Lighting is required for indoor tennis courts and outside
courts when no natural light is available. It is important because it:
- extends the playing time of a court;
- attracts more coaches and players; and
- achieves an increase in revenue from court hiring fees.
When lighting a tennis court, the objective is to ensure
good visibility enabling both participants and spectators to follow the
progress of a game. The ball, regardless of its location and speed, should
always be clearly visible. Creating good visibility requires sufficient
contrast to be created between objects and their backgrounds, good illumination
levels and even distribution of light across the playing surface (uniformity).
It is important to note that lighting design and
installation requires specialist engineering knowledge and must be carried out
by competent experienced professionals following the guidelines required by
government or any other relevant authorities.
It is also important to note that this guide is not intended
to provide lighting recommendations and solutions in case of television
coverage for which specialist knowledge is required.
General
considerations
When planning a
lighting installation, the following general design issues should be
considered:
- The intended standard of play – this will govern the
dimensions of the courts, the level of illumination, uniformity, etc.
- Relevant government requirements and permissions in force
locally.
- Installation and running costs, including maintenance,
heating or cooling and light source replacement.
- Access to and the cost of a suitable power supply.