‘It’s Like Having a Pistol Range’ Pickleball Star John McEnroe Exposed to a Poking Reality of the Rapidly Growing Sport

Tennis legends, after their retirement, look for activities to keep them engaged, either in the sports world or outside of it. Pickleball, the most rapidly growing sport in the racket space right now, is seeking acceptance from many famous tennis figures like John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, and several others. However, the sport seems to be standing against people’s interest lately.

As the boundaries of pickleball started to expand towards the US lately, the noise of the game is reported to be a problem for the neighborhoods. The issue, which has already been in consideration by the authorities, has still not met a working solution. As the world prepares for the upcoming pickleball event, former tennis star and the upcoming event’s major participant John McEnroe was shockingly exposed to people’s word in a recent interview.

John McEnroe exposed to the noisy reality of pickleball

The tennis world has presented a strong connection with pickleball lately as John McEnroe is preparing for the upcoming major event in the growing sport. Besides the rapid growth and several tennis players getting attracted to the game, not everyone seems to be happy about the racket that pickleball makes. Some residents who live near pickleball courts have complained that the sound of the ball hitting the paddle is too loud and annoying.

Caught in a conversation with the media, legendary player John McEnroe was recently exposed to this reality. The reporter, who addressed the tennis legend, said, “Here’s what some people quoted in the New York Times had to say about the noise (noise created via pickleball that’s almost 2x that of tennis) – It’s like having a pistol range in your backyard.”

The reporter continued, “It’s a torture technique said another guy and old Debbie and Phoenix said living here is hell. Now of course those are a little bit extreme I think but for those not initiated like are we overblowing the sound of Pickleball”.

ALSO READ: American Tennis Legend John McEnroe Takes Trash Talk a Notch Higher AA He Teases Rival Agassi Ahead of Their Pickleball Fight

While the Pickleball Slam 2024 is expected to attract thousands of spectators and media attention, the concern raised will surely be a point to pay attention to, as it can be a factor that affects the popularity of the sport.

People behind pickleball working on the remedies

The reports of people facing problems with the pickleball noise have been taken into consideration by the authorities. As some people who live near pickleball courts say the sound is annoying and disturbing, experts say the sound is about 70 decibels, which is not harmful but much louder than tennis.

However, USA Pickleball, the organization that promotes and regulates the sport, wants to make pickleball quieter and more friendly to neighbors. It has also announced a new “quiet category” for pickleball equipment. This means that some paddles and balls will be tested and approved for being less noisy.

The CEO of USA Pickleball, Mike Nealy, said in a statement, “With the sport’s growth, addressing noise concerns is essential to maintain a positive relationship between residential communities and facility operators. By working together with manufacturers and the entire industry, we can develop quieter options that benefit everyone.”

This new category of equipment will be available in 2024. While the USA Pickleball hopes that it will reduce the conflicts and complaints about pickleball noise, everyone behind the sport looks forward to making the sport more enjoyable for everyone.

Watch This Story: Years After Her Dispiriting Beyonce Memory. 20-Year-Old Coco Gauff Finally Gets Her Fangirl Moment With the American Nightingale in Paris