The Blue List of Paddles
List updated: October 4, 2024
Introduction: The following paddles have been selected and qualified for ‘Blue List’ status through a testing procedure that uses a combination of metrics in addition to loudness (sound pressure). This includes measuring the ‘pitch’ and duration of the sound produced when a pickleball is struck by a paddle (the “decay time”).
This new version of the Blue List categorizes paddles as “Reduced Sound”, which means quieter that ordinary paddles and Extra Quiet and it includes paddle covers that can be added to any paddle to reduce the sound level produced.
The metrics and criteria were selected after reviewing with players and non-players the sound characteristics of a typical pickleball hit, including input from some who consider impulse sounds of this type to be annoying. The categories were established by PSM LLC as a means of recommending paddles to communities and pickleball clubs that are attempting to mitigate the sound of pickleball to an acceptable level without overly restricting a players paddle preferences.
Test Procedure: PSM LLC is a pickleball acoustics consulting firm. We have assembled a tall (16 feet) echo free (or anechoic) ball drop chamber for testing pickleballs and paddles. .An ordinary tournament approved pickleballis dropped into the chamber and it reaches a speed of about 19 mph just before it strikes a rigidly mounted paddle ata very slight angle to cause the bouncing ball to travel away from the paddle face.
A calibrated microphone is mounted in this chamber and a computer outside of the chamber analyzes the microphone output using REW and Audacity software
Criteria: The paddles on this list are in two categories, “Reduced Sound” and “Extra Quiet”. “Reduced Sound” paddles have a measured sound level of at least 3 decibels below typical ½ inch thick honeycomb poly-core fiberglass face models and a prime “pitch” below 900 Hz. “Extra Quiet” paddles are quieter still, with a sound level of 6 decibels, or more, below ordinary models and a main pitch below 700 Hz. In addition, all of these paddles have vibration decay times of the primary vibration mode (to less than 10% of its initial peak value) of under 6 milliseconds. This ensures that there is no well defined “pitch” to the sound produced.
Using This List: PSM LLC updates this list as it tests and identifies additional paddles that meet the criteria and as suppliers release the models.
Updating This List: To arrange additional paddle or pickleball testing, contact PSM LLC via email at us at [email protected]
For an updated version of The Blue List, see the Pickleball Sound Labs web page at pickleballsoundlabs.com as well as the Pickleball Sound Mitigation Facebook group page. The Pickleball Paddle Blue List is copyright free.
