Rules & Regulations
Lighting & Orientation
This section covers the visibility standards that help create safe, fair, and consistent playing conditions.
At a Glance
What This Section Covers
- Illumination requirements
- Lighting placement considerations
- Recommended court orientation
Official Rule Breakdown
Lighting Quality
Artificial lighting should be uniform and positioned so it does not create visibility problems for players, officials, or spectators.
The 2026 rules point lighting specification back to the FIP Courts Homologation annex. Where detailed lux levels are required, competition lighting should be checked against that annex.
Light Placement
Light poles should be outside the court. If lighting falls inside the required safety area, out-of-court play is not allowed.
The minimum height from the ground to the lower part of the light projectors is 6 metres, with 8 metres suggested for new facilities where lights are installed inside the court projection.
Different heights may be used for lights installed outside the court walls, provided they do not create visibility problems or conflict with the court requirements.
Broadcast and Film Recording
For television broadcasts and film recording, the 2026 rules call for at least 1000 lux of vertical illumination.
That level may need to increase depending on camera distance and broadcast requirements, so broadcast courts should be assessed against the relevant lighting standard early.
Court Orientation
For outdoor facilities, the recommended longitudinal court axis is north-south.
The guidance allows some variation between north-northeast and north-northwest, helping reduce the effect of direct sun during play.
In Practice
- Good lighting is not only about brightness. Uniformity matters because glare and dark patches can affect player reaction time and line visibility.
- If a court is planned for livestreaming or broadcast, lighting should be reviewed early, because broadcast guidance is more demanding than general play guidance.
- For outdoor courts, orientation should be considered before construction, not after, because it affects the playing experience at different times of day.