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Are you looking for quiet pickleball paddles that are “Approved” for Green Zones? As we recently discussed in our recent blog post:“Pickleball Noise Problems,” the noise from pickleball is starting to annoy some residents living near pickleball courts, some have even gotten to the point of bringing lawsuits against some local city governments to resolve the noise issues!
Quiet pickleball paddles can be part of the solution. Our top two choices are
- Selkirk SLK Halo Control Max (Affordable option)
- Joola Perseus 16mm (Premium option)
See full list of quiet “Green Zone” Paddles
While pickleball is noisier than tennis due to the hard paddle and plastic ball, some solutions have started to help the problem. While quiet paddles can help reduce the noise, the issue goes beyond just the paddle. Some pickleball players use soft foam practice tennis balls to avoid disturbing neighbors during early morning hours- but realistically, those aren’t the solution either since they don’t play the same as a real one.
Some people think the pickleball ball itself needs to be redesigned to be quieter…but I don’t see a significant change like that happening anytime soon.
Retirement communities and some city courts are retro-fitting acoustic barriers to help alleviate the problem. Many courts are now being built with soundproofing fences to minimize noise. Communities and cities are strategically building courts farther away from residences and, in some cases limiting early morning and late-night playing hours.
Pickleball equipment companieshave taken notice of the problem and are marketing their paddles as quiet and”Green Zone” approved for noise restricted communities.
So a common question is who is really “approving” these paddles as suitable for noise restricted communities and classifying them as “quiet”? What criteria and testing method to determine if paddles pass or fail the noise test?
From our research, it appears that as of date, thereis no official approval noise rating given out by any pickleball governing body (USAPA or IPF).
As mentioned in our longer blog post, it appears the original idea of approved paddles came from Sun City Grand Pickleball Courts, located in the City of Surprise, AZ. Sun City came up with a list of quiet “Approved” Green Zone paddles and a list of “Red Zone” Pickleball Paddles that are not quiet enough to be used at their facilities.
The list is quite extensive, and they continue to analyze new paddles that come on the market to keep the list up to date.
It’s not exactly clear what the criteria are to qualify or disqualify a paddle as “approved” for green zones nor exactly what testing methodology is used done, but according to the Sun City website, they outsource the sound testing to an expert sound analysis company.
Quiet Pickleball Paddle: How To Choose?
Some people have asked me….”What’s the best quiet pickleball paddle that is on the approved list”? But I think that’s just such a hard question to answer! First of all, there are a LOT of paddles on the list (over 100 the last time I counted!).
Secondly, the list includes paddles from every price range, material (wood paddles, composite and graphite paddles), edgeless paddles, and those with edge guards. Virtually every paddle shape (wide-body, elongated, etc.) grip size and core material (polymer core, aluminum core, Nomex) are represented on the list.
Because of this, it’s too hard to declare any single paddle as “The Best Quiet Pickleball Paddle.” I think the key to finding a good paddle has not changed and noise, although definitely a priority if you live in a “Green Zone” community, should NOT be the number one deciding factor.
Although some very well known and commonly used paddle models were not approved, every major pickleball paddle maker has approved paddles on the list. Just as an example, the Gamma Protonwas approved on the list. In contrast, the other Gamma paddles (Atomic, Fusion, Ion, Micron, Voltage) haveall been categorizedas “banned” Red Zone paddles by Sun City.
The fact is that there are some very well-known and best-selling paddles on the market that did not pass the noise test. Still, the same manufacturer’s other paddles were accepted, so you really can’t isolate the best quiet paddle just based on brand or other general criteria such ascore material or price range.
I recommend you FIRST finda paddle that meets your playing style, weight, and grip size requirements and THEN cross-reference the list to see if it is also approved as a “quiet paddle.”
As I’ve repeated multiple times on the blog and here in our paddle buyer’s guide, I would first look at paddle WEIGHT and GRIP SIZE as top priorities when buying a new paddle.
Best Quiet Pickleball Paddles:
If you scroll below, you’ll see a convenient comparison table showing a full list of quite approved paddles for Green Zones.
Comparison table of “Approved” Pickleball Paddles
If you would like to see the updated list from Sun City’s website clickhere:
The table is listed in alphabetical order by the paddle manufacturer’s name.
Sniper “Quiet” Pickleball Paddle-by Patriot Pickleball
The Sniper is the first in class product and the only one currently on the market that was specifically designed as a quiet paddle.
The owner of Patriot Pickleball, Wayne Goodwin, invented the Sniper “Quiet” paddle using a patent-pending foam encasem*nt(the honeycomb core is surrounded by a coating of cell foam). The net effect is that the design eliminates the drum-like noise that other paddles create.
HDS3 technology produces a high-density sweet spot. The mid-weight paddle excels at power. While the “Sniper” is the first paddle launched by the company, there are plans to produce a lightweight “Ranger” paddle, another lightweight paddle called the Green Beret (great branding to go with the theme of “Patriot Pickleball”).
All of the quiet paddle models are made from a single piece of molded polyfoam covered in polymer honeycomb insert with a welded”sweet spot insert.” The unibody design eliminated the need for loose butt caps or edge guards, which can cause vibration and additional noise. The result is a sturdy paddle made from a solid construction.
The company is located in Holland, Ohio. The paddle is made in the USA and sold on Amazon. The paddle meets all USAPA specs and is approved for tournament play. The Sniper weighs between 7.6 and 8.1 ounces, with an average weight of 7.7 oz. The grip size is 4 3/8″ and finished with a premium Gamma cushioned grip.
Conclusion:
As we’ve discussed, as the sport continues to grow and more courts are being built, there are and will continue to be more issues surrounding the “noise problem” and finding a compromise that works for both pickleball players and non-playing residents.
Realistically the fundamentals of the sport- the hard plastic ball and paddle specifications are not going to change dramatically any time soon. So while quiet paddles may help alleviate the problem to some degree, much of the problem and possible solution revolves more around where and how the courts are built, the noise insulation around them, distance from homes, and the overall impact on the surrounding area.
We’re interested to see how this progresses, and the steps that paddle manufacturers and local communities take to help minimize the issue as much as possible.
