Are you looking for somewhere to play pickleball?
Maybe your local courts are too crowded. Perhaps your most popular pickleball court is closed for renovations. You might even want a change of scenery! It doesn’t matter why you’re looking for a pickleball court. You just need to find somewhere to play.
Well, worry not, Pickle Goddesses nation! Few may have the funds to bankroll a personal pickleball court, but everyone can create a temporary court setup.
Today’s blog post is dedicated to the precise art of pickleball court conversion, so get your measuring tapes ready and keep scrolling!
Why Use a Tennis Court to Make a Pickleball Court?
We’ll start with a question. Of all the possible places to play pickleball, why choose a tennis court? Similarly, why are cities turning underused tennis courts into pickleball havens?
Like most things in life, you’ll find the answer by looking at some finances. A no-frills pickleball court will cost $6,800–$9,100. Most of that price tag gets spent on leveling the playing surface and applying necessary treatments. And it only covers one court.
However, a tennis court is already surfaced! Most recreational tennis courts feature hard-packed clay or asphalt that are perfect for pickleball. Moreover, one standard tennis court fits four pickleball courts.
That’s some cost-efficient court conversion math!
The Measurements for Your Pickleball Court
Now that we’ve established why a tennis court is a great choice, it’s time to turn it into a pickleball court!
We already know that multiple pickleball courts fit into one tennis court, but what are the proper dimensions? The ideal size of a pickleball court is described in the rulebook, but we’ll save you some time and list them here, too.
A standard, tournament-ready pickleball court will be 64×40 feet (or 19.5×12.2 meters). That includes the sidelines and plenty of buffer space for stray balls. Wheelchair-accessible courts are even larger, measuring 77×44 feet (that’s 22.6×13.4 meters).
However, you can also make compact pickleball courts by eliminating those extra bits. The smallest pickleball courts are 44×20 feet (or 13.4×6.1 meters), but these minimalist layouts leave little room for error.
And Don’t Forget the Net!
Per official rules, a pickleball net is 21’9” wide (or 6.6 meters). It should be 36 inches at either end (91.4 centimeters) and 34 inches at the center (86.4 centimeters).
Obviously, you won’t be drilling holes into your local tennis court. Instead, you’ll need a portable pickleball net, which can be found at many sports stores. Some examples of popular pickleball netting solutions include…
- Franklin® Tournament Nets ($169.99)
- Onix® Pickleball Net and Practice Net ($149.99)
- The SwiftNet® V2.1 ($409.99)
- USA Pickleball’s PickleNet™ ($183.95)
You’ll find cheaper options through other vendors, but these are our top picks! They’re lightweight, durable, and easy to use.
How to Convert a Tennis Court to a Pickleball Court
Great!
We know the court dimensions and have our net. So, how do we proceed?
We can break the process into three simple steps:
- Measuring
- Marking
- Netting
We’ve covered the numbers you’ll need to measure out a full-length pickleball court, and you’ve got a nice list of netting solutions. That means we’re left with one final question…
How do you lay out the lines for your temporary court setup?
You don’t want to damage the court, so you’ll want to avoid inks or paints. Do not use chalk on tennis courts; it leaves unwelcome stains and ruins existing tennis court lines.
Instead, use painter’s tape or purpose-made line marking tape. Both options are highly visible, decently durable, and widely available. They’ll work for your pickleball games and ensure the tennis facility remains on good terms with the pickleball community.
Laying the Lines for Your Pickleball Court
Scout out your area first. This gives you time to ask the owner if you can play pickleball on their tennis court. You’ll also see the court’s color, as some do not adhere to the classic brick-and-white color scheme. Once you’ve obtained permission and seen the site, find a tape that contrasts nicely against the court. Neon yellow, white, and black are fairly safe picks.
Again, do not use chalk. If you must, mark the measurements with temporary items — such as bits of tape, cones, sticky notes, or even extra socks! Lay out each section and “draw” the court with your tape. While any painter’s tape works, FrogTape® brand products are some of the best!
Congrats! You’ve successfully converted a tennis court into a pickleball court!
Final Thoughts
It’s fairly easy to convert a tennis court into a pickleball court. You can do the same to any hardtop playing surface, including basketball courts! However, you can’t just assume you have permission! Like a permanent pickleball court, a tennis court is made for tennis. It’s where people play tennis, and it may be one of a dwindling number of public courts left.
Yes, you can fit four pickleball courts into one tennis court. You may even be able to slide the net down on existing tennis courts to double as a pickleball net. But you must be mindful of others!
Always ask before you begin your pickleball court conversion. Yes, even that old tennis court you never see anyone using. Find the appropriate owner and ask before you set up your boundaries. You’ll also want to ask them what you can use on the court. As fun as pickleball may be, there’s no fun to be had in ruining others’ playing experience.
Once you’ve obtained that permission, you’re good to go! Get that temporary court ready and start playing!
Invite some friends, too!
And don’t forget to spread your love for pickleball by educating others. Share this post to spread this amazing game to everyone. You can also learn more about pickleball by checking out the rest of the Pickle Goddesses blog. We’re as devoted as ever to spotlighting the all-ages joys of pickleball.
