Pickleball Noise and Health

 Pickleball is a paddle sport similar to tennis but played on smaller courts with hard paddles and plastic balls, producing a sharp “pop” rather than tennis’s softer “ping.” Since its surge in popularity during COVID, many residents near courts have endured years of daily exposure to this noise. Communities nationwide are now hearing complaints, with one website listing nearly 400 noise hot spots. 

Yes, it can be harmful.  Decades of research has shown that noise, mainly transportation noise, sets off an unconscious stress response in our body that can cause a lot of different health issues, involving our heart, brain, and mental health.

Pickleball is an "impulse" noise—sharp and repetitive like a rat-a-tat—and impulse noises are known to be more disturbing than steady noise. While impulse noise has been studied in military and construction settings, never before have people been exposed to it continuously in their homes, day after day, with no way to escape. Some residents can be exposed to 30,000-40,000 pops/day---and the pops are around the same pitch as a back up alarm on vehicles, setting off our unconcious stress response. 

Acoustics experts are studying the unique “pop” of pickleball, exploring how to measure this brief, sharp sound. Some now suggest it’s not just about decibel levels, but also the sheer number of pops people hear daily over months and years.

The pickleball industry is developing quieter paddles, balls, and sound barriers to help reduce noise in some settings.

Health researchers note that only 30% of how we process sound comes from the sound wave itself; the other 70% involves the path it travels to our ears and how our brains and bodies respond. Until now,  no research has examined the long-term effects of the prolonged pickleball pops on nearby residents.

Yes, based on our early findings, pickleball noise is  linked to some serious health concerns in nearby neighbors, including heart and brain issues --like hearing phantom pickleball pops, even months after moving way.  Sleep disturbances, anxiety, even PTSD-like symptoms and some suicidal thoughts have been reported----all related to pickleball noise.   Drawing from expert acoustic guidance and our research, we recommend proactive measures for leaders to address pickleball courts situated near residences that may pose health risks.  Keep reading to learn more about our research...

 As you listen to the recording below, imagine hearing this sound every day in your own home. In many communities, it continues seven days a week, from early morning until late evening. During peak seasons, the sharp popping can go on for hours without a break.