Top 5 Best Quiet Pickleball Paddles Reviews in 2022 - Pick The Right One! (2023)

FAQs

Which pickleball paddles are the quietest? ›

Thirteen pros are playing with Joola, while 11 are playing with Selkirk and 10 are playing with Paddletek. This is particularly interesting for Joola, who is a brand that just made its way into pickleball this year in early 2022. The pro players have clearly taken to the Joola paddles.

Many manufacturers are now marketing paddles as quiet or “Green Zone” approved by Sun City Grand, a resort style community in Arizona.

The Gamma Foam Quiet Pickleball is the solution for players who want a quieter game. Instead of plastic, these balls are made of a quiet foam.

One of the most popular paddles in the game today, the Model E may have a sleek design, but its playability is as loud as can be. The Electrum Model E is a fusion of an elongated shape and the raw carbon fiber texture that provides full-court coverage and feel, allowing for ultimate spin and control.

A lighter paddle gives you more control but less drive. Conversely, a heavier paddle gives you less control but more power and drive. Perhaps most importantly, a heavier paddle can cause elbow strain and fatigue in your arm. You may want to start with a paddle that is not too heavy until you build up more strength.

If are an aggressive player that likes to attack the ball, then you'll like thinner polymer core paddles. If you prefer control over power, then you'll like thicker 16mm polymer core paddles. If you want something in the middle, then you'll like polymer core paddles at or around 14 mm thick.

But for someone who is specifically looking for spin paddles, Vanguard 2.0 S2 and Amped S2 are undoubtedly the best options. Both these paddles give you complete control of your shots and are also exceptional in creating some extra spin.

Is graphite or fiberglass better for pickleball? ›

The light flex of the material offers pinpoint accuracy in your pickleball play. So we recommend fiberglass for players looking to elevate their game by improving their accuracy. At the end of the day, you can't go wrong with graphite or fiberglass paddles. Just ask yourself how you want to elevate your game.

Carbon fiber has a five times greater stiffness to weight ratio when compared to fiberglass and is much stronger than graphite, which breaks apart easily. There are a few paddles that use carbon fiber for their facing. PICKLRZ carries the Cheetah Predion E16 and the Diadem Warrior pickleball paddles.

The price is majorly dependent on the type of material used to make the paddle. Wooden pickleball paddles cost between $15 and $35. To get composite pickleball paddles, you will spend between $40 and $100. Graphite pickleball paddles cost between $90 and $200.

Less than 1% of the pickleball players use non-wooden paddles, and for a good reason. Composite racquets are easier use, non-bulky and in case of any existing injury issue, it's always preferable to use non-wooden ones.

The sweet spot on a pickleball paddle is the spot on the paddle where the player gets the best, most accurate response from the paddle and it's usually in the center of the paddle. Think of it like the bullseye of a target.

Acoustifence® is a soundproofing material that blocks wind, as well as significantly reducing the decibel level of the paddles and ball. Complaints about noise levels or noise violations caused from pickleball court players' paddles should end, once it is installed.

A pickleball is essentially a whiffle ball that weighs less than one ounce. So, wind—especially strong winds (anything about 15-20 miles per hour)—can cause the pickleball to move in crazy and unexpected ways, which makes hitting a pickleball pretty difficult at times.

The most widely used color for outdoor pickleball balls is (bright) yellow, closely followed by orange and white. This is because yellow is the best color for varying lighting conditions one may encounter while playing outdoor pickleball. The only rule is they must be uniform in color.

How long do pickleball paddles last? A competitive player will replace their paddles about once a year, although any of them switch even earlier if they get new paddles from their sponsors. Average recreational players should get about 2-3 years out of graphic or composite paddles.

How to tell when a pickleball needs to be replaced? The best way to tell if a ball needs to be replaced is simply your instinct. If you feel the ball has slowed down significantly, doesn't have the same “pop,” or is not responding the way it did when it was “younger,” it might be time to grab a new one.

Are elongated pickleball paddles better? ›

Elongated Pickleball Paddles Offer More Reach

The longer length of the paddle allows for a greater reach when playing shots. Many singles players prefer elongated paddles because it allows them to cover more of the court.

Ben's new paddle is called the Hyperion CFS 16. It's one of three paddles in Ben's Hyperion series.

Used by both pros and beginners, Onix helps players across the globe serve up aces on the pickleball court. Co-developed by Pickleball National Champions Matt Wright and Lucy Kovalova, the Evoke Premier paddle brings power and precision to your game like never before.

A paddle surface that is made from graphite is durable and powerful, so you will have an easier time hitting the ball. Graphite paddles are ultra-light and ultra-stiff. Players looking for control and more energy to get the ball across the net prefer graphite pickleball paddles.

These paddles are usually around 8.5 to 9.5 ounces, paddles over 9.5 ounces are usually made of wood and are rarely used. For older players that have a very slow swing speed a heavier paddle can help generate more pop on the ball...

Index Finger Test

So your palm will be placed on the same bevel as the string face. Once the Eastern grip has been achieved, use the index finger of your other hand to slide it in-between your ring finger and palm. The best paddle grip size for you will be the one where your index finger fits snugly within this gap.

The 16mm had a soft, light feel at impact that was easy to control. The 13mm had a denser, heavier feel at impact that produced more power but had a smaller sweet spot compared to the 16 mm.

The Epic is a classic shape like the S2 and plays very similar other than the handle is longer at 5.25″. It's common to see classic and widebody paddles with shorter handles like the S2, but the Epic gives you the benefits of a longer handle on a wider paddle. This is a control focused paddle like the S2.

Pickleball paddles come with a few different surface materials, the materials effect the different shot types and play a factor in the cost of manufacturing the paddle. The most common types of surface material for pickleball paddles are: fiberglass/composite, graphite/carbon fiber and wood.

The Selkirk Prime paddles come in Epic and S2 models that are slightly lower priced than their AMPED counterparts, mainly due to their different core materials. While the AMPED paddles feature an X5 core, the PRIME paddles have an X4 core that is slightly thinner than the X5.

How do you hit spin shots in pickleball? ›

Topspin and backspin – when the ball rotates forward (topspin) or backward (backspin). The most common topspin shots in pickleball are the serve and the roll shot at the NVZ line. To add topspin, brush the paddle upward against the ball. It will sink more quickly than a no-spin ball.

Adding lead tape to the sides and corners of the paddle can help with the paddle's weight, power, stability, and grip. You are allowed to add texture to the handle and frame (edge guard) of the paddle. You may only change the texture on its surface if this doesn't change its roughness in any way.

Most paddles will last between 1-5 years depending on use and how well it is cared for.

Comfortable court shoes are a must; sneakers or running shoes do not supply the right kind of support for the side-to-side action inherent in pickleball. Eye protection is highly recommended. As for accessories, players may wear hats, visors, sweatbands and light jackets or sweatshirts for cold outdoor play.

Fiberglass or composite paddle surfaces are more for control (for net players) while graphite surfaces generate a little more pop for power players.

Pickleball players require a versatile, durable paddle of the best possible quality; however, price does not always dictate quality. Typically, the cheapest paddles are wooden, and the most expensive are graphite. The effect and experience of overall performance are affected.

Though either material is substantially stronger than steel, industrial carbon fiber is more than 20 percent stronger than the best fiberglass. Carbon fiber boasts a strength to weight ratio roughly twice that of fiberglass. For more on carbon fiber strength, check out our previous blog.

You should have a general idea of where your gear's sweet spot lies—that area where pickleballs seem to fly off its surface with ease. If the sweet spot suddenly seems to have a dampened feel and those balls aren't jumping away as easily, your paddle may have lost its potency.

Quieter Balls

First, try using a foam practice ball rather than the standard hard plastic ball. These foam balls are typically a bit less bouncy and play differently than the average sanctioned pickleball, but they still get the job done at a much quieter decibel level!

The problem is noise. Although pickleball resembles tennis, there are notable differences that create elevated decibel levels when pickleballers gather. Unlike the soft, nap-covered balls used in tennis, the pickleball is hard plastic and much noisier than a tennis ball when struck.

What paddle does Chuck Taylor use? ›

My paddle of choice is the Selkirk Amped Maxima. Full disclosure, I am sponsored by Selkirk and love working with them. And anyone that knows me, knows that I love tweaking my paddles.

Green Zone - Those paddles fall within acceptable noise levels and are approved for use on the Sun City Grand Pickleball Courts. If you are looking to buy a new paddle, you would be safe to choose a paddle from this zone. Green Zone paddles are the only paddles approved for use on SCG PB Courts.

A pickleball is essentially a whiffle ball that weighs less than one ounce. So, wind—especially strong winds (anything about 15-20 miles per hour)—can cause the pickleball to move in crazy and unexpected ways, which makes hitting a pickleball pretty difficult at times.

A recent study released by the Radiological Society of North American has found racket sports, like tennis, pickleball, and racquetball, are among the worst physical activities for your knees.

Court Setup

As long as you have a hard surface, you can play Pickleball anywhere. It has been played on gym floors, concrete, asphalt, tennis courts, and carpet.

The loudest sound produced hundreds of times during a pickleball match — the two-to-four-millisecond “impulse sound” generated when a paddle connects with a ball — is inherently louder than those of sports like tennis or basketball, he said.

A serve striking the net and landing within the service court is called a “let” and another serve is justified with no limit to the number of times this can occur. If a “let“ serve hits the partner of the person receiving the serve before touching the court surface, the serve will be replayed as a let.

Paddle tennis is a noisy sport with cracking sounds from rackets. Did we mention that the sport is played in a glass cage, a known acoustic problem! This acoustic challenge is also much harder when played indoors.