Pickleball, popularity and performance surfaces

By Dani Sheehan. 

California Sports Surfaces is committed to supporting active communities and helping new generations fall in love with new sports. 

It’s official: pickleball isn’t just having a moment — it’s an entire movement. 

From neighborhood cul-de-sacs to championship arenas, this fast-paced paddle sport has taken over America (and the rest of the world). According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals, an estimated 50 million people played pickleball in 2023 alone. That’s a lot of dinking, dropping and smashing — and it all depends on the right surface. 

California Sports Surfaces (CSS) has been elevating sports infrastructure since 1953. Long before the first pickleball paddle found the court, CSS was reimagining what it meant to play, compete and move on acrylic surfaces. Their early innovations helped reshape the athletic experience, bringing together durability, comfort and performance. 

Today, CSS is the preferred surface provider for a wide variety of sports and prestigious tournaments, including the U.S. Open (1978–2019), the Australian Open (1988–2018), the China Open, the Shanghai Masters, and 6 Olympic Games. 

Surfacing the pickleball boom 

With tens of thousands of new pickleball courts popping up across the country, facilities are turning to trusted experts to create professional grade playing experiences. CSS offers customizable acrylic pickleball court systems ideal for: 

• Schools and universities 
• Parks and recreation centers 
• Private clubs and luxury residences 
• National and international tournaments 

Whether it’s a brand-new installation or a court resurfacing project, CSS delivers court systems that balance performance with long-term durability. Their courts are engineered with advanced slip resistance, UV stability and resilient coatings that stand up to everything from pro-level play to your neighbor’s overly competitive serve. They’ve spent decades perfecting court technology to keep athletes moving safely and confidently.  

As facilities adapt to this booming demand, they’re looking for surfaces that are as resilient as the players themselves. With CSS, they get decades of expertise, a commitment to quality and a court that’s ready to play long after the trend becomes tradition.