Ten Commandments for Pickleball Noise

Pickleball noise is increasingly becoming a national problem. Download our infographic for more details by clicking here

SLN/CR aims to lead the effort to to find a reasonable common ground between the physical, mental, emotional and social benefits of playing pickleball and the quiet enjoyment of a nearby neighbor’s yard. This new framework serves as a practical guide for cities, HOAs, country clubs, architects, civil engineers, court builders, and community leaders to proactively manage and mitigate pickleball noise before it escalates into community conflict or a potential lawsuit.

1. Proactive Design and Planning – Account for acoustics during the site selection and court layout phase. Design should include considerations for noise refraction, reflection and absorption. Noise propagation analysis should also be performed to assess potential impact of surrounding areas.

2. Community Engagement – Include neighbors early and often. Transparency reduces tension. Civil engineers can lead these discussions with community leaders and local citizens.

3. Barriers – Install lightweight, absorptive sound-reducing panels, walls, panels, and fencing to control the propagation of sound waves to nearby homes.

4. Operational Restrictions – Set play hours and noise limits that respect all stakeholders. In highly sensitive areas, further restrictions may be required depending on the size of the courts and number of players active.

5. Equipment – Use quiet paddles and balls to reduce peak sound levels.

6. Sound Masking – Strategically use landscaping or ambient noise to dilute sharp hits.

7. Distance – Maximize the buffer between courts and nearby homes or quiet zones where possible.

8. Assess – Conduct professional sound studies and noise propagation analysis to establish a baseline and develop a mitigation plan.

9. Mitigate – Implement targeted treatments like SLN/CR panels to reduce decibels effectively. Noise masking or sound masking such as fountains is also effective. Natural barriers such as trees, shrubs and hedge rows also will help diffuse noise.

10. Monitor – Continue evaluating noise levels and community sentiment over time. Objective data collected from noise monitoring technology can help form detailed analysis of court locations.

A Proven Approach

SLN/CR’s innovative NanoBaffle systems have been successfully deployed in sensitive areas such as Millbrae, CA, Bay Harbor Island, FL, University Park, TX and Windsor, CO  — turning complaints into compliments. Backed by research published for the Acoustical Society of America and the Institute of Noise Control Engineering, SLN/CR products are purpose-built for nuisance noise and designed for lightweight, modular installation.

Learn More

To download our comprehensive eBook that addresses all these aspects in detail.