For a lot of us, the only free time to play is after work. Half the year, that means after sunset. The good news: night pickleball is a blast. The catch: you need to set it up right, or the game gets frustrating and a little risky.
Here’s how to play well after dark.
Light the court, not just the sky.
Overhead court lighting is ideal, but even a few well placed portable work lights can transform a driveway or an unlit court. Aim for even light with minimal shadows and no glare in players’ eyes.
Make the ball and paddles easy to see.
Tracking the ball is the whole challenge at night. High visibility balls help, and gear that lights up or stands out against the dark can make it easier to follow the action.
Mind your footing.
Shadows hide cracks, lines, and the edge of the court. Do a quick walk of the space before you start, clear any trip hazards, and keep water bottles and bags off the playing surface.
Warm up a little longer.
If the evening has cooled off, give yourself a few extra minutes to warm up so you’re not asking cold muscles for sudden movements.
Keep it social and safe.
Night sessions are more fun with a group, and safer too. Let someone know where you are, keep the music at a neighbor friendly level, and wrap up at a reasonable hour.
The easy upgrade
If seeing your paddle is part of what holds your night game back, the MoonLight LED Pickleball Paddle is designed for after dark play. It has a patented LED illuminated design with 20 color and lighting modes, so your paddle is easy to spot in low light. A premium carbon fiber face gives it a responsive feel with good control and spin. The rechargeable lithium battery gives up to 4 hours of play per charge, and a USB charging cable is included. It comes with a 1 year limited warranty and is also available as a set of 2 with the StarLight paddle.
Pair it with good court lighting for the best night game.
See the MoonLight LED Paddle: https://oncourtoffcourt.com/moonlight-led-pickleball-paddle/
Kalindi Dinoffer is trained in multiple aspects of mindfulness in life and in sports, sharing on her blog MindfulKalindi.com. She is also certified to teach yoga, fitness, reiki, and MFR. Kalindi also serves as CMO at OnCourtOffCourt.com, a leading supplier of tennis, pickleball, fitness and yoga training aids and equipment and has been published in Tennis industry Magazine and Pickleball Magazine, and has conducted workshops at conferences around the world. In her spare time, Kalindi plays tennis, pickleball and table tennis and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and biking and cross country skiing in the winter.
