No court nearby? Your driveway will do. With a tape measure, sidewalk chalk, a portable net and outdoor balls, you can mark a play area that fits the space you have. Here's how to size it, chalk it, keep it safe around cars and the street, and pick a set the whole household can play with.

A regulation pickleball court is 20 feet by 44 feet of playing area, with a 7-foot non-volley zone on each side of a 36-inch net. Here is the working guide to building a real, playable court at home — from a driveway taping job to a permanent backyard install.