Mohammad Khan, organizer at Waterloo Pickleball, had one of the coolest pickleball locations in Austin—skyline views near Zilker Park.

But the court surface? Brutal.

“We had these roll-out mats,” Mohammad said. “Three hundred pounds each, constantly blowing over in the wind. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent pressure washing, squeegeeing, and gluing them back down. It was becoming more of a headache than a pleasure.”

Players noticed too. Seams ripped. Edges curled. Online reviews weren’t kind.

And the biggest issue wasn’t the hassle—it was the risk.

“Honestly,” Mohammad admitted, “it was my nightmare—somebody slipping, tearing an ACL, and me being liable.”

A Court That Actually Works for Pickleball

Outdoor pickleball in Texas is its own beast: sun, wind, sudden storms, and heat cycles that punish anything not built for the job.

JT Dettman from Austin Courts sees it all the time:

“Rolled mats might work in a climate-controlled gym. Outdoors? They just don’t hold up. For pickleball, you need a surface with traction, drainage, and UV stability.”

The solution for this rooftop: SportGame™ PB — a modular surface designed specifically for recreational pickleball. It delivered what the rooftop needed most:

• Portable flexibility (important if the landlord ever wanted the space back)

• Better traction and consistency for safer movement

• Drainage that gets players back on the court faster

“We needed a solution we could move if we had to,” Mohammad said. “And something that would make players feel safe. No more dead spots, no more slipping. Just play.”

Let the Players Decide

Instead of asking everyone to “trust us,” we made it simple.

Austin Courts installed a demo court side-by-side with the old mats.

What happened next was the whole story.

“We’d have 20 to 25 people up here on Wednesdays,” Mohammad said. “Four people would be on the mats, but all the paddles were stacked for the SportGame™ PB side. Everyone wanted that court. They said the bounce was better, the lines were clear, and it felt good on their joints.”

JT put it best:

“Players voted with their paddles. We didn’t have to convince anyone—the surface sold itself.”

Safer, Smarter, and Way More Fun

Within two months, the rooftop experience completely changed:

Safer play
No more seams catching shoes. No more mats shifting or blowing over.

Maintenance slashed
“I used to spend hours squeegeeing water off after a rain,” Mohammad said. “Now the surface drains and we’re back playing.”

A better community vibe
Custom court graphics (including a Texas flag and an “I Love Pickleball So Much” mural tribute) turned the rooftop into a destination.

Most importantly: players loved it.

“They walk up now and just say, ‘Wow. Where am I?’” Mohammad said. “It’s bright, safe, and people can focus on having fun instead of fighting the surface.”

Want to See It in Person?

If you want to feel the difference for yourself, you can:

• Book time to play on the rooftop courts (check their site for availability), or

• Visit our model court at Austin Courts — 10208 Hwy 620 N, Austin, TX 78726 — and test the SportGame™ PB surface anytime.

The right surface changes the health and wellbeing of your community.

Start being kinder to yourself and your community.