Home     Portfolio     Surfaces   Plasflex Classic Clay Plastoturf   Lights & Fence   Lighting Light Uniformity Fencing   Accessories     maintenance     about us     contact us       TENNILUME LIGHTING Sharp cut-off luminaries continue to gain popularity for the lighting of tennis courts. The advantages of using a lighting system such as the Tennilume include: precise light control, minimum light spillage, reduced glare to players, and appealing aesthetics. While systems like the Tennilume have many benefits, improper application can cause problems; therefore, it is important to employ specific criteria when designing a system. The primary objective of a tennis lighting system is to light the ball in its flight path across the court. Frequently, the only method utilized to evaluate the lighting system is the amount of light on the court surface or 1.0m above the court. However, this method will not in itself insure proper lighting performance. The player waiting to return the ball sees the vertical surface of the ball facing him. Therefore, the side of the ball the player is viewing must be sufficiently illuminated. The illumination on this vertical plane is more critical than the amount of light on the court surface. Most times, insufficient light on the ball is caused by improper pole location. A single court with two poles on each side (4 total). This arrangement does not provide acceptable illumination on the ball in the essential areas. Since most players are likely to position themselves at or near the baseline, lighting the ball in this area is critical. With the four pole layout in Figure 1, the player will have difficulty seeing because there is no light on the side of the approaching ball that he is viewing. The side of the ball is sufficiently lit between the pole locations, but becomes dark once it passes the pole location in its flight path toward the baseline. In other words, the direction of the light in relation to the player's position will determine how well the ball is seen. Although the horizontal surface of the court may be illuminated evenly in Figure 1, the flight path of the ball is not. Adding more fixtures or raising the pole height does not correct the problem, since the cause is improper quantity and positioning of the poles. Figure 2 illustrates the same court with four poles per side (8 total). Now the ball is effectively lit in the viewing directions of the player over the entire court. The pole locations behind the base-lines project light from in back of the player towards the direction of the approaching ball. He can now see the critical vertical ball surface to make a return shot. This example fulfills both requirements of superior tennis court lighting,illuminating the flight path of the ball and the court surface. Most times, insufficient light on the ball is caused by improper pole location. A single court with two poles on each side (4 total). This arrangement does not provide acceptable illumination on the ball in the essential areas. Since most players are likely to position themselves at or near the baseline, lighting the ball in this area is critical. With the four pole layout in Figure 1, the player will have difficulty seeing because there is no light on the side of the approaching ball that he is viewing. The side of the ball is sufficiently lit between the pole locations, but becomes dark once it passes the pole location in its flight path toward the baseline. In other words, the direction of the light in relation to the player's position will determine how well the ball is seen. Although the horizontal surface of the court may be illuminated evenly in Figure 1, the flight path of the ball is not. Adding more fixtures or raising the pole height does not correct the problem, since the cause is improper quantity and positioning of the poles. Figure 2 illustrates the same court with four poles per side (8 total). Now the ball is effectively lit in the viewing directions of the player over the entire court. The pole locations behind the base-lines project light from in back of the player towards the direction of the approaching ball. He can now see the critical vertical ball surface to make a return shot. This example fulfills both requirements of superior tennis court lighting,illuminating the flight path of the ball and the court surface. When evaluating tennis court lighting in the future, the primary concern should be how well the ball is illuminated, not just the court surface. Choosing a system like the Tennilume, and applying it properly will produce an installation that players will enjoy using at night. Today more than ever, tennis club operators recognize the importance of maintaining an attractive, modern facility to attract players. Providing players with the proper amenities can dramatically affect the success of a facility. Given the growing demand for leisure time to fit the consumer's schedule, tennis club operators must make sure their facilities are equipped to handle play day and night. Lighting systems are an integral element of a modern tennis facility. Traditionally, tennis courts have been illuminated with floodlights. However, floodlight style luminaries can be uncomfortable because the player is often looking directly into the fixture as he tries to watch the ball. Higher poles are required for floodlights' distribution, which also makes them difficult and expensive to service. Today, more and more court contractors recognize the advantages of sharp, cut-off luminaries, with high intensity lamps, as the most effective light source for courts. The advantages of a sharp cut-off lighting system versus the traditional floodlighting systems include: Precise light control Minimum spillage Reduced glare for players Attractive aesthetics Sharp cut-off lighting systems have a rectangular light fixture, an upsweep or straight arm, plus a 6 meter high pole. These fixtures project light across the court, perpendicular to the players' normal line of sight, eliminating the direct glare as players watch the ball. Thus, placing the poles and fixtures on both sides of the court is critical to the system's effectiveness. The low mounting height allows for easier servicing and is aesthetically more pleasant to the eye. For optimum illumination, the 1000-watt metal halide lamp is the best lamp source for the sharp cut-off system. Metal halide gives the best combination of colour output, electrical efficiency and lamp life. The 1000-watt version is the optimum choice because it offers a rated life of 12,000 hours, four times that of the 1500-watt metal halide lamp. Metal halide's colour rendering properties ensure that a player, tennis ball, and surroundings retain a natural appearance at night. Other light sources, such as high pressure sodium or mercury vapour, tend to dull and distort certain colours. Tennilume lighting Square tubing to match fencing Grey finish Double Light post assembly Round tubing Green     Designed by Candice Greenberg of Candeliondesign. Developed by Lima Bean.