How to prevent glare for players on an indoor padel court

You prevent glare for players on an indoor padel court first and foremost by placing the LED lighting at the right height and at the right angle, outside the players' direct field of view. The lux value, the type of fitting and the reflective properties of the glass also play an important role. In this article we answer the most frequently asked questions about lighting and glare on an indoor padel court, so that you make the right choices in a new-build project or renovation.

Which light sources cause glare on an indoor padel court?

On an indoor padel court there are two main causes of glare: direct light from poorly placed fittings and indirect light reflected via glass walls. Both forms disturb the players' view of the ball, which not only reduces enjoyment of the game but also brings safety risks.

Direct glare occurs when fittings hang too low or are mounted at an angle that falls straight into the players' field of view. This is most disruptive with high balls and smashes, when players look up. Indirect light is more subtle but at least as annoying: glass walls reflect light beams back onto the playing area, especially when fittings are positioned close to the glass or have a wide beam angle.

A third factor that is often underestimated is the contrast between lit and unlit zones. When the lighting is unevenly distributed, players' eyes have to adapt constantly to changing light levels. This tires the eyes and increases the likelihood of glare effects.

What is the recommended lux value for an indoor padel court?

For a recreational indoor padel court, the recommended illuminance is at least 300 to 500 lux, measured at floor level. For competition level the standard is higher: official tournaments require at least 500 lux, and for television broadcasts even stricter requirements of 750 lux or more apply.

Lux is a measure of the amount of light that falls on a surface. A lux value that is too low makes it hard to follow the ball, while a value that is too high, without a good choice of fitting, can cause glare. So it is not only about the amount of light, but also about its uniformity across the entire playing area.

A good rule of thumb is that the illuminance at any point on the court may not deviate more than 30 percent from the average. This prevents the dark corners and bright spots that players find disturbing. When designing an indoor padel court, it is wise to have a lighting plan drawn up in which the lux distribution is calculated per zone.

How does the placement of LED fittings prevent glare?

Glare from LED lighting on an indoor padel court is prevented first and foremost by placing fittings outside the players' field of view. In concrete terms, this means: mounting fittings at the sides of the court rather than above the centre, and directing the light beam downwards with a limited beam angle.

The most effective approach combines three principles:

• High mounting position: fittings are preferably mounted at a height of at least 6 metres, so that they fall well outside the normal field of view. The minimum clear height for a padel hall is 6 metres, which is also the lower limit for a good lighting solution.
• Asymmetric light beam: fittings with an asymmetric distribution pattern light the court in a targeted way, without wasting light towards the players' eyes or the ceiling.
• Side mounting: by placing fittings along the long sides of the court instead of directly above the playing area, the risk of direct glare with high balls is greatly reduced.

The distance to the glass is also relevant. Fittings that hang too close to the glass walls cause reflections that are perceived as glare. A minimum distance of 50 to 80 centimetres from the glass is recommended, depending on the type of fitting and the beam angle.

Which LED fittings are most suitable for padel courts?

The most suitable LED fittings for an indoor padel court are sports-field-specific fittings with a high IP rating, a low UGR value (Unified Glare Rating) and an asymmetric light pattern. This combination provides sufficient illuminance without glare.

When selecting fittings, the following technical characteristics are decisive:

• UGR value: the UGR indicates how glaring a fitting is. For sports fields a maximum UGR of 22 applies. The lower the value, the less glare. Fittings with a UGR below 19 are ideal for intensive use.
• IP rating: for indoor padel courts an IP65 rating is recommended. This protects the fitting against dust and splashing water, which greatly extends its lifespan.
• Colour temperature: a colour temperature of 4000 to 5000 Kelvin (neutral to cool white) is optimal for sports fields. This improves contrast and the visibility of the ball.
• Light efficiency: choose fittings with a high lumens-per-watt efficiency to keep energy costs low without compromising lighting quality.

Fittings designed specifically for padel and tennis generally deliver better results than generic industrial lighting, because they are optimised for the specific height-to-width ratio of a playing area.

Does the glass structure play a role in glare on an indoor padel court?

Yes, the glass structure plays a direct role in glare on an indoor padel court. Glass reflects light, and depending on the angle of the fittings and the position of the players, this reflected light can be perceived as disturbing or glaring. Laminated or tempered glass with a low reflection coefficient reduces this effect.

Standard padel courts use tempered safety glass that is 10 to 12 millimetres thick. This glass naturally has a certain degree of reflection. A good lighting design takes this into account by positioning the fittings so that the light beam does not fall directly on the glass at an angle that bounces back towards the playing area.

A practical point of attention is the back glass wall. Players regularly look towards the back wall while playing, and if fittings on the opposite side of the court reflect via this glass, a glare effect arises that is hard to avoid without adjusting the fitting position. This is a reason to regard lighting design and glass placement as a whole, not as two separate parts of a construction project.

What are the most common mistakes in the lighting of an indoor padel court?

The most common mistakes in the lighting of an indoor padel court are the use of generic industrial lighting, mounting fittings too low or too centrally above the playing area, and the lack of a lux calculation in advance. These mistakes almost always lead to glare, uneven lighting or high energy costs.

An overview of the most common mistakes:

1. No tailor-made lighting plan: many clients choose fittings based on price or availability, without a calculation of the lux distribution per zone. The result is a court with dark corners and bright spots.
2. Fittings mounted too low: in halls with a clear height of exactly 6 metres, the temptation is great to hang fittings lower for more light output. However, this considerably increases the risk of direct glare.
3. Not taking glass reflection into account: the position of the fittings is determined without analysing how light is reflected via the glass walls. This is one of the most underestimated causes of glare.
4. Wrong colour temperature: warm lighting (below 3000 Kelvin) reduces contrast and makes it harder to follow the ball, especially during fast exchanges.
5. No dimming function: a court without dimmable lighting cannot be adjusted to the intensity of use, which leads to unnecessarily high energy costs and wear on the fittings.

Good preparation, including a professional lighting plan, prevents all these mistakes. The cost of a good design is far outweighed by the cost of reinstalling afterwards. Want to know more about the total investment? Then also read our information on the cost of an indoor padel court.

How I-Padel helps with lighting on an indoor padel court

At I-Padel we supply and install LED lighting as part of our complete package for indoor padel courts. We work with sports-field-specific fittings that are matched to the dimensions and height of a padel court, and when placing them we take glass reflection and the players' viewing angles into account.

What we concretely do:

• We draw up a lighting plan per location, including a lux calculation per zone.
• We select fittings with the right UGR value, IP rating and colour temperature for your specific hall.
• We mount the fittings in the optimal position, tailored to the glass structure and the height of the hall.
• We supply the complete installation as part of the turnkey package, so you can play straight after completion.

Whether you are fitting out a new hall or want to improve an existing venue, we are happy to think along with you, without obligation. Get in touch for an initial exploration of the possibilities.

Frequently asked questions