Becoming an expert is anything is difficult enough, but especially in the relatively new business niche of top-quality pickleball court construction.

After all: many people only play on makeshift courts and don't know what to look for in a high-quality setting. 

Still, CourTex has become a go-to for expert pickleball court construction, especially since they know how to turn a bad court into a beautiful playing surface.

Founder and CEO, Weston Ready, didn’t initially plan to focus on pickleball. The company’s roots extend back to running track and court construction and surfacing, but as pickleball’s popularity surged, so did the demand for specialized, high-performance courts.

Today, CourTex is one of the most recognized names in pickleball court construction, consistently earning recognition on the INC. 5000 list (3 times) 

Here's how they made a name for themselves in an untamed market.

Experience matters in this field

If you’re considering building a pickleball court, one lesson from CourTex’s journey stands out: expertise is non-negotiable.

Court construction might look straightforward, but it’s a precise, niche skill set that CourTex has mastered over years of hands-on work. They aren’t just pouring concrete and painting lines; they’re building a complete playing experience that lasts.

President Brent Poss explains, “Court construction starts with the foundation. If it isn’t done properly, it can lead to a cascade of issues—problems with the slope, inadequate reinforcement, poor surfacing.”

These mistakes can cut a court’s lifespan short or even ruin the playing experience entirely.

“We often get approached by well-meaning folks who think any experienced contractor can handle a court build,” Poss adds, “but court building is different, and missing details in foundation is a costly mistake for the customer.”

Ideally, CourTex’s clients avoid these pitfalls by involving the team from the very beginning, allowing them to take responsibility for every detail, from site preparation to precise surfacing.

It’s a seamless start-to-finish process that not only saves time but also eliminates the need for costly fixes down the line.

Of course, it doesn't always go so smooth...

A costly DIY horror story

Both Ready and Poss say they've seen their share of construction mishaps from clients who initially chose inexperienced contractors, only to turn to CourTex for a rescue job.

One of the most memorable cases happened recently, when a homeowner called them just weeks after completing his backyard court with another contractor.

“He’d just had his court finished and was excited to get out there,” Poss recounts.

“But after one heavy rain, he started seeing massive chunks of acrylic paint peeling up.”

As CourTex investigated, it quickly became clear that the contractor had made more than one rookie mistake.

“It wasn’t just a single issue,” Poss explains. “They had ignored all three of the essential specifications for court concrete: slope, finish, and reinforcement.”

This wasn’t an easy fix. To restore the court, CourTex essentially had to start over, stripping the previous work and laying a brand-new foundation.

The contractor’s errors had left the homeowner with not only a useless court but a hefty additional expense for the redo.

As Poss notes, these scenarios happen too often with contractors who lack specific experience in court construction.

“It’s unfortunate,” he says. “People end up paying double to fix mistakes that could have been avoided entirely if they’d worked with experts from the start.”

For anyone serious about building a court, this story is a cautionary tale.

With CourTex, clients are in the hands of specialists who ensure that every court, from backyard setups to pro-grade venues, is built to last.

Two sides, one goal

CourTex operates on two distinct but complementary levels: large-scale commercial venues and custom residential courts.

From backyard setups to full-fledged pickleball venues, CourTex is built to deliver top-quality surfaces that last.

For those developing high-end pickleball venues, CourTex offers a truly professional partnership.

With clients that include Major League Pickleball (MLP), the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), private clubs, and NCAA facilities, CourTex has extensive experience meeting the demanding standards of professional-grade courts.

CourTex’s commercial builds showcase what happens when clients collaborate with court-specific experts from the design stage onward.

In the world of high-value venues, architects and engineers often take the lead in initial designs, but Ready points out that involving CourTex from the start can make all the difference.

“Our designs and specifications prevent common issues with dimensions, layout, and construction,” Ready says. “The best venues we’ve built are the ones where clients let us design them.”

Turnkey residential courts

For private homeowners dreaming of a dedicated pickleball court, CourTex’s turnkey solutions deliver a court that goes beyond standard backyard setups.

“Working with a homeowner directly is special,” says Ready. “These customers are investing in a dream court, and they often need guidance to navigate the design, installation, and surfacing details.”

The process is hands-on and personalized, with CourTex providing insights that a general contractor might miss. From site preparation to precise surfacing, each residential court is tailored for optimal play and durability.

The Kitchen's own home court

The Kitchen knows a thing or two about the value of bringing in an expert from the very beginning.

We hired them to construct our own court at our new Austin, TX HQ, and the results are stunning: 

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A post shared by The Kitchen Pickleball (@thekitchenpickleball)

CourTex Director of Operations Bradley Piper was ready to tackle the unique challenges that come with indoor court builds.

While CourTex has built hundreds of courts across Texas, indoor setups bring a different level of complexity, and The Kitchen’s court was no exception.

As Piper explains, “Indoor courts are a different beast. You’re working with an existing structure, which often means dealing with surfaces that weren’t initially intended for pickleball.”

The process involved three critical areas where CourTex’s experience truly shined:

Order of operations

Timing is everything with indoor courts. Piper emphasized the importance of being the final crew on-site, with all other contractors out of the way.

“Surfacing has to be the absolute last thing. You don’t want other contractors still working while we’re there, or you risk dust, debris, and delays in the surfacing process,” says Piper.

With The Kitchen’s court, CourTex coordinated with other teams to make sure the surfacing crew could work without interruptions, ensuring that once completed, the court would be ready for action immediately.

Surface preparation

Indoor courts are rarely built from scratch; they’re often conversions of pre-existing surfaces, which can be challenging.

For The Kitchen’s HQ, CourTex had to give the original flooring special attention.

“99% of indoor courts are transformed from older surfaces, and those surfaces need to be flawless before we start,” Piper says.

This meant meticulous prep work to eliminate any irregularities that could affect play quality or court longevity. CourTex’s expertise in surface prep meant The Kitchen’s court was primed and ready for perfect play.

Climate control and cure times

One of the most unique challenges with indoor courts is managing temperature and air circulation for the surfacing to cure correctly.

“Cure times are a lot longer indoors,” Piper explains, “and we need reliable AC and fans to help the process along.”

CourTex ensured that the Austin HQ’s air conditioning and fans were operational and properly set up to keep the space at optimal conditions. Keeping the AC on throughout the curing process was critical in delivering a durable and flawless surface.

Reflecting on the project, Piper shared, “This was a unique build, and we’re incredibly proud of how it turned out. The Kitchen’s court is one we’ll be talking about for a long time.”

Scaling the state of Texas (and beyond)

CourTex is big on local expertise. Texas is one of the largest, most geographically diverse states in the U.S., and Ready and Poss have tailored their construction approach to meet those varied demands.

The company’s Austin, San Antonio,  Dallas, and newly added, Denver locations allow them to reach across the state efficiently. Austin acting as the corporate HQ rom San Antonio to the coast, while Dallas tackles the northern half, including West Texas.

Ready explains that the CourTex team has learned to adapt their methods for each region’s specific soil, climate, and customer base.

In Texas, they handle every type of terrain and soil condition imaginable, a training ground that has prepared them for nearly any challenge, even as they expand.

Denver marks their first location outside Texas, with plans to bring their expertise to more states if the timing is right.

Three years on the INC. 5000

CourTex’s consistent presence on the INC. 5000 list for three years straight speaks volumes about the quality and growth they’ve achieved. In these three years they have grown from 352% annually  and even up to 529% one year.

They’re not only the only pickleball-specific court construction company to make the list, but they’ve also scaled their business impressively, without compromising quality or service.

Many court companies experienced growth, but none, however, scaled like CourTex did. 

For Ready and Poss, it’s a reflection of CourTex’s grit, focus, and an unwavering commitment to their team.

The company has doubled down on reinvestment, putting profits back into the business to build a robust foundation without outside investors.

“If you build strong relationships, the profits follow, meaning relationships first, profits second,” Ready says.

CourTex’s journey from a startup with zero financial backing to an industry leader underscores the value of their ‘relationships-first’ approach, a value that’s proven essential in the competitive world of sports construction.

Building pickleball courts right

CourTex’s success is a clear endorsement of why going with specialists from day one is crucial.

When building a pickleball court, whether for a pro venue or a backyard escape, there’s no substitute for experience.

CourTex brings both the expertise and an honest approach that, in Ready’s words, “shines up” the industry.

They work closely with clients and bring a level of professionalism often missing in sports construction.

For anyone looking into building a pickleball court, CourTex is a company worth talking to before you pour concrete or order materials.

From avoiding rookie mistakes to creating a seamless playing experience, CourTex isn’t just building courts; they’re laying down the foundation for great pickleball experiences across Texas and beyond.

Interested in building your dream court? CourTex is ready to help you make it happen.