Editor Monica Butler, sound engineer Bob Unetich, and author Mike Branon talk about pickleball growth and the on-going noise issue.
For those of us that love to play pickleball, there is something cool about the sound of a pickleball ball popping off the face of a pickleball paddle and the sound of noisy action at the pickleball net.
Every time I stroll up to the local courts and catch the lively sounds of pickleball games in action, I can’t help but get a little buzzed. For me, it’s all about diving into a sport I’m super passionate about and looking forward to the good times ahead.
But let’s flip the coin. For folks living close by who aren’t into pickleball, those sounds might be a tad grating. They might even wonder, “Should a game this noisy be happening right next door?”
Funny enough, a bunch of pickleball fans I’ve chatted with feel the same. In the heat of the game, that pop-pop sound barely registers. But once they’re chilling on the sidelines? Yep, they get it—it’s kinda loud and could be a bit much for some.
Pickleball Noise Conflict
Here’s a short video showing this exact problem where residents near Gilchrist Park in Punta Gorda, Florida have complained to the local city council.
As the sport of pickleball continues to grow it’s still one of the fastest-growing sports in the US, if not the fastest (depending on who you ask) and more and more communities are including pickleball courts within their residential areas.
Click here to see a list of quiet pickleball paddles
Not only are courts being built in public parks and many tennis courts being converted to pickleball as popularity surges, but retirement communities, luxury condominiums, 55+ communities, gated golf communities, and homeowners associations are including pickleball as one of the amenities they offer to attract new residents and meet the increased demand for pickleball facilities.
Pickleball Noise Lawsuits
The issue has become so heated in some communities that there have actually been lawsuits over pickleball noise! Like this one here and this other lawsuit here.
Pickleball Debate & Controversy
One of the noticeable changes in recent years has been the big shift from tennis to pickleball, as the demand for pickleball increases many idle tennis courts are being converted to pickleball. Tennis is relatively quiet, the sound of the ball coming off the racket strings is very muted compared to the clack, clack, clack of pickleball paddles hitting the ball.
There is an ongoing debate on whether or not pickleball is louder than tennis.
I have heard lots of people claim that pickleball is louder – i.e. decibel levels of pickleball hitting the paddle is louder than tennis ball hitting a racquet.
However, the clearest example of an actual decibel test is this one that the folks at OnCourt OffCourt. The results contradict that long-standing claim that tennis is quieter.
Some key observations:
- Different sound -pickleball has a higher pitch
- Player density – more pickleball players in a small area compared to tennis
- More chatter- pickleball is a social game, more banter back and forth compared to tennis
Also, many of these old tennis courts were sitting empty for much of the day. There are eight tennis courts just a few minutes walk from my house and I don’t remember the last time I saw them full during the week. In comparison, the closest pickleball courts are jam-packed with every time slot taken almost every day of the week.
So as an example…for someone who lived across the street from 8 tennis courts that were recently converted to pickleball, the area could easily have changed from a very quiet park to a bustling scene with 30+ people playing at a time, more people coming and going at the top of every hour and the constant popping sound that accompanies any pickleball game (multiply that sound by 8 games being played simultaneously!). I can understand why they are not happy.
On top of that, when tennis courts are converted to pickleball you can fit up to 4 times as many courts in the same area (see above photo).
We’ve heard a few non-pickleball residents jokingly say they pray for rain to get relief from the pops and pings they hear coming from the nearby pickleball courts.
Solutions for Pickleball Noise:
One pickleball noise solution is to install soundproofing material placed around the entire court such as “Acoustifence“. Tests have shown that this acoustic fencing can reduce pickleball noise by up to 50%. While this is an effective solution for newly built courts and cities and communities that have the funds to upgrade their courts, many local municipal courts and communities do not have the budget for this upgrade.
Quiet Pickleball Paddles:
The best and easiest solution for most players that live in noise-restricted communities is to buy a quieter pickleball paddle.
Interestingly, there is a published list of quiet pickleball paddles online. Sun City Grand Pickleball Courts, located in the City of Surprise, AZ, just 45 minutes northwest of downtown Phoenix has tested a wide variety of popular pickleball paddle on the market and published a list of “Approved (Green Zone)” and “Banned (Red Zone)” paddles for use on their pickleball courts.
The pickleball association actually contracted an independent sound study company to measure the noise level in decibels and prohibit the use of paddles that exceed this level.
Here are some of the top-selling paddles from major pickleball brands from the list. Again, this is not an official list and has not been verified outside of Sun City Grand but may be useful when looking to buy a quiet pickleball paddle.
For convenience, we’ve also published a full list here with links to all the quiet paddles on the list if you want to read reviews or check current prices.
This list is not sanctioned by USAPA and although this is not an official list with any authority outside their own community it has become a useful guide for many players looking for a quieter pickleball paddle and has been since used by other local pickleball communities as a reference for quiet vs noisy paddles. The list is updated regularly and new paddles on the market are tested and added to the list.
For a full updated list, see the Quiet Pickleball Paddle Approved/Banned List Noisy Pickleball Paddles list. (opens PDF)
Polymer core paddles are the quietest pickleball paddles on the market. After poly-core paddles, aluminum core are slightly quieter than Nomex. Composite (fiberglass face) are also quieter than graphite. These are just general guidelines and there are exceptions to those guidelines, your best bet would be to opt for a polymer core pickleball paddle.
The quietest pickleball paddle?
Patriot Pickleball Paddle company designs and manufacturers “Quiet” Pickleball Paddles specifically designed for low noise. They’ve already launched their first patent-pending paddle called the “Sniper”. The Paddles are made from polypropylene honeycomb core with rigid polyurethane foam center which dampens noise.
Other Possible Fix for Pickleball Noise:
Practice balls:
There are a couple of quieter balls on the market of foam like this one and this one from Gamma Sports. These can be great practice tools (hitting against the wall on a rainy day 🙂 and are good for warming up.
If you really can’t play with a regulation pickleball (after hours or noise restrictions) you could still have a lot of fun with these and play a game of pickleball but honestly we don’t see these practice balls as total solution since very few players are going to use these to play a competitive game of pickleball. Although the ball is similar in size, because it is soft it really does not have the same touch or feel of a real pickleball.
As some readers have pointed out recently, it really may take a redesign of the ball to solve the problem, it seems that will all the technological advances in sporting equipment we could figure out a ball with a similar level of bounce and action without the harsh popping sound…
As the sport continues to grow, there will inevitably be more debate regarding pickleball noise between pickleball players and the people who live near pickleball courts (especially those that do not play). To minimize the number of confrontations city planners and the people who design and construct courts (or convert tennis courts) will really need to make noise reduction a priority.
Pickleball is such a great sport and has so many benefits to the people that play it, especially the positive aspect of building friendships and community based on a common love for the sport that we would hate for the noise issue to leave a negative mark.
Pickleball equipment manufacturers now have the challenge of coming up with quieter paddles and quieter balls. We’ve already seen some new products launched to help meet the demand for quiet paddles and will hopefully see pickleball companies coming up with more solutions to help make the game quieter without negatively impacting the gameplay.
Research and development take time, but it will be interesting to see what kind of paddles we are playing with a decade from now! With all of the recent advances in paddles, I would be surprised if the noise levels didn’t come down somewhat by then.
There have been so many advances in paddle technology and the materials used to make paddles. If you take a look at newly released pickleball paddles, they are more lightweight, durable, and designed to improve game performance (spin, touch, feel, balance, etc).
Because of these advances, we’re pretty sure that paddle noise level will also be addressed in the future as newer paddles come to market and more players demand it. It is also in the pickleball brands‘ best interest as there are already posted lists of banned paddles in some communities which must have some effect on sales of those paddles named on the list.
The bigger issue with pickleball noise that would have the most impact is really court acoustics and sound dampening and that will take time and budget to resolve. Acoustic walls, protective fencing and logical city and community planning is needed to make pickleball facilities that best meet the needs of players while respecting the rights of local residents to peace and quiet.
As many readers have mentioned, the ball design really needs to be a top priority and the industry needs to come up with a solution (balls are not exactly cheap and do need to be replaced relatively often so coming up with a quiet but durable one would be the ideal solution for players).
Pickleball players can also do their part by limiting unnecessary noises (large groups, etc), playing only during allowed times and respecting noise levels especially early morning and late evening, playing with soft foam practice balls if needed. And when possible, selecting quieter paddles (when requested by local communities and respecting any posted ban on “noiser” paddles).
Although some people have proposed a decibel rating be placed on paddle, up until now there has been no official noise rating on paddles. It seems unlikely that this will be a reality anytime soon considering there are several factors involved: the paddle, the ball used, and force of the stroke that each pickleball player would create a unique sound…and it may easily vary from one hit to the next.
To me, it seems like there are just too many variables unless the USAPA or other governing body like the IFP comes up with a standard paddle noise testing requirement such as firing a pickleball (specific brand/model?) at x/mph from a certain distance?
If you have any comments about pickleball noise please add your comments below. All we ask is that you keep the conversation civil. We definitely want to hear both sides of the story and any feedback on solutions that have helped reduce noise but won’t be publishing any comments that use profanity (I’ve received some pretty nasty comments on this post which just shows the level of anger the noise problem causes between some neighbors).
Thanks!
I think that putting a pickle ball complex in the middle of a residential community, where there are no existing tennis courts to convert, it unacceptable. The noise will still exist, and not everyone will have the “quieter” paddle. You have not mentioned the noise from the players and the noise from the increased traffic. I also wonder how long pickle ball will remain popular .
Hi Patty,
Thanks for taking the time to participate the conversation.
I agree it’s tough for people that are already living in a residential community for pickleball courts to be added, compared to residents who specifically chose a place to live because it already offered pickleball.
You make a good point, the noise is not limited just the sound of the ball, but also the increased traffic, people etc.
I’ve heard similar problems with swimming pools being added to communities, while some residents love it others complain about the sounds of people talking around the pool, grandkids splashing around, etc.
It’s always better if the court can be strategically built on the edge of the community to have less of an impact, sound barriers put up around the fenced in area and limit early morning and evening playing hours.
I guess it comes down to the residents of each community voting/deciding to find the best solution.
Thanks-
-Matt
Without barriers, what is the suggested distances for quiet, from court to homes?
I agree. The noise level and pitch is nerve wracking and it carries farther than the duller sound of the tennis ball and tennis racquet. It’s like giant nails on a chalkboard, multiplied by several people playing at once. It really is awful living near this game.
Pickleball is for those who lack any technique or ability to even move slightly. Three courts are located on the edge of the lake we live on and every morning I have to listen to the swack of that stupid wiffle ball. Seriously, who came up with using that ball. Did they dig it out of their grandkids toy chest!
Having played collegiate tennis I have a good understanding of the technique to create spin and Pickleball requires no technique. Anyone who can swack a fly swatter can play the dumb game and annoy all of their neighbors.
A foam ball should be used in regulation play to prevent the hostile environment this game has caused throughout our nation.
Hi MGP,
Thanks for adding to the conversation.
I can appreciate that the noise is annoying to a lot of people.
Your wiffle ball comment is funny- it’s actually pretty close to the actual story.
Pickleball equipment manufacturers are making quiet paddles which do help. I do think acoustic fencing should be put up around more courts.
You make a good point about the ball…I don’t see it going from hard plastic to foam since it would totally change the action but companies maybe do need to figure out a way to make a quieter ball.
I used to live across the street from a park with 6 tennis courts, while it is quieter than pickleball I wouldn’t say that mornings were exactly “peaceful”, I could hear quite a bit of chatter, cars coming and going and if you got a “grunter” is was a bit annoying-sounded like rutting season.
I’ve played different racket sports at various stages of my life and while it’s true that pickleball is not as intense as tennis, I’m not sure it’s fair to say there is no skill required or even the ability to move…if you watch advanced players-there is quite a bit of skill and athletic ability involved.
-Matt
As a Ping Pong enthusiast, pickleball is like playing tennis with a potato.
Thank you – well said. Nothing to add. It’s a COVID of tennis. Pickleball needs to be stopped.
I would hope at a higher level there would be more action, but for the VAST majority that has taken to the sport, there is very little movement. I can appreciate the fact that they are outside and hopefully enjoying some fresh air, socialization and some form of exercise.
In regards to screening. It would be a shame for our HOA to lose a beautiful view of our lake, just because a few won’t adapt and use a quieter ball. We do require paddles below 85 dB, but it doesn’t seem to make that much of a difference, nor does anyone monitor it.
I would guess that the tennis courts you lived by were there before you moved in and you understood what you were getting. Unfortunately, our courts just popped up out of a box. It’s pretty funny that when the Pickleballers tried to take one of the four tennis courts in our HOA, the nearby houses were fit to be tied. Nobody wants this noise near them.
I have hit both the foam ball and the whiffle ball. The foam ball takes much more skill to keep it in the court than the whiffle ball. Which again goes to my point that anyone can play.
As I said earlier, the Pickleball association needs to find a better solution.
MGP-
Sounds like you live in a nice spot with the lake view…so I can see where it would be hard to compromise.
It’s different if a community offers PB before you move in and you know its part of the deal.
I still play some doubles tennis and have lots of friends that play tennis so I can understand both sides of the debate.
-Matt
Playing tennis next to this clickers is not possible. Our tennis courts are taken by deaf people who never played anything serious in their life. And yes – Pickleball will hurt them long term – just like eating in McDonalds, and I’m sure they are big fans off.
If they put a man on the moon 50 years ago current design engineers can easily develop a quiet ball with very similar play dynamics to the current popular choice.
Ha! I agree with Jim. Come on NASA engineers can you help us pickleball players out 🙂
An insider at NASA told me that pickleball courts are being considered for the first moon colony.
On the moon, no one can hear your paddle pop.
What a tip! And good point! Haha.
This will not remove extra line these clickers add to our tennis court. My in/out tennis line calling devices/cams stopped recognizing the courts. Pickleball is the COVID of tennis.
Our club is looking for acoustical nets and pads( solid wall ).
Anyone have actual experience with them ?
Wally
At my condo they converted to pickle ball courts within thirty feet of my apartment. Not only are the bad and ball loud, but it is a very enthusiastic game with lots of yelling, screaming, whooping, and swearing. Is there anything i can do.
My sympathy. I’ve been fighting this battle with my city government for over 4 years now. Empathy seems to be in short supply. Acoustical studies don’t help because they don’t capture the ‘impulsive’ noise quality, the monotony, the hard hits, the duration. Hour after hour in fine weather 7 days per week. People believe we should have anticipated it and they want to play where they want to play so the fact that we can no longer enjoy our homes (or sell them) is immaterial. And then some people seem to want to frame it as elitist (we live across from a park) versus common people (it’s a public park). Yet our homes are far from the expensive ones in the community. Advice from the unsympathetic: move, close windows and wear earplugs, white noise fountains (as though that could mask the sound of the pops and maybe we could wear it on our wrists!), ‘get a life’, and stop complaining and get used to it. Like I said, empathy is in short supply.
Linda, did you ever get a response? I’m in the same situation the two converted volleyball court into three pickleball courts. They play here 7 days a week. I’m suffering for anxiety and depression and the noise is is exasperating my system to the point that I need to flee or be a prisoner in my own house.
Sue the place. They need to go to play elsewhere, in a forest, where are no campers. Why not to play tennis with lighter rackets on the short court with a lighter low pressure balls? Ok… one line for the kitchen can be added in a light color.
Until the sanctioning body organizing pickleball competition uses quieter pickleballs and paddles, there will be resistance to using this quieter equipment in noise impacted areas. . Players who practice with quieter equipment will be at a disadvantage in competition causing them to ignore regulations requiring quiet equipment. Quiet this sport down!
Quite this completely. It’s not sport. It’s this, not sport. It’s a disgrace on our tennis courts.
Let’s be honest.
If you bought a home next to a tennis court… which you never had to complain about,
and later the HOA, decides to change SOME of the courts over to pickleball, only 30 feet from your windows and sliding glass doors,
Can you honestly say….YOU know what it’s like, Waking up to hearing the sound of gunshots/ POPS, which never seem to stop, from 8 am every day of the weekuntil dusk 30 feet away? The intensity of the sounds?
Followed by screams of enthusiasm and encouragment to go and do it all over again ?
Most players are 50 and older, with diminished hearing already, so they have a tendency to scream anyway back and forth to each other, multiply this by 6 players and multiple that by 3 courts.
AGAIN 30 FEET from your supposed peace and Serenity of your home!!!
Nonsense.
You absolutely wouldn’t want it next to your condo or home.
Imagine your worked all day, either out of the house or worked inside or out and then the pickleballers come.
You cannot escape the sound, undeniebly.
There’s nowhere in or around the house you cannot hear the ball banging against the paddle, again and again???
Imagine you’re ill and trying desperately go feel better, to rest..remember, movies of dropping water on someones forehead?
Again torturous. Thats what constant noise polution does to you.
It tortures you.
Or maybe you invited people over for dinner and you want to be outside enjoying Florida weather.
Well, do you think you will be able to entertain, when all your guests hear is the POP POP POP of pickleballers?
Try babysitting your grandchildren. no nap time it’s too loud piercing the walls of your unit.
They will compain about the constant high decibel noise of pickleball too.
Same with my existing situation and those of you out there suffering too.
The inescapable sounds of pickleball and it’s players…
Come on people
Calm, the blank down fellas!!!!!
County ommunity’s all over have put courts in – so why not insist that HOA’s give the courtesy to All its residents and force the pickleballers to play there, downtown at community centers, away from peoples back yards or patios.
It’s only common decency, honestly for everyone to have the right to a peaceful sanctuary called home.
Everyone.
Pop Tennis on HarTru courts must be easier on the body than Pickleball on blacktop like hard surfaces
Any plans for clay court Pickleball equipment?
Pop vs Pickle – Arn’t than Very similar games!
Thanks
The two litigation listed above need clarification and are not good examples of litigation concerning pickleball noise. The Thomas v City of Newport Beach was initiated by the plaintiff and then withdrawn six months later with, according to the City Attorney, no settlement. Nearly anyone can sue nearly anyone for nearly anything but how will the case be decided? The Aiken SC litigation was a private settlement out of court and reading newspapers articles indicates this was not a typical pickleball noise situation as the plaintiff was complaining of “late night” playing and excessive lighting.
The only published opinion concerning pickleball is Jan. 2, 2014 17th Judicial District, County of Winebago, Illonois. Several neighbors sued the City of Rockford because pickleball had been recently placed in a Park. Judge Doherty in finding for Rockford Park and against pickleball noise plaintiffs stated: “While Pickleball was not played there when Plaintiffs moved into the neighborhood, surely they knew they were moving in proximity to a large park. Part of living next to this park neighbors will experience the sounds of . . . children at the playground . . . tennis from the tennis courts. Surely plaintiffs understood they could not complain of such activities but they feel it is appropriate to complain of a new activity in the park because they never chose it as a neighbor. Plaintiffs are mistaken, however, if they feel they have the right to lock the District into those activities, and only those, which existed at the time they became neighbors.” This is the fundamental City planning/ public policy issue.
I am not an attorney.
The plaintiff in the Thomas vs Newport Beach case withdrew because the City moved the pickleball courts. Problem solved. Cities are adept at avoiding responsibility for fear of costly litigation. Newport Beach conducted a sound study and subsequently built new pickleball courts in an existing sports park adjacent to a busy six lane arterial street, MacArthur Blvd. The courts are over 300 feet away from the nearest home and the City continues to receive complaints. I, for one, object to any reference to “quiet” paddles or equipment. There is loud equipment and there is louder equipment. Nothing about pickleball is quiet.
To VW
You have put into words exactly what it is like to live thirty five feet from the pickleball court. I am going to reàd it at our next meeting.. thank you for being so explicit.
I luckily don’t live near a pickle court. My opinion the people who play without regard to residents, Trumpers (people who care only about themself) have no soul. I would have the loudest boom box playing full time next to court, also near players residency, maybe then they could understand all the playing causes real grief to so many. Like the man said, IT’S TORTURE. Only a matter of time before there is mass violence, common courtesy is gone. You tell me what’s matters more, people playing a game, or the serenity of many many more people in their own home. Its not the me too’s it’s the all about ME, F the rest.
The City of Punta Gorda just purchased Acoustifence Pickleball Noise Curtains from me to put on the fence around the courts at Gilchrist Park. This should reduce the sound level down by enough to get the locals to extinguish their torches and put their pitchforks away. When we have done measurements at some of these communities, we found that the ambient noise levels in these neighborhoods are high (from cars, trucks, planes, lawn mowers, etc.), making it difficult to even measure the noise level from Pickleball play at the property line.
But please keep in mind that with our hearing, we have the ability to pick specific sounds out of a body of noise (like detecting your child’s voice on a crowded playground). Therefore you may still notice the popping of the ball, even though that sound won’t move the needle.
I live in a 55+ community where we play Pickleball on two of the tennis courts. Tennis Club membership has dropped significant over the past 3 years, where Pickleball has grown from 10 to 200.
I find it amusing to read that PB players barely move. In the 65+ set, a lot of tennis players simply lob the ball and call it tennis. I played with a number of different groups, and in an hour barely reached 1K steps. Whereas with PB, in two hours I consistently get over 10K steps in. We move a lot more, and it’s easier on people because while we play faster, they aren’t on as large a court as tennis. Note – rank beginners or older players may not move much, but one of my partners is 83, and he consistently gets between 6K and 10K per 2 hour session. He quit tennis because it had gotten too boring.
Most likely those who are pro-PB are not reading this site. We have homeowners who overlook the courts (which are shared between tennis & PB players). They tend to congregate on their patios when we play, as they like seeing people who enjoy playing a game, unlike the tennis players – who have gone so far as to tell (not ask) them to quiet down because they are disturbing their game. Obviously this is not the same at every community, but I did think it was worth sharing a large development where PB is growing, supported, and many tennis players are transitioning over to get more exercise and have fun.
The acoustical fencing installed by the City of Punta Gorda does not alleviate the problem. Based on comments from a selection of impacted homeowners within 500 feet of the courts, the difference isn’t noticeable. Pickleball appears to be not only a great activity for an aging population but a great way to socialize. However, the nuisance noise, which in Punta Gorda is allowed 12 hours/day 7 days/week and is actually present 6-12 hours a day whenever the weather is good, has been destroying homeowners’ ability to enjoy their homes and yards for 5 years. The local pickleball players supported the installation of the acoustical fencing, but it has proven unpopular. In the words of one park user, it is ‘hideous.’ Local homeowners believe the only solution for the problem, given that the courts are in a park that is only 350 feet wide and is considered the premier park for enjoying the waterfront, walking, and biking in the city, as well as being in a residential neighborhood, is to remove the courts from the park and find an alternative location for play. The city has contributed to a local nonprofit, Pickleplex, with has 16 new courts a short distance away (with 16 more planned) to offer more opportunities for play.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on what has been an issue profoundly affecting the quality of life of many local people.
And if I may add, the problem with believing the fencing will help is that pickleball noise an ‘impulsive sound,’ which by definition hits the human ear in a way that makes the ear more sensitive than the acoustical meters, but that it is louder than the meter indicates because the sound is on the down stroke when the meter registers it. Also, noise annoyance is a matter of both acoustics and human perception. A noise that is monotonous, of long duration (6-12 hours/day) and ‘impulsive’ (or attention-grabbing) defies accommodation and cannot be compared to noises that readily fall into the background (traffic) or are heard for limited times (lawnmowers). We sincerely hope that the pickleball community as a whole comes to recognize that this noise is unacceptable to nearby homeowners and other park users and that they locate courts accordingly.
For those of you within homeowners associations with CC&Rs, there are generally provisions in the CC&Rs that prohibit anyone, including the association, from causing any resident a nuisance. Read your CC&Rs carefully and craft your argument around your right to live within your community without the presence of a nuisance and cite the specific provision within the CC&Rs. Some HOA’s change their rules to allow PB, however, rule amendments authored by the board of directors cannot be inconsistent within the provisions of the recorded CC&Rs. The CC&Rs are a superior document to Rules and Regulations, so, manifesting your argument in specific provisions in the CC&Rs is far more effective. Prepare a detailed affidavit for you and other impacted residents to sign and submit it to the board at a board meeting. The affidavit should include your name, address, ownership interest, explanation of how the nuisance impacts your daily lives and your inability to quietly enjoy your home (this may be the same for each resident or slightly different for residents living in different locations), reference the particular provision within the CC&Rs that protects you from nuisances and sign under penalty of perjury that the affidavit is correct. Collect as many as you can and assert that if the HOA will not protect you, you will file suit in your local court. Most CC&Rs provide that legal fees brought about by a valid complaint from a resident to force the HOA to act pursuant to the CC&Rs can be awarded to the prevailing party.
This process is much more difficult if you are fighting a municipality rather than an HOA. In this case, you would need to embed your argument in the nuisance ordinance within your municipality and seek relief from the governing body, board or counsel.
I live 80 ft. from the fence around a tennis court that was recently resurfaced and pickleball lines were drawn on the new surface. I can hear the clacking in my back bedroom with all of the windows down and the air conditioner going. I have an appointment with an attorney next week to try to get pickleball disallowed on the court. I don’t intend to listen to this noise for the rest of my life.
C Hein,
I wish you the best of luck. We just need one lawsuit to establish a precedent. I have no real basis to sue as I live 350 feet away and have not yet developed health problem due to the noise although it has seriously negatively impacted my live for almost 6 years now. I have neighbors who have developed health issues directly related to pickleball exposure (a stroke and a nervous disorder). In both cases the causation is logically well-established from the history – which as a medical health professional is easy for me to understand but difficult for the non-professionals on the City Council who are being pressured by the pickleball community. Also, while the noise annoyance medical literature is out there, none of it yet covers pickleball directly. My neighbors – who are at about 100 and 250 feet – and I have not been helped by noise abatement fencing. I urge you not to agree to that as a supposed ‘solution.’ It does not work and there are technical acoustical reasons that it does not. Due to financial considerations my neighbors do not feel they can sue. If you find a successful strategy, please post it here. This has been a nightmare.
I am a former tennis player and have converted to pickleballer due to injuries and old age. In comparison with tennis, pickleball is a lesser sport. But I enjoy it just as much.
I am aware of the terrible racket that pickleball generates. I wear earplugs when I practice against a concrete wall and am embarrassed because of the loud noise from my hitting.
The true solution is quieter (much quieter) paddles and balls. Like pingpong paddles and balls?
We lived in a quiet neighborhood until the people across the street from us put a pickle ball court in their yard. The court is to the side of their house, not behind it, so the court is right by the street. They play for long periods every day and most nights, and they often have friends over who yell and cheer loudly. We can hear it inside our house in all the rooms, not to mention how loud it is in our backyard. I’m all for people having fun, and I don’t want to be that neighbor who is complaining and difficult. I haven’t mentioned anything to them yet. Do any of you have ideas about how I could approach them and ask them to use the quiet paddles? It’s so awkward for me to do. We would be more than willing to buy the quiet paddles for them. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance.
as someone who has a wonderful townhome on the courtside of the complex, I am actively searching for ways to persuade the HOA to come up with solutions to reduce the noise produced by the constant playing of pickleball. I am still working and would like to enjoy quiet time on the weekend or evenings and because of the popping of the balls and yelling of the players my quality of life has been affected. i do not want to move but the noise is getting the best of me. I appreciate reading other’s comments to assure me i am not alone and i’ll be looking into the CC&R’s as recommended by “ML” above. thank you all for the helpful comments.
In my densely populated country, it has been recognized that many noisy activities – and pickleball seems to be one of those – should be controlled in the first place by physical planning of land. Before some piece of land can be defined suitable for this specific use, an investigation is required. The owner must show that sufficient measures will be taken to comply with noise regulation. If that is impossible, the location is rejected.
This goes for sports and industry both. In The Netherlands physical planning already has a long history; environmental protection is integrated since about 1975.
It has a very silly name.
I recently purchased a dozen Tourna foam practice balls, primarily for practice in our dance studio. They’re great with no damage to walls, mirrors, etc. Showed them to our pickleball group and we played a game with them. Three out of four thought these foam balls were fine to play games with. The fourth person, who specializes in very fast low shots, prefers regular balls. Either is fine with me. Gave most away so people can practice at home. Haven’t tried the Gamma balls.
Hi Go play USTA tennis on court 2 at Lakeville MN Lifetime. Now you have to use hand signaled to call the score due to noice of pickleball courts. A year ago we didn’t have any communication problems with scoring, no pickleball courts and all us were yelling score thought a mask. Tennis is quieter. I may like to play pickleball ball but not when it take away from the enjoyment of a sport I love and I have to have special noice reducing ear plugs made.
Horrible noise from pickle ball. Totally incompatible with the rhythm sound of tennis. Many cities convert a few of their tennis courts for pickle ball. This makes playing tennis on the adjacent tennis courts totally horrible. I just cannot play tennis besides pickle ball noise. Not only is the sound louder, it is totally irritating. The noise pitch is much higher than tennis. The frequency and rhythm totally different. Every time a pickle ball is hit with power on adjacent court, I can’t help but bow my head to protect myself from what sounds like a threatening mishit.
Tennis will suffer greatly from this situation because accomplished tennis players like me won’t be able to find proper tennis courts were they can enjoy the game in optimal conditions. Which in time make more and more people drop the game. On top of that, I can’t believe I invested 40 years of my time and money to master the technicalities of tennis to end up being pushed out of my dear tennis courts from people who just don’t want to make this kind of investment and commitment to the beautiful game of tennis. Everyone who learned the basic of a good tennis stroke knows that tennis is a sport of a lifetime. At my club, there is a whole group of players in the 60 to 90 years old that play on a regular basis and are good enough to hit good rallies without having to run like rabbits.
You wasted 40 years and actual money playing the “sport” of tennis? There is so much more you could have used that time for, instead of wasting it. You could have used that time to realize that people are different and have different interests. Not everyone wants to play your boring “sport”. Just because the sounds are different to the sounds of your “sport” and they aren’t what you are used to doesn’t mean they are bad. The constant “plopping” sound of tennis balls is annoying to those not used to it and don’t get me started on grunters. Let people play the games that they enjoy and that keeps them physically active. Think of all the unhappy tennis courts have sat unused for years because of the decline of your “sport” that are now seeing use again and being revitalized by passionate players of this new growing sport.
Hello,
I’d like to take my time to de-bunk this so called ‘research’ about sound and Db. And I know this will not be enough space to really do it BUT I’ve actually personally measured around 20 amateur tennis games (and it’s only a lower ‘n’ because it’s hard to measure without pickleball games over shouting them) vs. about a 100 pickleball games. And the result is between 80- 89 Db AVERAGE for a pickleball game and 50-60 Db for a tennis game… I’m actually pretty sure the research that you referenced compared a professional tennis serve with an amateur dropping the ball from like 1 inch onto its racket/Padel because only when you do this, you get those results of pitch you talk about in your article… Today we had a party that was playing REALLY loud music and you actually heard the pickles OVER that music… I’m absolutely a fan of the sport and see the benefits for out of shape people, but ONLY when it’s an indoor sport rather then outdoor. Manufacturers changing the Db won’t be enough. Any to anyone who plays: if it’s too late or too early to mow your lawn: it’s too early or too early to play pickleball…spread respect-not frustration…
Since you can’t edit in this format: obviously made some spelling and grammar errors (my keyboard is set in 4 languages and this happens…). Most important mistake: IF It’s too late OR Too early to mow your lawn; it’s TOO early or TOO late to play pickleball……
Pickleball is an indoor game? I played an indoor tennis match next to two tennis courts divided into 4 Pickleball courts with total of 16 players clicking four balls. Do you think I could concentrate on my tennis game? Pickleball is worse than COVID, the virus that awaken the monster called Pickleball.
The two court cases cited above are old new. The South Carlina case was settled out of court. The 2016 Thomas v Newport News was dismissed by the Plaintiff and a newspaper article at the time quoted the City attorney stating there was no settlement.
The only settled case is: Janeatte Haskel et al vs Rockford Park District.
State of Illinois 17th Judicial Circuit. Concluded in Jan 4, 2014 Judge Doherty found for the City on all counts. That those who move into a recreation area with various preexistig solunds cannot limit the City to those sounds when they moved in.
I’m unclear why this case is not cited more frequently.
Maybe pickle ball should be an indoor sport. No noise pollution to annoy the nearby residents. Could be like a bowling alley. Food court with refreshments. Opportunity for a new business. Play rain or shine, heat of summer, cold, snow of winter.
I am producing a short podcast episode on Pickleball and its impact on local communities. Anyone interested in being interviewed? Reply to this comment!
Thanks!
Hi Monica, good to hear from you. What is the name of your podcast? We have a team of people that would potentially be interested. Feel free to reach me at dan@pickleballportal.com
Sent an email. Thx!!
Got it!