There is a growing movement to ban pickleball both in public parks and at private courts. The biggest complaint is the noise created by playing pickleball. This is not surprising due to the fact that you have a solid paddle (carbon, fiberglass, or other substance) hitting a plastic ball. As opposed to tennis in which a string racket comes into contact with a fuzzy rubber ball. The noise level in Pickleball can be twice to 5 times as loud as tennis.
The pace of the game also leads to complaints. There are twice to four times as many contacts in pickleball compared to tennis so the noise is amplified.
To avoid pickleball being banned in multiple places, people will need to reduce the noise. I see three options:
- Noise Reducing Paddles
- Noise Reducing Balls
- Noise Reducing Barriers Surrounding the Pickleball Courts
The Noise Reducing Barrier option sounds complicated in that you effectively have to create a white noise barrier to the courts. The technology and cost of this option seems prohibitive.
We are then forced to consider changing the ball and the paddles to reduce the noise. Probably makes sense to modify both of them. I have seen the quieter balls which are made from another material like rubber. They do not effectively simulate the experience of hitting a traditional pickleball.
As to the noise reducing paddle, I have not had the opportunity to play with one but I am interested in it. Pickleball Paddle manufacturers will need to redesign the paddles to incorporate a sound absorbing material to reduce the sound to tennis levels.
I am most excited to see the developments on the paddle and ball side. It reminds me of when golf courses starting banning metal spikes so protect the courses. There was a minor uproar then but over time, people adapted and now it is common place. We can only hope that happens in pickleball. I would hate for all these small towns to ban the game. Because to rescind the ban will require so much time and effort that it will really impact the game and the people who play it.