Photo credit: John Beagle, licensed under CC BY 2.0
by Kathleen Romito, MD, member, Quiet Communities Scientific Advisory Council
If you live near a pickleball court, you’ll know exactly what that sound described in the title of this post is, and you’re probably tired of hearing it. With over 50,000 pickleball courts nationwide, players everywhere are enjoying the social and physical perks of this hugely popular sport. But for neighbors living near the courts, the constant popping noise invading their homes is anything but fun. And since local officials are often unwilling to close or relocate the courts away from homes, it’s no surprise that more people are turning to legal action to fight back against the noise.
One recent showdown, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle at the end of last year, is a 155-unit homeowners association in San Francisco that is suing the Bay Club on the Embarcadero after the club converted two tennis courts to six pickleball courts. They’re not alone. One law firm in California reports managing at least 25 cases related to pickleball noise and dozens more cases are popping up around the country.
It’s not just how loud the noise is — it’s the type of noise. Pickleball pops are short and sharp impulsive noises lasting only 10-20 milliseconds, making it difficult to measure accurately with traditional sound technology. Research shows that impulsive sounds are more irritating than steady noise and experts recommend adding a 5-12 decibel penalty when measuring impulse noises.
Additionally, the noise is repetitive, producing about 900 pops per hour, per court. At a busy set of courts, that can add up to tens of thousands of pops every day. Courts within 1000 feet of homes are likely to generate complaints. For those living within a few hundred feet, noise mitigation measures like sound barriers and quieter paddles often don’t seem to provide much relief.
An increasing body of research confirms that noise adversely affects mental health. Early data, accepted for presentation at the Acoustical Society of America meeting in May 2025, suggest that the health impacts of this impulsive noise may be significant for residents living close to courts. Neighbors report that the nonstop popping is leading to many health concerns including PTSD-like symptoms, anxiety, disrupted sleep and hearing “phantom pops” (i.e hearing the noise when no one is playing outside).
Some neighbors work with local officials, pushing to relocate the courts or update noise regulations, often without success. For some, the only option has been to move to escape from the noise. Increasingly, neighbors like the San Francisco homeowners association are turning to the legal system for relief. Want to learn more? The Pickleball Noise Relief website is a great resource for updates, community stories and expert-backed information.
