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Pickleball Court Dimension & Construction Guide

Aug 30, 2019

Pickleball Court Dimension & Construction Guide

You love pickleball, but have you considered what goes into the construction of your favorite game’s court? Or how a pickleball court’s dimensions are different from similar sports? We created a helpful guide for learning the dimensions of a pickleball court and all that goes along with it - terms, netting, construction, and more! Dive into all things court-related and share your knowledge with other pickleballers at your next game

 

Pickleball Court Terms

Let’s start with the basics: pickleball court terms! Be sure to review and familiarize yourself with these seven pickleball court terms in order to have a better understanding of the court’s playing area, no-play zones, and lines.

Baseline: The baseline runs parallel to the net at the back of the court. The baseline can’t be crossed when you serve.

Centerline: The centerline extends from the kitchen to the baseline and divides the court into two equal halves.

Kitchen: The kitchen is the nickname for the non-volley zone that extends 7 feet on either side of the net.

No-Man’s Land or Transition Zone: The No-Man’s Land (also referred to as the Transition Zone) is the area on the court between the kitchen and the baseline. You should try to avoid this area as much as possible because it opens up angles for your opponent to hit at you.

Non-Volley Zone: The non-volley zone is the area within 7 feet on both sides of the net where volleying is not allowed. One of the best places to position yourself is right behind the non-volley zone. The net will limit the number of angles at which your opponent can hit at you.

Service Courts: The service courts are the areas on either side of the centerline, bounded by the non-volley line, the baseline, and the sideline.

Sideline: The sideline runs perpendicular to the net on either side of the court. The sideline separates in-bounds from out-of-bounds.

Brush up on more pickleball terms here!


Pickleball Court Dimensions

Now that you have pickleball court terms down, let’s talk dimensions! A pickleball court measures 20 x 44 feet, the same size as a doubles badminton court. The court is then sectioned into two equal parts (20 x 22 feet) divided by the net in the center of the court.

Each side’s kitchen is 20 x 7 feet, leaving each team’s playing area to be 20 x 15 feet. The playing area is then split into two sections, even and odd. The even and odd sides are used when playing doubles and serving.

 


Pickleball Court Net

The pickleball net is about 22 feet and 4 inches in length, and the height of the net is 36 inches at the sideline and 34 inches at the center.

Shop our portable pickleball net here!


Pickleball Court Placement

When planning to build outdoor pickleball courts, you need to keep two very important things in mind: the sun and how shadows will fall on the court. Because the sun rises and sets from East to West, it’s best to have your court laying from North to South so players do not look directly into the sun when standing on their side of the court. 


Constructing a Pickleball Court

If you’re wanting to build your own pickleball court or have courts built for your community, there are a few things to take into consideration before breaking ground. First and foremost, make sure the contractor has experience installing and painting pickleball courts - this is not a DIY project you want to tackle for the first time. With that said, outsourcing the work doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be involved! Communicate with the contractor, especially when it comes to line specifications. Double-check and review any specifications before the installation begins.

Our friends at USAPA Pickleball have a handy pickleball court construction manual that is perfect for this project - check it out!

 

Building a Temporary Pickleball Court

Speaking of constructing a pickleball court, you can build your own temporary court using a portable net, some tape and/or chalk, and your driveway or basketball court! If hiring a contractor and spending thousands doesn’t sound like a commitment you’re ready to make, creating a makeshift driveway court is a great alternative. 

 Purchase our easy-to-set-up portable net here!

Now that you know all there is to know about the dimensions of a pickleball court, brush up on the game’s rules with our ultimate pickleball rules guide!

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