| Rule Submission Title | Net Height |
|---|---|
| USAP Board Vote | Disapproved |
| USAP Board Vote Reason | Whether the proposed net heights would change the game in the manner suggested is entirely speculative. There is no doubt that it would fundamentally change the sport. The impact of such a change on equipment design and on existing venues would be dramatic based on questionable expectations. |
| Existing Rule # | 2.C.5 |
| Proposed Rule Change | Raise the height of the net somewhere between 1 to 2 inches. So 35-36 inches in the middle and 37-38 inches at the ends. |
| Original Rule Text | Net height is 34 inches in the middle and 36 inches at the ends. |
| Reasoning Behind Suggested Change | Pickleball is turning into a version of dodgeball. I miss the days of drops and dinks. At the amateur level the game is turning into who can body bag their opponent first. Raising the net even 1 to 2 inches would reduce all the banging. USAPA took on Pickleball as it's governing body in 1984. Most players used wooden paddles then. With todays paddles younger players don't even bother with drops and dinks. Everything is hit as hard as you can to see who body bags their opponent first. I would like to see Pickleball return to being a game of skill and strategy. Currently it's turned into a version of dodgeball. Young players only learn two shots. Two-handed forehand drive and two-handed backhand drive with the intention of body bagging their opponent. And they can get to 5.0 quickly with just these two shots. |
| Scenarios In Which the Rules Applies | Modify net height. |
| Rule Book Year | 2026 |
| Rule Change ID | 2165 |
| Date Created | April 23, 2025 |
| View Comments | View Comments |
Recent Comments