A customer recently contacted Access Fixtures for a lighting solution to a tricky situation. He was looking for light fixtures to replace the two 120-watt halogen flood lights he was using to illuminate a backyard court area for sports that measured approximately 40 x 18 feet. Although the court was not very large, he and his family used the space regularly to practice and play hockey and basketball; they also used the court as a makeshift batting cage. Access Fixtures’ lighting solutions are designed to enhance the experience for customers using backyard courts for multiple sports, ensuring professional-quality illumination and improved visibility. With extensive experience in providing lighting solutions for a variety of sports facilities, Access Fixtures understands the unique requirements of different athletic environments. They lived in a tightly packed community with neighbors close by, so the court was equipped with an adjustable net all the way around to catch any errant balls, discs, or pucks that might escape.
Finding the right light levels for a multi-use court can be challenging, especially when balancing brightness, energy efficiency, and minimizing light spill for nearby neighbors. Access Fixtures offers a range of products tailored to different sports and court sizes, ensuring optimal lighting for every application. For customers who need a flexible solution, Access Fixtures can provide custom lighting solutions to meet unique requirements and deliver the best possible experience.
Multipurpose Courts for Sport Present Unique Challenges
The existing light fixtures provided an insufficient amount of light to illuminate the court. For instance, a batting cage should have a minimum of 50 footcandles. Determining the correct number of fixtures is essential to achieve these optimal lighting levels, especially when considering the size of the court and whether it is an indoor or outdoor setting. Whether thrown by a pitching machine or a human, we can assume the baseballs will be sent anywhere from 50 to 90 miles per hour. Batters have to be able to see the ball at that speed (which is hard enough during the daytime) without being blinded by the light. Hockey requires the same 50 footcandles for recreational use and practice with minimal glare. Glare reduction is a key consideration in sports lighting design to ensure visual comfort and safety. Basketball, on the other hand, uses a larger ball that travels much slower than a baseball or hockey puck, so 10 footcandles would be sufficient.
The customer was having difficulty finding a solution that met the preferred light levels for the three different sports. Selecting the right fixture type is crucial to balance brightness and comfort for multiple sports, as different fixtures are engineered for specific performance and glare reduction. A huge amount of light was required for two of the sports, yet that same high-powered light would be too much for the third. Also, there was a risk of aggravating the neighbors with the bright lights. Was a flexible, reasonable lighting solution available?
Lighting Layout and Design for Backyard Sports
When planning the perfect backyard basketball court or multi-sport area, the right lighting layout makes all the difference. LED basketball court lighting is specifically designed to deliver uniform illumination across the entire playing surface, ensuring that every corner of your court is bright and free from distracting shadows. This even distribution of light not only enhances visibility for players but also helps reduce glare, making games safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
Unlike older lighting technologies, LED lights are engineered for energy savings and long-term reliability. By choosing LED lighting for your basketball court, you benefit from lower energy consumption and reduced utility bills, all while enjoying a brighter, more consistent light output. LED fixtures are also built to withstand outdoor conditions, providing dependable court lighting that stands up to the elements season after season.
A well-thought-out lighting design takes into account the size and shape of your court, the placement of poles and fixtures, and the specific needs of the sports you play. Whether you’re shooting hoops, practicing tennis, or hosting a friendly game of soccer, LED sports lighting can be tailored to your space, delivering the ideal balance of brightness and comfort. With the right setup, your backyard court becomes a welcoming area for evening play, family gatherings, and memorable sports experiences—all while keeping energy costs in check.
The “Goldilocks” Solution – Dimmable LED Sports Lighting
As we know, residential backyard courts for sports have challenges that public and professional courts do not. Our experienced lighting specialists suggested a set of 378w high-output 23” LED flood lights to light this customer’s multipurpose court. These LED flood lights are easy to install, featuring a welded base hinge that simplifies mounting to the ground and streamlines future maintenance. Besides superior energy efficiency and a long lifespan of 100,000 operating hours, these LEDs have the advantage of being dimmable. These fixtures belong to a specialized category of sports lighting solutions, designed to deliver optimal performance for both indoor and outdoor courts. With these fixtures, the customer would have the option of turning the lights up to full power or dimming them down to be more appropriate for sports like basketball.
The customer sent in a layout of the court; we also used Google Earth to get an aerial image of the LED sport lighting and to get an idea of the surrounding properties. Access Fixtures was able to determine a location for the new LED fixtures that would maximize light distribution without affecting the customer’s ability to play any of the sports. The installation process includes a handhole cover for easy maintenance and ensures a secure ground foundation for long-term stability.
The poles and luminaires will be located on one side of the court. The luminaires will utilize Type 3 optics, which will help focus the light on the rectangular court (and not into the neighbor’s yard). These high-quality fixtures are mercury-free, meeting environmental standards and providing a safer alternative to traditional lighting. The customer will have ample light, and LEDs’ long lifetime means there will be little to no maintenance required, significantly reducing maintenance and replacement costs. Best of all, a new hardwired dimmer on the house will make it easy to control the level of light emitted. The lights are highly effective even after the sun sets, ensuring excellent visibility for evening play.
The recommended lights are in stock, ship quickly, and are offered at a competitive price, making them an excellent choice for your next project.
Do you have a challenging space that needs a custom lighting solution? Please contact the specialists at Access Fixtures today for a quote or more information about your project, and let us help you find the right fixtures for you!
