ickleball net is often considered to be the same as a Tennis net. If you have made this mistake, don’t worry, we have all been there!
This happens as the net structure and design is similar to a Tennis net, however, the height and weight are the differentiator between both nets.
USA Pickleball Rulebook, which is considered the official pickleball guide all over the world states that the right pickleball net height is 34″ in the middle and 36″ at the sidelines.
What is the Pickleball net height?
Now that we know that the pickleball net height is 34″ in the middle and 36″ at the sidelines, let’s learnt about the net width as well. As per the Official Pickleball rulebook, the width of a Pickleball net should be 22 feet wide with the net being set up one foot ahead in both directions beyond the sidelines of a 20-ft court.
Pickleball net specifications and features
Pickleball net materials
The official Pickleball rulebook states that nets can be made of any mesh material as long as it can hold the ball from passing through. Most of the manufacturers use polyester, nylon, or polyethylene as the base mesh material
How to make a Pickleball Net
Nylon nets are the cheapest in comparison to other mesh materials with less durability being their biggest drawback. For a permanent outdoor net, materials like polyethylene are ideal as it has the ability to withstand heavy winds, rains, and even stay intact despite regular exposure to UV rays from sunlight.
The top of the net should be edged with a 2-inch white tape binding over a cord or cable. This ensures that the top edge of the net is easily visible. The rules also suggest a center strap for permanent nets, which allows for easy adjustment of the net’s height.
The best pickleball nets are always finding ways to bring more innovations to their designs, for eg incorporation of straps or hook-and-loop closures or an added pouch for carrying your pickleball essentials, or a bottle holder at the base.
Pickleball net frames
Portable pickleball net frames are made either of steel tubing or PVC. While Steel is on the heavier side and can require additional muscle to carry along, it is by far more effective in comparison to PVC-framed nets. The reason is that steel is much more sturdy, whereas PVC tends to move quite often due to wind or powerful shots.
Heres a pro tip on how to analyse if a portable pickleball net is of good quality or not. Simply look for a wide base frame that is made from interlocking powder-coated steel tubes that function just like camping tent frames and the latter will provide an added layer of added stability.
Pickleball net weight
The weight of a basic pickleball net fluctuates between 25 lbs and 35 lbs, excluding the frame. You will also find carbon fiber framed pickleball nets which are costlier but lighter in nature. Although if you ask us, we would recommend sticking to carbon fiber paddles. The latest innovation for pickleball nets is detachable bags with wheels which serve as a means of transporting your pickleball gear.
Pickleball net height vs Tennis net height
As per the International Tennis Federation (ITF) the standard tennis height should be 36″ in the middle and 42″ at the sidelines. The pickleball net height is 34″ in the middle and 36″ at the sidelines. To sum it up there is a 2” height difference between a tennis and pickleball net.
However, there is a more pronounced height difference between the sidelines and the middle on a tennis net due to its increased width. A tennis net is 33 or 42 feet wide, depending on whether it’s a singles or doubles court. On the other hand pickleball nets are normally set at 22 feet wide.
Similarities between pickleball nets and tennis nets
The basic design of Pickleball nets and tennis nets are quite similar as in both sport the net is placed in the middle of the court to provide a barrier over which players have to hit.
The materials used to make Pickleball nets and tennis nets are the same for basic nets, however, the stitching and weave techniques tend to be different between them due to weave sizes.
Differences between pickleball nets and tennis nets
The difference is clearly visible in the first glance it self, and if you dig deeper there are three major differences between pickleball nets and tennis nets.
- The support posts of a tennis net are more sturdies than pickleball nets due to the latter being a larger net.
- Tennis nets are not portable whereas you will find it quite convenient and cheap to keep a portable pickleball net in your garage or even in your car. The reason being Tennis nets require built-in crank systems for increasing net tension which is not required for a pickleball net
- Youll also notice a different weave pattern in both nets, this is because tennis balls are smaller and faster in comparison to pickleballs. Thus tennis nets require a smaller weave and pickleball nets require a larger weave of pickleball nets.
Can you play pickleball with a tennis net?
The simple answer is yes pickleball can be played on a tennis court using a tennis net. Since it is just a couple of inches higher, a tennis net is the perfect alternative to a pickleball net for unofficial games or just practive. This proves that an extra couple of inches do not matter.
However, if your goal is tournament preparation then you might want to switch to an actual pickleball net as players who use a Tennis net enp with with the muscle memory of hitting shots a bit higher to clear the added net height. During tournaments your opponents will end up getting easier put away balls due to this.
If you wish to stick with a Tennis net then you can check out any strap product called, “net converted”. ConVERT aNet Pickleball Net Converter is one such example. How this product works is that it comes with a simple set of constricting straps that pull the tennis net down to match the net dimensions of pickleball.
You can also find portable pickleball nets and if you wish to play on a makeshift pickleball court on a Tennis court, you can do so with the help of line chalk, removable tape, and measuring tape. Check out the correct Pickelball court dimensions, if you need help on how to do the marking we have explained it in details here.
Where the pickleball net height came from
The official pickleball net height orgins can be tracked from back in the days When the first pickleball game was played by Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell, they initially used a badminton net.
The duo used a simple technique to decide the height of the net: Joel Pritchard would simply stand at the center of the net and see if it came up till his waist.
If the net was at the same height as his waist, it was accepted. Since Joel Pritchard’s waist was at a height of 34″, the height of the pickleball net was set at 34″ in the official rules.
Bottom line
To sum it up, the measurements of pickleball nets are 34 inches in height towards the middle and 36 inches at the sidelines. You are allowed to have a minimum of a foot of clearance on one or both sides of the 20-foot court as the width of the net is 22.
Now given that a Pickleball court’s playing space and the court itself is smaller that the space needed for a Tennis court, the official pickleball net height is measured to be few inches shorter than a tennis net.
The net height , court space and ball dimensions combine to make Pickleball such an easy sport for everyone to get involved it (Yes I mentioned ‘sport’). But reaching that mastery level which separates the pros from the amateurs requires learning multiple combinations and consistency. The best part us that the game itself is still evolving so get out there and get playing and be part of the Pickleball Revolution!
Can you use a tennis net for pickleball?
Tennis nets can be used to play pickleball, albeit you will have to make slight adjustments as the nets in tennis are a couple of inches taller in comparison to standard pickleball nets. If you are looking to improve your shot percentage playing with a higher net could work to your advantage.
What is the standard pickleball net height?
As per the official Pickleball rulebook, a standard pickleball net should measure at 36″ high at the posts and 34″ high in the middle of the net.
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