shade provides for players and spectators of this sport.
Shade structures help keep players comfortable and make pickleball more enjoyable for everyone. No matter the size or shape of your courts, USA SHADE is here to help them be the best they can be.
To learn more about shade structures for pickleball courts, fill out our contact form online today!
