Pickleball has gained huge popularity relatively recently considering its invention in the 1980s. This has led to a shortage of available courts for people to play on and left many people wondering if they can play on tennis nets or create their own courts.
In this article, we'll tackle the basics of a pickleball net.
Common questions for pickleball nets:
- How tall is a pickleball net?
- How wide is a pickleball net?
- Can a pickleball net drape on the floor?
- Can you reach over the pickleball net?
What is the official pickleball net height?
The pickleball net hangs 34 inches tall in the middle of the court and 36 inches tall at each sideline.
Much like the net in tennis, the net in pickleball is different at the middle of the court and at the sidelines. This makes is advantageous to hit the ball down the middle of the court because it can be hit lower. Hitting down the sideline comes with an added degree of difficulty and higher net.
Most permanent nets will have a crank on one of the posts to help raise and lower the net. No judgment here, if you want to be the person that carries a tape measure in their bag and adjusts the net before a match. Net straps are also a quick way to adjust the net height before starting a match. They are usually velcro and can be tightened to lower the height of the net or can be loosened to raise the net.
How wide is a pickleball net?
The pickleball net should be at least 21 feet 9 inches wide however most nets are 22 feet wide. It extends past each sideline, 1 foot on each side. This is an important part of the game because the ball is not required to pass over the net.
Players can hit the ball around the post which is known as an ATP. The net extending past the sideline makes this more difficult and more impressive when it happens.
Here is what USA Pickleball says about the net width:
Thomas Shields
Can the pickleball net drape on the floor?
A pickleball net can drape slightly on the floor so long as the height remains at regulation level. USA pickleball even has a rule for when the ball hits a draping net:
Can you reach over the pickleball net?
Your body or paddle cannot cross the plane of the net unless the ball has crossed it first. If you hit the ball onto your opponent's side and your paddle follow-through crosses the net, then that is a legal shot.
Adam Forziati
How high is a pickleball net in feet?
At its tallest point (the sidelines), a pickleball net is exactly 3 feet. The net drapes slightly in the center and is 34 inches tall.
How high is a pickleball net in the middle?
The middle of a pickleball net stands at 34 inches tall
How high is a pickleball net supposed to be?
The middle of a pickleball net should be 34 inches tall and the sidelines should be 36 inches tall.
How tall is a pickleball net compared to a tennis net?
A pickleball net is 2 inches smaller than a tennis net in the middle at 34 inches vs 36 inches. A pickleball net is 6 inches smaller than a tennis net at the sidelines at 36 inches vs 42 inches. A pickleball net is 22 feet wide vs a tennis net at 42 feet wide.
