As pickleball continues its phenomenal growth, people and organizations are building new courts at homes, sports facilities, parks, and apartment buildings. Whether converting a tennis court or building from scratch, one of the questions is what type of fencing (or containment) should be used around the court. Before deciding on the type of pickleball court fencing, it helps to review what benefits you are looking for.
Depending on what you want your fence, or perhaps a wall, to do, your options and costs can vary greatly.
Fencing for Ball Containment
This is often cited as the primary reason for fences. The height of the fence will depend on its proximity to the court itself. Typically, a court fence will be around 10 feet tall. Because of the nature of the pickleball, which doesn’t travel as far or high as a tennis ball with the same force, a fence may be shorter but will result in the ball going over more often (obviously.)
When people think of fencing, the consideration often stops with ball containment. But other factors should be considered.
Noise Containment/Reduction
Like other racquet sports, pickleball can generate quite a bit of noise. This can be particularly problematic in more densely populated residential areas. With the land area for pickleball being quite a bit less than for tennis, it can be played in tighter places, bringing it closer to residences. The close proximity to housing and dense apartment areas elevates the importance of noise reduction.
Clearly, a typical chainlink fence will have no impact on noise reduction. Glass-wall systems as a “fence” make much more sense in areas where noise is an issue.
Blocking Wind From the Court
The pickleball is very susceptible to wind. Windy weather conditions can make playing difficult or impossible, depending on where the court is built and the time of year. To extend the utility of having a pickleball court, a fencing system that is better at blocking wind is preferable and beyond a chainlink fence. Glass fencing systems provide a wind-block allowing the court to be used at times that would not be possible for a chainlink fencing system.
Fencing Aesthetics Play a Role
In neighborhood parks, as well as residential courts, aesthetics are important. While chainlink fencing has been around for a long time, it has been so because options were limited (non-existent.) With manufacturing and technology advancements, strong glass-wall systems are available and affordable.
Fortunately, there are economical options to standard chainlink fencing for court conversions and new builds. Whether building a pickleball court, tennis court, or any outdoor sports facility, consumers can install barriers that provide containment, sound dampening, wind protection, and all in a form that looks great. Check out PickleGlass.
