Lighting is in my opinion, one of the more important aspects to a solid and usable indoor or outdoor court. Being able to play in the evening can really add to the enjoyment of owning a private court and increase the amount of use your court can get.
It can take a lot of energy to light a large indoor court and can be even harder for an outdoor court. Luckily with the development of high efficiency LED flood lighting a lot of the cost of running larger lighting units has fallen sharply. Consider incorporating a timer into your lighting system so that your lights go off after your in bed in the event you forget and leave them on.
What should we be looking for in a lighting system? Well some of that depends on what sports you would like incorporated into the court. For example, if you want to be able to play basketball as well as hockey, pickleball, badminton or volleyball you need a broad spectrum light that will evenly illuminate the court without leaving darker areas. Notice in the photo below the shadows and uneven light distribution. We want to do our best to limit these potential distractions.
We also want to ensure bright lighting that will allow the players ample time to react. A tennis ball for example is small and when traveling quickly across the court may be difficult to track and see if your lighting is poor. A tennis ball also travels a bit high at times before returning to the court. You want to make sure the ball will be well illuminated while flying in the air as well so that each player can react to its trajectory.
When dealing with lighting specifically designed for basketball we want to add in hoop area lights that really illuminate the net. We want to get rid of any shadows caused by odd placed lighting that may make shooting at the net difficult.
Don’t forget to plan your lighting in a way that makes your playing space inviting and fun. Additional lighting for pathways to your court or speciality lighting for seasonal holidays can be a great addition and make your court even more appealing and attractive.
It’s good to know that you need to clear land. My husband and I want to get a basketball court for our home. We’ll make sure to keep these tips in mind once we find a contractor that can help us with building one.