Why choose indirect LED lighting to illuminate spaces for indoor tennis, pickleball, gyms, volleyball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, aquatics and many other indoor sports?
Parameters
First, you must have a clean white ceiling — 16 feet to 100 feet tall — to use indirect LED lighting efficiently because it reflects the light back down to the floor. If the ceiling is not white you can consider painting or installing a reflective White Fiberglass Insulation System.
Indirect LED lighting is more expensive than direct but the benefits far outweigh the cost.
Benefits
Indirect LED lighting provides perfectly even light throughout the facility. Because light is being reflected off a large surface, it’s evenly distributed over the entire playing surface. Direct light is focused straight down and between fixtures, leaving dark areas on the ground which presents potential hazards.
Indirect lighting is a non-glare light making it the ultimate type for any indoor sport. The light will not interfere with the player’s ability to see the ball or play the game. With indirect lighting, you don’t see the glare nor reflection on the floor or water when looking down.
Direct light is very distracting. You can lose the ball in the light when looking up. The glare on the floor is distracting when looking down. For aquatics areas, the glare from direct lights can be dangerous as it reflects off the water’s surface and can prevent you from seeing the bottom of the pool.
Indirect LED lighting is aesthetically pleasing to players and spectators. Visibility is improved by having an evenly lit facility and eliminating glare. Safety is increased as the reflection from direct lighting causes accidents. Most players prefer indirect lighting over direct.
Gary Yurich, the president and owner of Best Lights, has been manufacturing lights out of Troy, Michigan, for 30 years. He’s an avid fly fisherman, family man, businessman and holds seven U.S. patents for indirect lighting. He can be contacted by emailing gyurich@bestlights.com or by calling 800.545.2928.
