DIY Pickleball Court

Standing as a sport that contains the elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, pickleball is emerging as a popular pastime for people of all ages. But perhaps you love it so much that you want to create your own court; is it possible?

The good news is that it is possible! And the even better news is, it’s relatively easy.

If you wish to make your court look and feel as professional as possible, there are several companies around Austin that are available to construct your dream pickleball court.

However, we’re here to talk about the pleasure you get from doing it yourself, and how to do it.

In fact, it is so popular to simply build your own that the USA Pickleball website offers a comprehensive guide on how to build your own court. And whether you are a pro in the making, or just love whacking the ball around with friends on a weekend, this guide offers ways to make all your DIY pickleball dreams come true.

Layout and Lines

The layout of a pickleball court is laid out fairly clearly. While everything has a specific measurement, these are easily accessible through the USA Pickleball website; complete with visual diagrams for those visual learners.

Depending on how serious you are about your pickleball court, you can use everything from duct tape to crayons to professional white paint to mark out the lines. This can also come in handy if you are more interested in creating a less-professional-orientated court and more of a fun weekend activity. Simply lay down some tape when the time for a game comes, and then remove it once the game is over. USA Pickleball actually recommends using tape for most DIY projects.

For more detailed instructions, USA Pickleball has a PDF version of the court layout available for free on their Do It Yourself Guidelines page.

Netting

Pickleball nets should be a mesh material, thereby making sure that balls are not able to pass through the net.

The length and height of a net is a little similar to tennis nets, with pickleball nets specifically having a length of 21 feet and 9 inches, at least 30 inches wide, 36 inches tall at the sidelines and 34 inches tall in the center.

The net can’t be more than 3 inches in diameter and should be covered with tape along the top.

Surface

The surface itself is very important. If you are using a soft surface, the ball won’t bounce as well, so be sure to find a flat, solid surface, such as a driveway or any place that is concrete or asphalt (USA Pickleball mentions cul-de-sacs as another good possibility). However if you are looking for something more official, there are companies that provide paving specifically for pickleball courts.

If you are feeling really adventurous, you can do more research and create your own surface for pickleball, but be aware it will be a longer and more arduous project.

If you are not feeling adventurous, you can always reach out to a company that builds pickleball courts for a more expensive, but professionally done pickleball court.

Direction

Pickleball is a little unique in the aspect that it is recommended to orientate your court north-south. This allows for a more fair advantage for players; keeping the sun out of both player’s eyes, shadows being cast on the court, and various other elemental concerns.

Conclusion

Whether you go the route of tape on the ground or reach out to professional contractors, the result is a rewarding pickleball court that you can enjoy with friends and family.