Portable pickleball net or in-ground posts: which fits your backyard?
A portable net fits a space that has other jobs, like a driveway or a patio, because the Rally Deluxe and the Selkirk QuickSet both set up in about 5 minutes and pack into a bag, and both are built for the rulebook’s 34 in height at the center. In-ground posts fit a pad that is only for the court, because Dominator’s posts sit in sleeves set in concrete footings that you dig, pour and leave to cure for 72 hours.
The three nets side by side
| Rally Deluxe | Selkirk QuickSet | Dominator in-ground | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | About 32 lb | 9 lb 1 oz | Not published |
| Setup | About 5 minutes | Under 5 minutes, no tools | Two concrete footings, 72 hours to cure |
| Storage | Nylon bag; size not listed | Bag, packed 36 × 6¾ × 5½ in | Posts lift out; caps close the sleeves |
| Net height | 34 in at the center | 36 in at the end posts, 34.25 in in the middle | Posts set to 36 in; center checked at 34 in |
| Height adjustment | Not stated | Not stated | Height collar on each post |
The rulebook sets the net at 36 in where it crosses the sidelines and 34 in at the center, each within a quarter inch (Rule 3.B.6 and 3.B.7), with 22 ft between the inside faces of the posts (Rule 3.B.2). Selkirk’s 34.25 in is at the top of that tolerance. Measure the center after setup.
When a portable net makes sense
Pick a portable net when the court shares its space with cars or chairs. Selkirk lists parks, driveways and pre-painted courts for the QuickSet, which weighs under a third of the Rally.
Our example driveway is 64 × 24 ft, and the checker fits the 20 × 44 ft court with 10 ft behind each baseline but only 2 ft beside each sideline. That is 3 ft short of the 5 ft that USA Pickleball’s 60 × 30 ft minimum playing surface leaves. A portable net does not fix that, but the cars can come back when you finish. See the two car driveway guide.
When in-ground posts make sense
Posts suit a pad that is only for pickleball, ideally the 64 × 34 ft that USA Pickleball recommends for new construction. Dominator’s round post instructions ask for:
- Two holes 36 in deep, 24 in across at the top and 30 in at the bottom, adjusted for local frost and soil.
- Concrete to 16 in below the surface, then the sleeves set flush and 22 ft apart, inside face to inside face.
- The rest of the hole filled, then 72 hours to cure.
Dominator’s product page adds: call 811 to mark buried utility lines before you dig. The posts lift out and caps close the sleeves flush, so the pad can be used for other things.
List prices
Each maker’s own list price, not a sale price, recorded on 2026-10-25 and unchanged when we looked again on 2026-10-26.
| Net | List price |
|---|---|
| Rally Deluxe Portable Net System | $189.95 |
| Selkirk QuickSet Net | $120 |
| Dominator in-ground posts with net and sleeves | $699 |
The Dominator price does not include concrete or digging.
The three nets
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Portable net
Rally Deluxe Portable Net System
Steel frame, 22 ft regulation width, carry bag included, about 5 minutes to set up.
Price checked 2026-10-25.
Specs, price and source
Manufacturer's list price, checked 2026-10-25: $189.95.
Specs and price from the manufacturer’s page.
Rally is PickleballCentral’s own brand, so its store is the manufacturer’s page.
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Portable net, lighter
Selkirk QuickSet Net
Steel frame, 21 ft 11 in wide, tool-free setup, about 9 lb.
Price checked 2026-10-25.
Specs, price and source
Manufacturer's list price, checked 2026-10-25: $120.
Specs and price from the manufacturer’s page.
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Permanent net system
Dominator Pickleball Posts with Net and Sleeves
In-ground aluminum posts with sleeves and net included, 36 in at the posts. Round or square posts, in brushed aluminum or black.
Price checked 2026-10-25.
Specs, price and source
Manufacturer's list price, checked 2026-10-25: $699.
Specs and price from the manufacturer’s page.
The Amazon link is for round posts in silver.
Sources and what we left out
- 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, Rule 3.A.3 and 3.B: playing surface, net height and post spacing. Read 2026-10-06.
- PickleballCentral, Rally Deluxe Portable Net System: specs and list price. Read 2026-10-26.
- Selkirk, QuickSet Net: specs and list price. Read 2026-10-26.
- Dominator, In Ground Pickleball Posts & Nets System: specs, 811 and list price. Read 2026-10-26.
- Dominator, Round In-Ground Pickleball Net assembly guide (model RPB-IG2, revised 5.19.26): footings and post height. Read 2026-10-26.
We left out wind and outdoor life, because the makers publish no figures for them, and the Dominator weight, which is not published. We read the round post guide; square posts have their own. The footing sizes are Dominator’s guideline, so check frost depth and soil locally.