Overhead Lighting Placement

[linkkingx]

This has probably been discussed before but I couldn't really find exactly what I'm looking for. I'm planning a new room with a center hitting area. In my first build I had an offset hitting area and put a spotlight directly over the ball. This worked for the most part but I did get some shadows, especially when leaning over a putt. I also got a little glare off my wedges, but I feel like that might be unavoidable. I'm thinking about my new setup and I'm thinking I definitely want a couple of spotlights. The question is do you think it would be better to have one in front of the ball position and one behind, both aimed at the ball, or have them to the left and right of the ball? I'm thinking the left and right scenario would cause a shadow from the player but would be cancelled out mostly by the opposite light. The front and back scenario might avoid shadows altogether but could be worse for glare since the front light will be pointed directly at the clubface. Does anybody have a lighting setup like either of these scenarios? I'm leaning toward front and back position but would love to see if anybody has done this already. Thanks.

[caiany777]

Bumping this. I have the same question. My electrician currently has spec'd out 3 directional pot lights, one directly above the tee position and then one on either side (maybe 4 feet left and 4 feet right). I am worried about shadows though. Should I just have the left and right lights? I know GungHoGolf did a write-up recently on types of lights, snoots, etc but there wasn't anything in there on lighting placement (https://gunghogolf.com/articles/indo...video-lighting)


Any info would be appreciated!

[Ronsc1985]

Put a light or lights directly over the ball position when hitting. Doing this eliminates any shadows affecting hitting the ball just by virtue of the setup geometry. Any other lights in the room should be lower intensity and diffused lens types , i.e not spotlights.

[GungHoGolf]

Put a light or lights directly over the ball position when hitting. Doing this eliminates any shadows affecting hitting the ball just by virtue of the setup geometry. Any other lights in the room should be lower intensity and diffused lens types , i.e not spotlights.

I'm not a fan of having a single light directly over the ball position - will cause a big shadow on the ball when putting and short chipping. Best to place a single light about 3' in front of ball position, on the target line, if you're supporting both righties and lefties. Keeping it in front and angling it back towards the ball has the additional benefit of keeping its light off the impact screen.

[mattvandyk]

Thanks, Ron. Hitting position in my setup is pretty much exactly 10’ from screen. Is that far enough to have a spot in front (pointing back) and a spot behind (pointing forward), both aimed at the ball, but not precisely the same spot? .

I want, basically, an oval of light about 5’ long (the depth of my hitting mat) along the target line, and the only way I can think to do that without casting shadows is a front/behind spotlight setup.

If it matters, the spots will be at the peak of a cathedral ceiling, roughly 13’ up.

[Ronsc1985]

At 13 feet up you will get quite a bit of light diffusion even with a spot. You should be o.K.

With respect to shadows what do you do when playing real golf and the sun is out? Shadows, unless sharply defined are not much of a problem. The greater problem with spots is if they shine directly in your eyes, kind of like the low sun angle this time of year.

I have two LED spots directly over the hitting mat on the ball starting flight path with no problems. If you are worried you can get a couple of the flexible socket extensions to adjust the light axis. This should be fun 13 feet off the deck.

[Whale]

If you put the light 3’ in front of the hitting area and centered doesn’t it impact image quality if you have a center mounted projector?