Playing tennis at night: court lights and what to expect

Why lit courts are busy

Most people who play regularly have jobs or school during the day, so the hours between about five and ten in the evening are the busiest the courts get. On a summer weekday a lit public court can have a queue by six. Courts without lights are empty at dusk for the plain reason that nobody can see the ball.

Evening play also has a second draw in warm places: it is cooler. In much of the South and Southwest, a lit court at nine at night is far more pleasant than the same court at two in the afternoon. Our guide to playing in summer heat covers that side of it.

How court lights are usually run

There is no single system. Cities, school districts, parks departments and clubs each do it their own way, and two courts a mile apart can work differently. These are the arrangements you are most likely to meet.

• A push button or switch. A button on a post or a switch in a box at the court turns the lights on for a set period, often an hour or so, and you press it again to keep going. The lights usually go off without a lot of warning, so look for a button and any sign explaining it.
• Pay meters. Some courts have a coin or card box that sells light time. If the lights will not come on, check for a meter before assuming they are broken.
• A timer or schedule. At many public facilities the lights come on at dusk and go off at a fixed time set by the city or school, whatever is happening on court. Some are controlled from a central system, and nobody at the court can change them.
• A key or an attendant. At clubs and some city centres, staff turn the lights on when you book. Lights can be an extra charge on top of the court fee.

Seeing the ball under lights

Lights change the game more than people expect. They are rarely as good as daylight, and they differ a lot from court to court. A few things help.

• Use a bright ball. Standard yellow tennis balls are what you want. A worn, dirty ball is harder to pick out at night than a fresh one.
• Expect glare on lobs and serves. When a ball goes up through the lights it can disappear in the glare. Some players find it easiest to pick the ball up early and keep their eyes on it, rather than looking up at the last second. If one end is worse, take it when the serve is not yours, or swap ends more often.
• Watch for shadows. Lights on poles along the side can throw a shadow of you and the net across the court. A line can look different in shadow, so call close balls carefully and be generous with your opponent.
• Mind the background. Dark fences and trees behind the baseline make a yellow ball easier to track. A pale wall or bright signs behind it make it harder.

Do not be surprised if the first few minutes feel awkward. Your eyes need a little while to adjust, and your timing will be slightly off on high balls. A longer warm-up of rallying from the baseline, before you play points, helps.

What to wear

Even in warm places the evening can cool quickly once the sun is gone, and a lot of courts are in open, windy spots. A light top layer you can take off after the warm-up is more useful than you would think. Dress in layers in the colder months and keep a dry shirt in your bag.

In summer, lights draw insects. Some players bring insect repellent for the evening, and it is worth having if your court is near water or trees. Apply it before you get to the court rather than at the net, and keep it off your racquet grip, as it can make it slippery.

Safety and parking

Courts are often in parks that are quiet at night. Sensible habits cost nothing.

• Play with someone. A pair or a group is easier to be comfortable with than playing alone on an empty court. If you are meeting a new partner, say so to a friend and tell them which court.
• Park where it is lit. Choose a space near the entrance or under a light and keep valuables out of sight, or leave them at home.
• Keep your phone to hand. Keep it on you, not in a bag on the far side of the court.
• Know the closing time. Parks often close at a set hour, and a gate may be locked afterwards. Check before you start so that you do not get locked in or out.

Courtesy with the lights

Lights are shared, and a lot of the etiquette around them is simple.

• Do not switch them off on the next group. If you are the last to leave and nobody is waiting, turn them off if there is a switch for it. If someone is waiting or coming on, leave them on.
• Do not hold a lit court past your time. Evening slots are the scarcest of the day, so if people are waiting, keep to any posted time limit and hand over when you are done.
• Be quiet in the evening. Courts in residential areas often sit close to homes. Keep voices and music down late at night, and do not slam the gate.

For the longer version, see our guide to public court etiquette.

If the lights are out of order

Lights fail, bulbs burn out and timers get stuck. When it happens to a public court, report it to whoever runs the court: usually the city or county parks and recreation department, or the school district. Many have a phone number or an online form for maintenance, and the court sign or the department website will show which one. A report is more useful if it says which court, which lights, and what you saw.

If a listing here says a court has lights and it does not, or the other way round, you can report the listing from the court’s menu. A person reviews each change.

Finding a lit court

Court listings on Where.Tennis show whether a court has lights where we know it. Browse by state in the court directory, or open the map to see the courts within driving distance of you and whoever you are playing with. If you are bringing a few things for the evening, our guide to what to bring to the court has a checklist.

Before you go

• Check the lights are on the listing and when they go off.
• Bring a fresh can of balls and a light top layer.
• Tell your partner which court and where to park.