What is a Sideline in Pickleball? All You Need to Know

Pickleball is not an extreme sport and is not bound to a specific age group and gender. It is an easy sport played by anyone and is easy to learn. Pickleball also has specific rules and regulations like each sport, necessary to follow for a smooth and fair game. What is a sideline in pickleball?

A sideline in pickleball is the line that is perpendicular to the net on each side of the court. There is a non-volley line between the sidelines on each side of the net on the pickleball court. When a ball is hit beyond the sideline in a pickleball, it is called a dead ball fault.

Boundary Lines and Sidelines of Pickleball:

Boundary lines in a court are the lines that are drawn by paint or sand in the outskirts of the court of any game which is played in a court. The same happens in pickleball, in which boundary lines are drawn to determine the ends of the court.

These lines are drawn by any materials, be it paint, sand or clay. A frequently asked question about the rules of pickleball is which type of shot is considered within the boundaries of the court. Well, the answer to this is simple.

The court’s sidelines are well prominent so that players can easily see them on both sides. If the ball physically touches the line drawn by paint or any other means, then the ball is considered to land inside the court and results in a score in favor of the team who played the shot.

While on the other hand, if the pickleball physically lands outside of the lines, without touching the court sideline, then the ball is considered outside of the court and results in a score in favor of the team which had to play the shot.

There are different lines for specific areas of the court in pickleball games. To have a regulation court, it is necessary to have precise and accurate measurements. The different court dimensions are as follows:

1. Baselines
2. Sidelines
3. Non-volley zone
4. Centerline
5. Service court

1. Baseline:

The baseline is the line in the pickleball court that runs parallel to the net at the back of the court. Whenever a player crosses the serve, the baseline should not be crossed. The baseline is 22 feet away from the net. All the lines are kept 2 inches wide with contrasting colors on the court. This makes the liens more visible and noticeable.

2. Sidelines:

The sideline is the line in the pickleball court that runs perpendicular to the net on either side of the court. It separates the in-bounds from the out-of-bounds. The ball becomes out of bounds once it passes the sidelines. The sidelines are painted with a contrasting color to the court with 2 inches wide lines.

3. Non-Volley Zone:

The non-volley zone is the area within the seven feet on both sides of the net in which volleying is not allowed. The best position for the player is behind the non-volley zone. It cannot be hit whenever a ball is in the non-volley zone.

The non-volley zone must be marked so that the players cannot get penalized. The player needs to mark the area from the net to seven-foot past on both sides of the net. A contrasting color paint can be used for this purpose.

3. Centerline:

The centerline is the line in the pickleball court that extends from the kitchen to the baseline. It divides the court into two halves. The centerline needs to start at the end of the non-volley zone at the middle point of the line, which is 15 feet.

4. Service Court:

The service court is on either side of the centerline bounded by the non-volley line, baseline, and sideline. Each player is provided their service court on the side of the court consisting of an entire area court. The service area is 10 feet wide and 15 feet long for each half of the player’s court.

Surface Specifications of Pickleball Sideline:

Pickleball courts which are professional, the grade is coated with Acrylotex-PB. It is a surface product that a contractor applies. A person can also apply a DIY Pickleball court coating. Sidelines are drawn after all the court coatings.

California Sports surfaces offer textured acrylic coatings for courts made from asphalt and concrete. Pickleball courts are similar to outdoor tennis and basketball courts and are textured with non-aggressive silica sand. It prevents the player from slipping.

Line Rules:

Lines drawn on Pickleball courts are 2 inches wide and are white. The ball is in if it lands on the exterior line, even partially. The spot on the ball touching the ground determines the call. The ball is still considered out if it has a point of contact beyond the line.

The diameter of the ball causes the raised part of the ball to hover over the line. The dimensions of the court include the dimensions of lines. The overall size of a pickleball court is 20 feet by 44 feet, and all these measurements are inclusive of lines. The 2-inch width of lines is a part of the overall measurement.

The net in the pickleball court splits the 44-foot long court into two sides in which sidelines are perpendicular to the net on each side of the court.

The Net:

The net used in the pickleball court should be 20 feet long and is made of mesh. The mesh size is kept small to prevent the ball from passing through the spaces. The net is 34 inches high at the center of the court.

There is an adjustable center strap placed at the center of the net. It helps to stabilize the net and prevent it from sagging. Net posts are placed about 12 inches past the sidelines and are attached to these posts with a cord or a cable.

Dimensions of Sidelines in Pickleball:

The lines of the pickleball court are two inches in width. The color of the sidelines of the pickleball court is white to make it contrast with the court. 

If we talk about the rules of the game determining the point scoring, then we should know that if the ball lands over the exterior line, the ball is considered to be landing inside the court. The point at which the ball makes contact with the line determines whether the ball would be in or out of the court. 

If we talk about only the court dimensions, they are made through the dimensions of the lines. The size of a pickleball court is 20X44 feet in total. This dimension is calculated by adding the 2 inches of the court sidelines.

The net is hung between the court and divides the 44 inches long court into two sides. The two baselines are drawn in the court parallel to the net and are farthest from it. The sidelines are drawn perpendicular to the net on each courtside. 

Are the Sidelines Called the Non-Volley Zones?

The non-volley zone in the pickleball court is the rectangular lines bounded by the sideline, the non-volley zone line, and the net. If we talk about the air space on the top of this line, it is not a part of the non-volley zone. 

The sidelines are the lines drawn with paint or sand to make them prominent. The sidelines of the pickleball court work as boundaries, in which the other zones lie.

Difference Between Non-Volley Zone and Sidelines: 

Non-Volley Zone	Sidelines
The non-volley zone is the area that is inside the court.	The sidelines are the lines that surround the court and the non-volley zone, together.
The non-volley zone is a part of the court.	The sidelines are the prominent lines drawn at the edges of the court, to determine the boundaries of the court.
There is a non-volley line between the sidelines and the parallel side of the net on the pickleball court.	A sideline in pickleball is the line that is perpendicular to the net on each side of the court.
The non-volley line is on each side and included in the non-volley zone with a sideline
The non-volley zone in the pickleball court is the lines drawn in rectangular forms all around the court with either paint or other materials

Purpose of Sidelines in Pickleball Court:

The purpose of the sidelines in pickleball court is these lines determine the edges and boundaries of the court, or in simple words, determine the point from which the court starts and the point at which the dimensions of the court ends.

The purpose of these lines is to make this clear, according to the rules and regulations of pickleball, that if a ball falls within the boundaries of the court, then the score would lead to being in favor of the team playing the shot. At the same time, if it falls outside of the sidelines, the score would favor the team that had to play the shot in return.

Dead Ball Fault:

A dead ball is a pickleball that a player cannot play more. Just like in other games, in pickleball, too, there are several ways to commit a fault on the pickleball court, some of which are discussed below.

Hitting the Pickleball Out of Bounds	Hitting the pickleball out of the boundaries of the court, or even on the boundaries or sidelines of the court, result in a fault, which is known as a dead ball fault. It results in a score that is in favor of the team, on whose side the ball gets dropped.
Pickleball Hitting a Permanent Object Before Bouncing	If the ball hits something that serves as a permanent object placed in the court, be it a bench, a pole, or even the referee, before bouncing, then the player or team that hit the pickleball last would have committed a fault and will lose the rally.

Also Read:

How is Pickleball Different From Tennis? Pickleball Vs Tennis
How to Practice Pickleball Alone? The 7 Must Have Drills

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What happens when a ball hits the sideline of the pickleball?

All the items which fall onto the court during the play are considered the part of the court. If a ball hits, then it is still in the play. It is advisable to leave the items on the sideline.

What lines are out of bounds in pickleball games?

If the ball physically touches the line’s paint, it is considered in. It is out of bounds if it does not touch the paint and lands outside the zone.

What is the area near the baseline in pickleball?

The area roughly a few feet inside the court from the baseline is called the backcourt.

Can a player hit the pole in a pickleball game?

The pickleball may not touch any part of the net system or net posts. A player cannot touch any part of the pickleball net, including the net itself, the posts, and any other part of the net.

Can a person serve sideways in the pickleball?

There is an underhand stroke in pickleball which means that the arm of the player is moving in an upward arc. A player cannot swing overhead or sideways to serve.

Is double hit allowed in pickleball games?

The double hit also called carry hits, is a hit legal when attempted during one continuous single direction stroke. The ball may be unintentionally hit twice or carried.

Can a player cross the center line in a pickleball game?

There are three lines in a pickleball game that a player cannot cross. These lines include the baseline, the sideline, and the centerline. The baseline is the line in front of the player. Centerline is always in the middle no matter what side the player is serving from.

Do the services need to be made underhand in pickleball?

The serve should be made underhand, in which paddle contact with the ball must be below the navel level of the server. The serve should be initiated with at least one foot behind the baseline.

Can a person bounce the ball before attempting a serve in a pickleball game?

Yes, a person can let the ball bounce as many times before hitting the serve. The serve must be hit within 10 seconds of the score being called.

Is a backhand serve considered legal in a pickleball game?

Backhand serves are difficult to perform under the serving rules of the International Pickleball Federation. The backhand serves performed high above the waist are considered illegal.

Can a person spike in a pickleball game?

There is a seven-foot no-volley zone on each side of the net. It helps prevent spiking, and players on each side must let the ball bounce once before the volleys are allowed.