Do you love playing
Pickleball is an increasingly popular sport, but with its popularity comes a whole host of noise complaints from neighbors. If you play
Don’t stress — this blog post is here to provide helpful advice on how to deal with
Here are some tips on how to resolve this issue and avoid a
Be Respectful
The first step in resolving any neighborly dispute is respect. When you receive a complaint about the noise from your
Even if your neighbors are rude or unkind, it’s important to remember that they have a legitimate concern and should be treated with kindness and understanding.
Keep Your Play Times Reasonable
Pickleball is an enjoyable game, but when it’s played outdoors it can be quite loud. To avoid too much disruption in your neighborhood, try to limit your play times to reasonable hours.
For example, try not to play before 8am or after 8pm. This will help ensure that you don’t disturb your neighbors unnecessarily and minimize the number of complaints you might receive.
Use Sound-Reducing Equipment—Quiet pickleball paddles, balls, and court panelling
There is a variety of sound-reducing equipment available for
I wrote an entire blog post on how to play ‘picklesoft’ AKA quiet pickleball. Read it to learn the type of foam balls and quiet
Sun City in Surprise, Arizona, created a list of “green” or quiet
Most big
My favorite quiet
- Fusion Core technology combines polypropylene and nomex cores for powerful control
- Increased paddle size means an easy transition to pickleball with Tennis Handle and Widebody shape for increased paddle size
- Fusion core and graphite face intensify power and sweet spot while maintaining control
- Paddle Dimensions – 15.5" L x 8.3" W x 1.5" H; Heavy-Weight 7.9-8.3 oz
Some
Until a high-quality, regulation
- Cheaper than being sued by your neighbor
- Pickleball-sized foam balls are great for indoor and outdoor play
- Simulates the actual bounce of a regular ball
- The bounce is soft and quiet so it won't make a loud noise when hitting the court or wall.
Netting around the perimeter of the court and acoustic panels on walls or fences surrounding the court, like Acoustifence noise curtains, can also help. These products can significantly reduce the amount of noise generated by your games and help keep your neighbors happier.
- Made of polyurethane foam, an ideal material for sound insulation, sound absorption and heat insulation.
- Easy to set up
- An affordable option compared to other noise-dampening panels
What you can do about Pickleball Noise Complaints
No one wants to deal with upset neighbors, especially when it comes to something as fun as
But if you find yourself dealing with frequent noise complaints from nearby residents or businesses, there are several steps you can take to resolve them peacefully and amicably without having to give up on playing
By being respectful of others’ concerns, limiting play times within reasonable hours, and investing in sound-reducing equipment for your courts, you should be able to keep everyone happy while still enjoying a great game of
FAQ
The sound generated from a
This is equivalent to the noise level of a vacuum cleaner. To put this into context, the World Health Organization (WHO) sets 70 dB as the maximum level for any workplace noise, so
At moderate levels, the loudest sound a
The noise of
For example, when playing on a concrete court, the decibel levels will be higher than when playing on a wooden court due to sound reverberation. In some cases, this can reach up to 85 dB, which would be considered too loud and potentially irritating in a residential area.
Pickleball noise may travel up to several hundred yards, depending on the environment where it is being played.
Winds can also have an impact on how far the sound carries and can amplify or reduce its reach. For example, if there are buildings or other structures nearby, they can act as a barrier and muffle the noise.
On the other hand, if there is minimal wind, the sound may carry farther than expected. Playing outdoors will also increase the noise level and transmission distance.
It’s important to bear these environmental factors in mind when considering how far
The quietest pickleballs are made of a softer material, such as rubber or foam.
These pickleballs are designed to absorb the shock of hitting the court and reduce the noise that is generated.
The overall sound of a game can be reduced by adding netting or other acoustic materials near the court, and playing with quieter balls as well as quieter paddles will help ensure that matches remain at an acceptable volume for all involved.
Pickleball is considered to be a noisy game as it involves a lot of rapid back-and-forth action with paddles striking the hollow plastic ball. The sound of the ball hitting the paddle and then the court surface can create an echoing effect that many people find irritating.
Additionally, players sometimes engage in a friendly (or not-so-friendly) form of banter while playing which can also contribute to the noise level. Although there have been complaints about the sound coming from
With proper court design, such as using baffles or other acoustical treatments, the noise levels can be managed and kept within acceptable limits.
One way to make your
This could include playing on a court with sound-dampening materials, such as rubberized mats or specially designed
It’s also worth considering the type of surface you’re playing on – hard courts tend to produce more noise because of the higher impact between the ball and the court surface. In general, it’s best to try and play on softer surfaces whenever possible.
You should also pay attention to the technique used when hitting the ball – using forehand topspin or backspin instead of slapping shots can help reduce noise levels significantly.
Playing at a slower pace can also help keep things quiet even if you don’t have access to any specialized quiet equipment.
Pickleball is significantly louder than tennis, primarily due to the difference in the type of equipment used.
Tennis, on the other hand, uses a heavier, hard-felt material for its balls and racquets that creates more of a thud sound with less vibration when hit. This makes
On average, people can expect to hear
Additionally, because of the smaller court size used in
