Pickleball is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. More than 3 million people are playing and loving this sport, and the number has been climbing yearly by 10% over the past decade. The simple nature of this sport is a huge part of its popularity.
Even without an official court, playing this sport is still possible. Nonetheless, pickleball court contractors here in Utah are on the rise because of the growing demand for available pickleball facilities. If you’d like to try pickleball at your property, you need to have the right space first.
The court’s dimension is 20×44 feet, just like a badminton court. If you have an available lot with this much space, then you can start building your own pickleball court.
Pickleball Net System
Like tennis, the net for pickleball is also hung at ground level. The height is 36 inches at the sidelines, and 34 inches in the middle. To pick the right net system, the advice of an expert will help. The net system consists of two poles, one ratchet, one pickleball net, and sleeves, which may or may not be required.
Play Area
When converting a tennis court, the standard play area dimension would be 30 by 60 feet, but if you will build a standalone court, the play area would have to be 34 by 64 feet.
Surface Material
An asphalt surface would be your most affordable option if you’re building a pickleball court from scratch, but mind that asphalt may need an additional upkeep. A concrete surface would be better because of its durability and value. You can also apply a layer of snap-together plastic over asphalt or concrete, especially if you’d like to keep the facility as a multi-use court.
Marking Lines
The court is split into two 7 feet non-volley zones on each side of the net, and two 15 feet areas outside the zones where the players stand. The 15 feet zone is split in half, one right service area, and one left service area.
To mark the court, you can use sidewalk chalks, large crayons, colored tape, or official vinyl court marker lines. Chalk and crayons are the cheapest marking tools, and either would be your best option if you don’t plan on permanently marking the surface.
If you plan on building the court indoors, the tape would be the better marking tool. It can be used for outdoor courts as well. You’re going to need several rolls of tape that would be enough to make a 200-feet line.
Vinyl court marker lines are bought in a set that includes eight straight pieces and four corner pieces. They’re made of thin rubber, and with them, you can mark a pickleball court quickly. You’d only need to lay the pieces along the lines and corners to make the court’s outlines more visible.
Perimeter Fencing
If you’re building the court in a more exposed facility, perimeter fencing is crucial. Wire fencing is the most common option, and if you’re getting one of these, make sure to choose the rust-resistant variant. To be sure, ask the assistance of a pickleball court contractor.
A 10-feet high perimeter fence is preferred, but if the top of the fence is padded, the fence can go as short as 4 feet tall.
Lighting
The lighting for pickleball courts follows a standard protocol. 1,500-watt light poles are required, and the height of each pole should be 18 to 20 feet high. The poles should also be mounted at the center and at least 24 inches back from the court. If you’re building the court at home, you may skip this step.
After setting up your pickleball court, make sure you have your paddles and whiffle ball so you can begin playing! Note that the paddles shouldn’t go over 17 inches in length, and not exceeding 24 inches when you combine its length and width.