Tennis is a fast-moving sport that requires a lot of dexterity and hand-eye coordination. A small ball moves at high speeds so it’s important that players can see it properly. This is even more important on an outdoor court on a cloudy day or at night.

Tennis courts are illuminated by tennis court lighting (flood lights and stadium lights) that are mounted up high on tennis court light poles. The essential features that should be included in tennis court light poles are height, material, stability, electrical wiring, lighting, and maintenance. The height of these poles and the number that you will want to use depends on the location and level of play of the game.

Types of Lighting Poles for Tennis Courts

When it comes to lighting poles for tennis courts, the material you choose can significantly impact the performance and longevity of your lighting system. Here are some common materials used for tennis court lighting poles and their benefits:

• Steel Tennis Court Poles: Known for their durability and stability, steel poles offer high wind resistance, making them an excellent choice for outdoor tennis courts. They are robust and can handle the weight of multiple light fixtures, ensuring consistent illumination.
• Aluminum Poles: These poles are lightweight and corrosion-resistant, often pre-painted with a powder coating to prevent rust. Aluminum poles are a popular choice for tennis courts due to their ease of installation and low maintenance requirements.
• Composite Tennis Court Poles: Lightweight and resistant to rust, fiberglass poles require minimal maintenance. They are particularly suitable for tennis courts in coastal areas where saltwater corrosion can be a concern.
• Bronze Poles: Offering a unique aesthetic appeal and durability, bronze poles are a premium option. While they come at a higher cost, their distinctive look and long-lasting performance can be worth the investment.

When selecting the material for your lighting poles, consider the specific needs of your tennis court, including weather conditions, wind resistance, and maintenance requirements. The height of the pole is also crucial, with a minimum height of 16 feet recommended to ensure proper illumination. Additionally, the pole should be sturdy enough to support the weight of the lights and withstand various weather conditions.

How Much Do Tennis Court Light Poles Cost?

Light pole costs will vary. This is due to several factors:

• The height of the light pole. Taller poles will be more expensive.
• The number of fixtures mounted on the light pole. Poles that need to handle a heavier load will be more expensive.
• The material that the light pole is constructed from. Steel poles will cost more than wood poles, for example and fiberglass poles will cost more than steel poles due to their rot, rust, corrosion, and fire resistance.

Having detailed information such as illumination levels, product features, and expert guidance for selection is crucial for making informed purchasing decisions.

What is the Ideal Spacing for Tennis Court Light Poles?

Before we describe the spacing for the light poles, it’s important to understand the lines and boundaries of a tennis court. The setup of tennis court light poles is convenient and easy, making them ideal for various events and activities. Here is a helpful diagram:

What Height is Recommended for Light Poles for Tennis Courts?

The optimal tennis court pole height will depend on the location and level of play on the court and number of required poles. Here are some recommendations:

• Recreational / Residential – For locations like parks and residences, 20-26 feet is the optimal height backyard courts. A lower height helps to prevent light from spilling into neighboring areas.
• Commercial – For public court locations like athletic clubs and courts that host competitions, 26-39 feet poles can be used. You’ll need it to be high enough to further eliminate shadows. 6-, 8-, and 9-pole layouts are common in these areas, and 1-2 lamps can be used on each pole.
• Professional Tennis Stadiums – For venues that are designed to host professional tennis events, 50-66 feet is recommended. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) says the minimum should be 40 feet, but it will depend on the location.

Here are a few other considerations for the height of your tennis light poles:

• If the tennis court poles are too tall, there can be unwanted light spillover into nearby homes or businesses. It’s best to use shorter poles with LED lights. If you can’t replace the poles, you need to use lights with a smaller beam angle.
• If the poles are too short, there is less distance between the light source and the court. This causes there to be a less uniform lighting levels and can produce a bright spot. Poles that are too short can also cause a glare issue.

Do You Offer Tennis Court Lighting and Color Temperature Options as Well?

LED Lighting Supply prides itself on being a one-stop shop for all of your lighting, fan, and pole solutions. We offer tennis court led lighting fixtures for indoor courts as well as an outdoor tennis court. Our Product Specialists will engineer a lighting system designed to increase court light levels and fix poor tennis lighting. Our LED lighting Fixtures will decrease the warm up period you currently experience with HID Fixtures to 0, as well as provide energy savings and decrease your maintenance costs. We can also offer energy saving control option like motion sensors and photocells.

4-pole Tennis Court Layout

For a 4-pole layout, 2 poles are located on each long sideline. For all light pole layouts, they are never placed near the baselines because you won’t be able to illuminate the area near the net properly and it would increase glare for the players. You’ll usually want to have 2 lights mounted on each pole since this is the minimum number of poles that you will use. The benefit of having a 4-pole layout is that you use a smaller number of poles to save space. The limitation of using a 4-pole layout is that pole height needs to be increased to improve light spread and uniformity. This causes light to spill over into unwanted areas.

4-pole tennis court lighting is very common in recreational tennis court lighting system.

6-pole tennis Court Layout

For a 6-pole layout, 3 poles are located on each long sideline. There are 2 additional poles at the center of the court compared to a 4-pole layout. 1-2 lights are mounted on each pole. The benefit of having a 6-pole layout is that it eliminates shadows. It also reduces light loss because each pole is responsible for illuminating a smaller area. The limitation of using a 6-pole layout is the higher cost. You are using more poles so there is a larger wiring and installation cost.

8-pole tennis Court Layout

For an 8-pole layout, 4 poles are located on each long sideline. There are 2 additional poles at the center of the court compared to a 6-pole layout. It has similar benefits and limitations as a 6-pole layout.

9-pole tennis Court Layout

A 9-pole layout is used to illuminate two adjoining courts. It has a 3×3 design where 3 poles are located between the courts and are used to illuminate both at the same time. The benefit of having a 9-pole tennis court lighting layout is that it minimizes the number of poles to be installed for two courts. The limitation of using a 9-pole layout is that the middle poles will need to hold more lights. This means that those poles will need to handle a heavier load.