Pickleball, a fast-growing sport, combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. While the game has its own specialized courts, it’s entirely possible to play pickleball on a tennis court. Whether you’re looking to practice without access to a dedicated pickleball court or you simply want to enjoy the game in a more familiar setting, adapting a tennis court for pickleball is relatively easy. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to play pickleball on a tennis court, highlighting the key adjustments needed for a successful game.
Before diving into how to play pickleball on a tennis court, it’s essential to understand the basics of the game. Pickleball is played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. Players can play singles or doubles, and the objective is to score points by hitting the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court. Unlike tennis, which uses a larger ball and rackets, pickleball is played with a smaller court, making it more accessible for players of all ages and skill levels.
To play pickleball on a tennis court, it’s important to first highlight the differences between the two sports:
1. Court Size:
o A standard tennis court measures 78 feet in length and 36 feet in width for doubles play, and 27 feet in width for singles.
o A standard pickleball court is 44 feet long and 20 feet wide.
2. Net Height:
o The pickleball net is set at 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center.
o The tennis net is 42 inches high at the sidelines and 36 inches at the center.
3. Serving Area:
o In pickleball, the serve must be made underhand and must land in the diagonal service box.
o In tennis, the serve is overhead and must land in the opposite service box.
Now that you understand the differences between pickleball and tennis, let’s walk through the steps to set up a tennis court for pickleball and how to play.
1. Prepare the Tennis Court for Pickleball
The first step to playing pickleball on a tennis court is preparing the court. You’ll need to mark the boundaries for the pickleball court.
• Use Temporary Lines: You can use chalk, tape, or cones to mark the boundaries of the pickleball court. You’ll need to mark a 20-foot-wide by 44-foot-long rectangle. The lines should be placed inside the tennis court to create the appropriate size for pickleball.
• Mark the Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen): The non-volley zone (or “kitchen”) is an important part of pickleball. It’s a 7-foot area on each side of the net, and players must not step into this zone when hitting a volley.
• Adjust the Net Height: The tennis net is too high for pickleball. You’ll need to lower it to 34 inches in the center. If the tennis court net cannot be adjusted, consider using a pickleball net that’s lower and more appropriate for the game.
2. Set the Right Court Dimensions
Once you have the lines marked, check the dimensions:
• The width of the pickleball court should be 20 feet, which is narrower than a tennis court.
• The length of the court should be 44 feet.
• Mark the service boxes, which should be 10 feet from the net, for both sides. Each side will have a right and left service box.
3. Pickleball Rules for Tennis Court Play
Now that the court is set up, it’s time to understand the specific rules for playing pickleball on a tennis court. While the rules are similar to traditional pickleball, there are a few adjustments due to the larger size of the tennis court.
• Serving: The serve must be made underhand and diagonal, starting from the right side of the court. The ball must land in the opponent’s service box.
• Double Bounce Rule: After the ball is served, it must bounce once on each side of the court before players are allowed to volley (hit the ball in the air).
• Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen): Players cannot step into the 7-foot non-volley zone when hitting a volley. This prevents players from standing right next to the net and smashing the ball.
4. Pickleball Scoring on a Tennis Court
The scoring in pickleball can be a bit different than tennis. The most common formats are 11-point or 21-point games, with players needing to win by at least 2 points. The serving team has one opportunity to serve before it changes sides.
• Points: Only the serving team can score points. If the receiving team wins the rally, they win the right to serve, but no points are awarded.
• Side-Out: A side-out occurs when the serving team loses the rally. The serve rotates to the other team, and the game continues.
5. Playing Strategy on a Tennis Court
While you’re playing pickleball on a tennis court, there are some strategies you can adopt to take advantage of the larger space.
• Positioning: Since the court is larger than a standard pickleball court, positioning becomes key. Players should position themselves properly to cover more ground and return shots efficiently.
• Placement Over Power: Focus on placing your shots where your opponent is not. Utilize the extra space to find angles and drop shots that may be difficult for opponents to return.
• Use the Extra Length: Take advantage of the longer length of the tennis court by hitting deeper shots or forcing your opponent to move further back.
1. Accessibility: Many tennis courts are easily accessible in public parks, and adapting them for pickleball gives players more opportunities to practice and enjoy the sport.
2. Cost-Effective: By utilizing existing tennis courts, there’s no need to invest in building new pickleball courts.
3. Flexible Play: Adapting tennis courts for pickleball allows for more flexibility in terms of when and where you can play.
1. Court Size: While the extra space can be beneficial, it may take some getting used to. Players may need to adjust their positioning and strategies to cover more ground.
2. Net Height: Tennis nets are generally too high for pickleball, so players may need to adjust the net height or use a portable pickleball net.
3. Confusion with Tennis Lines: The tennis court lines can sometimes be confusing, so it’s important to clearly mark pickleball boundaries to avoid mistakes.
