People all over the nation are beginning to play pickleball in droves. Pickleball is a similar sport to tennis but has a few different rules and equipment.
That being said, if you’re considering offering pickleball or building a court, it’s important to understand the right kinds of lighting. This can make all the difference in the quality of play.
So in this article we’ll talk about what are the lighting requirements for pickleball. That way you can make the best choice for your court.
Pickleball Lighting Requirements
Sufficient Pickleball Lighting
There needs to be enough light on the court that players can fully see everything that’s going on. They should be able to see the net, the ball, and the other players clearly. They should also be able to see the entire court. Keep in mind that in pickleball, not only is the ball smaller, but the paddle is smaller.
So lighting is even more important. Therefore you should aim to have as high of a pole height for pickleball lighting as possible. That way there are fewer shadows. On a related note:
Safety
Pickleball is one of those sports that can be played at any time of the day. It can be played in the morning, evenings, afternoons, and however long the court is open for. Of course, that all depends on having the right lighting.
That being said, crime statistics show that safety is reduced at night. One of the things that can help with that is proper light. You want to try to include as many light poles as possible to avoid areas where a potential mugger or someone else planning to commit a crime could hide.
That keeps the pickleball players safe and gives them peace of mind. It also prevents potential lawsuits on your behalf.
The Right Lighting Classes
There are three classes for pickleball. Class 1 has the highest requirements. You need an average of 750 lux of maintained horizontal illumination. You also need 450 lux for maintained vertical illumination.
Class 2 refers to competitions. This is where there may be some spectators watching a game from a certain distance. In terms of the averages, aim for 500 maintained horizontal illumination lux and 350 maintained vertical illumination lux.
Finally, there’s class 3. This is for recreational games. This might be used during gym classes, sports, or just informal meetups. This has lower lux requirements at 300 for horizontal illumination and 200 for vertical illumination. Light poles should be 20 feet high at a minimum for all classes.
CCT
The correlated color temperature for pickleball courts should be between 4000K to 5000K. Avoid lighting poles that have over 5000K of CCT.
CRI
CRI, the color rendering index, should be above 70 for pickleball courts. This offers better vision. Uniformity. Aim for a lighting uniformity of 1.7 or less. For lower classes, 2.0 is acceptable.
Stand Up To The Elements
Obviously, your court lighting should be able to withstand storms, rain, wind, sunlight, and other natural phenomena. It’s a good idea to have tempered glass installed along with your fixtures. This also protects the bulbs in case a ball happens to hit them.
Pickleball Court Lighting and Installation
The pickleball court is not just about the net or paddles. You also have to consider lighting. However, if you choose the right lighting, everything else will fall into place. Players can bring their own equipment and enjoy safe and fun activities all day long.
So if you’re ready to get a quality court, don’t hesitate. Contact the pickleball court contractors at Talbot Tennis today.