Can you play pickleball on a tennis court?

Can you play pickleball on a tennis court?

Paddle—checked. Pickleball ball—checked. Funny T-shirt you ordered from PickleballGoats.com—checked. You search for a pickleball court near you, and boom! There isn’t a pickleball court anywhere nearby, only tennis courts are in this area. The realization hits you like a paddle to the face, snuffing out your dreams of glory on the court. Is this the end of your weekend plan? Not at all. Because yes, you can play pickleball on a tennis court with a little adjustment. And in this blog, we’ll show you how.

Tennis and pickleball may look similar from a distance, but they differ quite a bit in rules, pace, and court size. While this post focuses on how to use a tennis court for pickleball, if you're curious about the key differences between the two sports, check out our blog: Tennis vs Pickleball: What's the Difference? We’ve got you covered!


Standard Pickleball Court Size

  • 44 ft x 20 ft
  • 7 ft kitchen/non-volley zone on each side of the net
  • Each service area is 15 ft x 10 ft
  • The net stands 36 inches high at the sidelines, 34 inches high at the center, and 22 ft wide.

Pickleball Court Dimensions

How many pickleball courts can fit in a tennis court?

A standard tennis court is 36 feet wide and 78 feet long. With a few adjustments, you can actually fit up to four pickleball courts within a single tennis court.


Pickleball on Tennis Courts: Pros & Cons

Before you whip out your marking tape or chalk out and turn a tennis court into a pickleball battlefield, you might want to consider its pros and cons first.

Pros

  • Widespread availability: You can find tennis courts everywhere—from public parks to schoolyards and apartment complexes. They’re a great substitute if there’s no pickleball court nearby.
  • More accessible for new players: Great for beginners or casual players who want to try out pickleball without hunting down a dedicated facility.
  • Extra space: Tennis courts are big enough for multiple pickleball courts. Perfect for family games or larger groups.
  • Budget-friendly: No need to build a new pickleball court. Repurposing existing tennis courts works just fine for casual play.


Cons

  • Setup can be tiring: Marking lines, adjusting the net, and hauling equipment can be a chore, especially when you’re short on time. You might be out of energy before the first rally.
  • Surface differences: The bounce and feel of the game can change depending on the surface (hard, clay, grass), which might affect your play or enjoyment.
  • Potential damage to courts: Some marking tapes leave sticky residue or cause wear and tear, especially on acrylic or painted surfaces.
  • Shared space distractions: If others are using the tennis court, it can lead to interruptions or waiting time, especially in public spaces.
  • Not every tennis court is yours to use: Some facilities—especially those at private clubs or gated communities—don’t allow you to convert their tennis courts into a pickleball setup. You might need to do some research or ask for permission before showing up with your net and painter’s tape.


Setting up a pickleball court on a tennis court

Before setting up your pickleball court(s), you’ll first need to decide how many pickleball courts you need. Once you make a decision, grab your gear and your friend’s collar to the nearest tennis court, it’s time to do some labor work before having some fun!

What you’ll need

  • Measuring tape – for accurate court dimensions
  • Court markers – such as chalk, crayon, painter’s tape, or pickleball line kits
  • Pickleball net (optional) – standard net height is 36” at the posts, 34” at the center. You can adjust the tennis net down if it’s allowed to do so, or play with the tennis net as it is, if it’s just casual play.
  • Paddles & balls – the essentials, obviously


How to mark the court

  1. Outlining a full court using chalk or painter’s tape to mark out a rectangle that’s 44 feet long and 20 feet wide.
  2. Mark the kitchen (non-volley zone) by starting from each baseline (the shorter ends), measuring 15 feet inward toward the center of the court, then drawing a line across the width (20 feet) at that mark. You’ll now have a 7-foot strip on each side of where the net will go.
  3. Divide the service area by drawing a line down the middle, from the baseline to the kitchen line. You should now have four clear service boxes—two on each side.
  4. Set up the net across the center of the court, right between the two kitchen zones. Make sure it stretches across the full 20-foot width.

 

Before you play: Know your surface

Different court surfaces can affect your pickleball game, and you may need to change your play style and strategy based on the surface. Here are the 4 main types of surfaces used in tennis courts:

Grass court

You can play pickleball on a grass court, but it’s not ideal. The soft surface causes the ball to be much less bouncy compared to the hard surface, and the ground can be more slippery when wet, posing the risk of getting an injury.

Some strategies for playing on grass:

  • Focus on volleys and net play rather than groundstrokes. Since the bounce is unpredictable, keeping the ball in the air gives you more control.
  • Stay light on your feet and use shorter, quicker steps to adjust your position.
  • Avoid aggressive dinks or soft shots that depend on bounce, choose drives or lobs when necessary.
  • Wear shoes with a good grip, or avoid grass if it’s wet. Safety first.
  • Standard pickleballs don’t bounce well on grass, but a rubber ball or high-bounce training ball might just save your game (and your sanity).


Clay court

Clay courts consist of crushed shale, stone, or brick. This type of surface reduces the speed of the ball and results in a slow, high bounce in comparison to other surfaces. Rallies tend to be longer and more suitable for baseline players who prefer a strategic approach with plenty of spin and finding advantageous angles. However, this surface makes it challenging for players who heavily depend on their serving to excel on clay.

Some strategies for playing on a clay court:

  • Focus on placement rather than power because clay slows the ball, so well-placed shots do more damage than fast ones.
  • Expect the ball to stay low or bounce unpredictably; be ready to adjust your paddle angle quickly.
  • Use shoes with a herringbone or clay-specific sole for better traction.
  • Embrace longer rallies and reset more often—it's not about rushing the point.


Hard court

A hard court may be built with concrete or asphalt with an acrylic layer on top of the surface. This is the ideal surface for pickleball and tennis courts. It offers a consistent bounce, solid footing, and minimal adjustments to your usual strategy. Whether you’re hitting dinks, drives, or smashes, your game will feel just right on a hard court.

Some strategies for playing on a hard court:

  • Play your normal game! Dinks, drives, and smashes all work beautifully.
  • Use the consistent bounce to your advantage, set up controlled rallies, and outmaneuver your opponent with placement over power.
  • Wear court shoes with good support to protect your joints from the harder surface.


Artificial turf

This synthetic surface mimics grass, but without the unpredictability. The ball stays low and moves fast, which can keep you on your toes. But unlike real grass, the bounce is more consistent. It’s beginner-friendly and spin-friendly, making it a solid option for casual games or drills.

Some strategies for playing on an artificial turf:

  • Similar to playing on a grass court, focus on volleys and controlled shots
  • Use topspin shots to take advantage of the surface’s consistent bounce and keep your opponents on the defense.
  • Prioritize footwork. The surface can be a bit slick depending on the material, so stay balanced and avoid overcommitting.


Assert dominance with gifts from PickleballGoats.com

Phew! Your pickleball court is finally set! You’ve shown everyone how magnificent you are at pickleball, your dad drops his jaw, your mom clutches her pearls and faints, your friends parade you around like a monarch that you are, even your dog may or may not pee itself from sheer excitement.

Although you just defeated all of your loved ones, you still care for them and want to appreciate their kindness for helping you set up the pickleball court. Now it’s time to return the favor with gifts from PickleballGoats.com—the only store worthy of someone who dinks differently. Gifts for your fellow court warriors, family fans, or maybe just a mug that says “DINK DIVA”.

 

References

Racket Royalty. (2022). Can you play pickleball on grass? https://racketroyalty.com/blog/pickleball/can-you-play-pickleball-on-grass

Pickleheads. (2022). Can you play pickleball on a tennis court? https://www.pickleheads.com/blog/can-you-play-pickleball-on-a-tennis-court#how-to-draw-your-own-pickleball-lines-on-a-tennis-court

Selkirk Sport. (2023). How to play pickleball on a tennis court. https://www.selkirk.com/blogs/pickleball-education/how-to-play-pickleball-on-a-tennis-court

CCGrass. (2024). Playing pickleball on artificial turf: Is it a good idea? https://www.ccgrass.com/playing-pickleball-on-artificial-turf

FlooringInc. (2025). Pickleball court conversion guide. https://www.flooringinc.com/blog/pickleball-court-conversion

USA Pickleball. (n.d.). Do-it-yourself court guidelines. https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/courts-and-construction/do-it-yourself-guidelines/

Neilson. (n.d.). Types of tennis court. https://www.neilson.co.uk/beach/activities/tennis-holidays/types-of-tennis-court

Pakle Pickleball. (n.d.). Does pickleball damage tennis courts? Pakle Pickleball. https://paklepickleball.com/blogs/pakle-pickleball/does-pickleball-damage-tennis-courts

Evolve Tennis Academy. (n.d.). Is it possible to play pickleball on a tennis court? https://evolvetennisacademy.com/blog/is-it-possible-to-play-pickleball-on-a-tennis-court/

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