Tennis has come a long way from its aristocratic beginnings and its tradition as a country club pasttime. Tennis is now a popular global sport that attracts passionate players from every corner of the world. A key reason for tennis’ rise in popularity is the introduction of floodlights on both competition and practice courts. As a result, tennis is no longer just a social sport enjoyed by the upper class during the summertime; it’s now a competitive sport played in clubs, on public courts and in large stadiums during both the day and the night.
There’s nothing worse than having to end your match or training session simply because the sun has set. Even pros like Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych and Irina-Camelia Begu can relate to this frustration. Installing lights onto your tennis court can easily rectify that problem and ensure that the fun doesn’t end just because daylight has. Not only is lighting a necessity for night play, a well lit club also attracts more coaches and players in the long term, thus allowing your club to boost its reputation and revenue.
As people grapple with more demanding lifestyles, the demand for night tennis grows. Tennis is the perfect after-work activity for those who want to exercise and socialise after sitting at their desks during the day. Watching an enthralling tennis match is also great way to unwind. Therefore, the last thing you want is for players, spectators and coaches to lose sight of the ball in evening. Thus it’s no surprise that quality lighting has almost become a basic requirement for anyone wishing to operate a viable tennis club.
Lighting a tennis court successfully is no easy task and most often than not, is a project that will require the assistance of lighting professionals. A well-lit tennis court should have good visibility, illumination and light uniformity. When considering visibility in tennis, the brightness of the ball should be controlled against the background from which it is viewed. This means that the tennis ball in play should be visible even on the darkest nights. In tennis, where the smallest of differences often determine winners and losers, lighting uniformity is especially important. Lighting uniformity means that light across the playing surface is evenly distributed and that there are no disruptive light or dark patches on a court. The light on a well-lit tennis court should feel natural, and a well designed lighting plan will provide both players and spectators with an optimal experience. If you’re interested in getting your tennis court lit up to extend play during the dark winter months, contact the friendly team at D&A Lighting!