The Unexpected Noise Impact: A Community Perspective on Pickleball and Its Murmur

As pickleball continues to surge in popularity across the United States, communities are facing an unexpected challenge: noise. This lively sport, played with a paddle and a plastic ball, has seen the creation of over 18,000 new courts in 2024 alone, bringing fun and social activity but also increasing noise-related conflicts.

The Sound of Play — Sometimes Unheard… and Sometimes Overwhelming

Pickleball is known for its quick, sharp, impulsive sounds — the ‘pop’ of the ball hitting the paddle, the steady rhythm of ongoing play. While many enjoy the game, residents living nearby are reporting that the noise can be quite disruptive, sometimes constant throughout the day.

A recent survey sheds light on how this noise impacts those everyday lives — and the results are eye-opening. The survey, which gathered responses from 440 residents across 264 communities, explored how pickleball noise affects their comfort, health, and community relationships (Romito & Banks, 2025).

Community Concerns and Noise Effects

Here’s what residents shared:

• Nearly 75% say they can hear pickleball noise inside their homes when they’re just trying to relax.

• Almost half report experiencing harassment from players or community conflicts.

• Over 90% describe the sound as repetitive ‘popping’ — even more than the ‘loud’ label that six out of ten residents agree with.

• About 80% say the noise interferes with their ability to enjoy their homes or unwind.

Many residents — some living in their homes for 20 or 30 years — have found themselves considering moving away from peaceful neighbourhoods that were once quiet, thanks to the constant, impulsive noise.

The Toll on Wellbeing and Health

The survey also uncovered widespread health concerns linked to the noise:

• An astonishing 92% of respondents experienced some form of health impact, from anxiety and irritability to physical symptoms like increased heart rate (Romito & Banks, 2025).

• Seven out of ten residents reported intense emotional reactions — feelings of tension, frustration, or even panic — triggered by the ongoing noise.

• Many also experience what is called ‘phantom pops’ — hearing the noise when no one is playing, even after they’ve moved away or when no games are happening. This suggests some residents may be experiencing trauma-like responses to the persistent, impulsive sounds.

What This Means for Our Communities

The findings are clear: pickleball noise isn’t just a minor nuisance — it’s impacting health, community harmony, and people's willingness to stay in their homes. The loudness alone isn’t the full story; it's about the repetitive, impulsive quality of the sound, the long distances it travels, and how frequently it occurs.

Communities need to balance the enjoyment of pickleball with the rights of residents to peaceful living spaces. To do this, we need evidence-based guidelines that help determine safe distances between courts and homes — perhaps more than 500 feet — and effective noise management strategies.

Moving Forward

As pickleball’s popularity grows, so must our understanding of how to create safe, healthy communities where everyone can enjoy active recreation without sacrificing peace and wellbeing. It’s time for decision-makers to listen — and to develop practical solutions for siting new courts and managing noise.

Because everyone deserves peaceful, healthy homes.