I was hoping to start playing some league tennis once I retire, but I have noticed that most of the matches are at night. It seems like my vision has gotten worse at night over the past few years. I am 54 years old. I guess I will focus on playing tournaments since most of the matches are during the day at these USTA tournaments. I guess it is part of getting older. I do use glasses for reading, but I see fine during the day when I am playing tennis. At night things get blurry, and it is harder to track the ball. Anybody else experience this problem too? Thanks!
getting older and playing at night
- Thread starter dthomas
- Start date
MayDay
Semi-Pro
It's not your age. I'm a decade+ younger than you, have 20/20, and still felt the same blurryness playing tennis at night. You're just not used to playing with the court lights. Give it at least 3 sessions to get used to it (blurryness may still be there, but your brain would adjust).
Try wearing a hat to provide some shading from direct court light and see if that helps.
Try wearing a hat to provide some shading from direct court light and see if that helps.
I think everyone's eyesight deteriorates at night once they are past 40 years old. I'm 56 and noticed my night sight got worse in mid-40s. I have good eye sight and don't wear contacts or glasses, but do wear readers. If the lights are top quality, I can still see OK but not quite as good as day light.
Depth perception seems to be the biggest problem and it causes issues with timing the ball - either too early or too late.
This is true for almost everyone I have know. I have a couple of friends that really struggle at night but are fine during the day.
Depth perception seems to be the biggest problem and it causes issues with timing the ball - either too early or too late.
This is true for almost everyone I have know. I have a couple of friends that really struggle at night but are fine during the day.
mikeler
Moderator
Wear a hat that is black under the brim. You can also try night vision glasses.
greg_in_atl
New User
I noticed that I was having trouble seeing the ball when I played at night (which is about 1/3 of the time, I guess), so I asked my eye doctor about it.
I now have glasses that I can wear over my contacts that I use specifically for night tennis & driving.
It usually takes me ~ 1 game for my eyes to adjust, but it's better than not being able to see the ball under the lights.
I now have glasses that I can wear over my contacts that I use specifically for night tennis & driving.
It usually takes me ~ 1 game for my eyes to adjust, but it's better than not being able to see the ball under the lights.
LuckyR
Legend
What he said. In addition, lobs are especially problematic since there is no background context to help gauge depth.
goober
Legend
I have some senior friends that refuse to play at night because they have such a hard time seeing the ball. Lately I have started to notice poorer vision at night as well so I must be getting old too! Unfortunately most league play around here is weeknight. Senior divisions 55+ are during the day time though. I guess I will have to wait...
Overdrive
Legend
How is the lighting at the local club? That could be a factor.
BlueB
Legend
It has to do mostly with dispersion/distribution of the light.
I see the best indoors in the bubble, as the lights shine up and disperse evenly, everywhere.
Outside, I'm fine if overcast or sunny. However, if there are patches of shade and sun on the court, it becomes nightmare.
Outside, in the night, the lights shine down. If they is insuficient or poorly adjusted, you also get the uneven light. Plus, when you look up at moonballs, you get blinded by them. I seem to do worse on clay (color issue?) then on hardcourt in those conditions.
I'm 44.
I see the best indoors in the bubble, as the lights shine up and disperse evenly, everywhere.
Outside, I'm fine if overcast or sunny. However, if there are patches of shade and sun on the court, it becomes nightmare.
Outside, in the night, the lights shine down. If they is insuficient or poorly adjusted, you also get the uneven light. Plus, when you look up at moonballs, you get blinded by them. I seem to do worse on clay (color issue?) then on hardcourt in those conditions.
I'm 44.
I've gone through the same thing. In my case it's that at age 56 I'm beginning to develop cataracts. When light levels are lower and pupils are dilated the early cataracts are in the focal portion of the eye lens. Nothing you can do about it. At your age you're too young for cataract surgery (providing that's what you've got) so just increase your concentration and focus on the ball and give it a go. If you're playing in age bracketed matches all you opponents will have the same thing going on. You can try Bolle Comptevision glasses, which are supposed to make the ball "pop". I think they sort of work - but maybe it's all in my head- which also works....
Welcome to middle age...it get's harder to find your car keys and comfortable hotel beds too...
-C
Welcome to middle age...it get's harder to find your car keys and comfortable hotel beds too...
-C
LeftyRighty
Rookie
When I'm too lazy to put my contacts in, and I end up playing at night...I can't see the ball until it comes back over to my side of the net since my glasses are pretty old.
It's like the ball is playing peak a boo lol. It vanishes in the court lights a lot and even depth perception is off.
Contacts are when made the biggest difference for me. This stops when I wear them, and a fresh pair of glasses might help too.
im 26 btw...and my eyes have always been very bad at night.
It's like the ball is playing peak a boo lol. It vanishes in the court lights a lot and even depth perception is off.
Contacts are when made the biggest difference for me. This stops when I wear them, and a fresh pair of glasses might help too.
im 26 btw...and my eyes have always been very bad at night.
Could the answer lay in motivation and desire?
We all see badly at night.
Some complain and stop night play.
Other's bite the bullet, work on it, get used to it.
I was a complainer, and stopped playing tennis at night.
Funny ding.... Almost every cab driver I know say I have superior night vision. I can seemingly spot a potential fare even through heavy traffic, in the rain, or in a big rowdy crowd.
I really don't see well.
But I needed to work on this trait, in order to make a little money at my chosen profession.
We all see badly at night.
Some complain and stop night play.
Other's bite the bullet, work on it, get used to it.
I was a complainer, and stopped playing tennis at night.
Funny ding.... Almost every cab driver I know say I have superior night vision. I can seemingly spot a potential fare even through heavy traffic, in the rain, or in a big rowdy crowd.
I really don't see well.
But I needed to work on this trait, in order to make a little money at my chosen profession.
LeftyRighty
Rookie
You shouldn't have to have motivation and desire in order to see well, you should be seeing well effortlessly.
Playing at night might need that, but just seeing the ball shouldn't be that hard of a time for your eye without there being something wrong.
It's kind of a personal problem. You know when YOU aren't seeing what you think you should, and if you can't adjust no matter what, then there's something wrong.
There are some advantages to playing at night:
- I like not having a bright sun in my eyes
- I hate shadows, balls going from light to dark to light
- the lighting is very consistent
Use a hat and use glasses with night lenses... the right lenses will add contrast and reduce glare. If you need correction - then don't use contacts - use corrective lenses for night.
I have some adidas glasses where I can swap in and out different lenses pending lighting conditions... highly recommended
- I like not having a bright sun in my eyes
- I hate shadows, balls going from light to dark to light
- the lighting is very consistent
Use a hat and use glasses with night lenses... the right lenses will add contrast and reduce glare. If you need correction - then don't use contacts - use corrective lenses for night.
I have some adidas glasses where I can swap in and out different lenses pending lighting conditions... highly recommended
I've played against guys who say they see REALLY well at night.
I say I"m blind.
The results aren't too different than when we play during sunlight.
What you are saying is akin to...."I can't serve as hard as SamGroth, so I must need surgery or something to improve the speed of my serve".
When in reality you should be saying...."I can't serve as hard as SamGroth, but I"m shorter, weaker, older, and not nearly as much an animal".....
Accept your limitations, you have many, as do I.
I say I"m blind.
The results aren't too different than when we play during sunlight.
What you are saying is akin to...."I can't serve as hard as SamGroth, so I must need surgery or something to improve the speed of my serve".
When in reality you should be saying...."I can't serve as hard as SamGroth, but I"m shorter, weaker, older, and not nearly as much an animal".....
Accept your limitations, you have many, as do I.
newpball
Legend
I fear aging will come with a lot of unexpected events for you.
MayDay
Semi-Pro
I fear aging will come with a lot of unexpected events for you.
You mean Myopia? Yeah, hope that doesn't happen anytime soon.
I'm alrady feeling the slow recovery rate as I hit my 40 mark.
newpball
Legend
After 50 everything only goes downhill.
heftylefty
Hall of Fame
Awsome! I am 6 months out from joining the "club".
Fay
Professional
The lights can vary a great deal from court to court.
One court I have played at I can play without a visor. Others I must have a visor, and some I cannot see the toss of the ball so just don't play there socially at night. A lot depends upon the quality of lighting and the lamps they use.
One court I have played at I can play without a visor. Others I must have a visor, and some I cannot see the toss of the ball so just don't play there socially at night. A lot depends upon the quality of lighting and the lamps they use.
Unfortunately it probably is age. As we age, especially getting into the 50's and older, several age-related vision changes occur. The rods(of rods and cones fame) which handle dark vision, decrease. The ability to visually adapt to the dark begins to take longer as we age also. And cataracts, which become more likely and severe as we age, are a culprit. Finally, the longer we spend in the sun cumulatively and at specific times, the worse our night vision gets. Wearing sunglasses in the sun can help that loss to some degree. Bottom line--it may be good for cheese and wine but the aging process definitely hurts our night vision ability.
It is more than aging I think. I see lot of seniors at play without complaining much about their vision. A good optometrist perhaps can tell what the problem is. I also noticed there are better glasses now correcting things based on what people can see. There can be some supplements one can take to correct the issue.
is your van down by the river by any chance[/I]
mikeler
Moderator
I almost went there but refrained...
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Must be tough to serve wearing glasses, http://www.propshop-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Zero-Dark-Thirty-1.jpg
Bdarb
Hall of Fame
Do you work for Dos Equis? If so I think I know who you are.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
The most interesting man on this board
Actually, most girls find me extremely UNinteresting...:shock:
Since I basically refuse to work at any meaningful job, fail to create a "goal" for my future, basically take life one day at a time, don't own a nice car or lots of property on a hill overlooking SanFranciscoBay, haven't combed my hair in over 40 years, and mostly wear sports clothing, lots of money grabbing hotties just look right through me if they even gander in my direction.
I seem to require a somewhat self sufficient, confident woman as my partner in life, rather than the eye candy that most men find attractive.
Since I basically refuse to work at any meaningful job, fail to create a "goal" for my future, basically take life one day at a time, don't own a nice car or lots of property on a hill overlooking SanFranciscoBay, haven't combed my hair in over 40 years, and mostly wear sports clothing, lots of money grabbing hotties just look right through me if they even gander in my direction.
I seem to require a somewhat self sufficient, confident woman as my partner in life, rather than the eye candy that most men find attractive.
dlk
Hall of Fame
Don't think it has anything to do with getting older; I find there is transition into any background a player finds themselves (e.g., sunshine outdoors, an indoor court with sidelights, indoor with overhead lights, indoor with natural light etc...).
Can see now at 44 as good as at 18, if not better (except reading things close up--have to move farther away--presbyopia) .
Can see now at 44 as good as at 18, if not better (except reading things close up--have to move farther away--presbyopia) .
playing at night
i agree with the quote above
i play at night, and i cant see as well as the young guys that i play with
in the league, but
i am 64, but my drop shot is better than them, i volley better than them
if it isnt any fun for you, dont play at night
personally, i play better during the day, but a lot of my league matches
are at night, so i just deal with it.
z
i agree with the quote above
i play at night, and i cant see as well as the young guys that i play with
in the league, but
i am 64, but my drop shot is better than them, i volley better than them
if it isnt any fun for you, dont play at night
personally, i play better during the day, but a lot of my league matches
are at night, so i just deal with it.
z
Fay
Professional
What are the supplements ?
I can see fine during the day and with some court lights, but others are really hard to see the ball ~
thanks !
Fay
Professional
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
My optometrist told me that "were I to be a truck driver, he would have given me glasses, but not for tennis, b/c I might get dizzy tracking the tennis ball" (as another patient told him)??!!
Anyhow I play worse at night etc.
beernutz
Hall of Fame
LeeD living in a van, down by the river, throwing footballs over 60 yards, off of rooftops.
Yeah, I went there.
