Are pickleball and tennis nets the same height?
The height of the net at the center of the court is 34" in pickleball and 36" in tennis. In tennis, there should be an adjustable center-strap to allow for adjusting the net height. Some pickleball courts also have center-straps, though it's not as common nor required.
In pickleball, the net height is also measured at the sidelines and should be 36" tall. In tennis, the net height is measured at the posts and should be 42" tall.
In pickleball, there is no difference in net measurements whether playing doubles or singles. In tennis, however, the "net posts" should be located closer together for singles. This is often accomplished by putting temporary "sticks" 3 feet outside of the sidelines.
In both pickleball and tennis, the net being lower in the middle offers a strategic advantage to hitting toward the center of the court. There is more of a difference in tennis, but even the two-inch difference in pickleball can make all the difference. Considering the actual pickleball itself is just under 3 inches in diameter, that means that the difference is 2/3rds the size of the entire ball and can often be the difference between making it over or being stopped by the net.
Asked on
Dec 17th, 2022
Dec 17th, 2022
