One of the great things about Pickleball is the flexibility of where and when you can play. Almost any hard surface is good for playing Pickleball as long as you have the equipment. But can you play pickleball on a wet court?
Can you play Pickleball on a wet court?
Most times it is not recommended to play Pickleball on a hard and wet surface. There are ways around it, but you should take precaution when playing a pick up game on a wet court, especially if the pickleball courts you are considering are made of an blacktop or asphalt surface. If you really want to play when it is wet or raining out, it will first depend upon the court. I know there are a lot of daredevils in the Pickleball world who would play in any condi
tions. We would suggest waiting for the rain to stop or the court you are looking to play on to dry up. City tennis courts dry up after a few hours.
When is it okay to play on a wet Pickleball court?
If the playing surface is somewhat damp, then it should be okay to play on as long as you have good tennis shoes and take care in avoiding spots that are super wet. However, if it a Pickleball court has just rained on is considerably wet, it is not recommended. If you have a portable Pickleball set, try to find a dryer court.
Playing with protective equipment
It is very rarely okay to play Pickleball on a surface that is very wet. One idea we have is to wear a complete set of protective gear on. this would include a helmet (most important), elbow pads, knee pads and gloves to avoid scraping your hands.
Even with the protection, the problem with this approach is that you never know which way you will fall and what body part will hit the hard surface. It’s hard to protect your hips and shoulders, which could be vernerable.
When you should never play on a wet court.
There are some people and situation where you should never play Pickleball on a wet court.
The court wet and icy– There are probably a few Wim Hofs out there who do cryotherapy and take freezing showers every day who want to play in cold conditions. This is fine, but never do it when there is ice on the court. And especially if the court is icy and wet. You’ll most definitely take a hard fall.
You are a senior – once you get past a certain age, you should never play on wet surfaces. It is dangerous for seniors and not worth the risk. Slipping and falling is way too big of a risk, and it is best to find another activity for the day that doesn’t involve sudden movements on a wet flat surface.
Conclusion
You should avoid playing pickleball on a wet surface if you can. The risk of falling and injuring yourself are too high. There will be other chances to play pickleball! Don’t be dumb, and take care of yourself.