Planning Out the Court and Installing the Net With The Right Pickleball Dividers
When you’re planning to build out your pickleball court, it’s important to know the rules and regulations so your home game is consistent with games you play elsewhere. Luckily, planning out and installing the aspects of a pickleball court is fairly inexpensive and simple. Following regulations as prescribed by the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) will lead to the perfect pickleball court. In this article, we’ll cover how to plan out your pickleball court and choose the right pickleball dividers.
What Are Pickleball Court Dividers Called?
Pickleball court dividers are an essential equipment in a successful pickleball game. The dividers are most commonly known as netting since they create an effective barrier for the pickleballs between game spaces while remaining see-through. The netting used in pickleball is virtually the same as that which is used in tennis, volleyball, and other similar court sports.
Pickleball Court Divider vs. Pickleball Net
Netting is necessary in pickleball in order to create a barrier of standard height between the game spaces. It will only allow the pickleballs to move over the top of the net while blocking any movement below. This simple measure keeps the game fair for everyone involved.
Pickleball netting, per USAPA regulations, should be 36 inches at the sidelines. Of course, every net is going to sag between the sidelines. Therefore, the netting height standard has been set at no lower than 34 inches at the center of the court. The net should also be 22 feet wide to allow plenty of space for a regulation game.
An excellent portable pickleball net is the A11N Portable Pickleball Net System, sold by A11N Sports. It’s a pickleball netting that’s up to all USAPA size regulations and ready to move wherever the game is. Between games, you can carry the netting in the provided duffle bag. Assembly is quick and easy and of course directions are included so anyone participating or watching your game can assist. This is an excellent pickleball netting for both novices and those with experience looking to pick up a casual game or train for a tournament.
How Big Is A Pickleball Court?
When it comes to finding the perfect space for your pickleball game, you’re going to need to follow some conditions. First and foremost, the space needs to be level and flat. The exact rectangular size of your pickleball court needs to be 880 square feet. The longer sides will be 44 feet total and the shorter sides will be 20 feet. The 22 foot netting will cross the court at the center of the longer sides, with an extra foot hanging off either end.
Keep in mind that a pickleball court is best enjoyed when oriented north-south, so get out your compass! This will help make the court more fair and usable during various times of the day, namely morning and evening when the sun can be directly in the sight lines of one of the players. With a north-south orientation of your pickleball court, you will greatly reduce instances like this.
From there, the space will be divided into precise sections. Either half of the pickleball court should be a mirror of the other. Along the longer edges of the court, measure 7 feet from each side of the netting. This is the non-volley zone of the pickleball court, which ensures that players will legally only serve from the remainder of the space in their court. The non-volley zone is also known as the “kitchen.” The true origins of the term are unclear, but it is generally believed that the term came over from shuffleboard.
The remainder of each side’s court should be evenly divided along the shorter edge of the pickleball court. This means that the 20 foot baseline needs to be cut in half at 10 feet, giving each player exactly 150 square feet to themselves. So, either half of a pickleball court will require three sections: one 7ft x 20 ft non-volley zone along the center netting and two 15ft x 10ft sections for each of the players. Once you’ve got the spaces measured out, it’s time to get ready to paint the lines.
How Wide Should The Lines Be On A Pickleball Court?
All of the lines for your pickleball court should be 2 inches wide and white, per USAPA regulations. If you’re using a white or other brightly colored surface, however, you can use a dark color such as black or blue. Most pickleball court owners use white paint to mark the boundaries more permanently. Some may use duct tape or some other strong adhesive tape, but these materials will degrade or come loose much more rapidly.
How Do You Put Lines On A Pickleball Court?
If you choose to paint your pickleball court, you should use a 2 inch wide paint roller. Make sure to thoroughly cover any exposed spots in the painted area. You may even add some extra yellow or orange paint in the no-volley zone to better keep track of any fouls. After you’ve finished, be sure to let the paint dry for at least 24 hours before adding the net.
If you choose to use duct tape or another strong adhesive tape to mark the lines on your pickleball court, just know that the tape will come off at some point in the near future. Even the strongest tapes start to degrade or the adhesive gets contaminated and stops sticking. This won’t happen evenly and tape could fray up in certain areas. It may even become a tripping hazard. Paint is definitely a better option.
How Much Space Do You Need Around A Pickleball Court?
As we know, the area inside the painted bounds of a pickleball court should measure 20 feet by 44 feet for an area of 880 square feet. The space around the pickleball court is crucial for allowing the full range of movement as well. A buffer zone should always be around a pickleball court so that a short sprint doesn’t end by smashing into a wall, a garden, spectators, or any other obstacles.
The ideal size of the total pickleball area (buffer zone combined with the pickleball court) will be around 1,800 square feet. Start by choosing a corner of your pickleball court. Extend the shorter baseline outwards in a straight line by an additional 5 feet. This makes the total distance between the two points along the baseline as 30 feet. Extend the longer sideline in a straight line by an additional 8 feet. This makes the total distance between the two points along the sidelines as 60 feet. Repeat these steps at the other three corners and find the final corners at the very edge of the buffer zone.