Quiet Pickleball Paddles

If you're looking for quieter pickleball paddles—whether to reduce noise complaints from neighbors or to play in a noise-sensitive area—here are some options and factors to consider:

1. Paddles with Polymer Cores (Best for Noise Reduction)

Polymer core paddles are the quietest because they absorb impact better than other core materials like Nomex or aluminum. Some of the best options include:

Selkirk SLK Latitude

Engage Encore MX 6.0

Paddletek Bantam EX-L

Gamma NeuCore paddles (like the Gamma Compass or Gamma Shard)

2. Paddles Approved by "Green Zone" Lists

Some communities, such as Sun City Grand in Arizona, maintain a Green Zone Approved Paddles List for quieter play. Paddles on this list meet noise-reduction standards. Some popular ones include:

ProKennex Kinetic Ovation Speed

Engage Poach Advantage

Gearbox CX11 & CX14 series (carbon fiber paddles with quiet impact)

3. Carbon Fiber Paddles

Paddles with carbon fiber faces tend to be quieter because they dampen sound better than fiberglass. Examples:

Six Zero Double Black Diamond

CRBN 1X and 2X series

Joola Perseus and Hyperion CFS models

4. Avoid Noisy Paddles

Nomex Core Paddles (e.g., Onix Z5) are loud due to their hard honeycomb structure.

Fiberglass-faced paddles tend to have more pop and noise.

5. Do not forget that foam pickleballs are great at noise reduction as well as low-noise pickleballs.