Whether it’s showing up to a packed court or being to lazy to drive across town to play, we’ve all had that moment when we ask “Can I play pickleball on a tennis court?”

I was recently home over the holidays and went over to the local pickleball courts to squeeze in a game with my Dad. We arrived to a swarm of folks, packed courts, and a long wait to play. I know I’m not alone in this — over the last couple of years, this seems to be a more regular occurrence due to the sports skyrocketing popularity.

But directly on the other side of the pickleball area laid three empty tennis courts just begging to be played on. I wondered, why not just play there? What do we need to make it happen? Unfortunately, I didn’t have the answers. So I went home, did a little research, and discovered it is possible! And I’m stoked to share that with you.

Can you play pickleball on a tennis court? YEs!

You can play pickleball on a tennis court using the existing lines and a couple extra cones to mark the boundaries. Don’t use tape, chalk, or paint to mark the lines as this can cause permanent damage to the court.

Before you set up a pickleball court, go through this checklist to make sure you have everything you need:

1. Cones, water bottles, or standing flags to mark the boundary
2. Measuring tape (if you don’t have any you can use steps to count feet)
3. Rubber strips or string to draw the boundaries

How to set up pickleball on a tennis court

Ready to transform that tennis court into a pickleball paradise? Here’s what you need to know:

1. The lines on the tennis court that run parallel to the net will become the baseline (aka the backline) of your pickleball court. Technically it is a little short, so if you’d like you can mark a boundary another foot back (I think it’s easier to just play on a slightly smaller court).
2. The centerline of the service box will be the centerline of your pickleball court.
3. For the sidelines of your pickleball court, you have two options:

The recommended option is to mark off a sideline 3 ½ feet inward from each of the singles lines on the tennis court. Use your measuring tool or your feet if you don’t have one. Then, place a few cones or other markers along the sideline. If you have rubber markers that can be pulled up without leaving a mark, feel free to use these. Otherwise stay away from placing tape or other substances down as it can damage the court.

If you want to make things easy, another option is to use the singles lines from the tennis court as your pickleball sidelines. This will make the court wider than a regulation pickleball court and will require some serious side-to-side movement. Only attempt this option if you don’t have enough cones or markers and if you feel up for the extra challenge.

4. Next, mark off the “kitchen” or no-volley zone. This is the only part of the court that you must mark off to play pickleball on a tennis court. Let’s be honest, without the kitchen, it’s just not pickleball! To mark off the no-volley zone, measure (or walk off) 7 feet from the net towards the baseline and drop your markers there. I recommend using 2 to 3 markers – one along each sideline where it intersects the kitchen line and one on the centerline (as long as it doesn’t cause any problems during play). And just a friendly reminder – make sure your markers don’t create any safety hazards for you or your fellow players.
5. The last step is adjusting the net. A tennis net is 2 inches higher than a pickleball net, so you have two options:

Lower the tennis net 2 inches in the middle by sliding the center strap to one side. Just be sure to put the strap back in its original position after you’re done playing, as leaving it over to one side can cause the net to lose tension and affect both tennis players and future pickleball play.

You can also just leave the tennis net as is. Like I’ve mentioned before, it’s easier to just play on a court with slightly different dimensions, especially just for warming up. But if you’re looking to go by the books, you’ll want to make all the adjustments.

Game point

And just like that you’re now ready to play pickleball on a tennis court. Next time I hit the courts with my dad, we’ll have an easy way to warm up without waiting for the courts to clear. I hope this helps you get out, play more, and continue to up you pickleball skills.

Grab those paddles and let’s get pickling!