with one or two tennis courts. For sites with three or more tennis courts, every effort should be made to utilize Options 1 or 2 because of the sustained growth and increasing public demand for both sports. Diagrams( which can be accessed through USTA’ s Tennis Venue Services Department) illustrate how lines can be added to courts to facilitate play.
If considering adding or converting courts or adding any playing lines, use a skilled court contractor. The American Sports Builders Association( ASBA) has a free online directory( www. sportsbuilders. org) that allows visitors to look up industry members by geographic area, specialty or other criteria.
DIFFERING REQUIREMENTS Even if the player numbers weren’ t a problem, the requirements of both sports are different enough that adding pickleball lines to courts does not create a satisfactory playing experience.
Just as with softball and baseball diamonds, tennis and pickleball courts are very different sizes. Additionally, pickleball nets are lower than those for tennis and, unlike a tennis net, the bottom edge of a pickleball net does not touch the court.
Friction between players of the two sports has also been caused by the sound the pickleball paddle makes when it hits the ball; USA Pickleball, the governing body, has been working on the development of a category of products that reduce the sound.
Photo courtesy of RWD Landscape Architects
GETTING INPUT FROM USER GROUPS Much pressure is being put on those tasked with management of sports facilities. In many cases, the requests are to add courts for sports like pickleball; while in others, it may be a plea to conserve playing areas for tennis, as well as for other existing sports, such as basketball, or even recreational areas like tot lots and playgrounds.
The bottom line is that if only one group is heard from, it’ s easy to discount the needs of the others. For that reason, it is essential to gather input from all user groups prior to embarking on any conversions, construction or other changes.
Tennis and pickleball may not be hugging it out any time soon, but by not rushing to add lines to courts, it is possible to help the two sports exist peacefully.
Photo courtesy of Suburban Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Photo courtesy of Nidy Sports Construction Co., Inc.
Mary Helen Sprecher wrote this article on behalf of the American Sports Builders Association( ASBA). For more information, visit www. sportsbuilders. org
sportsfieldmanagementonline. com February 2026 | SportsField Management
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