Yes. A standard tennis court is more than large enough to fit a pickleball court inside it. Official guidance from the LTA confirms you can fit up to four individual pickleball courts within the footprint of a single tennis court. The two sports share enough in common that a conversion requires minimal equipment, zero permanent changes, and about ten minutes of setup time.
If you have access to a local tennis court in Nottinghamshire and want to get some extra practice in, here is exactly how the layout works.
Why the Dimensions Work
The size difference between the two courts makes temporary conversion straightforward.
A standard doubles tennis court measures 23.77 metres long by 10.97 metres wide. A pickleball court is significantly more compact at 13.41 metres long by 6.10 metres wide — identical to the footprint of a doubles badminton court, which is no coincidence since pickleball was invented on one.
Because of this size difference, you can position a single pickleball court directly over the centre of the existing tennis markings, using the permanent tennis net as your centre barrier.
Setup Options
One Court — Using the Existing Tennis Net
The fastest setup for casual practice. You use the tennis net as your centre line and mark your boundaries within the inner tennis lines.
Lower the net: Standard tennis nets sit at 91.4cm (36 inches) at the centre. A regulation pickleball net must sit at 86.4cm (34 inches) at the centre. Tighten the tennis net's centre ground strap down by five centimetres to bring it to the correct height.
Mark the kitchen lines: Measure 2.13 metres (7 feet) from both sides of the net and mark this line across the 6.1m width of your playing area to establish the non-volley zone.
Set your baselines: Measure 6.71 metres (22 feet) from the net in both directions to establish your back baselines.
Four Courts — Maximum Capacity
If you want to get more players on at once, you can fit four pickleball courts on a single tennis court. The tennis net needs to be removed or rolled back, and four courts are laid out across the full width of the tennis court — two on each side of where the tennis net was. You'll need four portable pop-up pickleball nets for this setup.
What to Watch Out For
Net sag at the edges: Lowering the tennis net centre to 86.4cm is easy, but the net remains higher at the posts since it's wider than a pickleball net. This is fine for casual practice but the net will angle upward towards the edges more than a dedicated pickleball net would.
Line clutter: Laying temporary lines over existing tennis markings can get visually confusing during fast rallies. Use a clearly contrasting colour — bright blue or orange tape against a green or red court surface works well and is easy to follow.
Surface type: Hard tennis courts work well for pickleball. Grass courts are not suitable — the lightweight plastic ball can't generate a predictable bounce on turf.
In Nottinghamshire
Most organised pickleball in Nottingham runs on dedicated sports hall courts at leisure centres — Chilwell Olympia, Let's Dink in Caunton, and other venues across the county.
But if you belong to a local community tennis club or have a park court nearby, converting it with chalk or removable tape is a good way to get extra practice between sessions. Always check with the facility or club first before applying tape — most will be happy with removable tape but it's worth asking.
For dedicated pickleball venues with regular sessions, check our Where to Play page.
New to pickleball? Our Beginners Guide covers everything you need to know before your first session.
Stay in the loop.
New courts, sessions and Notts pickleball news — delivered when it matters. No spam.
No group chats. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.