Pickleball Noise and Health

Presented by Romito Research

Kathleen Romito, M.D.

My background

As a physician, I’m thrilled to see so many people enjoying

the social and physical benefits of pickleball. At the same time, I’m deeply concerned that the noise impact on nearby residents is far more serious than anyone anticipated.

A few years ago, two tennis courts near our home were converted to six busy pickleball courts just 50 feet away. I loved playing—even tore my Achilles tendon—but over time, my family and I came to understand the toll of constant noise inside our home.

As I heard how other neighborhoods were affected, patterns emerged suggesting the noise was leading to health-related concerns. Locally, this culminated in a lawsuit that resulted in the City closing courts in two neighborhoods with a plan to relocate them further from homes.

I practiced family medicine for 30 years, listening to patients and offering evidence-based guidance. Currently, I collaborate with public health researchers and acoustic experts, exporing the link between pickleball noise and health. I am on the Scientific Advisory Board of Quiet Communities, Inc. and recently co-chaired the Acoustical Society of America, session on pickleball noise, Dec 2025. I look forward to presenting my research at the upcoming 15th International Conference on the Public Health Effects of Noise in Copenhagen, Denmark in June 2026.

I can be reached at kathleen@quietcommunities.org

The Basics of Pickleball Noise

Two pickleball courts located very near several homes

What is pickleball and what is the problem with the noise?

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.

Is noise really that bad for our health?

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.

Is pickleball noise different?

Pickleball is known to be 4x louder than tennis. Additionally, it 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 unconscious stress response.

Who is studying pickleball noise?

The issue of pickleball noise crosses many disciplines. Acoustic professionals have studied the unique “pop” of pickleball, exploring how to measure this brief, sharp sound. Lawyers are studying the legal and planning and zoning ramifications. Health researchers are studying the impact of the noise on neighbors who live near pickleball courts.

Is it possible that pickleball noise is hazardous to health?

Yes, 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...

Are there recommendations about court location based on current studies?

Yes. Up until recently, the recommendations were based on expert acoustic opinions and focused mainly on decibel reduction. However, as more research is now available about the human impact of the repetitive, popping noise, there is increasing recognition that decibels are just one of many factors that contribute to the human response.

The most up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations can be found at pickleballnoise.org, a website built by the National Task Force on Pickleball Noise, specifically for community leaders making decisions about pickleball.

What does pickleball noise sound like?

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.

1. Survey of the impact of pickleball noise, December 2025

A survey of the community impact of pickleball noise: A pilot study

Kathleen Romito, MD and Jamie Banks, PhD

This survey explored how people living near pickleball courts are affected by the noise in their daily lives. It aims to guide better decisions about where new courts are built and how noise can be reduced.

We received 440 responses from 264 communities impacted by pickleball noise. Some of the key results are as follows:

Almost three out of four people living within 1000 feet of courts say they can hear pickleball noise inside their homes.
Nearly half report they have been harassed by pickleball players.
Nine out of ten describe the noise as repetitive popping—more than the six out of ten who say it’s “loud”.

Eight out of ten respondents say that the noise constantly or almost always interferes with their ability to enjoy their home or relax.

More than half have moved or are considering moving away because of the noise. Many have lived in their homes for 20 or 30 years, often near parks that were previously peaceful.

Health concerns are widespread. 92% of respondents reported some type of health effect related to the noise.

Seven out of ten reported concerns about unusually strong physical or emotional reactions to pickleball noise in their homes—ranging from anxiety, tension, or irritability to elevated heart rate.

Nearly six out of ten people are concerned about “phantom pops”, hearing the noise even when no one is playing—sometimes waking them up at night or occurring weeks after they’ve moved away.

Both of these responses suggest a possible trauma-like response in some residents living near courts. More research is urgently needed.

The results show that pickleball noise is having a strong impact on residents living nearby:

People—even those more than 500 feet from courts—report being unable to enjoy their homes,
consistent with a noise nuisance.
Many describe health concerns linked to the body’s stress response to chronic impulsive noise.
Community relationships are being strained, with conflicts and harassment between neighbors.

Using the decibel alone is not enough to convey the impacts of pickleball noise. It is the quality of the sound, its repetitiveness, its ability to be heard over long distances, and its duration. The setback between courts and homes may need to exceed 500 feet. Communities are encouraged to support pickleball recreation while also safeguarding residents’ health and well-being.

The full paper, with descriptive statistics, is available below.

April 2026 update: We are currently completing a detailed statistical analysis of the data. Initial findings show that currently, there is no evidence that vinyl barriers make a difference in whether people are able to find peace in their homes. (There is a chance the study is underpowered to detect a statistically significant difference..

2. There is a statistical correlation between increasing setbacks and the ability for residents to enjoy their homes. Even at more than 300 feet, more than 2/3 of impacted residents report they are unable to enjoy their homes most or all of the time.valuating whether setbacks and/or thick vinyl sound barriers are associated with less impact on nearby neighbors.

These findings will be presented along with a larger set of research at the International Conference on the Public Health Effects of Noise in Copenhagen, June 2026.

Other Research

Pickleball Noise National Task Force

The Task Force, a group of national experts in municipal leadership, acoustics, health, and law continue to review the research about the human impact of pickleball noise. Their research and recommendations can be found on their evidence-based website, built specifically for community leaders making decisions about pickleball.

More information at pickleballnoise.org.

Sound Studies

1. What important items should be included in a sound study on pickleball noise? This research paper by Charles Leahy explains the components should be included in a professional sound study for pickelball noise.

https://pubs.aip.org/asa/poma/article/54/1/040009/3317649/Preliminary-analysis-of-79-pickleball-noise

2. How should pickleball noise be measured? This public report done for the City of Centennial CO, by Lance Willis, is technical, but has valuable information.

https://www.centennialco.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/2/documents/city-projects-and-initiatives/centennial-pickleball-noise-assessment.pdf

3. There is generally agreement that the impulsive nature of the sound must be considered when evaluating the sound. Mark Storm's paper discusses this further.

https://ince.publisher.ingentaconnect.com/content/ince/incecp/2024/00000269/00000002/art00076;jsessionid=7ql6qlur54762.x-ic-live-03

Further information can be found at pickleballnoise.org.

Legal

This paper by Charles Leahy explains some of the legal ramifications of pickleball noise. Coming Jan/Feb 2026

Planning and Zoning

Research and recommendations about planning and zoning issues with pickleball court placement was presented by Charles Leahy at the Acoustical Society of America, Dec 2025. .https://pubs.aip.org/asa/poma/article/60/1/040004/3382997/Using-municipal-zoning-ordinances-to-manage

A mapping study done in France demonstrates how many residents can be affected by the impulsive noise of padel, a game very similar to pickleball. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.08.25337575v2

Noise and Health

More than 40 years of research demonstrates that noise is harmful to health.

One of the best summaries is by the American Public Health Association.

https://www.apha.org/policy-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-briefs/policy-database/2022/01/07/noise-as-a-public-health-hazard

More Research Needed

More research is needed

If you have questions about our research or are interested in partnering with us, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Opportunities include more research on::

the complex acoustical characteristics of the pickleball pop
the effectiveness of various noise control measures including new paddles, balls and sound barriers
correlating accurate acoustic measurements of pickleball noise with accurate measurement of the human impact.

We believe the best research will come from collaboration between health researchers, acoustic experts, and those working in the industry to create quieter courts.

abstract image of three hands coming together, surrounding by mathematical shapes

Other resources

Quiet Communities

A website for leaders

Quiet Communities, Inc. a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, promotes quiet as a valuable natural resource and works to reduce harmful noise and related pollution. They use a collaborative, evidence-based, and solutions-driven approach aimed at engaging diverse stakeholders andfinding common ground.

A website for leaders

The National Task Force brings together experts in acoustics, health, urban planning, law, and parks and rec to devleop evidence-based resources for public officials on pickleball acoustics, potential impacts on neighbors, and court siting. Our beta website is available at www.pickleballnoise.org.

Pickleball Noise and Health

Kathleen Romito, M.D.