Pickleball Injuries Are Rising: What Facility Owners and Players Need to Know About Court Safety
Reduce Injury Risk
Pickleball continues to be one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, attracting players of all ages and filling recreation centers, health clubs, gyms, sports complexes, and dedicated indoor pickleball facilities. While the sport’s accessibility and social nature have fueled its popularity, pickleball-related injuries have increased as a result.
For facility owners and managers, this trend presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While players are increasingly looking for ways to enjoy the sport safely, facilities also have a responsibility to create environments that reduce injury risk and improve the overall playing experience. Thoughtful flooring solutions can play an important role in pickleball injury prevention, especially on indoor courts where surface selection is within the facility’s control.
The Pickleball Injury Boom
As the popularity of pickleball has surged over the past several years, injuries associated with the sport have climbed as well. Fractures, sprains, muscle strains and tears, tendon and rotator cuff injuries, and joint pain are among the most common injuries. These injuries can carry significant medical costs while also affecting players’ ability to remain active. According to a 2025 study, “pickleball-related injuries were projected to cost Americans 500 million dollars in 2023” and pickleball related injuries increased 6.8 times between 2017-2022.
Many of these injuries occur after slips, falls, sudden directional changes, or repetitive impact on hard playing surfaces. Although no flooring system can eliminate injuries entirely, facilities that prioritize pickleball court safety can help minimize unnecessary strain on players while demonstrating a commitment to long-term athlete wellness.
As awareness grows, players of all ages are becoming more selective about where they play, making court safety an increasingly important differentiator for indoor pickleball facilities.
Do Hard Pickleball Courts Increase Player Injuries?
Traditional indoor athletic courts are designed for durability, but they are often extremely hard on the feet and joints. Every serve, volley, sprint, and pivot transfers impact through a player’s feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back. For older players, repetitive joint impact and pre-existing balance issues can contribute to fatigue, joint discomfort, and overuse injuries.
A 2025 study found that “nearly half of all pickleball injuries resulted from impacts with the floor.” This is why pickleball flooring injury prevention has become an increasingly important conversation among facility owners. Flooring systems that incorporate impact absorption and reduction can help reduce the stress on joints and the body without affecting ball performance or gameplay.
Selecting the best surface for pickleball courts involves balancing performance, durability, traction, and player comfort. Modern indoor safety flooring is designed to reduce fatigue while maintaining the consistent playing characteristics players expect.
Who Is Most at Risk for Pickleball Injuries?
Although pickleball is played by a large age range, some groups face a higher likelihood of injury than others.
- Players 60 and Older
One of the largest segments of the pickleball community consists of adults over 60. While staying active by playing a lower-impact sport like pickleball provides tremendous physical and social benefits, older athletes may have reduced balance, slower reaction times, or existing health conditions that increase susceptibility to falls and impact injuries.
Addressing senior pickleball injuries requires more than encouraging proper warmups. Facilities and gyms should also evaluate whether their pickleball court surfaces contribute unnecessary stress during extended play.
- Frequent Players
Competitive players who play several days each week dramatically increase the impact on their bodies. Even without a major fall, continuous stress can contribute to soft tissue pain, joint pain, and back fatigue. Reducing joint impact helps support player comfort while encouraging repeat visits to your facility.
- Referees, Coaches, and Staff
Referees often remain standing for long periods of time while officiating tournaments and matches. Coaches and facility staff also spend long periods on hard surfaces throughout the day. Standing in one location for extended periods can contribute to foot fatigue, leg discomfort, and lower back pain.
Supporting all members with ergonomic standing solutions helps improve comfort, reduce injury risk, and improve facility safety.
What Facility Owners Can Do To Reduce Pickleball Injuries
Indoor pickleball facilities and gyms have several opportunities to improve player safety without sacrificing court performance.
One of the most important considerations for reducing pickleball player injuries is selecting flooring systems that reduce impact, while maintaining excellent traction and consistent ball response. Investing in safer court surfaces not only benefits players but also supports long-term facility reputation and floor protection. Facilities should also consider high-traffic transition areas where players frequently stop, change shoes, or move between courts. Anti-fatigue mats in registration areas, referee areas and coaching stations, and player staging zones can help improve comfort while reducing standing fatigue.
From a business perspective, proactive safety improvements may also help reduce exposure to pickleball facility liability. While no facility can prevent every accident, demonstrating a commitment to player safety through thoughtful flooring design and maintenance reflects responsible facility management.
How SmartCells Supports Safer Pickleball Play
SmartCells engineers and manufactures matting systems specifically designed to help make indoor athletic environments safer and more comfortable.
Our SmartCells proprietary cushioning technology helps absorb impact forces while preserving the court performance characteristics players expect. For facilities looking to improve pickleball court safety, our innovative flooring solution helps reduce repetitive stress without changing the way the game is played. We offer four cushioning product lines optimized for pickleball play that reduce joint pain and increase comfort including:
- SmartCells Referee Mat
- SmartCells Pickleball Safety Court
- Zelus Insoles
- SmartCells Anti-Fatigue Mats
The SmartCells Referee Mat provides ergonomic support for officials who spend hours standing during tournaments and league play. By helping reduce fatigue in the feet, legs, and lower back, referees can remain more comfortable and focused throughout the day’s matches.
The Pickleball Safety Court provides an impact absorption solution for pickleball courts, reducing joint pain for players and providing more cushioning in case of a fall for older players, while maintaining the court performance.
Zelus insoles offer another layer of impact protection for players, coaches, and facility staff. Designed to absorb shock during prolonged standing and athletic movement, these insoles complement facility safety initiatives by bringing additional comfort directly to the individual.
SmartCells’ Anti-Fatigue mats are for reception desks, check-in stations, concessions, coaching areas, and other employee workspaces where prolonged standing is common.
Together, these products provide a comprehensive approach to reduce pickleball injury risk throughout the entire indoor facility, not just on the court itself.
Create a Safer Indoor Pickleball Experience
As pickleball continues to increase in popularity, indoor pickleball facilities have greater responsibilities to offer players a safe and comfortable environment. Investing in impact-reducing flooring and ergonomic standing solutions demonstrates your commitment to player safety while helping differentiate your facility in an increasingly competitive market.
If you’re planning a new indoor pickleball facility or looking to upgrade an existing one, SmartCells can help you identify the matting products that support pickleball injury prevention for players, referees, coaches, and staff alike.
Get a custom quote and connect with our experienced team to start a conversation about creating safer indoor pickleball environments with innovative cushioning flooring.