SLN/CR’s Innovative Fabric Tackles Pickleball Noise: A Kansas City startup, SLN/CR, has introduced an innovative fabric-based noise mitigation system aimed at solving one of pickleball’s most significant challenges—pickleball court noise. Founded by Eliot Arnold, a serial entrepreneur turned avid pickleball player, SLN/CR is offering a cutting-edge solution to reduce noise levels around outdoor pickleball courts, which have been a source of complaints for nearby residents.
Addressing Noise Complaints
The rapid growth of pickleball in recent years, particularly with tennis courts being converted into pickleball courts and new facilities being built, has led to an increase in noise complaints from surrounding neighborhoods.
“Haters are going to hate. There’s one group that has spun up to essentially kill outdoor pickleball nationally because of the noise issues. So we do have some headwinds in the market. These people say that no products work and that the only way to solve the problem is to shut down the courts or move them into parts of rural America that are completely inaccessible.” – (Eliot Arnold)
He emphasized that while the noise can be bothersome, the community and health benefits of the sport outweigh the complaints.
“We think that the community benefit and the health benefit for our citizens far outweighs the risk to homeowners’ peaceful enjoyment of their neighborhoods. Because there are enough noise mitigation products and services in the market today to really, really make a meaningful dent in the perception of the noise on court.” – (Eliot Arnold)
The Noise Problem and Its Solution
Pickleball’s distinct sound comes from the ball striking the paddle, emitting a frequency that falls within the most irritating range for the human ear.
“Obviously, you have a sound pressure issue, which is measured in decibels. So it’s inherently just loud, louder than the ambient environment. But you also have a frequency, so the ball striking the paddle emits a frequency that is the exact frequency that falls within the most annoying range for the human ear.” – (Eliot Arnold)
Additionally, the impulsive, unpredictable nature of the noise—“pop, pop, pop”—adds to its annoyance, according to Arnold. SLN/CR’s solution uses nanotechnology in fabric to absorb this sound, converting it into heat, unlike traditional noise barriers, which tend to reflect sound.
“The sound of that noise is really attention grabbing.” – (Eliot Arnold)
“It’s not a predictable noise. It’s pop, pop, pop, pop, pop and so that impulsive nature adds to the annoyance factor of the sound.” – (Eliot Arnold)
SLN/CR’s Innovation
Arnold and his team found inspiration from the industrial noise mitigation systems that were used by Mission Hills Country Club in Kansas City to address noise complaints. “The system they used was heavy and ineffective, like hanging tires on fences,” Arnold explained. This motivated the team to develop a much lighter and more efficient product using nanofibers, which are 70% lighter than existing products on the market.
“The system that Mission Hills Country Club elected to use for noise control was built with very antiquated industrial technology. It’s a very heavy rubber system. It’s like hanging tires on fences. It’s reflective; it’s not absorptive. It just bounces noise from one location to another and it doesn’t really absorb or attenuate the noise.” – (Eliot Arnold)
After extensive lab and field testing, including with Prairie Village, Arnold’s team proved that their product works effectively. Their system is also more affordable and better performing than existing noise solutions. SLN/CR is now a Premier Quiet Category partner with USA Pickleball.
“Our results proved that the product works. We’re 70-percent lighter than the incumbent products — the industrial products — on the market. And we’re the price-to performance-leader in the market.” – (Eliot Arnold)
Rapid Growth and Future Plans
Since launching in 2023, SLN/CR has made impressive strides. Arnold credits his success to the mentorship he received from Pipeline Entrepreneurs, a program that helped him pivot from a healthcare business to focusing on pickleball.
“I’m like, ‘there’s an acute problem here’ and I ended up validating it with some customers. So by the end of 2023, I had the framework of the business stood up and I started to solicit customers. We got our first customer commitment at the end of 2023.” – (Eliot Arnold)
By 2024, SLN/CR generated nearly half a million dollars in revenue, with plans to reach $2 million by the end of 2025. The company is already attracting high-profile projects and communities, positioning itself as a leader in pickleball noise solutions.
“We have a very aggressive goal of wanting to close the year at $2 million. We’ve got a lot of really great projects lined up for 2025 already, some of the most high-profile communities in the country. So we’re very excited about that.” – (Eliot Arnold)
The Growing Future of Pickleball Noise Solutions
With pickleball’s popularity continuing to rise, SLN/CR is poised to play a major role in reducing the sport’s impact on local communities. Arnold believes that the future of outdoor pickleball courts, especially in urban areas, depends on solutions like SLN/CR’s to balance the enjoyment of the sport with the concerns of neighboring residents.
News in Brief: SLN/CR’s Innovative Fabric Tackles Pickleball Noise
Kansas City-based startup SLN/CR, founded by Eliot Arnold, has developed a nanotechnology-based fabric system to reduce pickleball court noise. The product has already shown success in tests and partnerships with USA Pickleball. With rapid growth, SLN/CR is set to reach $2 million in revenue by the end of 2025.
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