“I hate all pickleball players”: TikToker expresses frustration over night-time court noise
A TikTok video by a Singapore resident complaining about night-time pickleball games near his HDB block sparked mixed reactions — with some suggesting he report the matter to the authorities, while others defended the players’ right to play.
- A Singapore resident’s TikTok video complaining about night-time pickleball games near his HDB block went viral, garnering over 209,000 views.
- Some netizens urged him to report the noise disturbance to the authorities.
- Others defended the players, saying they were still within the allowed court hours.
SINGAPORE: Pickleball, a sport that has rapidly gained popularity across Singapore, is drawing noise complaints from residents living near outdoor courts.
The sharp, repetitive sounds produced when plastic balls strike hard paddles and echo between housing blocks have become a major source of disturbance for some communities.
A resident recently shared his frustration on TikTok after being kept awake by a group of pickleball players who continued their game into the night.
On 7 November, TikTok user @oddom.2 uploaded a short video showing several people playing pickleball at a multi-purpose court located near an HDB block.
The five-second clip captured the distinct pop sounds of the ball hitting the paddles, accompanied by the caption: “I hate all pickleball players.”
According to him, the players extended their match to “almost 10pm,” preventing him from getting sufficient rest before the next day.
He implied that the individuals were being inconsiderate towards residents who needed to wake up early.
@oddom.2 i hate all pickleball players #pickleball #sgtiktok ♬ original sound - Oddom 2
Mixed Reactions from Netizens
The video, which has garnered over 209,000 views and more than a thousand comments, drew mixed responses from netizens.
Many urged the original poster (OP) to take formal action rather than posting on social media.
“Write a petition. Get all your neighbours to sign. See your MP. This game is more suited indoors. Outdoors near HDB cannot lah,” one user advised.
Others suggested a more direct approach, encouraging the OP to speak calmly with the players.
“Instead of recording, why not go down and talk to them? If you approach in a calm and respectful way, maybe it would help,” one comment read.
Some users also proposed practical solutions, such as using earplugs, headphones, or closing the windows to reduce noise.
However, this suggestion drew backlash from others who felt it was unreasonable to expect residents to bear the cost of someone else’s inconsiderate behaviour.
“Why should we have to spend more money to accommodate their ignorance? So hard meh to be considerate?” one netizen questioned.
Some Netizens Defend Players, Citing Court Hours
Not all users sided with the complainant. Several pointed out that the players were technically within the allowed hours of public court use.
“It’s almost 10pm. It’s still within the public court timing. Be it basketball, badminton or pickleball — the lights go out at 10pm. Don’t try to trick people,” one comment stated.
Others argued that while the noise could be annoying, individuals still have control over how they respond.
“You can’t control others, but you can control how you adapt. Maybe close your window or wear earplugs. If you choose not to, that’s fine — but then whose problem is it really?” one user wrote.
Guidelines Introduced for Pickleball Play in HDB Estates
Town Councils across Singapore have begun implementing localised guidelines for pickleball play in Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates, following a rise in noise-related complaints from residents.
Between January 2024 and August 2025, the Municipal Services Office (MSO) received 701 complaints concerning pickleball-related noise, according to Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat.
The issue was raised in Parliament by Associate Professor Jamus Lim, Member of Parliament for Sengkang GRC, who asked whether the Government intends to regulate the sport’s play in public spaces given its growing popularity and associated noise disamenities.
Quiet Hours and Local Measures Introduced
Under existing community noise guidelines, all residents are advised to observe quiet hours between 10.30pm and 7am.
These apply not only to individual households but also to shared spaces such as game courts in HDB estates.
Town Councils (TCs) have been adopting specific measures to address the concerns.
These include putting up advisories at affected courts, working with grassroots leaders to mediate between players and nearby residents, and imposing restricted access hours.
At some courts with gates, facilities are now locked at 9pm, while others display signage requesting that games be confined to designated hours.
At least four Town Councils — Ang Mo Kio, Marine Parade–Braddell Heights, Sengkang, and East Coast — have moved to limit pickleball activity on community hard courts.
Experts: Sound Amplified by High-Rise Design
Experts note that the complaints are particularly significant given Singapore’s high-rise housing design, where sound transmission is naturally amplified.
Associate Professor Lee Siew Eang from the National University of Singapore’s College of Design and Engineering explained that pickleball produces high-frequency sounds when the ball is struck by a paddle.
“These sounds are more perceptible and irritating to human ears than lower-frequency sounds,” he said.
“That is why people may find it more disturbing than a lower-frequency sound — because our hearing is more sensitive to high frequencies.”
Additionally, the vertical structure of HDB blocks worsens the issue.
“Sound travelling upward is a very natural thing,” Assoc Prof Lee added. “Even in a small court, if there are barrier walls, it may not be absolutely effective — because apartments two or three storeys high will still hear the sound quite loudly and clearly.”
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