Standard hard plastic pickleballs generate roughly 70 decibels of sound on impact, a volume that has prompted friction between players and residents in neighborhoods across Singapore. To mitigate noise complaints, a community initiative in Marine Parade’s Mountbatten ward began distributing foam quiet pickleballs to local residents in January 2026, offering an alternative that registers closer to 60 decibels with a softer pitch.
Mountbatten Distributes Foam Quiet Balls to Residents
On January 11, 2026, the Mountbatten division distributed foam-made quiet pickleballs to more than 120 residents, inviting them to test the equipment at a local community club. The outreach aimed to encourage recreational sports while addressing neighborhood noise concerns stemming from the sport’s rapid growth in public housing estates. Town councils across Singapore have previously deployed measures such as posting advisory notices, restricting operating hours at public courts, and installing sound-dampening panels.
The quiet ball rollout stemmed from feedback provided by 59-year-old sales manager and Mountbatten resident Cher Poh Leng. Cher, an active participant in fitness activities including boxing and badminton, began playing pickleball in 2017 after trying the sport at the Eunos Community Club. While she welcomed the accessible pace of the hybrid racquet sport, she observed that frequent striking sounds from nearby public courts could cause friction with neighbors. “I am used to the sound, but neighbors might not be able to accept it,” Cher said. “I love sports, but I also like peace and quiet. I don’t want to disturb the neighborhood when I exercise.”
An Accidental Discovery During Injury Recovery
The solution emerged from an unexpected domestic injury in April 2025, when Cher slipped and fell at home, requiring a period of recuperation and rehabilitation. Confined indoors, she sought low-impact ways to maintain her fitness regimen and discovered foam balls online. Practicing against her walls indoors, she found the foam equipment produced virtually no ambient noise while still providing a physical workout.
Standard pickleballs are manufactured from hard plastic and produce a sharp acoustic profile upon paddle contact. Commercial foam alternatives reduce the impact sound level down to approximately 60 decibels while lowering the overall acoustic pitch. Following her recovery, Cher shared her findings with neighborhood leaders.
Residents and Lawmakers Partner on Quiet Ball Trials
In October 2025, Mountbatten Member of Parliament Ng Shi Hui conducted a home visit during which Cher proposed introducing foam balls to a wider audience. MP Ng collaborated with Mountbatten grassroots organizations and secured funding from the People’s Association Community Development Fund to purchase and distribute the foam equipment.
The subsequent trial saw foam balls given out across various age groups, paired with supervised tryout sessions at community facilities. Participants generally reported that the foam equipment offered a viable compromise between maintaining physical activity levels and preserving domestic tranquility.
Foam Balls Reduce Noise but Cost More
Among the residents testing the equipment at the Mountbatten Community Club were 48-year-old primary school teacher Lim Hsiu Yen and her husband, 48-year-old bank manager Tan Chang Yin. Following their trial session, Lim noted the stark contrast in sound output. “Standard balls are very noisy, while foam balls have almost no noise,” Lim said. “However, foam balls have more bounce and are harder to control. Both can achieve the goal of fitness, and we will consider using foam balls for exercise frequently in the future.”
Retail listings indicate that foam quiet balls carry a higher unit cost than standard plastic equipment. On the Decathlon sporting goods retail platform, standard plastic balls retail at $45 for a pack of 12, averaging $3.75 per ball, whereas foam balls are listed at $22.50 for a pack of three, averaging $7.50 per ball.
To balance performance, cost, and neighborly relations, Lim stated an intention to maintain a dual-ball inventory. “When exercising near HDB blocks, I will use foam balls to prevent noise from affecting neighbors,” Lim explained. “In indoor venues or areas far from residential blocks, I will use standard balls because they are cheaper.”
Reflecting on the community response to her initial proposal, Cher expressed satisfaction that local residents found a practical middle ground. “For tournament competitors, standard balls remain the first choice,” Cher said. “However, if the purpose of playing pickleball is exercise and socialization, foam balls are an alternative that can build fitness without disturbing neighbors.”
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