One of the most common questions we receive is:

“Which optic should we choose?"

Our answer is almost always the same:

It depends on the field.

Not because one optic is better than another, but because every sports facility presents a unique engineering challenge.

At first glance, a football stadium and a tennis court both use LED floodlights. Their design objectives may appear similar:

• High illuminance
• Excellent uniformity
• Effective glare control
• High energy efficiency

However, their optical requirements are fundamentally different.

A tennis court is a relatively compact playing area.

Typical mounting heights range from 8 to 12 metres, and players spend much of the match looking upward to follow a fast-moving ball. This immediately changes the priorities of optical design.

If the beam angle is too wide, a considerable amount of light escapes beyond the court boundary, resulting in:

• Reduced optical efficiency
• Increased spill light
• More light pollution

Conversely, if the beam is too narrow, illuminance uniformity quickly deteriorates, creating noticeable brightness differences across the playing surface.

Increasing the aiming angle is not the ideal solution either. A steeper tilt often leads to:

• Higher glare for players
• Larger projected surface area
• Greater wind load on the lighting poles

Instead of improving performance, it introduces additional compromises.

To address these challenges, SOGA developed the A45 Asymmetric Optic.

Rather than simply creating another beam angle, the A45 was engineered specifically for tennis court applications.

Its asymmetric distribution delivers light precisely across the playing area while minimizing unnecessary spill outside the court. It also allows luminaires to operate at more favorable aiming angles, achieving a balanced combination of:

• High illuminance
• Excellent uniformity
• Improved player comfort
• Reduced glare
• Lower spill light
• Reduced structural wind load

Football stadiums present an entirely different set of engineering challenges.

Mounting heights typically increase to 18–30 metres, throw distances become significantly longer, and the illuminated area is several times larger than a tennis court.

An optic optimized for lower mounting heights cannot deliver consistent performance under these conditions.

Typical problems include:

• Light falling short of distant areas
• Over-illumination near the poles
• Reduced uniformity
• Lower optical efficiency

The challenge is no longer illuminating a small court—it is precisely controlling light across a much larger field.

To meet these demands, SOGA developed the A60 Asymmetric Optic Family.

The A60 is not simply designed to project light farther. It is engineered to maintain precise optical distribution over long distances while balancing:

• High illuminance
• Excellent uniformity
• Controlled glare
• Minimal spill light
• Lower wind load
• Practical aiming angles

As more sports facilities are built close to residential communities, achieving this balance has become increasingly important.

Modern lighting systems must not only illuminate the field effectively but also minimize their environmental impact.

Both optical systems share one important philosophy:

A45 is not better than A60.

Each optic is designed for a different application.

At SOGA, we do not pursue the highest value for a single specification.

The highest illuminance alone does not guarantee the best lighting solution.

The highest efficiency is not the only objective.

The narrowest beam angle is not always the right choice.

Every successful sports lighting project requires balancing multiple performance factors:

• Illuminance
• Uniformity
• Glare control
• Spill light reduction
• Wind load
• Installation efficiency

Optimizing one parameter often affects another.

Engineering is about finding the best overall balance—not simply achieving the highest number on a specification sheet.

For us, optics are not catalogue options.

They are engineering solutions developed around real-world applications.

We do not design products first and then search for projects that fit them.

Instead, we begin with the project.

We study the field.

We understand its challenges.

Only then do we engineer the optical system around those specific requirements.

Because the best sports lighting is not defined by the fixture.

It is defined by how well the field performs.

Every engineering decision should improve the performance of the entire project—not just the luminaire.

At SOGA, we believe great sports lighting starts with understanding the field, balancing every design parameter, and delivering optical solutions that perform where they matter most: on the playing surface.