Playing pickleball indoors? Here is everything you need to know about indoor pickleball courts and the differences between indoor vs outdoor pickleball!
As you may know, pickleball can be enjoyed both indoors and outdoors. But is there a major difference between the two?
The most noticeable difference between indoor vs outdoor pickleball is, of course, the impact of the weather and how it affects the game.
As any seasoned pickler – or anyone who got unlucky at pickleball camp – knows, the weather isn’t always on your side when playing pickleball.
With indoor pickleball, though, you won’t have to worry about getting drenched in the rain or getting scorched by the boiling heat of the sun as you play.
There are many more advantages that indoor pickleball courts have over outdoor play, so let’s take a look at the major differences and what you need to know!
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Can pickleball be played indoors?
Yes! Pickleball can be played indoors.
In fact, indoor pickleball courts are highly preferred by lots of players due to their convenience and numerous benefits over their outdoor counterparts.
Both professional and beginner pickleball players of any skill level can play pickleball indoors.
If you’re a new pickleball player, you may even want to try out indoor pickleball first before transitioning to outdoor courts.
Indoor pickleball courts won’t expose players to extreme outdoor conditions such as storms and heat waves, giving you a chance to work on your serving or practice other pickleball drills without worrying.
Even the usual sunny, rainy, windy, and snowy weather won’t interfere with your game, and that’s a big plus!
Further, players that love competitive games may want to use indoor pickleball courts when working on precision.
Are indoor and outdoor pickleball courts the same?
If you’ve never played pickleball on an indoor pickleball court before, you might be wondering how the courts differ (if at all).
Well, as you may expect, there are lots of similarities between indoor vs outdoor pickleball courts – but they’re not exactly the same.
For a start, the pickleball court dimensions are exactly the same regardless of whether they are for outdoor or indoor use.
Aside from dimensions, both indoor play and outdoor play share other similarities, such as the general rules of pickleball and pickleball net height.
Both indoor and outdoor pickleball net height is measured at 36 inches high at the sidelines, with the middle part of the net measuring 34 inches high.
But there are also a lot of differences between indoor and outdoor pickleball courts. So, let’s take a look!
What are the differences between indoor vs outdoor pickleball courts?
Type of court used
We did mention that both courts share the same dimensions.
However, when it comes to what type of court is being used, that’s where they differ.
Indoor pickleball courts are often played at basketball courts or badminton courts.
Take note that both the aforementioned courts have the same dimensions, which means they both measure approximately 94 by 50 feet.
Given that basketball and badminton courts provide a lot of space, you can easily set up two pickleball courts in either one of them.
Meanwhile, outdoor courts usually use converted tennis courts, and on some occasions, outdoor basketball courts are used for pickleball matches as well.
These outdoor courts provide enough space for players to conduct their pickleball matches.
Indoor vs outdoor pickleball courts: which makes more noise?
Indoor pickleball courts are enclosed areas where sound will reverberate as people play, and this can cause a distraction to players during their matches.
Noise coming from pickleball matches can quickly get loud if there’s more than one game of pickleball going on at a time, even if you’re using the quietest pickleball paddles.
On the other hand, outdoor courts are out in the open and are not enclosed by walls and ceilings.
Therefore, the noise coming from the balls and paddles isn’t too concentrated.
This is one advantage that outdoor courts have over indoor courts.
Indoor vs outdoor pickleball: other key differences
Aside from differences in regards to court size, indoor and outdoor pickleball games may differ when it comes to the likes of paddles, balls, and court materials.
Let’s take a look at some of the other things that may differ between indoor vs outdoor pickleball.
Is there a difference between indoor and outdoor pickleball paddles?
The difference in pickleball paddles doesn’t necessarily revolve around whether it’s an indoor or an outdoor paddle.
Instead, you only need to focus on one thing: where are you going to have your pickleball match? Would it be indoors? Or perhaps outdoors?
Once you’ve answered this question, the next step is for you to use the appropriate paddle in accordance with where you’re going to play.
A lightweight pickleball paddle
If you’re going to play indoors, then we recommend you use a lightweight pickleball paddle.
Lightweight paddles are great for indoor matches since they provide great ball control and they are easier to manoeuvre as well.
On the plus side, lightweight paddles reduce the risk of getting players injured, especially in areas like the elbow or shoulder.
A heavy pickleball paddle
If you’ve chosen to play outdoors, then we would recommend you opt for a heavier pickleball paddle.
A heavy paddle grants a player more power in each swing and provides that satisfying hit that makes the ball bounce off with full force.
Also, players won’t have to exert much effort when hitting the ball harder since the weight of the paddle itself will do that for them.
Choosing the right paddle
Of course, take these recommendations with a grain of salt.
There’s no perfect paddle that would instantly enhance your performance in indoor or outdoor pickleball. Always ask yourself this: what makes me feel most comfortable when I play?
There’s no rule in pickleball that says you must only use a specific type of pickleball paddle for indoor and outdoor matches.
For instance, players aren’t restricted to using heavy paddles during outdoor matches.
What if a player wants more control in outdoor matches than power?
It’s instances like these where preferability and comfort are taken into consideration when choosing a pickleball paddle.
If you haven’t already, you can learn more about the different types of paddles and who each is best suited to in these articles:
- Our guide to the best Head paddles
- Our guide to the best Champion paddles
- Our guide to the best Onix paddles
- The best paddles for spin
- What you need to know about Niupipo paddles
- Choosing the best pickleball paddle for you
Indoor vs outdoor pickleball balls
While you can technically use any USA Pickleball Association approved pickleball ball on any court, most players prefer specific indoor balls for any indoor pickleball game.
When it comes to the differences between indoor vs outdoor pickleballs, there isn’t a whole load of difference at first glance. Both are plastic balls that look like wiffle balls, and the color of the ball can vary for both types.
However, the number of holes and the size of the holes can vary.
Let’s take a look at how they compare:
An indoor pickleball ball has these characteristics:
- 26 larger holes (fewer holes than a standard ball)
- Made from soft plastic which grants players ease of control
- Durable, less prone to cracking (or damaging gym floors)
- Has texture variations to give the pickleball more spin
- Lightweight
While outdoor balls have these characteristics:
- 40 smaller holes
- Made from smooth plastic
- They’re harder than indoor pickleballs
- Heavier than indoor balls to withstand winds
- They have less drag than indoor pickleballs
- Provide speed due to their weight
A perfect example of an indoor ball would be the Franklin Sports X-26 Performance Indoor Pickleball. Its outdoor counterpart, the Franklin X-40, is the official ball indoorof USA Pickleball and the US Pickleball Open.
Don’t like what you see? Check out this list of the best indoor pickleball balls and see if there’s anything you fancy.
A perfect example of an outdoor ball would be the Big Dill Pickleball Co. , but you can find more of our favorites in this guide to outdoor pickleball balls.
Indoor vs outdoor pickleball court material
The materials used for court surfaces matter just as much as pickleball balls do.
The type of material used for a pickleball court can affect the precision of players, and can also affect how suitable your pickleball shoes are.
For indoor courts, players would usually have to deal with a default wooden surface material because basketball courts are usually used.
These indoor surfaces are preferred by some players, especially those who have played other indoor racket sports.
As for outdoor courts, players are faced with asphalt surfaces.
Outdoor matches are frequently held at tennis courts or outdoor basketball courts.
The only difference between playing on an outdoor basketball court and a tennis court is that the latter uses a clay surface material rather than asphalt or concrete.
A clay surface material may affect a player’s precision since pickleball isn’t even supposed to be played using this type of surface.
The best type of surface material for an outdoor court would be concrete since it’s more durable than asphalt.
Should you try indoor or outdoor pickleball?
When playing pickleball outdoors, weather conditions can greatly impact matches.
For some players – especially beginners – this can mean they prefer to learn and practice on indoor pickleball courts.
However, that may also depend on where you’re playing.
In some locations, it’s almost too hot to play pickleball outdoors during the summer months – at least during the daytime.
If you live somewhere that enjoys especially hot summers and want to play in the middle of the day, indoor courts offer a refuge from the harsh sun – and, in this way, can be a much safer option.
Despite this, most pickleball matches and tournaments take place outside.
But it’s always good to know that you have the choice!