Best Quiet Pickleball Paddles 2025: Quiet Category and Green Zones Guide

Photo Kerry Pittenger

Pickleball noise has become a hot topic as more courts are built near homes, leading to complaints and even lawsuits in some communities. To address this, USA Pickleball launched the Quiet Category in 2023, a program that certifies paddles, balls, and accessories that meet acoustic standards. This is different from the older Green and Red Zone lists used in retirement communities. In this guide, we’ll explain how the Quiet Category works, what Green Zones mean, and which paddles are the best options in 2025.

Our top recommendation: Diadem Hush

While there are several paddles on USA Pickleball’s Quiet Category list, the one we recommend most is the Diadem Hush. One of our writers, Kip Lacey, tested the Hush and shared his full review, which you can read here: 

Kip found that the Hush delivers noticeably softer acoustics than most thermoformed paddles while still offering a strong blend of control and power. It is one of the few paddles that is officially certified in the Quiet Category, making it a safe choice for players in noise-restricted communities. If you want a paddle that is both certified quiet and enjoyable to play with, the Hush is our top pick.

The official standard: USA Pickleball Quiet Category

USA Pickleball

The Quiet Category includes paddles, balls, and accessories that pass USA Pickleball’s acoustic testing. The first certified line, OWL, met thresholds of less than 80 dBA and less than 600 Hz when the ball strikes the paddle. That represents about a 50 percent reduction in noise compared to a standard paddle. Since then, the list has expanded to include models from several brands. You can see the current list here:

USA Quiet Category Equipment

Tournament legality and quiet status

Quiet certification does not automatically make a paddle legal for tournament play. To play in sanctioned events, the paddle also needs to appear on the USA Pickleball Approved Paddles list. Many of the paddles in the Quiet Category are also on the Approved Paddles list, but it is important to verify your exact model.

What Green and Red Zone lists really are

Green, Yellow, and Red Zone lists come from specific communities, most famously Sun City Grand in Surprise, Arizona. They are local rules created to control noise at those facilities. Sun City Grand worked with an acoustics vendor to measure paddles and group them into zones. Some other HOAs and retirement communities use similar lists. These lists are not national approvals and they may differ by location. You can check Sun City’s current list here: Sun City Grand paddle list.

Current paddles in the Quiet Category

Here are the main paddle families listed on USA Pickleball’s Quiet Category page as of early 2025. Always check the official page before buying, since new models are added and updates can happen.

• OWL: Founders Edition, CX, CXE, PX, PXE
• Diadem: Hush (Black, Purple)
• Gearbox: Pro Ultimate Power 14mm, Pro Ultimate Elongated, Pro Ultimate Hyper
• ProXR: Quiet Luxury
• NineFour: Apex Pro Series 3k
• Silent Storm: SS1
• Stafford: Blackbird 67 dB, Nighthawk 66 dB
• Whisper: Silencer, The Saint Paddle System

USA Pickleball also certifies quiet balls, such as Accel DigiPro 3.0 and 3.1, along with covers and overlays like PB Muffler and Whisper Acousti-Pads. Some communities encourage or require these during early or late hours.

How to choose the right quiet paddle

1. Check the USA Pickleball Approved Paddles list if you plan to play tournaments.
2. Look at the Quiet Category page to find paddles that reduce noise.
3. Confirm your facility’s rules, since some require Green Zone approval or a local compliance list.

After narrowing down the options, choose the paddle that matches your playing style, weight preference, grip size, and shape. If you want more detail on making the right choice, check out our guide on how to choose a pickleball paddle.

Important update for 2025

In the past, some players considered the JOOLA Perseus a good option because it felt and sounded softer than other power paddles. However, the Perseus was never on the official Quiet Category list, and as of July 1, 2025, it is no longer approved for sanctioned tournaments under USA Pickleball’s updated performance testing rules. Recreational players can still use it, but if you want a paddle that is both truly certified quiet and tournament legal, make sure it appears on the Quiet Category list and the Approved Paddles list.