For many, they wonder: can you play pickleball on grass? You can play pickleball on grass and still have a competitive game.
As long as you have a net, pickleball paddles, and a pickleball, you can play in your backyard.
In recent years, dedicated courts have been popping up in community centers and public parks for indoor play and outdoor play.
And you can find all type of court surfaces.
In my city, we have a concrete tennis court that has been converted to pickleball for outdoor play.
And at our local recreation center, indoor basketball courts have been converted to indoor pickleball courts
But if you can’t find that in your town, a grass court can be an option.
While a grass court can cause limitations to the game (we will cover some of those later in the post), a grassy surface also has incredible benefits to the players, such as less wear-and-tear on muscles and joints.
And in this blog post, we’re here to help you learn about grass pickleball courts and how to build you own for the first time.
Pickleball on Grass: The Basics
If you want to create an outdoor pickleball court, you have many options.
Across the county, most outdoor courts are set up on an asphalt or concrete surface, such as an adapted tennis court or badminton court. Some will even use an outdoor basketball court or parking lot.
But pickleball on grass can be a fun alternative to a traditional hardcourt surface.
Unfortunately, if you want to set up a temporary or permanent pickleball court on your grass lawns, it’s not as simple as just throwing up a temporary net.
Adapting The Game
A grass surface presents some challenges that have to be accounted for in order for a pickleball game to be played.
1. You have to have a large enough space. Find a flat area of grass that is at least 44 feet long and 20 feet wide–the size of a standard pickeball court–plus some extra room around the outside of the court for an out-of-bounds area.
2. Bounce Issues. Grass is not the best surface for a pickleball court. While the cushiony area helps our joints, it also hinders the plastic ball from bouncing as well as on harder surfaces.
3. Unpredictable Playing Surface. Oftentimes, a lawn or grassy area is not as level or consistent as a concrete surface, causing the ball to move erratically at times. There can be divots and markings in the lawn that send the ball flying in various directions. With this unpredictability, it can be difficult to anticipate the ball path off a bounce.
4. Traction. It can be hard to keep your feet under you on a grass surface, especially if it is wet. Players will need to take shorter, choppier steps and slow down sooner when approaching the ball to avoid sliding.
5. Regular Maintenance. Once you build a concrete court, it likely won’t need maintenance for months, or even, years. Your grass court will need to be mowed weekly to keep the area clean and playable. The good news is: if it’s your lawn, you were probably going to mow it this week anyway.
While these challenges can be frustrating, there are ways to mitigate these factors as you prepare your outdoor court.
And if you are ready to set up your outdoor court, we are here to take you through the process step-by-step, from field to court.
How Do You Make A Grass Pickleball Court In Your Yard: Step-By-Step Process
1. Prepare Your Playing Area
To set up a grass pickleball court in your backyard, the first thing you need to do is find a flat, clear area.
We suggest that the space is, at least, 50 feet long by 30 feet wide. This will give you room for the out-of-bounds area as well as the court.
If you don’t have that much space, you could also set up a smaller court, if needed.
Once you have your area, use a measuring tape to mark off the court size–44 feet long and 20 feet wide.
At this point, you will want to stake off the the rectangular area of the court, but don’t paint any lines just yet.
We have some prep work to do.
After laying down your stakes, you should take a lawn roller and go over the playing surface. You can also fill in any low spots with excess soil and dirt.
This will help level out any uneven ground and make it the best type of surface for your court.
Once you have leveled your area, mow the court to a height 1 to 2 inches depending on the grass type.
Advanced Tip: If you want to get really serious, you can even plant a specific type of grass for your court. Bermuda grass, Kentucky Bluegrass, and Perennial Ryegrass–the type used at Wimbledon–are all a great option.
2. Mark Off Your Court Dimensions
Once you have your grass prepped and ready, you will want to draw pickleball lines on the outside and inside of the court.
We suggest using field chalk or spray paint to mark off the court lines on each side of the court.
You will spray or chalk the:
- Sidelines
- Baselines
- Service Line or Center line
- Non-volley zone, also known as the kitchen area
Pro Tip: Before you spray each line, mark each section using string to create a guide so your lines don’t end up looking like the squiggly lines in my 7-year-old’s artwork.
3. Set Up Your Net and Posts
As your grass pickleball court comes together, the next thing you will need to add is a net.
A pickleball net typically stretches 22 feet in length, and the net height is 36 inches high at the sidelines, but drops to 34 inches at the center. If you are in pinch, you can also use a tennis net.
To set up the net in the middle of your court, you can use a portable pickleball net system.
There are some great options out there. Here are three portable pickleball nets that we suggest:
1. Pickleball Inc. Portable Net System
These nets are easy to install, and you can adjust their height according to your lawn’s surface.
You will want to be sure to anchor the posts securely to the ground so the net remains in place.
A couple of U-shaped lawn anchors or sandbags should do the trick.
4. Choose the Right Ball
On the lawn, a plastic ball won’t bounce as well as on a hard, smooth surface.
To minimize this effect, it’s important to choose a suitable pickleball for grass courts. But what type of ball is a good option?
You could use a traditional outdoor pickleball.
Or you could try a rubber ball like the Spalding High-Bounce handball.
Both are playable with a pickleball paddle.
No matter what–be sure to choose a ball that has a high-contrast color, such such as yellow or neon, to easily spot it on the green grass.
What Surfaces Can You Play Pickleball On: Comparing Grass vs. Other Court Surfaces
Pickleball on Grass vs. Hard Courts
Hard courts, such as concrete or asphalt, are the most common types of court surface materials.
Hard courts are the preferred and highest quality surface for competitive play.
Grass courts have a softer and more uneven surface compared to hard courts. As a result, the ball tends to bounce lower and slower on grass, which can make playing pickleball more challenging.
And hard court surfaces offer a more predictable bounce and better traction for players.
But playing on grass is not as outlandish as it may seem to pickleball players.
Tennis players play on grass courts all the time (see Wimbledon), and there are some great benefits to grass play, such as development of hand-eye coordination.
You also get the benefit of practicing your paddle work as you adapt to random ball movements.
It’s a great way to grow as a player.
Pickleball on Grass vs. Artificial Turf
Artificial turf is a good option for a pickleball court.
It offers a consistent playing surface with predictable bounces and traction for your feet. For these reasons alone, it’s a better choice for pickleball than a grass surface.
You also don’t have to mow or water your artificial turf.
But synthetic turf can be hard on joints.
Grass offers a more natural surface that could keep the inflammation and soreness away.
Pickleball on Grass vs. Tennis and Badminton Courts
While tennis and badminton courts differ from pickleball courts in their dimensions and surface materials, players around the United States have been converting existing tennis courts into a pickleball court.
There are many ways to create your own pickleball court.
Once you put down the right markings, these converted courts are great options for pickleball play.
But if you don’t have a clear concrete space, you can create your own grass court for some backyard pickleball.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Playing Pickleball on Grass
Benefits of Grass Pickleball Courts
While a grass court can have some disadvantages, there are some great things about playing on grass:
- Softer Surface: Playing on a concrete or turf surface can cause extra wear-and-tear to your joints. Grass provides a softer surface for the constant pounding that takes place during a game of pickleball. Less injuries, more play time. That makes grass-play a win for people of all ages.
- Varied Ball Speed and Bounce: Grass surfaces can result in slightly different ball speed and bounce compared to hard courts. Before you bemoan the change, it can create a new challenge to adapt your shots and hand movements. It’s actually a lot of fun and a good challenge.
- Versatility: Grass courts can be set up anywhere–in your backyard, a community green space, or even in a park.
- Regular Practice: You can build a grass court in your backyard, which may allow you to practice and play more often. Think of it like having a putting green in your backyard. It may not be exactly like the course, but with a green in your yard, you can practice putting more often. In the same way, a backyard grass court is a great place to get reps and practice in. If you don’t have a partner to play against, you could practice your serve or your dink shot at the no-volley zone.
Challenges of Grass Courts
While there are benefits to grass courts, there can be challenges.
As mentioned above, the softer surface provides less bounce for the ball, and the uneven playing surface can cause the ball to bounce more erratically than on a hard surface.
If the court gets wet, it also takes longer to dry out compared to concrete courts.
And if you live in the north, your grass court will be unplayable once the snow hits–unless you want a new challenge. Can imagine snow pickleball?
But that’s true for outdoor hard courts as well. Snow ends the outdoor season.
It just means it’s time to hit the indoor courts.
The USA Pickleball Association does not suggest using a grass court for these reasons–suggesting concrete or asphalt surfaces instead.
But a grass court can still be a good idea for non-serious pickleball and practice. And you can still have a great game on grass.
Tips For Playing Pickleball on Grass
Modify Your Ball
Playing pickleball on grass requires some adjustments, particularly when it comes to the ball.
Standard pickleball balls, which look like a wiffle ball, may not bounce as expected on grass surfaces.
To enhance the bounce on grass, consider using a Spalding high bounce ball or making modifications to the traditional pickleball balls.
You can try a variety of methods to improve the bounce of a traditional pickleball, such as placing the pickleball in hot (but not boiling) water for a few minutes. Let it cool, and the ball should regain some of it elasticity and bounce.
Change Up Your Strategy
Grass is a softer surface, causing the ball to bounce lower and slower than on hard courts.
You can take advantage of the softer court by hitting more drop shots and lob shots.
Keep in mind that the USA Pickleball Association and the US Lawn Pickleball Association have not endorsed grass for tournament play or professional pickleball competitions, so use these games as a fun way to enhance your skills and prepare better for standard courts.
Get Your Shoes Right
Wet or slick grass can be dangerous.
One of the reasons we play on grass surfaces is to reduce impact and risk of injury.
But grass courts can be slick.
You will want to wear good shoes for grass play, such as rubber baseball/softball cleats or a shoe with higher traction.
How to maintain your grass pickleball court and keep it safe?
As you play on your grass court, it’s important that you also maintain the grass height and playing surface.
You will need to level, mow, and water your lawn regularly to keep it in peak playing condition.
In this section, we’ll discuss each of these aspects to help you create a safe and enjoyable grass court environment.
Leveling and Mowing
You will want your grass pickleball court to be as smooth as possible.
Use a lawn roller or lawn leveler to even out any bumps in the surface.
And then be sure to mow regularly to keep the grass low, but not too low. You’ll still want a little cushion under your feet.
Dealing with Debris
Before playing on your grass court, check the area for any debris like rocks, sticks, or leaves.
Clear out any expose tree roots or dog waste (and make sure all the banana peels are picked up).
We don’t want anyone to slip or trip during the game.
What About the Weather?
Rain can ruin your pickleball play on grass.
Wet surfaces can cause players to slip and get injured.
We recommend staying away from grass play until the lawn dries out completely.
Are there other options to play pickleball on grass?
Pickleball Court Tiles
If you want to build a court in your backyard and you want something harder than grass but don’t want to pour concrete, pickleball court tiles are a great option.
Pickleball court tiles are hard modular tiles that you can fit together and build it into a court size.
You will still need to level your grass or dirt surface, and then you simply fit the square pieces together to create the court and spray paint lines on it.
Sandy Pickle
There is an adaptation of pickleball called Sandy Pickle that can be played on grass.
They adapt the rules for play in your backyard.
But the rule changes are significant. For example, you are not allowed to let the ball bounce and there is a no-spike zone.
While it can work, the rules get altered so much that it feels like a new sport altogether–more like badminton with paddles rather than pickleball.
If you’re looking for a different game for the beach or another surface, Sandy Pickle is a lot of fun.
But if you’re looking to play traditional pickleball, Sandy Pickle is not the best way to play.
Conclusion: Playing in Grass
So there you have it! Pickleball players don’t have to pass on grass.
You can play pickleball on grass.
And despite common misconceptions, you can still have a good time.
Get the right ball and keep the grass length the right height, and you can get in a good pickleball practice or even a non-competitive game on the lawn.
That’s what makes pickleball a great sport for all age groups.. As long as you have the proper equipment–a paddle, ball, and net–you can play it almost anywhere.
So if you can’t make it to your local community centers or public parks, pop up a net in your yard and get to playing this fun sport.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. And for every product recommended, we have researched and/or used the product. Our ultimate goal is to help you get better.