Pickleball Magazine 2-2 Courtesy of The Pickleball Guru | Page 59

Q. Bending down or kneeling to set up a
portable net is the worst part of playing
pickleball for many people. How long
does it take to set up the different net
systems?
A. Round pole nets take about
three minutes to set up. It may seem
fast, but 3 minutes is actually fairly
long considering you will generally be
bending over or even on your knees
during set-up. There are reasons.
Regular nets without elastic that use
round poles have locking “snap clips”
that have to be inserted to align and
connect the poles. The improved On-
Court OffCourt PickleNet sets up in
less than a minute! The oval tube de-
sign never twists and turns and there
is no need for tube connection clips
that are easy to misplace. Also, the
net itself uses elastic composition to
place less tension on the frame for
much easier assembly. Saving two
minutes may not seem like a lot, BUT
if you are kneeling on the court and
bending over for those two minutes,
it really is a BIG DEAL.
Q. How about durability? How long
do portable pickleball nets last
and what can be done to extend the
life of the net?
A. Simply put, sun and water
are the enemies of portable net
systems. Excessive sun exposure
can fade the net sleeve printing
and make the net band brittle.
The industry standard is to use
powder-coated steel tubing for
the frame. While powder coating
helps minimize rusting, remem-
ber to keep your net system
away from moisture as
much as possible. This
is why quick set-up and
take-down is so important!
If you are on the court and a
sudden rain shower sneaks up
on you, break down your net sys-
tem immediately. Take care of your
net system and it can last for years.
Also, the industry-leading OnCourt
OffCourt PickleNet uses heavier
and more durable materials than
any other system. And, the elastic
bottom net band that helps speed up
set-up also helps maintain consistent
net tension, taking stress off of the
net frame to increase durability.
Q. Is there a more “permanent,” heavier-
duty portable net option for a facility
or club?
A. Yes! The PickleNet Deluxe
system features four locking wheels
and a heavier frame. It is perfect for
a heavier-duty option to the regular
PickleNet system and is suited best
for indoor facilities where the net
can simply be wheeled in and out of
storage.
“We used the (patented)
PickleNet at our boot
camp this week, and it
is the most sturdy, easy-
to-assemble net that we
have ever used.”
– Scott Moore
(12-time National
Pickleball Champion)
MARCH/APRIL 2017 |
MAGAZINE
57