The American Platform Tennis Association are interested in ways to improve the design/build process from a costs/speed/maintenance/safety/enjoyment of play perspective. 

Questions/concepts to be considered include:

1.Can a polymer-based or composite material be created with the following characteristics?

• Sufficient thermal conductivity to melt/dry the surface during active precipitation events
• Enough traction during rainy play so that foot doesn’t slip on the surface, BUT, not too much traction during dry play so that the foot locks on the surface”.
• Easier (less abrasive) on the body and less injurious during falls
• Less costly to install than current technologies (~75,000/court)
• Allow for multi-purpose court utilization throughout the year (pickleball, U10 tennis, volleyball, basketball, etc…

2.What improvements could be made to the current aluminum court surface?

• Textured during manufacture such that the highly abrasive grit material is no longer necessary?
• Can a standardized type and amount of anti-skid material be developed that takes into account “foot-lock?”  Can we devise a formula to measure “foot-lock?”
• Can shock absorption be applied to make the surface easier on the body?
• Are there value engineering options to bring installation costs down?

3. What improvements can be made or other options to consider for court heating systems?

• More efficient system and less costly to install and maintain.

4. Other potential areas for improvement/cost savings that have not been highlighted

• LED court lights – can they be run on solar power? Other considerations?
• Chicken-wire walls (would utilizing a plexi-glass wall system like the sport of “padel” be an option?) See http://www.thepadelbox.com for information on Padel court construction.
• Snowboards made of something other than wood.  Wood snowboards have to be repainted and replaced periodically.

Click on the link for full agenda and to RSVP: https://matin.gatech.edu/events/details/36