An indoor padel hall and an outdoor padel court may share the same playing dimensions, but their lighting conditions can be very different. Roof height, structural supports, surroundings and exposure all influence the design. Copying a fixture layout from another venue can overlook those differences.
Begin with the intended use: recreational bookings, coaching and competition may require different performance criteria. Agree those criteria with the designer before choosing a fixture quantity or wattage.
Indoor courts: start with the building
Provide the designer with clear height, roof structure, beams and any suspended services. Indicate the available mounting points and places that must remain accessible. Have the supporting structure assessed for the proposed installation; do not assume a convenient beam or court frame is a suitable fixing point.
Wall and roof finishes influence the visual background. Glass can introduce reflections, and a bright fitting in the line of sight can be distracting during a lob. Review lighting from both ends of the court, looking upwards as well as towards the net. A floor lux average alone cannot describe all these viewing conditions.
Outdoor courts: include the surroundings
Record neighbouring buildings, paths, access roads and other courts. Ask the lighting designer to consider where light goes outside the playing area, not just how much reaches the surface. Mounting height, optics, aiming and any shielding should be considered together.
The equipment and electrical installation must suit the actual exposure. Give the supplier information about rain, dust, temperature and any coastal or corrosive environment. A single product rating does not establish the suitability of the complete installation, its connectors or its supports.
Have the relevant specialists assess the poles, fixings and foundations, including the loads created by the proposed fittings. Check local requirements and any site conditions before ordering.
A roof does not automatically make a court an indoor installation
A canopy can protect the court from direct rain while leaving fittings exposed to wind-driven moisture and outdoor temperatures. Open sides also change how light reaches nearby properties. Describe the actual enclosure and mounting arrangement rather than simply labelling the project “indoor”.
Include the canopy in the drawings and ask the designer to consider shadows, clearances and maintenance access. If a roof will be added later, discuss that future change before finalising the current lighting scheme.
Choose controls around court use
Decide whether courts need independent switching and whether different operating levels are useful. Specify the controls with the fixtures: a dimmable driver still needs a compatible control system. Test the intended scenes during handover and make the normal settings clear to staff.
For outdoor venues, discuss operating hours and switch-off arrangements. For indoor facilities, coordinate court lighting with circulation and any separate emergency lighting. See our guide to padel lighting controls.
Compare a complete lighting proposal
Ask for the fixture schedule, mounting and aiming plan, calculation area, maintained lighting values, uniformity and maintenance assumptions. Include glare and, where relevant, effects beyond the court boundary. A proposal should explain its assumptions so you can compare it with another on the same basis.
The LTA's padel construction guidance page points venues to specialist court-construction guidance. For your project, confirm the applicable requirements with the designer and relevant local bodies rather than treating another venue's design as approval.
Send the site details before selecting the lights
Share court count, dimensions, mounting heights, drawings and photographs, together with the level of play and operating hours. For a covered court, include the roof and open sides; for an outdoor site, include the surrounding area.
Explore the PDL 230 and PDL 320 as options for assessment, then contact Global LED Lights for a project-specific proposal. The final model, quantity and settings should follow the lighting design.
Photo: Giorgi Khatchapuridze / Unsplash. Illustrative stock photograph, not a Global LED Lights installation.