Pickleball nets are 36 inches tall at the side posts, and 34 inches at the center strap. Tennis nets are 42 inches tall at the side posts, and 36 inches at the center strap.
Height Differences Between Pickleball and Tennis Nets
One of the key differences between a standard tennis court and a pickleball court is the net’s height. This is partly because a tennis court is much bigger than a standard pickleball court, requiring a taller net to bring the whole of the court into play.
Also, tennis balls bounce much higher than pickleball balls, requiring a taller net.
Tennis Net Height
Regulation tennis nets are 42 inches tall at the net posts and 36 inches at the center strap. This is set by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the governing body for tennis worldwide.
These dimensions are the same for doubles and singles on indoor and outdoor courts.
Pickleball Net Height
The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) regulation for pickleball net height states that a pickleball net’s height should be 36 inches at the side posts and 34 inches at the center strap.
Width Differences Between Pickleball and Tennis Nets
Tennis nets are much wider than pickleball nets. This is mainly due to the difference in the dimensions of pickleball and tennis courts.
Tennis Net Width
Tennis nets are 33 feet wide for singles matches and 42 feet wide for doubles matches. However, most tennis courts are set up for both singles and doubles matches, and so will have a permanent 42-foot width net.
Pickleball Net Width
Pickleball nets are at least 20 feet wide to cover the dimensions of a pickleball court. However, the USAPA regulations require a 22 feet wide net for official tournament play. Pickleball nets remain the same regardless of whether a singles or doubles match is being played.
Comparison of Pickleball Nets vs Tennis Nets
Similarities
- Pickleball and tennis nets both contain a woven material to prevent the ball from getting through, with a white strap or tape across the top of the net.
- Both pickleball nets and tennis nets have a center strap that allows the height of the net to be adjusted.
- Their overall proportions are very similar, with tennis nets expanded to match up with the larger size of the court in tennis.
Differences
- The key difference between pickleball and tennis nets is their size.
- Tennis nets are considerably bigger than those used for pickleball, both in width and height.
Can You Use a Tennis Net for Pickleball?
Using a tennis net to play pickleball is not recommended. The large difference in height between a pickleball net versus a tennis net will cause problems for pickleball players.
Pickleball paddles are not as springy as tennis racquets, and tennis balls are far bouncier than pickleball balls. This makes it harder to get the ball over the net and execute the tactics used to play pickleball.
Furthermore, most tennis nets are on permanent courts. No pickleball court lines indicate the non-volley zone or other crucial pickleball features.
That said, it’s good enough to play a casual pickleball game if you are a beginner to pickleball and only have a tennis court. We recommend using an open tennis court to work on beginner drills or advanced drills that the net height won’t be an issue, such as;
