Pickleball has been gaining a lot of fans in Singapore lately, but it turns out the game is a little too loud for some people. Residents living near community courts are becoming increasingly annoyed by the noise, which has led to at least four town councils implementing new rules to control when the sport can be played.
The main issue is the sound the paddle makes when it hits the ball. It’s a sharp, distinctive ‘pop’ sound that, when repeated over and over, can be quite irritating, especially when it goes on for hours. Town councils in Sengkang, Marine Parade-Braddell Heights, and East Coast have all received complaints recently. The noise is a particular problem because people have been playing the game at all sorts of odd hours, from early in the morning to late at night. Ang Mo Kio Town Council even posted on Facebook that they got feedback about “prolonged noise and court congestion, especially late at night.”
Some are putting up banners on courts to remind players to be considerate of their neighbors. Others have gone a step further and are locking up the court gates at 9 p.m at night. Over in Mountbatten, the local MP, Gho Sze Kee, said that while she knows the new rules might disappoint some pickleball players, it’s about making sure everyone in the community is happy. She said, “I think it’s very important that all of us get together and think about the community as a whole.”
Some pickleball enthusiasts are frustrated because their sport is being restricted, especially since many of them can only play before or after work. But most of them seem to understand the need to compromise. One player in Mountbatten put it well, saying, “I think it’s really fair. We have to compromise. There are neighbours around us and we love the game, so (there is) no point arguing and fighting about it. We just compromise and work the time.”
Associate Professor Lee Siew Eang from the National University of Singapore’s College of Design and Engineering explained that the high-frequency sound of the ball being hit travels upwards. In Singapore’s high-rise housing estates, this sound can bounce off buildings and get even louder for residents on higher floors. So, even if the players think they aren’t being that loud, the sound can be quite jarring for those living nearby. He noted that even with walls, the sound can still travel, saying, “Sound travelling upward is a very natural thing, so even in a small court, if we have some barrier walls, it may not be absolutely effective because apartments two or three storey high – they will still hear quite loudly and clearly.”
