Home»Paddle Guides » Best Quiet Pickleball Paddles
Playing pickleball can produce noises heard at over 70-85 decibels and are leading to noise complaints within residential neighborhoods. If pickleball is too noisy for you, your in luck because we’ve put together a list of the top quietest pickleball paddles currently on the market.
Owl Pickleball Paddle
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| Price *$169.00 | Sold ByOwl | Shop Amazon |
The Owl Paddle is the first ever "quiet approved" pickleball paddle approved by USAPA. This paddle is encased in a felt like cloth to dampen the loud popping sounds when hitting the ball. The sound difference is noticeably quieter. It has a much deeper sound than a high pitched pop. The owl paddle is very light with a swing weight under 111, which is quiet impressive. The paddle is definitely geared to a control player and has a softer feel. If you are looking for more power, we would recommend some lead tape on this paddle and opting for the PX series. We were surprised that the owl paddle has a surprisingly high spin rate of 2,000+ RPM's. The cloth grips the ball well and offers a large sweet spot. The Owl paddle is a great option for those looking for a quiet, softer feel and back hand rolls.
Product Details
Specifications
Pros
USAPA ApprovedQuiet5.6 Twist Weight
Cons
Not as much power
Gearbox Pro Series Pickleball Paddle
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| Price *$274.99 | Sold ByGearbox | Shop Website |
90Overall Score
The Gearbox Pro series is one of our favorite pickleball paddles and it so happens to be on the quieter side. It does so with its patented SSTCore and Sound Dampening technology which does a fantastic job at absorbing sound. Their quiet tech sound technology claims to create lower decibel stealthy shots while reducing paddle vibration. The Pro control paddle overall feels better than the power series and has a dampening sensation to soft shots and resets. The sound is similar to a thud than a high pitched whack.
Product Details
Specifications
Pros
1-year warrantyUSAPA Approved
Cons
Diadem Warrior Pickleball Paddle
| Price * | Sold By | |
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| Price *$229.95 | Sold ByDiadem | Shop Amazon |
96Overall Score
Dominate the court with max spin, control and overall performance with Diadem’s most advanced paddle. The Warrior V2 offers a 3X L-core consisting of 2 layers of polypropylene honeycomb surrounded by 1 layer of Aramid honeycomb. The liquid carbon fiber edgeless design provides excellent strength. Each paddle incudes replaceable Paddle Armor to protect the edge. The etched surface creates a powerful spin. This paddle is one of the thickest paddle on the market at 19mm thick.Warrior V2 is ideal for the player who prefers a heavier paddle with a firm feel. However, it is lighter than the original version and has slightly less head heavy. If you prefer more of a plush feel, this will not be ideal for you. There may be a slight learning curve to adjust to the paddle’s pop. The paddle delivers more spin than the original version, but not as much as other top spin paddles on the market. The edgeless design may cause more vibration up the arm when hitting on the edge. Using the provided Paddle Armor tape will help prevent chipping. Because the grit is not painted on like the previous version, it tends to be much more durable. The Warrior V2 is a great overall paddle, but is on the pricier side. Performs well with resets, blocks and drives. It plays well in the kitchen.
Product Details
Specifications
Pros
Known for stability, power and spinUSAPA approvedLarge sweet spot6 month limited warrantyGood pop
Cons
Cover is purchased separatelyCost
Top 3 characteristics to look for in a quiet pickleball paddle:
- Core Material: The quietest core for a pickleball paddle is EVA foam. However, EVA foam is currently not approved by USPAPA as it is too stiff. Polymer cores are the next closest paddle to being soft and quiet.
- Core Thickness: The thicker the paddle the lower the noise. This is because more mass will absorb the impact resulting in noise reduction. Aim for paddles 16mm+.
- Face Surface: Graphite, Carbon Fiber, and now Owls felt surface will generally be the quietest hitting surfaces. Avoid wood or fiberglass faces as they will produce more noise.
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