What Is Glow-In-The-Dark Pickleball?

So many people are playing pickleball these days. It’s a growing sport that has been taking the world by storm.

We’ve found that as the sport grows more popular, more varieties of pickleball and new ways to play are being created. If you want to find a new way to play pickleball, then you’re in the right place. 

What Is Glow-In-The-Dark Pickleball?

One popular version of pickleball is the newly growing glow pickleball or glow-in-the-dark pickleball.

In this post, we’ll be talking about what glow-in-the-dark pickleball is, where it came from, and why and how you can play it. 

By the end of this article, you will know everything there is to know about glow pickleball, and you’ll be eager to find your nearest pickleball community to play. 

What Is Glow-In-The-Dark Pickleball?

Glow in the dark pickleball is exactly as it sounds. It is also called glow pickleball or cosmic pickleball.

We can explain glow-in-the-dark pickleball as the same sport, but it has fluorescent clothing and neon colored items.

The court is marked with glowing gaffer tape to showcase the boundary lines, and the net is also marked with glowing tape to make it obvious. 

Not only does the court and ball glow, but music plays in the background, providing an ambient soundtrack as you play the sport. It can’t be played during the day, but it can be played at night, indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather.

However, when playing it, it’s best to have the right equipment, or it will be difficult to play it.

Who Invented It?

Now that you understand what glow-in-the-dark pickleball is, you may be wondering who came up with the idea behind it.

Glow in the dark pickleball can be attributed to Corky Newcomb from New Hampshire. He’s behind numerous marketing campaigns and behind the NITELITE and LITE4NITE range of sports goods that can be used at night.

Corky Newcomb has worked on numerous glow-in-the-dark versions of other sports, with pickleball being one of his inventions.

With over 40 different products behind him, the community quickly picked up glow in the pickleball. 

Why Should You Play Glow-In-The-Dark Pickleball?

If you’re looking for a new method to enjoy pickleball, you can do so by playing the glow-in-the-dark version. It’s a fun way to play the game that provides a different environment to play the game.

It’s especially fun if you don’t enjoy playing pickleball when it gets too hot, as it’s exclusively played in a cooler environment.

You also don’t have to worry about getting sunburnt, which will refresh players who might not want to play in a heated environment.

When playing, you don’t need to worry about setting up the floodlights to play. They aren’t essential if you have the other glow-in-the-dark tools, but you do need blacklights.

Otherwise, you won’t be able to see the court. 

What Do You Need To Play Glow-In-The-Dark Pickleball?

If you’re interested in arranging a glow pickleball game in your community, we’ll tell you exactly what you need to play.

Some supplies will already be available without any work, so you should be able to purchase some neon or fluorescent pickleballs. You’ll also need to grab some neon gaffer tape to mark the boundaries of your pickleball court.

What Is Glow-In-The-Dark Pickleball? (1)

You’ll need to invest in some blacklights so that you can see the entire court. Ideally, you should get some high-power, long-throw LED blacklights.

Long-throw LED blacklights will throw the glow lighting from a range of 40 to 300 feet. If you have one court, you should have two blacklights.

Put one on opposing corners of the court. You’ll need four blacklights on the furthest corner of each court if you have four courts. 

When choosing your gaffer tape, you’ll want a tape that won’t leave marks on the court at the end of the evening. Get some thin and thick surfaces so that you can easily mark who is on what team.

These are also helpful if you have anyone arrive who didn’t bring the exact equipment.

If any players don’t have a fluorescent paddle or the right clothing, they can use the gaffer tape to make themselves more visible.

Ideally, the gaffer tape of the court should always be the same color: yellow, orange, pink, or green.

Make each court a different color, and ensure it’s not mixing and matching so that players know which court they can go onto in the other direction. 

What Other Equipment Can You Have?

When playing glow pickleball, you can have fun with how you wear your gear and tape. You can have as much fun as you want when you dress up, and you could even have a dress-up contest.

Naturally, your gear should be as fluorescent and neon as possible, so don’t be afraid to wear neon hats or visors and some glowing makeup and nail polish.

Add some glow sticks to your outfit as a bracelet or necklace. If you don’t have a neon shirt, grab a white one and color it with some office highlighters.

What Are The Rules Of Glow Pickleball?

If you’re worried about there being other rules for glow pickleball, you’ll be pleased to know there are no major differences. Glow pickleball is played with the same rules, whether you’re playing singles or doubles.

The only changes come with the environment you’re playing it in. All you need to do is set up the court, and you can start playing the game as you always would.

Where Can You Play Glow-In-The-Dark Pickleball?

If you want to try glow-in-the-dark pickleball for yourself, we recommend checking with your local pickleball group first. They can point you in the right direction.

Don’t be discouraged if there’s not a group near you, but consider arranging events with the local pickleball community. 

As long as you have the right equipment, you should have no issues with arranging your own glow pickleball tournament. You don’t have to play indoors if you don’t want to, but consider where you play outdoors.

Music is involved with glow pickleball, so you should ensure you don’t disturb any neighbors when taking part in a later match.

Summary

Glow-in-the-dark pickleball, otherwise known as glow pickleball or cosmic pickleball, is a version of pickleball where you play in the dark.

Players must wear fluorescent gear and ensure that their equipment also glows in the dark. It is exclusively played at night so that the lights will stand out, and music is often played in the background. 

We recommend investing in some long-throw LED blacklights so that you can easily see the court and get some fluorescent gaffer tape to set up the boundaries of the court.

If you’re tired of the usual game of pickleball, glow-in-the-dark pickleball is an exciting new way to play the game.

Hopefully, you will enjoy this introduction to glow pickleball. Feel free to find a session near you or even organize one yourself.

If you have any more questions about pickleball, check out some of our other helpful articles to learn everything you need to know.

Likewise, if you’re new to the sport and interested, feel free to head to your local pickleball community to learn more and how to play. 

Michael Walter
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