A squash court can look bright from the doorway and still be difficult to play on. Players need to follow a small, fast-moving ball against the front wall, side walls and upper part of the court. A bright light in the wrong position, an uneven wall or a distracting reflection can matter as much as the headline lux figure.
Before replacing your lights, identify where players lose sight of the ball and what they are looking towards at that moment. That gives a lighting designer a more useful starting point than simply asking for more watts.
Why average lux does not tell the whole story
Average illuminance describes the light reaching an assessment surface. It does not explain every player's view of the luminaires or the distribution of light across the walls. TRILUX's squash lighting guidance highlights both front-wall illumination and glare as important design considerations.
Ask for a design that considers the playing surface, relevant vertical surfaces and the intended standard of play. A single reading in the centre of the floor is not a complete assessment. Our guide to reading lighting reports explains how to compare calculation assumptions and uniformity.
Start with the player's view
Record the positions and directions in which the problem occurs: at the back of the court, when looking towards the front wall, or when following a high ball. Check whether it happens across the court or only in a particular area.
| What players report | What to ask the designer to investigate |
|---|---|
| A bright source interrupts the view of the ball | Luminaire position, visible brightness and distribution from that viewing direction |
| The ball becomes harder to follow against part of a wall | Wall illumination, surface condition and contrast in that area |
| Distracting images appear in the glass | Fixture positions and reflections from relevant player and spectator viewpoints |
| One court feels different from the next | Fixture types, mounting arrangements, failed lights, cleanliness and wall finishes |
These observations help define the problem; they are not a diagnosis on their own. Photographs can document fixture positions, but camera exposure can hide bright spots or exaggerate dark areas. Keep player observations alongside measurements and the site drawing.
What an opal diffuser does — and does not prove
The AXION 1500 squash fixture has a linear form and an opal diffuser. The diffuser is part of the light's optical design, but its presence alone is not proof that every installation will be glare-free.
Fixture spacing, mounting height, viewing direction and the surrounding surfaces still need consideration. Likewise, the fixture's 50 W power rating and 5000 K colour temperature do not establish the achieved lux level or compliance with a competition requirement. Those are different pieces of information.
Nine or twelve lights: make the choice through the layout
Our usual starting recommendation is nine AXION 1500 fixtures for many club courts and twelve for higher-level competition projects. That is a planning recommendation, not a guarantee that a given court meets a particular standard.
Adding three fixtures changes both the distribution and the connected load. The nine-light arrangement is 450 W; twelve lights total 600 W. Have the proposed positions assessed rather than simply inserting extra lights into spare ceiling spaces. Read nine or twelve lights for your squash court for the quantity comparison.
Check the court as well as the lights
Before approving a replacement scheme, record the condition of the walls, glass and existing diffusers. Tell the designer if you are also repainting or refurbishing the court, because the proposed surface finishes should be reflected in the design assumptions.
Check the documented suitability of the fixture and mounting system for the sports environment, including impact protection where required. An ingress-protection rating such as IP54 is not evidence of ball-impact certification. Ask for the relevant documentation rather than inferring one rating from another.
Agree how the finished court will be checked
- Set the intended playing level and assessment criteria before ordering.
- Keep a drawing showing the agreed fixture positions and mounting heights.
- Arrange measurements on the agreed grid and surfaces after installation.
- Review important player viewpoints and glass reflections with the installer.
- Record the final arrangement and any adjustments for future maintenance.
For an upgrade, our squash lighting project checklist covers the wider preparation. Send us your court photos, ceiling height and current fixture layout to discuss an AXION 1500 proposal based on your actual court.