Are you looking to choose the right lighting for your pickleball court but feeling unsure where to begin? We’ve got you covered. We will walk you through the key factors to consider and help you pick the perfect lighting to suit your court and gameplay.

As pickleball gains popularity in Malaysia and around the world, more people are building courts to meet the growing demand. Whether indoors or outdoors, good lighting is crucial—it ensures a safe, enjoyable, and competitive experience for players at any time of day.

What is Pickleball?

If you don’t know what Pickleball is—it’s a fun and fast-paced sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. It’s played on a small court (similar to a badminton court) with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. The game can be played as singles (one-on-one) or doubles (two-on-two).

Because the court is smaller than a tennis court and the ball moves slower, it’s easier to play and less physically demanding, making it popular among all ages, including older adults. However, it can still be competitive and fast for those who want a challenge 👀

Why Proper Lighting Matters

“Because of the fast-moving nature of pickleball, lighting is key. Players are required to react quickly, and visibility is essential in gameplay. Ideally, when considering lighting for the court, one should strive to have as much light as the budget affords.” — USA Pickleball

1. 👁️ People Can See Better
   Good lighting ensures players can clearly see the ball, the court lines, and their opponents. Poor lighting can cause shadows, glare, or dark spots, making it harder to react quickly and affecting gameplay.

2. ⛑️ Safety Reasons
   A well-lit court reduces the risk of injuries caused by misjudging the ball’s position or tripping over unseen obstacles. Consistent, even lighting helps players move confidently without straining their eyes.

3. ⚖️ Supports Fair Play
   For serious or tournament-level play, uniform lighting ensures fairness. If one side of the court is darker than the other, it could create an unfair advantage.

4. 🌚 Longer Playing Hours
   With sufficient lighting, you can play all the way till midnight. The court becomes super versatile, increasing playing opportunities… because who needs sleep?

5. 🤑 Saves Energy & Most Importantly, Money
   LED lighting is brighter, uses less power, and lasts way longer than traditional lighting options. Plus, it saves you money, so you can spend it on something else… like another pickleball paddle?

Lighting Design Considerations

Types of Play

The skill level helps determine how much light is needed, with higher skill levels requiring brighter, more even lighting to support faster reactions and competitive play.
 

• Class I: Professional play
• Class II: Club competitions
• Class III: Recreational play, including school sports and general training

Mounting Height

Mounting height makes a huge difference in how well you see and play. If the lights are too low, you’ll get annoying shadows and glare, making it harder to track the ball. Too high, and the light might not hit the court properly. For outdoor courts, 8-12 meters is just right to keep things bright without bothering the surroundings. Indoors, 6-8 meters gives even lighting without weird reflections. Get the height right, and you’ll have a court that’s bright, comfy, and ready for action!

Indoor vs Outdoor

Lighting needs are different for indoor and outdoor courts. Indoor courts need lights that cover the whole court evenly, with no shadows or glare. You’re relying entirely on artificial light, so it needs to be bright and clear. 

• High Bays
  Specifically designed to be mounted high up on ceilings, typically in spaces with very high ceilings. They light up the entire space really well, making sure there aren’t any dark spots, so you can see everything clearly while playing.
  
  Recommended Products (Price Low to High):
  + Lumitec LMT LED UFO High Bay
  + Lumitec Pro LMT LED UFO High Bay
  + Signify Ecolink HB007 LED UFO High Bay
  + Philips BY239P LED UFO High Bay

Outdoor courts need lights that can handle weather, like rain and heat, and cover large areas.

• Flood Lights
  Produces a broad beam of light, typically used to illuminate large outdoor areas like sports fields, buildings, or public spaces at night, effectively "flooding" the area with light. Their durable, weather-resistant design ensures consistent performance in outdoor conditions, which is perfect for Malaysia’s weather!
  
  Recommended Products (Price Low to High):
  + Lumitec LED Floodlight
  + Signify Ecolink LED Floodlight
  + Philips BVP158 LED Floodlight

• Street Lights
  Ideal for outdoor courts near public spaces. They’re great for lighting up the perimeter and making sure the whole area is visible, adding extra safety for night games.
  
  Recommended Products (Price Low to High):
  + Signify Ecolink LED Street Light
  + Philips BRC010M Solar LED Street Light

Correlated Colour temperature (CCT)

The right CCT helps you see the ball and court lines clearly, and creates the right vibe for the game, whether you’re playing seriously or just for fun!

• Cool light (5000K-6500K) - Bright and sharp, for fast & competitive play.
• Warm light (3000K-4000K) - Softer and more relaxed, for casual play.

Play Safely with Help from JLL 💡

We believe finding the right lighting should be easy and hassle-free. We’re here to help with any questions you have, with expertise you can count on. Contact us now and let’s get your court lighting sorted out 🤝🏻

Project Reference: [Project] Pickle Park, Petaling Jaya