What is glare risk in padel court lighting and how do you prevent it?

Glare risk in padel court lighting arises when luminaires shine directly into players' field of vision, making it temporarily impossible to follow the ball. This is not only annoying but also dangerous: a player who loses the ball because of glare runs an increased risk of collisions and injuries. The right choice of luminaires, their placement and shielding make the difference between a safe court and a problematic installation.

What causes glare risk in padel court lighting?

Glare risk in padel court lighting arises when light sources are directly visible from a player's playing position, or when light is reflected uncontrolled via the glass walls. The combination of high light intensity, an enclosed cage structure and glass walls makes padel courts more sensitive to glare than open sports fields.

The main causes are:

• Direct view of the light source: Luminaires that are mounted too low or operate without shielding shine light directly into the eyes of players who look up during a lob or smash.
• Reflection via glass: The glass walls around the court reflect light. With the wrong angle of the luminaires, a mirror effect occurs that temporarily blinds players.
• High light intensity without beam control: LED lighting delivers a lot of light, but without good optics that light spreads in all directions instead of being directed at the playing surface.
• Unfavourable mounting height: Luminaires that hang too close to playing level end up in players' field of vision more often than luminaires mounted high and outside the direct line of sight.

With indoor courts, the contrast between dark backgrounds and bright points of light also plays a role. Players' eyes constantly adapt to changing light conditions, which causes fatigue and increased sensitivity to glare.

Which standards apply to glare in sports lighting?

For sports lighting, including padel court lighting, European standards apply that limit glare via the so-called UGR value (Unified Glare Rating). A lower UGR value means less glare. For padel courts, a maximum UGR of 22 generally applies, in accordance with the EN 12193 standard for sports lighting.

In addition to the UGR value, there are further requirements:

• Illuminance: For recreational play, at least 200 lux on the playing surface applies; for competition, at least 300 to 500 lux, depending on the level.
• Uniformity: The light must be evenly distributed across the court. Large light-dark contrasts increase sensitivity to glare.
• Colour rendering (Ra index): An Ra value of at least 65 is required for recreational use, at least 80 for matches. Good colour rendering helps players follow the ball better.

For official matches, an inspection by Kiwa ISA Sport (the recognised inspection institute for sports surfaces and sports infrastructure) is mandatory. Kiwa ISA Sport checks whether the lighting installation meets the applicable standards. It is wise to check at the design stage of the lighting installation whether the chosen luminaires and their placement meet these requirements, so you do not have to make modifications afterwards.

How does glare differ between indoor and outdoor courts?

Glare on indoor courts and outdoor courts has different causes and calls for different solutions. On indoor courts, the enclosed environment is the biggest challenge: reflection via glass walls and ceilings amplifies the effect of incorrectly placed luminaires. On outdoor courts, daylight plays a complicating role.

For indoor padel courts, the main points of attention are:

• Reflection via glass walls and a possibly low ceiling.
• Dark backgrounds outside the court that increase the contrast with the light sources.
• The limited height in some halls, so that luminaires hang closer to the playing surface than is ideal.

For outdoor padel courts, the challenges are different:

• Changing daylight conditions mean players' eyes have to adapt constantly, which increases sensitivity to artificial light during evening play.
• Luminaires that shine too far outwards can also bother local residents or traffic, which brings permit requirements regarding light emission.
• Weather conditions such as rain can cause reflections on the playing surface that amplify glare.

For indoor padel courts, beam control of the luminaires is especially important because the light has nowhere to escape to. On outdoor courts, limiting light emission outside the court is both a quality and a permit matter.

Which type of luminaire best prevents glare?

Luminaires with an asymmetric light beam and built-in shielding (also called anti-glare optics or deep-bowl reflectors) best prevent glare in padel court lighting. These luminaires direct the light at the playing surface without the light source itself being visible from the playing position.

Characteristics of good padel court luminaires:

• Asymmetric beam distribution: The light is directed at the playing surface and not spread towards the people playing.
• Shielded light source: The LED modules are recessed in the luminaire or behind a reflector, so direct view is impossible.
• High UGR class: Choose luminaires with a UGR below 22, preferably below 19 for a comfortable playing experience.
• IP protection: For outdoor courts, an IP65 rating is the minimum required to prevent water and dust ingress, which also preserves optical quality in the long term.
• High luminous efficacy per watt: Efficient LED lighting makes it possible to achieve the desired illuminance without unnecessarily high light intensities that increase glare.

Avoid luminaires with a wide, symmetric beam that are intended for warehouses or car parks. These are not designed for sports applications and rarely meet the UGR requirements for padel courts.

Where should luminaires be placed to avoid glare?

Luminaires for padel court lighting are preferably placed at the sides of the court, at a height of at least 6 metres, aimed at the centre of the playing surface. This position keeps the light source outside players' direct line of sight, even with high balls and smashes.

Guidelines for placement:

• Side mounting: Luminaires on the long sides of the court (not above the playing surface) prevent players from looking up towards the light source.
• Minimum height of 6 metres: The higher the luminaires, the greater the angle between the light source and the player's field of vision. This reduces glare significantly.
• Tilt angle towards the playing surface: Luminaires are aimed diagonally downwards at the playing surface, not horizontally or outwards. An angle of 15 to 25 degrees relative to the playing surface is common.
• Symmetrical distribution: Even placement on both long sides prevents light-dark contrasts that encourage glare.

On indoor courts with a lower ceiling, extra attention to beam control is necessary, because the available height is more limited. In that case, luminaires with a narrower beam and stronger shielding are the right choice. The cost of an indoor padel court also depends in part on the quality of the lighting installation, so it pays not to underestimate this component in your budget planning.

Can existing padel court lighting be modified to reduce glare?

Yes, existing padel court lighting can in most cases be modified to reduce glare. The most effective approach depends on the current installation, but several interventions are possible without having to replace the entire lighting installation.

Possible modifications to existing installations:

• Adding anti-glare grids or shielding: Shielding hoods or grids can be fitted to existing luminaires to shield the light source without greatly reducing the light output.
• Repositioning luminaires: If the brackets or mounting positions allow it, the tilt angle of existing luminaires can be adjusted so the light is better directed at the playing surface.
• Replacing luminaires: If the existing luminaires are of insufficient quality or lack good optics, replacing them with sports-specific LED lighting is the most durable solution.
• Dimming or adjusting the light intensity: Sometimes the light intensity is unnecessarily high, which amplifies glare. A dimmable system makes it possible to match the lighting to the use.

It is wise to have a lighting calculation carried out before you make modifications. This way you can be sure that the illuminance and uniformity after the modification still meet the EN 12193 standards and the requirements of Kiwa ISA Sport for official use.

How I-Padel helps with the lighting of your padel court

At I-Padel, we include LED lighting as an integral part of the complete package. We design the lighting installation based on the specific location, the use and the applicable standards, so glare is structurally prevented and the court meets all requirements for recreational and competitive play.

What we offer in this respect:

• Advice on the right type of luminaire for your situation, both indoor and outdoor.
• Placement and installation of LED lighting as part of the turnkey package.
• Lighting design that meets EN 12193 and the inspection requirements of Kiwa ISA Sport.
• Custom solutions for special locations, such as low ceilings, deviating width or specific permit requirements regarding light emission.
• The option of material supply without installation, for customers who build themselves.

We are happy to think along with you, without obligation, about the lighting solution that suits your project. Get in touch for an initial exploration, and together we will look at what your location needs.

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