We're in the midst of a pickleball paddle arms race as manufacturers and pro players alike optimize their gear to gain every advantage they can get on the court. Just as we've seen carbon fiber become the dominant hitting surface over fiberglass in recent years, we're now seeing a shift in core construction for pickleball paddles. While honeycomb polypropylene has been popular for a long time, foam core paddles are beginning to see a rise in popularity. What makes foam an ideal core material, and will we see the next big revolution in paddle construction because of it?
The Evolution of Pickleball Paddle Development
Early pickleball paddles were made from materials like wood and plastic. While these paddles are perfectly adequate for casual fun and can still be found at big-name stores, pro players sought equipment that offered better performance. Manufacturers like Joola and Paddletek stepped up to the plate, and in the modern era, almost every advanced-level pickleball paddle is made with a polypropylene core.
Polypropylene is a lightweight yet durable material, and more importantly is very resistant to fatigue. This means it can withstand repeated stress before cracking, exactly the property you'd want in a pickleball paddle. Polypropylene honeycomb structures thus became the standard core material for being lightweight, durable, and flexible.
Rise of Foam Cores
While honeycomb polypropylene is resistant to fatigue, given enough time and use, the core will eventually collapse. This problem, commonly called "core crush," causes hits to sound and feel dull, and more importantly, makes shots less consistent than before. Frequent players know the crushing feeling of falling in love with a new paddle only to lose it to core crush.
Foam paddle cores emerged as a solution to eliminate core crush, as foam relies on flexibility rather than rigidity. However, because of tight regulations on paddle performance, there haven't been many foam core paddles approved by the USAP for tournament play. Models like the Diadem Hush are perfect for casual play, especially thanks to the noise reduction, but the power and spin generated by the foam core far exceed tournament regulations.
Potential Drawbacks
While foam core technology is a potential avenue in the future of pickleball manufacturing, it's not without some flaws. Principle for pickleball players is the difference in how it feels to play with a foam paddle compared to your typical honeycomb polypropylene paddle. Because pickleball is a fast-paced game that stresses reactions, the plusher feeling of hitting with a foam core paddle might be a dealbreaker for players who rely heavily on touch and feedback to inform their next play. Another consideration related to feel is familiarity; players who've spent time developing their current techniques might need to readjust how they hit their shots. Whether or not the time investment pays off is a risk some pros might not be willing to take. Only time will tell when enough enterprising players start winning big to start a foam core pickleball paddle revolution.
