How to Play Glow in the Dark Pickleball 

I finally had a chance to play glow-in-the-dark (or black light) pickleball this week. 

My friends and I wanted to organize a pickleball tournament with a twist—so someone suggested we try glow-in-the-dark pickleball! 

It was a huge success. 

We transformed 3 courts with black lights and had 16 people play. 

I’d never played black light pickleball before, so there was some trial and error when it came to planning. 

What equipment would we need? Can you play glow-in-the-dark pickleball anywhere or do you need a special court? How do you see your equipment in the dark?

Turns out, it was surprisingly easy to set up, see our paddles, and track the ball.

We were able to play some fun rec games and had lots of laughs along the way. 

Organizing your own glow-in-the-dark pickleball tournament? 

Use this guide to save you time (and error). 

Let’s take a look at what you need if you plan on playing glow-in-the-dark pickleball.

What is glow-in-the-dark pickleball?

Glow-in-the-dark or black-light pickleball is exactly as it sounds: playing pickleball at night or in a dark room (usually with a black light). 

The rules are the same as regular pickleball, but all players wear bright or white clothing and pickleballs and paddles can glow in the dark. The court lines must also be visible in the dark. 

Glow-in-the-dark pickleball is great for parties with friends and tournaments at pickleball clubs or leagues. It’s the perfect game to play on summer nights. 

Check out this video from Midnite Match to see just how cool blacklight pickleball can look:

Where can you play glow-in-the-dark pickleball? 

Technically anywhere you play pickleball can be turned into a glow-in-the-dark pickleball court.

If you’re just looking to play pickleball in the dark, any outdoor or indoor court will work. 

If you’re hoping to play glow-in-the-dark or black-light pickleball, you’ll need a safe indoor space with plenty of room for the extra lights and equipment.

What You Need to Play Glow-In-The-Dark Pickleball 

Here’s a quick list of the equipment you’ll need for black light pickleball: 

• Neon or LED pickleballs
• UV or fluorescent tape
• White or bright neon clothing
• Glow sticks (optional)
• Black light UV cannon (can be rented from a party supply store)

Glow-in-the-Dark Pickleballs

One of the most important pieces of equipment you’ll need for glow-in-the-dark pickleball is special glow-in-the-dark balls. 

There are several different manufacturers that make these, and they usually come in packs of three or four. 

They’re just like regular pickleballs, only they have pigment in them that makes them extra visible in the dark.

You don’t have to use glow-in-the-dark pickleballs. But the neon balls you use must be bright enough to be seen in the dark.

LED light-up pickleballs also work well but sometimes don’t last as long. 

We used Core pickleballs for our tournament and they glowed incredibly bright in black light. Although these are not technically glow-in-the-dark pickleballs, they worked great! 

There are plenty of great options for glow-in-the-dark pickleballs. Some even come with a flashlight to charge the balls before playing.

You can also find LED light-up pickleballs on Amazon for a good price. 

Hot tip: If you’re unsure if your pickleballs will be bright enough in UV black light or in the dark, test them in a dark bathroom first. 

How to see Court Lines 

One of the challenges with playing pickleball at night or in black light is that it can be difficult to keep track of where you are on the court.

To make this easier, use high-quality fluorescent neon tape to create glow-in-the-dark court lines that can be seen in low-light conditions. 

You’ll need approximately 100 yards of neon UV tape per court. 

These court lines will help ensure that players stay within their designated areas and don’t venture off into other parts of the court while playing. 

Simply add high-quality fluorescent neon tape to all your pickleball court lines and they’ll be visible in the dark. 

Just be sure to test it out in a small area first to be sure you’re not ruining the paint. 

You can even use your extra neon tape on the net, players, paddles, and other equipment. 

Glow-in-the Dark Pickleball paddles 

Unfortunately, I haven’t seen any glow-in-the-dark pickleball paddles on the market just yet (ahem, pickleball paddle manufacturers, this is a golden (or should I say neon) opportunity!

One quick solution is to wrap your paddle in fluorescent or neon tape. Just be sure to clean off any sticky residue before your next match. 

You can also attach glow sticks to your paddle, as long as they don’t get in the way of hitting the ball. 

We didn’t bother making our paddles glow at our black-light pickleball tournament.

Some paddle designs have neon painted onto them and were easy enough to spot on their own! 

What to wear for Glow in the dark pickleball

To keep things fun and safe, all players should wear white or neon clothing. 

This ensures that everyone is super easy to spot. 

We did this for our black light pickleball party and it worked really well. Some people also added fluorescent tape to their clothing. Others wore glow sticks for added visibility. 

Glow sticks create a fun, eerie atmosphere and will definitely add an extra layer of excitement to your games! You can find them online or at most party stores near you.

Overall, the white clothing worked just as well as neon! 

Using UV Black light for pickleball 

The last piece of equipment you’ll need to play a successful game of glow-in-the-dark pickleball—and arguably the most important—is lighting. 

We rented black light UV cannons and light stands (one per court) from a local party supply store. Each one cost around $30 for the weekend. 

Be sure to ask the rental company how many light cannons you’ll need for your space. If it’s a large indoor gymnasium or community centre, you might need more than one. 

If it’s a small space, one light cannon should do the trick. 

Will you be hosting black light pickleball parties regularly? Consider investing in your own black light cannon. You can find them used for a good price. 

Whatever type of lighting you choose (lasers would look really cool too!), just make sure it provides enough illumination so that players can clearly see their opponents and where they need to be on the court during gameplay.  

Whether you’re looking for a new way to enjoy pickleball or simply want something fun and unique to do with friends this summer, glow-in-the-dark pickleball is definitely worth trying out! 

All it takes is a few pieces of special equipment—glow-in-the-dark pickleballs, neon tape for paddles and court lines, and black light/glow sticks—and you’re ready to hit the court (or backyard!) for some nighttime fun. 

So grab some friends and get ready for an unforgettable game – all under a black light (or a blanket of stars!). 

Check out this cool video from The Kitchen Pickle of what your blacklight pickleball tournament could look like!