A Friendly Guide for Sports Lovers

Outdoor courts bring parks, schools, and neighborhoods to life, giving everyone a place to shoot hoops, play tennis, hit a pickleball, and just have fun. But the surface under your feet makes a big difference—it affects how the game plays, how long the court lasts, how much work it takes to keep it up, and how safe it is to run and jump on. Picking the right surface for your outdoor court is super important if you want people to have a good time and keep the court in good shape. Here’s a look at some of the most popular types Grand Slam Courts offers, along with their main features, pros and cons, and when they’re a good fit.

1. Acrylic Hard Court Systems

This is a fancy way of saying there’s a special coating put over concrete which lets you pick the color and texture you want.

What Is It?

• Several layers of acrylic mixed with sand and color, spread over a smooth base.
• You can choose how cushy or textured it is, depending on what sport you’re playing or how comfy you want it.
• Colors and lines stay bright long-term thanks to UV resistance.

Why Pick Acrylic?

• Customizable: Adjust how fast the ball moves and how soft the surface feels.
• Safer: Less slippery and easier on skin if you fall compared to bare concrete.
• Looks awesome: Tons of colors to choose from so you can make your court stand out.

Downsides

• Needs a solid, crack-free base or the coating won’t last. You need to make sure your contractor knows how to create a durable concrete court that will drain properly.
• Expect to resurface about every 5 years, depending on the weather and how much you use it.

Best For

Awesome for tennis, pickleball, or multi-game courts in backyards, schools, clubs, or neighborhoods where looks matter and for higher-level play.

2. Modular Tile Systems

These are plastic tiles that snap together like a giant puzzle, and you can put them right over old concrete if it is in relatively decent shape. Grand Slam Courts offers SnapSports® tiles, recognized as the best in the industry.

What Is Modular Tile?

• Tiles lock together to make a soft, even surface.
• Little holes let rainwater drain away so you can play soon after a storm.
• Come in lots of colors and textures.

Why Pick Tiles?

• Super easy to install—even on old, cracked courts. Just lay them on top and you’re done.
• Softer to land on, which is great for your joints.
• If a tile cracks, you just replace that one piece instead of the whole court.
• Good in all weather—drains fast so puddles don’t stick around.
• Tiles do not fade, so the bright colors last longer than acrylic surfaces.
• SnapSports tiles from Grand Slam Courts include a 16-year warranty, so there is less maintenance expense long-term. There is no need for resurfacing every few years.

Downsides

• Initial price is higher than basic acrylic.
• Tiles need to be installed properly to maintain their integrity and provide a good surface for play.

Best For

Excellent for schools, community centers, or backyards wanting a fun, colorful, and low-maintenance court.

Modular Tile Options from Grand Slam Courts and SnapSports

Most of our customers today choose a court for multi-sport play. They combine a basketball court with pickleball. Or tennis. Or volleyball and badminton. Even in-line hockey or futsal.

The tile surface you choose is largely dependent upon the sport you expect to play the most on the court. Here are our most popular options for these courts:

PickleGrip™ — PickleGrip, as you might expect, was developed specifically for the game of pickleball. It delivers a fast, true pickleball bounce and can be installed directly over an existing slab with little surface preparation. It offers the highest wet/dry traction of any modular surface available. This makes it an especially good choice for any game that requires quick changes of direction, stops and starts.

Outdoor Revolution® — Outdoor Revolution features SnapSports’s patented ShockLock® interconnected system for lateral stability. The open top design allows for immediate drainage during wet weather. An optional patented ShockTower® suspension system provides the highest level of impact absorption of any modular surface, making play safer and easier on the joints.

Duracourt® — Duracourt is a competitively-priced tile providing excellent all-weather traction. Fifteen colors are available, as well as custom graphics and logos. This is a versatile tile surface appropriate for many games and activities that offers a low maintenance expense and both vertical and lateral shock absorption for enhance player safety.

Wrapping Up

Picking the right surface for your outdoor court is all about what you need: Are you looking for something that lasts forever? Easy to take care of? Super comfy? Or something that just looks amazing? Acrylic over concrete is solid and is good for serious players. Modular tiles over concrete let you get creative with colors and last a long time with little maintenance. Think about who will use the court and which games will be played there the most and you’ll find the perfect fit for years of sport and good times.