Whether you are a gym teacher looking to set up some Pickleball courts for your kids indoors this winter, or you are a Pickleball enthusiast that found a place to play in a local indoor gym, you are in luck. Pickleball can be played on a gym floor. There are some slight differneces that you should know about, but all in all you might find that playing Pickleball on a gym floor is better than some outdoor courts made specifically for Pickleball.
How can Pickleball be played on a gym floor?
Whether its a city recreation center or your local high school gym, Pickleball courts can be set up on any gym floor. A typical surface is made up of hardwood, but some gym floors have alternative surfaces like rubber or vinyl. Either way, if a gym floor was created for basketball, it can ultimately be used for Pickleball. The bounce on the ball will be a little bit different is all.
All you will need is Pickleball court equipment to set up on your gym floor. This includes the net, and markers to create the Pickleball court’s boundaries.
Where can I find a good gym floor to play Pickleball?
During the winter months, you’ll probably prefer to play Pickleball in a nice warm gym as opposed to on a frigid icy outdoor court. If you live in a metro area, you might want to check out your city’s local parks and recreation program to see what indoor gym space is available to the public free of charge or for a very affordable fee. For example, NYC Parks and Recreations Department give access to large facilities across New York City, many of them with indoor basketball courts available to the public, and it only costs $25 per year in many cases.
How will the game play be different on a gym floor?
Nothing major changes about the play of the game. The only thing that will be slightly different is the type of bounce you will get out of a hardwood gym floor. Pickleball bounce off of gym floors will typically be weaker. This might make drop shots and strategic placement of Pickleball shots more effective than putting brute force behind a shot.
What shoes should I wear for Pickleball on a gym floor?
The shoes specifically created for a certain type of surface will be your best option, so for Pickleball play on a hardwood gym floor, its best to go with basketball shoes if you can. If you don’t have any basketball shoes available, then your regular tennis shoes or Pickleball shoes will suffice, just make sure you’re wearing your protective ankle gear if you do have ankles vulnerable to injury.
Conclusion
All in all, a gym floor is a great indoor option for Pickleball action. Try to find some city owned gym space in your local area such as a community center or a public school, and figure out a time it is not being used for anything. This will give you a great space to get some Pickleball action in during the cold winter months.