Playing pickleball outside of confined spaces feels so enticing. You find a territory fit enough to be your pickleball field and then you start setting up your portable net, imagining the satisfying thwack of the ball against your paddle.
While the idea of transforming an ordinary patch of ground into your own arena of playful battle certainly gives you the freedom you always needed to spring your “Pickle-wings”, setting up a portable net might seem like a tricky feat, considering the fact that a series of unexpected twists and turns await before the first volley can even begin.
In this article, we are going to discuss How To Select A Portable Pickleball net and even compare portable pickleball nets and permanent pickleball nets highlighting their key features, benefits, and drawbacks so you can attain a tailored experience.
Portable Nets? Is That Even A Thing?
You might be surprised that the sport Pickleball has evolved so much that there are people setting up fields as long as it’s feasible for the game. In that case, Portable Pickleball nets come into play ensuring that a quick game of pickleball is always within reach, no matter where you find yourself.
In short, Yes, portable pickleball nets are definitely a thing, and they are incredibly amazing for a whole host of reasons, while some are pretty much obvious, like convenience, there are less obvious perks too.
Think of it like a basketball hoop, you don’t need a dedicated court to get in a fun workout and improve your skills as you could easily set it up in your driveway, a parking lot, or pretty much anywhere with a flat surface. And that’s exactly why they are incredibly flexible which adds to the overall convenience and accessibility of playing pickleball.
How To Select A Portable Pickleball Net?
Selecting a portable pickleball net isn’t exactly rocket science, but there are a couple of key elements to look for when investing in one. Below, I will be illuminating a couple of fundamental features so you can attain the right idea.
- Traversal Aspect & Use Case
My biggest pet peeve regarding a net has always been a pickleball net which lacks portability, which completely defeats the purpose of having a portable net in the first place. You don’t want to invest in something that is cumbersome to transport and set up especially if you are really new to it.
If you want to follow my advice, a good portable net should be lightweight, easy to assemble, and fold down into a compact carrying bag. As long as it follows the rules of Pickleball’s official guidelines, you are all set. No need to get your hands on those fancy nets that seem unnecessary and only offer gimmicks that don’t really serve any purpose except to make the whole net ever bulkier.
However, it also increases the price tag, which is a big “no-no” if you are on a budget.
- Stable & Reliable
Equipment failure is the biggest culprit behind frowns and stinky eyes on the pickleball in the Pickleball field. Don’t be a bummer for your team, try to invest in a net that’s sturdy and durable. A reliable net shouldn’t wobble during play, and its materials should withstand the elements.
Make sure the net you put your hard-earned cash into has an engineered base, strong netting, and secure connections. In other words, you want something that stays put and doesn’t get tangled. Ask for a quick demonstration from the shopkeeper of your local sporting goods store, it’s better that you verify the thing is actually fit for the job rather than worry about it later.
In this way, you can make sure the net fits your expectations and avoid the hassle of returns or exchanges later on. It also gives you an idea of the weight of the net, the ease of assembly, and the overall sturdiness of the setup.
- Follows The Official Rules
For casual or recreational playstyle, you could simply pick anything and call it a Portable net. But then again why would you be spending so much only for it to be useless if you actually plan it for serious or competitive gameplay?
In that case, make sure you buy a Portable net that follows official rules and regulations set by the USA Pickleball Association (or your governing body). This ensures fair play and prepares you for any potential tournaments you might want to participate in, in case you are practicing in places with your buddies where you don’t have access to a real court.
In technical terms, the exact dimension specifications of a regulation pickleball net are:
- Width: 22 feet across
- Height at sidelines: 36 inches
- Height at center: 34 inches
Fortunately enough, these sorts of pickleball nets aren’t too expensive and offer a great blend of affordability and functionality. That way, you can hone your competitive edge without breaking the bank.
- Long Lasting & Durable
As an added bonus, it never hurts to check for additional warranties or any other coverage provided through post-purchase customer service. This gives you a safety net in case you run into issues or need replacement parts for your net. It also goes without saying that a good warranty shows the company stands behind its product and values customer satisfaction.
In other words, this additional step would ensure your investment is safe and secure in the long run.
Setting Up Your Net
It might seem like a massive feat but trust me, once you follow the steps down below, you will be ready to play in no time!
- First of all, you need to find a place that is flat and relatively level to ensure your net stands properly and the game plays fairly.
- Keep in mind that if you want to adhere to the rules even in casual settings, make sure both sides at least have enough space for the full 22-foot width of the court.
- Next, you need to start unpacking, taking your time to identify each piece of the net and where it goes in the assembly. If you do not have any idea how each part corresponds with each other, carefully read the instruction manual to attain a sense of how all the pieces fit together to form the base and support the net.
- As for the assembling part, once you figure out the relation between parts as per the instruction manual, connect them securely, listen for the satisfying click of the snap locks, and apply some weight on it just to be sure.
- Now, make sure both sides of the net are well-adjusted and have a height of 36 inches at the sidelines, with a slight dip to 34 inches in the center, this is as per the USA Pickleball rulebook, guaranteeing your net adheres to tournament standards.
- Since you would be playing in fields where the surface might not be stable enough to support it, make sure you utilize any anchoring features provided with your net to prevent it from tipping over. Additionally, you could even sandbags or other heavy objects to weigh down the base.
- This support will ensure the net doesn’t sag or droop excessively, especially in heavy winds or when a powerful smash needs to be returned.
- And that’s it, your portable pickleball net is ready for some action!
What’s The Difference Between Portable Pickleball Nets Vs. Permanent Pickleball Nets
Here are some fundamental differences that illuminate the discrepancies between these variants.
- Anchoring Factor
The first and foremost aspect between a portable Pickleball net and vs Permanent Pickleball net is the fact that you could literally use a portable Pickleball net anywhere you see fit or as long the surface is flat and reliable to be used.
The plug-and-play aspect of a portable pickleball net gives you the freedom to transform parks, driveways, or even beaches into your own pickleball arena. Since your game is always within reach you could play wherever and whenever the mood strikes.
On the other hand, a permanent net might be a better choice for dedicated courts where stability and longevity are top priorities. It is usually anchored directly into the ground which is why they are considered less versatile when compared to its counterpart.
- Assembling Time
This aspect is a bit tricky to understand as individuals often see a portable pickleball net as a complex setup, but the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Modern portable pickleball nets feature intuitive designs and quick-connect mechanisms for a hassle-free assembly process.
This means you spend more time playing and less time fiddling with parts, however, the case with a permanent pickleball net could be argued over this aspect, which is assembled only once, or at least when it is needed which is mostly for a longer duration of time which usually reaches up to months or even a year in a traditional court.
In that case, you might prioritize stability and longevity instead of rapid setup and takedown. Nevertheless, the difference is yet more pronounced in terms of a portable Pickleball net, providing a special value.
- Strong & Durable
This element contests the crown when a permanent pickleball net is compared to a temporary one because, in terms of integrity, it’s safe to assume that a permanent net, built with heavier materials and meant to withstand constant exposure to the elements, often possesses greater resilience.
This key element should be pretty obvious because a temporary Pickleball net might be much cheaper and is only meant for a quick fix and therefore you cannot expect it to last as long as its counterpart.
- Price Tags
However, price tags are where a temporary pickleball net shines brightest because lesser cost production ensures they are incredibly cheaper and easier to attain. They are also less bulky to the material used in it as as portability is a key focus for a temporary pickleball net.
On the other hand, you can easily expect a fixed pickleball court to cost you an arm and limb since it is designed to cater to professional players on the court, whether it’s public or private confinement.
They are also considerably bulkier and require finesse to set up since professional courts require accuracy in terms of dimension specifications.
- Maintenance Aspect
As mentioned above, the “plug and play” aspect makes the portable nets so much easier to maintain and doesn’t require you to pay any mind to it since they are usually made from rust-resistant and lightweight materials such as aluminum frames and durable nylon or polyethylene netting which further minimizes the upkeep required.
Meanwhile, a permanent net might require more attention, from re-tightening the net to addressing potential wear and tear caused by constant exposure to the elements especially in harsh weather conditions where the elements used in them such as wood or non-galvanized metal parts might become vulnerable to deterioration.
There is also the possibility of iron nuts and bolts involved which are also prone to rust and oxidation which ruins the integrity of a net over time if proper countermeasures aren’t taken in time.
In Conclusion
It is considerably easy to make rookie mistakes when selecting a Portable Pickleball net, after all, there are so many options that could lead you astray from the one that is the most suitable for your needs and situation.
Taking that into account, I am fairly certain that my guide on How To Select A Portable Pickleball Net will give you a brief idea as I have highlighted key fundamentals you might be looking out for when picking a portable net of your choice.
