Pickleball Courts vs Tennis Courts

You’re new to pickleball. With the determination to start your route to professionalism, you grab your paddle, put on your shoes, and are ready to go to the nearby tennis court. However, your mom yanks your collar back with a frown. “That’s a wrong court, dummy. Don’t you know the difference between pickleball courts and tennis courts?”

Whether you’re just getting into the game or planning to sneak in some practice time on a local tennis court, knowing the key differences between these two courts can save you from awkward stares, improper play, and your mom’s judgmental glare. In this blog, we’ll break it down for you.

 

What are the differences between pickleball courts and tennis courts?

At first glance, pickleball and tennis courts might look pretty similar—but when you take a closer look, there are actually a bunch of differences. We’re not talking about the overall differences here (we’ve got a separate post for that—Tennis vs Pickleball: What’s the Difference?), but just the courts themselves. So let’s break it down, what exactly sets a pickleball court apart from a tennis court?

Court Size & Dimensions

• Tennis Courts - 78 ft x 27 ft for singles and 78 ft x 36 ft for doubles
• Pickleball Courts - 44 ft x 20 ft for both singles and doubles.

The comparison between a pickleball court and a tennis court

 

Net Height

• Tennis Nets - 42” at the posts, 36” at the center
• Pickleball Nets - 36” at the posts, 34” at the center

 

Line Markings & Court Zones

• Pickleball Courts - There are non-volley zones in pickleball courts, also known as “the kitchen,” located 7 feet from the net on each side of the court.

• Tennis Courts - There’s no non-volley zone in tennis courts.

Court Surface

• Tennis courts - There are 4 main surfaces, grass, clay, hard, and Artificial turf.
• Pickleball courts - Most pickleball courts are made of concrete or asphalt and often have a top layer of polyurethane or special acrylic. Although you can play pickleball on clay or grass courts, it is not common because they do not provide a good bounce.

Summary Table: The difference between pickleball courts and Tennis courts

Can you turn tennis courts into pickleball courts?

You don't have a dedicated pickleball courts nearby? No problem. Tennis courts can double as pickleball courts with a few adjustments. As long as you have permission from the property owner or facility, you can tape temporary lines, bring your portable net, and start dinking away. Feel free to check a full guide on our blog: Can you play pickleball on a tennis court? covering how to set things up, what to watch out for, and whether it’s actually worth it!

Want to be the true star on the court? We can help you

Whether you’re looking for a cool T-shirt to wear and get all eyes on you or funny gifts for your loved ones, no one is a better choice than PickleballGoats.com! You can find goods on our website, varying from funny t-shirts, iconic pants, cute cat paddles, or even aprons!

References

Pickleball Superstore. (2023). Pickleball Court Vs Tennis Court - Differences Between the Two. https://pickleballsuperstore.com/blogs/pickleball-blog/pickleball-court-vs-tennis-court?srsltid=AfmBOoqO16-BXpcEe28Yhttjd7YSEXgttNKGcx_ZaxSB8yjqrrUYNOLQ

Pickleland. (2024). Pickleball Court Vs. Tennis Court: Size, Speed, And Material Differences. https://pickleland.com/pickleball-court-vs-tennis-court/?srsltid=AfmBOopHAoGiaQRbmAPZHwStPO40nrboA8c4weksRUvzxFQwBy00_Pho

Harrod Sport. (2020). Tennis Court Dimensions & Size. https://www.harrodsport.com/advice-and-guides/tennis-court-dimensions

Vmkon. (n.d.). Tennis Court Dimensions. https://vmkonsport.com/tennis-court-dimensions/

Forbes. (2024). How Pickleball Courts Differ From Tennis Courts. https://www.forbes.com/sites/toddboss/2024/06/28/pickleball-courts-vs-tennis-courts/