The pickleball net is central to every pickleball game – literally! Here is everything you need to know about pickleball net height and size.
The pickleball rules set out what is and isn’t allowed in pickleball, and this includes guidelines for the pickleball net height and position.
While it’s still possible to practice certain solo pickleball drills with a net that doesn’t meet these guidelines – or without any net at all – it is not possible to play a true game of pickleball without a net that is the right height.
In pickleball tournaments, it is absolutely essential to get the height of the pickleball net right.
What how high is a pickleball net?
So, what is the height of the pickleball net?
Like all of the pickleball rules, the official pickleball net height is determined by the International Federation for Pickleball (IFP).
These rules are followed by USA Pickleball, as well as a number of other national pickleball associations around the world.
The IFP pickleball rulebook clear lays out all of the official pickleball court dimensions. The official pickleball net height is 36 inches at the side-line of the court and 34 inches in the center of the court.
In metric, this means that the height of a pickleball net is 91.44cm at the side-line and 86.36cm at the center.
If you’re trying to set up a pickleball court with the correct pickleball net height, you need to keep these two numbers in mind.
Pickleball net height vs tennis net height
Many beginners assume a pickleball net is the same height as a tennis net.
Many players even begin their pickleball journey by playing on a converted tennis court, while many tennis courts end up becoming pickleball court because of the rapid growth of pickleball.
So, you might be wondering…
Is a pickleball net the same height as a tennis net?
In short – no, a pickleball net is not the same height as a tennis net. A pickleball net is slightly shorter than a tennis net.
A regular tennis net stands at 36 inches in the center, whereas a pickleball is 36 inches high at the side-line. In tennis, the side-line height is usually 42 inches.
Therefore, while the difference at the center of the net is only 2 inches, it can be 6 inches difference at the side-lines.
The pickleball court dimensions are generally much smaller than standard tennis court dimensions, but the net is very similar. Still, it is not the same and it is important that the pickleball net height is adjusted if you play on a converted tennis court.
Why is a pickleball net 36 inches high?
Since the pickleball net height is so close to the height of tennis net, many pickleball players wonder why the two sports don’t use the same net. It sure would make things easier, wouldn’t it?
However, there is a very good reason for this. Even though pickleball is often compared tennis, the two games have different origins. Rather than evolving from tennis, pickleball actually came from a modified version of badminton.
This explains why pickleball and tennis can appear similar in many ways, but are actually quite different in some unexpected ways. It also explains why the pickleball net height doesn’t take its cue from tennis.
It also explains why the pickleball court is the same size as a badminton court – and much smaller than a tennis court!
Even though the small height difference between a pickleball net and a tennis net might make things a little more complicated – especially for players who are moving over from tennis – we sure are grateful for the couple of extra inches when dinking!
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Pickleball net setup
Fortunately, setting up a pickleball net is fairly straightforward.
Whether you’re setting up a home court to practice your serves or converting a local tennis court into a pickleball court, it’s something anyone can do.
When it comes to setting up a pickleball net, you have two options: using a portable pickleball net or lowering a tennis net.
If you choose to use a portable net, the net setup will depend on the product you choose. All of the best portable pickleball nets (like this one) come with easy to follow instructions. After a couple of setups, you probably won’t even need them!
If you choose to lower a tennis net, it’s also fairly easy.
How do you lower a tennis net for pickleball?
If you’re using a converted tennis court for your pickleball game, it may be easier to lower the net that’s already there.
Even though – as we just saw – pickleball didn’t evolve from tennis, it is possible to convert a tennis court into a pickleball court. In fact, many people do when they’re starting out!
The main thing to keep in mind is that you will need the center of the net be at a height of 34 inches. This is just 2 inches lower than a standard tennis net height.
The easiest way to make this change is to use the net’s center strap to take it down to a height of 34 inches. This will be easy if the tension is fairly loose. If the tension is very tight, however, you may also need to loosen it slightly at the post.
Alternatively, you may wish to use an adjuster designed specifically for the purpose. This tennis net adjuster can be used to quickly and easily convert any tennis net so that it is the correct height for a pickleball net.
This article is part of our Pickleball 101 series, where we break down some of the essential things that every pickleball player should know and answer some of the most common pickleball questions.
In previous articles in this series, we’ve covered everything from the pickleball serving rules and illegal pickleball serves to some of the most common pickleball terms and some fun pickleball facts.
Check out all of our pickleball tips and guides to find more!
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