Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get into pickleball, it’s like the thing right now. But, finding a dedicated pickleball court near me? Forget about it. They’re always packed! So, I thought, “Hey, I see tennis courts all the time, mostly empty. Can I just, you know, use one of those?” Turns out, you totally can, with a little bit of prep.
Figuring Out the Lines
First thing I did was look up the dimensions. A pickleball court is way smaller than a tennis court, like 20 feet by 44 feet, which includes the lines. A tennis court is, like, gigantic in comparison. So, fitting it in isn’t the problem. The issue is the lines, because, obviously, tennis lines are… for tennis.
I grabbed some chalk, the kind kids use on sidewalks. That stuff washes away easy, perfect for temporary lines. Bright blue. So, you can see my makeshift lines, even though it’s not super “official” looking.
- the Non-Volley Zone (aka the “kitchen”): I start by measuring 7 feet from the net on both sides.
- Then get the width 20 feet.
So I put a pickleball net, about 34 inches tall, on the tennis court.
Setting Up the Net
Now, the net. This is where I had to get a little creative. You can’t just use the tennis net, it’s too high. Pickleball nets are lower, around 34 inches in the middle. I didn’t want to buy a whole portable pickleball net setup if I didn’t have to, you know? See if I even liked the game first.
But, honestly, after trying it a couple of times, I think I’m going to bite the bullet and get a portable net. It’ll just make things so much easier. Plus, those things usually come with lines, too, which means no more chalk!
Playing the Game!
Once I had my chalk lines and the net kinda-sorta figured out, it was time to actually play! It felt a little weird at first, playing on such a big court with these faint blue lines, but honestly, it worked fine. We just used the tennis net as a backstop, which was actually kind of handy.
We had a blast! It was definitely easier than trying to snag one of those dedicated pickleball courts. And, hey, if it rained, the lines would just wash away. No harm, no foul.
So, yeah, using a tennis court for pickleball? Totally doable. It’s not perfect, but it’s a great way to get started and see if you even enjoy the game before you invest in a bunch of gear. My advice? Give it a shot! Just remember the chalk (or tape), something for the net, and some friends who are willing to be a little bit flexible. Have fun!
