Be honest. At first glance, it’s hard to tell any major differences between a pickleball net and a tennis net. I mean, come on, a net is a net, isn’t it? But hold onto your seat because we’re about to take a deep dive into the details of this showdown: what is the difference between a pickleball net vs tennis net?
When you stack tennis and pickleball side-by-side, there are noticeable distinctions.
Pickleball uses a neon wiffle ball. Tennis uses a fuzzy-covered rubber ball. Pickleball paddles look like an oversized table tennis paddle. Tennis racquets have strings.
But deep down, tennis and the sport of pickleball are like distant cousins. Or maybe brothers from another mother? Yikes, those family reunions have to be weird.
The court, equipment, and gameplay of the game of pickleball–all have DNA strands that were passed down from the game of tennis.
So it’s not exactly a jaw-dropper that the nets in both sports resemble one another.
But are they the same?
Pickleball Net vs Tennis Net Size: Are pickleball nets the same height as tennis nets?
By the eye test, pickleball nets and tennis nets seem to be the same height and also not far off in width.
And on the court, both nets run down the middle, splitting the playing area, until the ends of the net attach to two, stable poles at the edges of the court.
So, they’re pretty much the same, right?
Not so fast.
Pickleball nets and tennis nets have significant differences–even if by inches–and as you play the games, you will notice that the net size makes a differences, especially in the gameplay of both sports.
So let’s look at their dimensions: pickleball net vs tennis net.
Pickleball Net Dimensions
Pickleball Net Height
A pickleball net is 36 inches at the edges of the court, near the posts, but then it tapers down ever-so-slightly as it moves toward the center of the court.
By the time it reaches center court, the height of the net is 34 inches.
Think of it like your favorite song–it hits you different at different points.
Pickleball Net Length
In pickleball, the court stretches 20 feet wide. The net covers the entire court area, but the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) recommends that the net post be set up at least 12 inches outside the court lines.
Following these guidelines, a pickleball net is typically 22 feet in length on a standard court from post to post.
Pickleball Net Material
The net can be made of any mesh material as long as the meshing is close enough together to keep the ball from squirting through.
A cord, covered by tape, should line the top of the net to provide tension against gravity and the force of the ball.
Tennis Net Dimensions
Tennis Net Height
A tennis net is subtly taller than a pickleball net.
At the side of the court, a tennis net starts at 42 inches high before tapering down to 36 inches in the center of the court.
Tennis Net Length
Stretching across the middle of the court, a tennis net spans the whole width of the court surface and extends into the boundary where it attaches to poles.
In all, most tennis nets are 42 feet in length, approximately 20 feet longer than a pickleball net.
Tennis Net Material
When it comes to materials, tennis nets can be made from a few different types of mesh, ranging from nylon to polyester to polyethylene.
And similar to pickleball nets, these nets also have a cord that runs across the entire length of the top to give support and stability.
According to the International Tennis Federation, this cord should be covered by a white band that hangs down 2 to 2.5 inches on each side.
Why are the nets different heights?
Ever wondered why pickleball and tennis nets don’t quite see eye to eye?
I mean: why don’t pickleball players just use the height of the tennis net?
When pickleball was first invented, Joel Pritchard and his friends used a badminton court and a badminton net. It was 60 inches tall, and the players played a pickleball match by volleying the ball over the high net.
But as the game evolved, they wanted a game that the whole family could play, so they lowered the net to 34 inches. It was an easy way to get more people involved, and it made a big difference.
But why is it lower than the height of a tennis net? Couldn’t they have gone the easy route and stuck with 36 inches, just like the standard height of tennis?
The answer lies in the size of the court.
Since pickleball was played on a smaller court, the net height of a pickleball court needed to be lower to allow players to hit their drives with more speed.
If the net had been taller, players would have had to hit at a higher trajectory to clear it, or they would have had to take some pace off the ball to put it inside the pickleball baseline.
The shorter net also encouraged players to get to the net and play toward the middle of the court, which lengthened rallies.
Pickleball Net vs Tennis Net: The Similarities and Differences
The two nets are almost identical in material, but as we saw above, there are significant differences.
In looking at the two nets, the main difference is the length of each one (42′ compared to 22′).
This is mainly caused by the size of the courts.
A doubles tennis court is 36 feet wide. Pickleball courts, on the other hand, are only 20 feet wide.
In order to cover the entire surface of the court, tennis nets are naturally longer.
But what about the height?
While the difference in the net height seems negligible (36″ to 34″ at center), the shorter net in pickleball makes it a game where much of the play happens right in front of the net.
Which brings us to…
Pickleball Net vs Tennis Net: Does the Net Affect Gameplay?
In tennis, you will see long rallies where both players stay at the baseline, running sideline to sideline, driving the tennis ball to the back of their opponent’s court.
And while there are certainly times in tennis where players get to the net, it’s much more common in the game of pickleball.
In pickleball, players fight to be the first team to get near the net after the serve.
If you control the net, you control the game (or so the saying goes). It’s one of the most important pickleball tips for beginners.
How is Net Play Different in Pickleball and Tennis?
Pickleball has a unique area near the net called the kitchen (or non-volley zone). It is a 7-foot space on each side of the net, and the most basic rule of the kitchen is that players cannot stand inside the area and volley the ball (hit it out of the air).
The kitchen drastically affects the net play in pickleball, but not in the way you might think.
You would expect players to stay as far from the kitchen as possible.
But pickleball players are drawn to the net like flies to a bug zapper because most pickleball points are won at the kitchen.
With the shorter net, players don’t have to hit the ball as high over the net, so they can hit dinks and smashes at the net to beat their opponent.
They can play angles and focus on location of the shot more than speed off the pickleball paddle.
After the initial serve of a rally, players move to get to the kitchen as soon as possible (after following the double bounce rule).
The first team to the kitchen has the advantage.
On the other hand, the higher net in tennis forces tennis players to hit with more speed and power, and modern players are more apt to play from the baseline.
But every tennis player plays with a different strategy and style–more affected by their strengths than the net.
For example, some players love to stay at the baseline (near the back of the court) and hit groundstrokes while finesse-oriented players prefer to get to the net and hit volleys to force their opponent to react.
Can You Play Pickleball with a Tennis Net?
Even though there are dimensional differences, you can play pickleball with a tennis court net.
It is common for players to convert a tennis court to a pickleball court by taping pickleball court lines.
But if you are going to convert the court, you still should adjust the net to the correct net height.
For more information on converting the court, check out our article on Can You Play Pickleball on a Tennis Court?
How Do You Convert a Tennis Net to Pickleball?
You simply need to lower the center of the net from 36 inches to 34 inches.
Most tennis nets have a center strap in the middle and hand cranks (or tennis net adjuster) at each post that allow you to change the tension of the net.
Pull the center strap down until you reach the desired height.
As you make the changes, the outer edges of the net will likely not come down far enough to the pickleball regulation height.
This is okay. In fact, the tennis posts will be far outside the sidelines of your pickleball court that it should not make a major difference.
If your center is at the right height, you are ready play.
Does playing pickleball on an unadjusted net ruin the game?
While it doesn’t ruin the game, it does affect it.
Two inches may seem minor, but the higher net forces players to hit their dinks and volleys higher, causing higher bounces as well.
As the ball comes up higher, play speeds up around the net, encouraging more firefights–where players hit rapid volleys back and forth at each other.
Pickleball on a Tennis Court
You can play pickleball on a singles tennis court, using the tennis net.
But there is a better way.
If you have a tennis court that can be converted into a pickleball court, you can use court tape to create 2-4 pickleball courts on an existing tennis court.
The simplest way is to tape the new pickleball lines around the tennis court lines so that, if need be, you can pull the court tape up for tennis players.
Once you put down the pickleball lines, you can simply place a temporary pickleball net in the middle of the court for play.
The USAPA provides diagrams for how to set up multiple pickleball courts on a tennis court using a portable net.
Pickleball Central also has a good video on how to set up your own pickleball court on a tennis court.
How to choose the right net for your pickleball game?
Choosing the right net for your court depends mostly on your needs.
There are two different types of nets that you can buy: portable pickleball nets and in-ground pickleball nets.
Let’s look at each.
Portable Pickleball Net
Portable nets are lightweight, easy to set up, and perfect for outdoor courts and indoor courts.
Most portable nets sit on legs, though others have wheels that make it easy to move on and off the court.
These nets are perfect for temporary setups on tennis courts or basketball courts or if you are setting a court up in your driveway.
Portable nets often cost between $75 and $300.
What are the best pickleball nets to buy?
Here are three great options for a portable pickleball net:
- Zen Sports Portable Pickleball Net System: This net is a solid entry level that would work for a temporary driveway court.
- Pickle-ball Portable Net System: This is an upgrade over the Zen model, with more durable materials.
- SwiftNet 2.1 Pickleball Portable Net System: This one comes with a high-tension system to keep the net firm, and the frame is made of a carbon fiber/alloy.
In-Ground Pickleball Net
If you have a dedicated playing space, you could install an in-ground pickleball net, which has two posts fixed in the court.
Permanent pickleball courts are being built outdoors at local parks and indoors at tennis clubs and recreation centers. At these locations, you can install in-ground posts at the edge of each court to mount the net.
On a surface with standard pickleball court dimensions, you will want to mount the posts at least one foot outside the playing area, fix the net to it, and then set the net to regulation size.
Many in-ground systems cost between $500 and $2,000.
If you are looking for traditional, in-ground pickleball posts and a net, we would recommend not purchasing through Amazon.
You should order through a sport-specific site like Tennis Court Supply. They have great pickleball court materials.
How Do I Set Up My Pickleball or Tennis Net?
When setting up a pickleball net or a tennis net, the first thing you need to consider is the placement of the side posts. Tennis net posts are typically placed outside the doubles lines. And pickleball net posts sit a foot outside the sideline.
For both sports, there is a center strap that hangs down the middle of the net, and you can use it to adjust the height of the net in the middle.
To ensure your net is at regulation height, it’s crucial to measure from the ground to the top of the net at both the center and the sides.
For pickleball, the net should measure 36 inches high at the ends and 34 inches high in the middle, creating a slight sag or dip. When you are setting up your tennis net, you will want it to measure 42 inches at the post and 36 inches on center.
Pickleball Net vs Tennis Net: FAQs
Why do the nets have a dip in the middle?
From a physics standpoint, pickleball and tennis nets dip in the middle due to gravity.
The net cord cannot maintain a straight line under the weight of the net.
So why don’t the sports use something more sturdy?
Well, it also has gameplay advantages.
Since the net sags lower in the middle, it encourages players to hit cross-court and toward the middle of the court. This extends rallies and makes the games more competitive.
Are wheelchair tennis nets the same height as regulation nets?
Wheelchair tennis nets are the same height as regulation tennis nets (36″ on center).
According to paralympic.org, wheelchair tennis does not require many adaptations. They use the same size of the net, same tennis ball, and same standard tennis court pad.
Are wheelchair pickleball nets the same height?
Wheelchair pickleball nets also are set at the same height as standard pickleball nets, according to the USAPA.
While the court is larger (44′ x 74′), the height of a pickleball net remains at 34 inches at center court.
Do you need a net to play pickleball?
When playing the game of pickleball, you absolutely need a net.
It’s essential to the character of the game. Without it, you would not have a barrier between the opposing players and there would be no way to track what is “in” or “out” in the middle of the court.
How can you care for your pickleball and tennis nets?
If you want your net to last a long time, you should do maintenance often, especially if it is an outdoor net.
In order to keep it in the best condition, All Star Tennis Supply suggests that you clean your net regularly with warm water and detergent, replace broken parts as they break down, and lower the net tension in the offseason.
The elements–wind, rain, and snow–can take their toll on the net. If you are able, you should take the net inside when it is not being used.
What is the difference between pickleball and tennis?
When pickleball was invented, the creators took many elements of tennis to develop the rules and gameplay.
And at a quick glance, you’ll find much in common between the tennis and pickleball. At their core, both sports involve hitting a ball over a net to score a point. And each have singles matches and doubles matches as part of their gameplay.
But even though there are many similarities, the two racket sports are distinct.
One of the biggest differences is the size of the court. The tennis court size is 78 feet by 36 feet (doubles court), and a regulation pickleball court is 44 feet by 20 feet.
In other words, the size of the pickleball courts is more similar to a badminton court than a tennis pad.
The two sports also use very different types of balls and rackets.
Tennis players use a tennis racket, with strings on the hitting surface, to hit with a felt-covered rubber ball.
But pickleball players uses a pickleball paddle, which has a solid face made of space-age materials, to hit the pickleball ball, which resembles a plastic whiffle ball.
It’s pretty obvious: the equipment for tennis and pickleball is very different.
But one of the key differences between the two sports is in the serve.
In tennis, players hit overhand serves that travel more than 100 mph–at least in the pros.
But in pickleball, which is played on a smaller court, players use an underhand serve to hit the plastic balls. It makes pickleball less a game of power and more a game of strategy.
What To Do Next
That was a quick rundown on the differences between the two sports and the pickleball net vs tennis net.
There is so much more to explore between tennis and pickleball, such as tennis/pickleball scoring, the history of the two games, and more.
If you are interested in a more in-depth look at the two sports, check out our comprehensive guide comparing Pickleball vs Tennis.
Both sports are popular in the United States, though pickleball is the fastest-growing sport on the mainland.
We also have great comparison guides about other racket sports. You can check out Platform Tennis vs Pickleball as well as Pickleball vs POP Tennis (formerly known as paddle tennis).
And if you just started playing pickleball for the first time, we have the Ultimate Guide to Pickleball for Beginners. It’s a great sport. We know you’ll love it.
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