Everyone loves pickleball because it allows beginners to learn it in a couple of hours and play as much as they want. With recent developments and recreations, the game has gained massive popularity over the last 5 years.
Learning pickleball is not a big thing, but learning right is! If you aim to become a pro, getting your turn in the right direction is crucial. And it begins with the pickleball court. Being a court sport, you can play this game on a badminton, volleyball, basketball, and tennis court.
However, a tennis court is often chosen due to more resemblance than others. Having absolute in-depth knowledge about it is vital to aim high.
So, if you are a pickleball enthusiast and want to know more about:
- What is a pickleball court?
- The court construction
- The surface for the field
- And the cost to build one
Settle down yourself. Coming up next, we are having a detailed discussion about the above-mentioned topics. Let’s dig into the details!
What is a Pickleball Court?
Before we begin discussing insight parameters, it is better to define the court itself first.
A pickleball ground has a great resemblance to a tennis one. It has the same layout but is constructed on slightly different measurements. The diagonal area of the court is 20 x 44 and 880 square ft. Like tennis and badminton, one can play this game in both singles and doubles.
Is Pickleball Court similar to Tennis Court?
You probably wonder whether pickleball and tennis are played on the same fields. Absolutely not!
No matter how much these courts resemble each other, there’s a massive difference between them. And one of the key differences is the size; a tennis court has dimensions of 60 x 120 and has a 7200 sq ft area, making it a lot bigger than a pickleball field.
Contrary to this, USAPA has specified the official court size as 20 x 44.
A tennis court net has a height of 36 inches in the center, whereas the net height in the pickleball court is 34 inches. The serving rules and dimensions are also different, making them distinct from each other.
Pickleball Court Construction―How does it all Work?
Building a playing field from scratch is one hefty task. But if someone wants to create it on a tennis court, he has already won half the battle. As easy as it looks to learn this game, it is as complex to build a playing field for it.
Since the recent developments, pickleball is now offered in all the country clubs, societies, and sports clubs of the USA. If you are too looking to create a playing field for your community or yourself, then you must follow the coming-up guide below.
How is a Pickleball Court Constructed?
Do you want to know more about pickleball court construction? No matter if you’re going to construct it from scratch or revamp the existing tennis field, the following guide will help you get its basics.
1. Specify Your Space
Your space comes first when it comes to creating a pickleball ground. Before you initiate the construction method, make sure you specify your needs. It begins by determining whether you want to construct from scratch or revamp the existing tennis and badminton playing space.
Similarly, determine whether you want to construct a multi-sport complex or a single court in your backyard. Once you determine this all correctly, the further process will become significantly smoother.
Here are some of the figures to keep in mind.
- The standard ground size is 30 x 60, whereas the preferred area is 34 x 64. But originally, the play area was 20 x 44.
- The net height is 36″ on the sides and 34″ in the center.
- There is a 7 ft. no-volley zone (Kitchen) from the net and sidelines, and the player is prohibited from serving there.
2. Create Fencing
This step is suitable for those who are intended to construct a multiple-court complex. For instance, 4 playing ground can be created in one tennis space. Creating a fence around the courts is essential to keep your ball bouncing within the play area.
A typical 10 ft. high fence is preferred. This fence is made of wire that allows light to pass through. It is suggested to hire a professional contractor for the job.
3. Choose Pickleball Court Surface
The surface plays a significant role to keep the ball bouncing at its optimal height. If you are creating the one from scratch, make sure to choose a suitable surface for it.
There are usually 3 surfaces suitable:
- Asphalt Surface: If you’re on a low budget, the asphalt surface is appropriate for you. It’s cheap but requires seasonal check-ups.
- Concrete: Concrete surfaces are ideal, and they provide maximum value and durability.
- Snap-Together Plastic: This is a midway choice for those who don’t want permanent alteration for multi-complex courts. This is usually applied on the concrete or asphalt base and gives a better texture.
4. Start Constructing
After determining pickleball court design, space, surface, and fence, it’s time to actually start construction by following the steps below:
- Hiring A Contractor: Hiring a professional contractor is better to construct the court according to the prescribed rules of USAPA. Well, a pickleball field can be DIY if you want one for your backyard. However, hiring a professional contractor will help you create a north-south dimension.
- North-South Orientation: All the sports are oriented north-south to avoid affecting players’ vision from direct sunlight exposure.
- Court Lines: baselines are vital parts of ground. It helps players determine their serving position, and spectators mark scores. According to USAPA, the lines must be marked prominently and tapered with green/orange tape and acrylic paint.
Sidelines: Sidelines are boundary lines marked perpendicular to the net.
Baselines: Baselines are marked at both ends of the court parallel to the net.
Centerlines: Centerlines are marked between both baseline and non-volley zone.
Non-Volley Zone: Non-volley zone is a 7 ft. area marked from the center and sidelines of the net.
After complying with all the above-mentioned essentials, check the layout instructions from USAPA.
What is Pickleball Court Surface?
Constructing a ground from scratch comes with many pre-planned factors, and the surface is among them. Choosing a surface is a big question to answer if you’ve finally decided to utilize your backyard or community center appropriately.
Although there are several options available before you, your choice depends on the following questions,
- Do you want to construct an indoor or outdoor court?
- What is your budget?
- Are you doing it yourself or hiring a professional contractor?
Generally, you can play pickleball on any surface, like tennis and a concrete ground is ideal. However, accumulating several other factors will require the installation of a proper surface.
Besides other factors, we suggest you choose the ProCushion System. It’s a 100% acrylic system that offers an exceptional surface for the game. Unlike ordinary acrylic surfaces, a ProCushion has multiple shock-absorbing layers to give the ball optimal bounce.
How to Setup a Mini Pickleball Court?
Not just social clubs and recreations, but individuals also construct pickleball field for themselves. In other words, it’s called a mini pickleball court. A mini pickleball field has the same dimensions as a standard one, but it is set up on an existing tennis or badminton space.
All you have to do is taper the base and boundary lines. You can also get a mini pickle net for a smaller-than-normal court having a length of 10 feet.
FAQ
The standard size is 30 x 60, while the preferred size is 34 x 64. However, 20 x 44 is the original area where the game is played. The original size is still used for some competitions, but it is not as common as the standard or preferred sizes. The main reason for this is that the original size is not large enough to accommodate the modern game. The standard and preferred sizes are more popular because they provide more space for players to move around and hit the ball.
Yes, you can play pickleball on a tennis field by altering a few dimensions and tapering the boundary line prescribed by USAPA. The net can be lowered to 34 inches at the center and 36 inches at the posts, and the court’s dimensions can be reduced to 20 x 44 feet. To create the boundary lines, simply tape off the area inside the baseline and service line with a 2-inch wide line.
A concrete surface is considered best for regulation pickleball court and it offers both value and durability. Concrete is a durable material that can withstand the wear and tear of regular play. Additionally, concrete is an affordable option, making it a great choice for budget-minded players.
Yes you can! The best thing about this game is you can play it anywhere, anytime. All you need is some room, and you are good to go. You can even set up one on your backyard or on your patio. All you need is a net, a few pickleballs, and a paddle.
It will typically cost between $15 and $40 per square foot to build one. A 30′ x 60′ would cost roughly $45k on average. As with everything, there are several factors that might influence the final cost.
Hey, fellow pickleball player!
My name is Ethan Josephson. I am a pickleball enthusiast who has been playing this fantastic game for more than 5 years. Before that I had almost 20-years-experience with tennis and table tennis, but pickleball fascinated me completely.
