How to Play Pickleball on a Tennis Court: Setup Guide & Rules

Pickleball’s rapid rise in popularity has led many players to look for convenient places to play, and one of the most accessible options is the local tennis court. If you're wondering whether it’s practical—and how to make it work—you’re not alone. With just a few tweaks, a standard tennis court can easily double as a pickleball venue.

Here’s how to get it set up correctly, and the rules you need to know when adapting pickleball to a tennis-sized space.

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Converting a Tennis Court for Pickleball Play

The most important step is understanding the size difference. A regulation pickleball court is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long, which fits well inside a traditional 36-by-78-foot tennis court.

There are two main ways to use a tennis court for pickleball:

1. Overlay a Temporary Court
For casual games, you can use chalk, tape, or court markers to draw a pickleball court within the tennis court boundaries. The service boxes and baselines won’t align exactly, so you'll need to mark out the correct lines for proper play.

2. Use a Dual-Purpose Setup
Many parks and clubs are adding permanent pickleball lines in a different color over their tennis courts. These setups allow for both sports to share space without confusing boundary lines during play.

In both cases, a portable pickleball net is recommended, since tennis nets are higher than regulation pickleball nets.

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Adjusting the Net

A key detail in the setup is net height. A tennis net is 36 inches high at the center, whereas a regulation pickleball net is 34 inches. The difference may not seem like much, but it can impact play.

To make it work:

• Use a portable pickleball net, if available
• Or, lower the center of the tennis net slightly, if it’s adjustable
• In casual games, some players just use the existing tennis net as-is

While not perfect, the tennis net can work in a pinch—especially for recreational games.

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Lining Up the Court

For accurate play, make sure to outline the correct boundaries:

• Pickleball Baseline: 22 feet from the net
• No-Volley Zone (also known as the “kitchen”): 7 feet from the net on each side
• Sidelines: 20 feet apart
• Service Boxes: Each side split evenly into left and right service areas

If you’re setting up more than one court (which is possible on a full tennis surface), courts can be oriented perpendicular to the tennis net, fitting up to four pickleball courts across.

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Playing by the Rules

Once the court is set up, the standard pickleball rules apply, even on a tennis surface. That means:

• Underhand serves made diagonally across the court
• Two-bounce rule, where the ball must bounce once on each side before volleys begin
• No-volley zone enforcement, preventing players from smashing directly at the net
• Games played to 11, win by 2 (in most formats)

The tennis court surface doesn’t change the game’s basic mechanics—it just requires slight adaptations in layout and spacing.

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Shared Use and Courtesy

If you're playing on a public tennis court, be mindful of players using it for its original purpose. Pickleball’s popularity has sometimes led to tension between tennis and pickleball communities when lines are confusing or courts get monopolized.

Where possible, try to:

• Play during off-peak hours
• Use temporary markings that don’t damage the surface
• Avoid interrupting scheduled tennis sessions

When handled with respect, shared-use courts can benefit everyone.

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Final Thoughts

You can absolutely play pickleball on a tennis court, and with a little preparation, the setup is surprisingly simple. Whether you're laying out temporary lines for a casual afternoon or converting space for long-term dual use, tennis courts provide an ideal surface for the game.

Understanding the correct dimensions, net setup, and rules ensures you’re getting a proper pickleball experience—even if the space wasn’t originally designed for it.