As one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, pickleball is everywhere, but does pickleball damage tennis courts? That’s what we’re going to find out!
In recent years, the number of pickleball enthusiasts taking to the court has grown exponentially.
However, as it’s still a relatively new sport, dedicated pickleball courts are still few and far between.
With the similarities between pickleball and tennis, many pickleball games are being played on tennis courts.
Many tennis court owners and players are complaining about the potential damage pickleball is having on the hard courts, but is there any truth to the rumors?
Let’s dive in and find out more!
Does Pickleball Damage Tennis Courts?
The short answer is we don’t think pickleball damages tennis courts.
There have been one-off incidents of pickleball players putting temporary adhesive pickleball lines down on a tennis court, which caused a lot of damage, but the game itself seems to be damage-free.
That being said, as pickleball is a new sport, there hasn’t been the opportunity to see if there’s any long-term damage being done.
Do Wiffle Balls Damage Tennis Courts?
Out of the different pieces of pickleball equipment that can cause damage to tennis courts, the least likely is the wiffle ball.
These lightweight, plastic balls have hardly any weight to them, so the chances of causing any permanent damage to the surface of a tennis court are super low.
In fact, wiffle balls are a lot lighter than tennis balls, so it’s a lot more likely that tennis balls would damage the court.
Do Pickleball Paddles Damage Tennis Courts?
Pickleball paddles are a lot smaller than tennis rackets and are made out of lightweight graphite, carbon fiber, fiberglass, or wood.
As a result, there’s very limited damage that a pickleball paddle can do. Actually, it’s a lot more similar to a table tennis paddle than a tennis racket.
Overall, if you drop a pickleball paddle, you’ll probably damage your paddle more than any hard court playing surface.
Do Pickleball Lines Damage Tennis Courts?
Okay, so we’ve briefly mentioned this, but the only real recorded incidents of pickleball damaging tennis courts come from players drawing the pickleball lines on the court.
For reference, a pickleball court is half the size of a standard tennis court, so you need to redraw the lines to be able to play without confusion.
Most pickleball players use temporary adhesive tape or chalk to draw the lines without causing significant damage.
However, over time, these lines can become more noticeable and mean that the tennis court needs its lines repainted or even resurfaced.
If you’re drawing out the dimensions of a pickleball court on a tennis court, try to be as light-touch as you can so there isn’t a lasting impact.
Why Don’t Tennis Players Like Pickleball Being Played on Tennis Courts?
Honestly, there are a few reasons why tennis players don’t like pickleball being played on their courts.
Firstly, there are a couple of big differences when it comes to the setup of the game.
As you can fit two pickleball courts in a standard tennis court, you need to redraw new lines for the service area, including the service line, and the center line.
This can sometimes damage the existing tennis court and slows down transitions between matches.
Another difference between pickleball and tennis is the height of the net.
The net height for a tennis net tends to be 42 inches at the net posts and 36 inches at the middle of the net.
This has to be tweaked for pickleball as there’s a lower net height of 36 inches at either end of the net and 32 inches in the center.
It’s a minor adjustment, but it is something that eats into playing time.
Finally, as a pickleball court is half the size of a tennis court, some tennis players see it as a waste of a full court.
However, despite the growing popularity of pickleball, there aren’t that many permanent pickleball courts around to use instead!
How Can Pickleball Players Prevent Damage To A Tennis Court?
There are a few things that pickleball players can do the prevent damage to a tennis court and they’re all relatively straightforward fixes.
First of all, make sure you have the right gear.
Use a proper wiffle ball and try and get your hands on a rounded pickleball paddle so that you don’t scratch or scuff the existing tennis lines.
If you are drawing out temporary lines, make sure you only use a light touch and stay behind to make sure that they’re all cleared off before you leave.
Not only does this protect the court, but it also prevents confusion over which lines are in play.
Finally, make sure you sweep the court after you finish.
This is just good etiquette for any paddle sport, especially if you’re playing on a public court where a lot of people are using the court each day.
It’s this kind of easy and regular maintenance that keeps the courts in good condition year after year.
What’s the Best Surface to Play Pickleball On?
Given the similarities between tennis and pickleball, it’ll come as no surprise that you can play pickleball on hard courts, clay, or grass surfaces.
The most popular and best surface to play pickleball on tends to be a hard court that has a little bit of bounce to protect your knees.
This is common among hard tennis court surfaces, basketball courts, and more.
However, as you need a net and similar court lines to a tennis court, very few pickleball players try and play on a basketball court, unless they have a portable pickleball net.
If you’re in an area where clay court tennis is more popular, you can also play pickleball on this surface, but you’ll just have to adapt your play style to suit the surface, the same as in tennis!
Where Else Can You Play Pickleball?
Now that we’ve established that the best surface to play pickleball on is a hard but springy surface, where else can you play pickleball that isn’t a local tennis court?
Pickleball Court
Of course, if you’re lucky enough to have a permanent pickleball court in your area, it’s best to play here.
Then you don’t need to waste time measuring out and drawing new lines, and adjusting net heights. It’s a win-win situation!
Badminton Court
As badminton courts have the same dimensions as a tennis court, you can easily play pickleball here.
You’ll still have to redraw the lines and lower the net height as badminton has a much higher net than pickleball, but the plus point is that badminton courts are often indoors.
This means you’re not having to deal with adverse weather or winds. The downside is that you have to be really careful not to damage the shiny springboard hard court!
Etiquette Tips for Playing Pickleball on a Tennis Court
Okay, let’s round out this guide with a few etiquette tips for playing pickleball on a tennis court.
After all, you don’t want to be annoying the members of your local tennis club and be left with nowhere to play!
Be Patient
At every tennis court or club across the land, there are a limited number of courts that you can play on, so you need to be patient.
Wait until the previous game is fully completed and don’t try to rush them into finishing.
Yes, it eats into your playing time to set up your pickleball court, but that’s not their problem!
Being patient and waiting your turn is the polite thing to do and makes tennis players a lot more receptive when you start making all your court adjustments.
Be Respectful
Look, no one likes a court hog!
Even though a pickleball game is typically shorter than a tennis match, the extra time it takes to adapt the court in the first place and then put it back in its original condition can mean that you’re taking up more time than the tennis players would.
Usually, there’s a two-hour slot given on public tennis courts, and with a pickleball game lasting anywhere up to 75 minutes, you need to be speedy when you’re sorting out your setup.
The respect aspect also goes for your behavior at the club or court.
If a member or the owner comes across and has a problem with you adjusting the court, you’ve got to be calm and willing to move on.
After all, it’s their tennis court.
Clean Up After Yourself
This should be a given in any sport when you’re playing in a communal space, but please clean up after yourself.
That means sweeping the court, getting rid of the temporary lines, returning the net to the correct height for tennis, and picking up any water bottles or equipment around the edge of the court.
Although this eats into your playing slot, it’s the respectful thing to do considering that you’re using a tennis court in a way that’s different from its original purpose.
Leave the court as you found it, if not in a better condition!
Summary: Does Pickleball Damage Tennis Courts?
There hasn’t been any evidence to show that playing pickleball damages tennis courts.
However, some players have caused damage by drawing new pickleball lines on tennis courts using more permanent materials, rather than temporary chalk or adhesive tape.
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