There’s nothing quite as frustrating as showing up to your local courts, ready to play pickleball, only to find every court full and a line of players waiting. Meanwhile, right next door, there are empty tennis courts just sitting there, practically calling your name.

We’ve all been in that situation. And sometimes, when the wait is too long, you’ve got to get creative and make do with what’s available.

Here’s how you can play pickleball on a tennis court.

The pickleball net

The simplest way to play pickleball on a tennis court is to lower the tennis net to 34 inches at the center. You can do this by adjusting the center strap, and if needed, loosening the tension using the ratchet on the net post so the net drops more easily.

While using the much wider tennis net for pickleball means you won't be able to hit ATP (Around-The-Post) shots, it's a very easy way to get started playing without additional equipment.

However, if portable nets are available or you’ve brought your own, you can skip adjusting the tennis net altogether. Just set out the portable net on one half of the tennis court, making sure to leave enough out-of-bounds area to play on around the edges of the pickleball court itself.

If the pickleball lines are already painted or taped on, you’re all set to start playing.

If not, you’ll need to tape out the lines yourself before getting started. Painters tape is the best to use for this because it re-adheres to the court surface after rain. Here's an example of a commonly used brand called "Frog Tape" on Amazon.

Taping out pickleball court lines

Some tennis courts have adapted to the rise of pickleball by adding dedicated court lines, usually painted in a different color like yellow or orange to distinguish them from the tennis markings.

But if those lines aren’t already in place, you’ll need to get to work.

Before you start taping lines, check with the facility to make sure it’s allowed. These are shared, community courts, so be mindful and respectful of others using the space.

There are a few different ways to set up a pickleball court on a tennis court. You can create one pickleball court per tennis court, fit two courts (one on either side of the tennis net), or even set up four pickleball courts depending on the space and layout of the tennis court.

If you include the space needed for out-of-bounds areas, a standard tennis court is 60 ft x 120 ft, while a standard pickleball court requires 30 ft x 60 ft. Here's a quick bird's eye view of what four pickleball courts on a tennis court would look like:

Dimensions of four pickleball courts on a 60 ft by 120 ft standard tennis court. Credit: Pickleball Hub

Pickleball court dimensions

If you're unsure about what the exact measurements are for a pickleball court and need a quick reference to guide you, watch this quick video with official dimensions and court diagrams.

Have you temporarily converted a tennis court to match your pickleball needs? Let us know on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).