Indoor Pickleball Courts at a Military Base in Kuwait Using Alpha Grip for Consistent Traction

Pickleball continues to expand beyond recreational settings, finding its place in institutional and military facilities where durability, safety, and performance are essential.

At a military base in Kuwait, an indoor dome structure was converted into a dedicated pickleball facility with four regulation courts. The project followed a structured surface preparation and coating process, using SlipDoctors systems, including SlipDoctors Prime Coat and SlipDoctors Alpha Grip, to deliver a durable, high-traction playing surface suitable for heavy use.

From Open Indoor Space to Four Regulation Pickleball Courts

The completed facility shows a clear transformation from a general-purpose indoor surface into a multi-court pickleball layout designed for organized play, safety, and long-term performance.

Each court follows standard pickleball dimensions:

• 20 feet wide × 44 feet long playing area

• 30 feet × 60 feet total court area including run-off space

• A 7-foot non-volley zone (“kitchen”) on both sides of the net

High-contrast blue playing areas were set against a dark grey surrounding surface, improving visibility and reducing glare under indoor lighting conditions. Boundary lines were applied at 2 inches wide in a contrasting color, allowing players to clearly distinguish in-bounds and out-of-bounds areas during fast-paced play.

Proper Surface Preparation: The Role of SlipDoctors® Prime Coat

In institutional environments such as military bases, surface preparation is as critical as the final coating. For this project, SlipDoctors® Prime Coat was used as the foundational layer before applying Alpha Grip.

Prime Coat is specifically designed to prime and prepare high-traffic surfaces, creating an ideal base for non-slip court paints. It is commonly used for:

• Pickleball and tennis courts

• Basketball courts

• Driveways and parking lots

By stabilizing the substrate and improving adhesion, Prime Coat helps ensure:

• Strong bonding of the court coating

• More uniform finish

• Improved durability under repeated use

This step is essential in environments where downtime is limited and surfaces must perform reliably over time.

Applying Alpha Grip for Traction and Safety

After priming, SlipDoctors Alpha Grip was applied to create the finished court surface. Alpha Grip is formulated to provide consistent traction while maintaining a clean, professional appearance suitable for sports facilities.

Pickleball requires frequent lateral movement, quick stops, and directional changes. A properly textured surface helps:

• Reduce slip and fall risk

• Improve player confidence and control

• Support safe play during extended use

The combination of Prime Coat and Alpha Grip ensures that traction is not only effective on day one, but also maintained over time in high-use environments.

Built for Institutional and High-Use Facilities

This project demonstrates how pickleball courts can be successfully installed in non-traditional, high-demand locations such as military bases. By following a system-based approach — priming the surface and applying a purpose-built non-slip court coating — the facility achieved:

• Durable, clearly defined courts

• Reliable traction for safe play

• A surface designed for ongoing use with minimal maintenance

As pickleball continues to grow globally, facilities such as military bases, schools, and community recreation centers are investing in proper court construction and surface systems, not just paint alone.

This installation in Kuwait highlights the importance of combining SlipDoctors® Prime Coat with Alpha Grip to deliver a court surface that balances durability, visibility, and safety in institutional environments.