Jessica P - April 29, 2025

BADMINTON LIGHTING

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BALANCING TRADITION & PERFORMANCE

The second most popular sport after football is badminton. It has long captivated audiences with its swift movements and strategic play. Known as the world’s fastest racket sport, badminton requires not only quick reflexes but also exceptional visual acuity.

Lighting plays an essential role in ensuring this and that both recreational and competitive play can be played safely and enjoyably indoors and out. Upgrading to LEDs with digitized controls is the new standard for illuminating sports.

Poor Lighting

A QUICK DIVE INTO BADMINTON’S HISTORY

Badminton’s origins can be traced to over 2,000 years ago and evolved into a game called “Battledore and Shuttlecock” and then coined its current form and name in British India during the 19th century after a duke hosted a match at his estate named “Badminton”. Today, badminton is a popular sport worldwide appearing in the Summer Olympics since 1992 and with China leading the way in popularity.

Given badmintons fast pace and precision, proper lighting is essential in its early days with the use of natural light. Lighting in today’s modern facilities must adapt to various environments and demands for broadcast and social media.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR BADMINTON COURT LIGHTING

The birdie, also known as the shuttlecock, can travel at speeds over 200 mph in professional games, making visibility critical for both players and spectators.

The primary focus should be on delivering uniform lighting, minimizing glare, and ensuring color accuracy to provide players with the best possible visibility for safety and enjoyment.

High Bay Linear and Flood LED fixtures are the best fixture type for this application for their high performance, brightness and coverage.

KEY LIGHTING CONSIDERATIONS

• Illuminance: The right amount and intensity of light.

• Uniformity: Use uniform lighting with correct spacing to reduce shadows.

 • Glare: Minimize glare with indirect lighting and proper fixture aiming.

• Colour Rendering (CRI): A measurement of colour rendering as compared to the spectrum of sunlight.

• Colour Temperature: A measurement based on a warm to cold range of colour.

• Mounting and Aiming: Minimize player discomfort and highlight court area through correct mounting strategies and aiming techniques.

ILLUMINANCE/BRIGHTNESS

Badminton is a fast-paced multi-directional sport that requires ample light. Both vertical and horizontal illumination is critical to seeing the entire playing area and tracking the shuttlecock during play. The shuttlecock travels in a variety of arches when in motion so vertical and horizontal illuminance (measured in lux or foot candles) should be at similar levels to ensure consistent visibility at the ground and the entire height of the vertical game play.

RECOMMENDED LIGHTING LEVELS (ILLUMINANCE) FOR BADMINTON COURTS

The IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) recommends:

• Overall Illumination for a Well Lit Court Area: 300- 500 lux

• Badminton: Class 1 - International: 1000 lux

• Badminton: Class 2 - Club: 500 lux

• Badminton: Class 3 - Recreational: 300 lux

• Game Play Area Near the Sidelines/Close to Net: 750-1000 lux

• Game Play Area Near the Sidelines/Close to Net: 750-1000 lux

• Surrounding Areas Outside the Court Area: 200-300 lux

LIGHT UNIFORMITY

Uniformity is key to avoiding areas of shadow or bright glare which is achieved through correct spacing. IES RP- 6-20 suggests a uniformity ratio of around 0.7 or higher for both vertical and horizontal lighting. Ensuring this balance allows players to keep track of the shuttlecock from every angle.

GLARE CONTROL

Since players constantly look upward, proper glare control is crucial. LED lighting is recommended due to its ability to produce high-quality, flicker-free illumination with minimal glare. Direct the light at angles that reduce the risk of glare in players’ eyes, especially during serves and high arcs when it’s most common. Glare can be disruptive to the game and athletes as it does impact vision and over long periods can cause everyone discomfort.

COLUR RENDERING INDEX (CRI)

Uniformity is key to avoiding areas of shadow or bright glare which is achieved through correct spacing. IES RP- 6-20 suggests a uniformity ratio of around 0.7 or higher for both vertical and horizontal lighting. Ensuring this balance allows players to keep track of the shuttlecock from every angle.

COLOUR TEMPERATURE

A cooler colour temperature between 4000k-6000k is recommended, however this can vary based on your material finishes as well as cultural preferences.

FIXTURE PLACEMENT AND MOUNTING HEIGHT

Fixtures should be mounted in rows along the court playing areas at a height of at least 6 meters (20 feet) to ensure a wide, even distribution of light without creating dark spots. Spacing and mounting can be calculated based on the dimension of your facility and ceiling type.

LIGHTING FOR EXTERIOR BADMINTON PLAY

Lighting outdoor badminton courts comes with its own set of challenges due to the impacts of weather on fixtures, risk of light trespass and the variety of mounting options.

Weatherproof and Anti-Corrosion Fixtures

Outdoor fixtures must be IP65-rated or higher to withstand weather conditions. Corrosion-resistant materials are also recommended, especially in regions with heavy rainfall or salt air. LEDs are particularly well- suited for exterior courts due to their long lifespan and durability.

Light Pollution & Spill Considerations

As outdoor sports facilities are often near residential areas, light pollution can become a concern. Use well-directed lighting to ensure compliance with local ordinances and avoid disturbing nearby homes or wildlife. LED fixtures with proper cut off shielding or asymmetric optics help prevent spill light, ensuring light focuses on the court and out of players eyes.

Mounting Heights and Pole Placement

Exterior mounting poles should be a minimum of 8-10 meters high to provide adequate vertical lighting and avoid casting shadows on the court. Similar to indoor courts, poles should be positioned outside the playing area to avoid interference, often arranged symmetrically around the court to offset shadows and hotspots.

Modern lighting technology can meet these challenges with the correct planning and installation.

A NOTE ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY

LEDs offer superior performance and reduce energy consumption by up to 85% compared to traditional lighting systems. The transition to LEDs aligns with global sustainability goals, such as those set by the International Energy Agency (IEA), to reduce carbon footprints in sports facilities.

Upgrading from legacy types such as metal halide and halogen to LED enable a shift to smart controls as well, allowing facility managers to adjust and dim brightness levels based on each need.

CONTROLS & DYNAMIC LIGHTING FOR MULTI-USE SPACES

Many badminton courts are part of larger, multi-use sports centers, leading to a growing trend in customizable LED lighting systems. These systems allow facility managers to adjust lighting intensity with dimming and colour temperature based on time of day and activity. Integrating coloured RGB lights into your system will also enhance your special events with team colours and branding, impress spectators and invigorate players.

LIGHTING DESIGN & PLANNING

Whether this is a new installation or retrofit, at LuxLogic, we are specialists in sports lighting and have the expertise to assist you with photometric calculations and renderings to help you achieve the perfect lighting for your badminton court be it recreational or hosting international competitions.

CONCLUSION

With the right lighting in place, facility managers can meet both player needs and regulatory standards and create spaces that allow badminton to carry on its tradition.

Get in touch with our team at LuxLogic, we will provide a complimentary consultation to help you achieve your lighting goals on time and budget. We are experienced in working with contractors and installers and are dedicated to help you see your project through to installation and commissioning.

TESTIMONIALS

“After we switched to LED lighting, our players immediately noticed the difference. The lighting is much brighter and more even. We’ve received nothing but positive feedback since the upgrade.”

— Claire N., Badminton Court Owner

“Good lighting is crucial for a fast-paced game like badminton. We have eliminated the glare that used to bother players and there’s a noticeable improvement in reaction time during rallies. “

— Raj P., Badminton Coach

OUR SOLUTIONS

DOME BAY

WATTAGE: 100W/150W/200W/240W/300W/400W/480W

CCT: 3000K/4000K/5000K/6500K

VOLTAGE: 100-277V (UNV) / 277-480V (HV)

MOUNTING: EYE BOLT / PENDANT MOUNT

150LM/W

The Dome Bay is an extremely versatile, Direct /Indirect, highperformance LED sports high bay that is ideal for both outdoor and indoor sports lighting applications. With its flexible, modular design the Dome Bay is specifically engineered to illuminate swimming pools, tennis and soccer domes, gyms, arenas and more.


• LED Driver: Lumileds

• Lumen Maintenance @L70: >50,000 hours

• CRI: RA>80

• THD: <15%

• Power Factor: >0.95

• Operating Temperature: -40ºC to 60ºC / -40ºF to 140ºF

POOLSIDER

WATTAGE: 60W/100W/150W/200W/300W/400W/600W

CCT: 2700K/3000K/4000K/5000K/6500K

VOLTAGE: 120-277V (UNV) / 277-480V (HV) (REMOTE DRIVERS ONLY)

MOUNTING: YOKE MOUNT (STD) / PENDANT MOUNT / CROSS ARM BRACKET

170LM/W

The Poolsider is a modular LED flood light specifically designed for the caustic environment of Natatoriums, but versatile enough to be used in any flood light application. Multiple optical lens choices, and rotatable modules allow a wide variety of light spread for various use both indoor and out.

• LED Engine: Philip Lumileds 50502, CREE 3524 for 10D ONLY

• LED Driver: Meanwell XLG

• Lumen Maintenance @L70: 75,000 hours

• CRI: >70  Ra

• Power Factor: >0.95

• Operating Temperature: -40ºC to 60ºC / -40ºF to 140ºF

NEO

WATTAGE: 300W/400W/500W

CCT: 3000K/4000K/5000K

VOLTAGE: 100-277V (UNV) & 200-480V (HV)

MOUNTING: EYE BOLT (STD)

140LM/W (UNV, HV)

The Neo is a high-performance LED high bay luminaire that is perfect for distribution centers and warehouses. It can be applied to industrial, commercial, gymnasium and other applications that would traditionally use HID or fluorescent luminaires.

• LED Driver: Integrated

• Lumen Maintenance @L70: 100,000 @ 25ºC

• CRI: 80+ (Standard) or 90+ (Optional)

• THD: <15%

• Power Factor: >0.93

• Operating Temperature: -30ºC to 50ºC / -22ºF to 122ºF

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MAXUM

WATTAGE: 90W/120W/150W & 120W/160W/200W

CCT: Selectable 3000K/4000K/5000K

VOLTAGE: 120-347V

MOUNTING: EYE BOLT (STD) / CEILING BRACKET

170LM/W

The Maxum is a WATTAGE SELECTABLE AND CCTSELECTABLE high bay featuring a patented design, with aesthetic modeling and unique style. It is occupancy sensor ready (It features a built-in occupancy sensor socket.) It has a luminous output of 170L/W, making it an ideal solution for warehouses, factories, supermarkets, and other indoor applications.

• LED Engine: SMD2835 LED

• LED Driver: Lifud

• CRI: Ra>70

• THD: 15%

• Power Factor: >0.9

• Operating Temperature: -40ºC to 45ºC / -22ºF to 113ºF