The short answer
Take the Selkirk Q1 Quiet if your club needs a quieter ball that is on USA Pickleball’s approved list, the Gamma Librarian for a foam ball on USA Pickleball’s Quiet Category list, and the Tourna Whisperball for the foam ball an independent tester found played most like a normal ball of the foam balls they tried.
Our verdict
Top Picks
The “pop” of a hard plastic ball is what neighbours hear, and Selkirk’s Q1 Quiet Ball page opens on the stakes: “Pickleball brings people together — but in some communities, noise threatens the ability to keep courts open.” This guide compares eight balls that their makers sell as quiet, low-noise or silent, each checked against two separate USA Pickleball lists: the approved ball list that decides what can be used in sanctioned play, and the newer Quiet Category list for equipment it recognises as quieter.
Three things shape the picks. Every ball carries its maker’s own quiet claim, quoted from the maker’s page, or from the brand’s own Amazon listing for the two brands with no website. Every pick says plainly whether it is on the approved list, and most are not. And every noise figure is credited to whoever published it, because we found no independent test that measures these balls against each other. For the full ball lineup see our best pickleball balls guide, and for how foam, indoor and outdoor balls differ, our explainer on the types of pickleball balls.
Ball finder
Find the right quiet ball for where you play
Pick where you will use the ball and what you want to spend per ball. The suggestion is our editorial starting point, drawn from the eight balls below, not a test result.
Tiers are relative to the balls in this guide; live prices are in the comparison table below.
Compare the picks
Compare the 8 Quiet Pickleball Balls
“Approved” is the ball’s entry on USA Pickleball’s approved ball list, with its type and the date the list shows, read on 24 October 2026. “Quiet Category” is whether the ball appears on USA Pickleball’s Quiet Category equipment page (last updated 12 August 2026, read on 24 October 2026). Indoor or outdoor use and hole counts are as each maker lists them (for Neobadge and Shark Athletics, on their own Amazon listings), with “not published” where the maker gives none. The pack in the “Linked model” column is the exact listing each button opens.
Selkirk Q1 QuietApproved quiet ballCourt games, noise rulesOutdoor by SelkirkYes$11.99
Evidence: The Adventurous Boomer, this exact model
Gamma LibrarianQuiet Category foam ballCourt games, wall drillsIndoor and outdoorNot on the approved list$12.99 Prime
Evidence: owner reports, no independent test
Tourna WhisperballFoam ball for rec gamesCourt games, wall drillsIndoor or outdoorNot on the approved list$12.41 Prime
Evidence: The Adventurous Boomer, exact model; free sample from Tourna, disclosed
GoSports GS40 Q-FoamFoam ball for court playCourt games, wall drillsIndoor or outdoorNot on the approved list$12.99 Prime
Evidence: owner reports, no independent test
Franklin Silent ServeX-40-inspired foam ballHome practice, noise rulesIndoor and outdoorNot on the approved list$9.99 Prime
Evidence: owner reports, no independent test
CORE StealthHoleless foam ballWall drills, home practiceIndoor and outdoorNot on the approved list$12.95
Evidence: owner reports, no independent test
Shark Athletics QuietFoam ball in a 2-packHome practice, court gamesIndoor and outdoorNot on the approved list$12.99
Evidence: maker specs only, no independent test
Neobadge Silent40-hole foam ballHome practice, wall drillsIndoor or outdoorNot on the approved list$15.99
Evidence: maker specs only, no independent test
How We Sorted the Quiet Balls
How this guide was built
from the makers’ own product pages, USA Pickleball’s approved ball list, Quiet Category page and announcements, one independent tester who played several quiet balls, a pickleball club’s write-up and owner reports on r/Pickleball; we have not tested these balls ourselves and we have not measured their noise.
What a ball needed to make the list
- A quiet claim from its maker: the maker’s own page (or, where a brand has no website, its own Amazon listing) sells or describes the ball as quiet, low-noise, silent or reduced-noise, and we quote it. Foam balls count when their maker calls them quiet.
- Approval checked twice: the ball’s entry, type and date on USA Pickleball’s approved ball list, and whether it appears on the separate Quiet Category page. Where a ball is on neither, we say so.
- Indoor or outdoor use and hole count as the maker lists them, with “not published” where the maker gives none.
- Noise figures only as a named source published them, with its method where the source states one. No source we found measured these eight balls side by side, so we make no “quietest” claim.
- Availability: a new, in-stock Amazon listing, sold by Amazon or by the brand’s own storefront (for Shark Athletics, its SharkLax storefront), at or below the maker’s list price where the maker publishes one.
Where the evidence comes from, what we left out and what owners report
Where the evidence comes from
Makers’ claims come from their own pages: Selkirk, Gamma, Tourna, GoSports, Franklin and CORE publish product pages; Neobadge and Shark Athletics have no website we could find, so their claims come from their own Amazon listings: Neobadge’s is sold by Neobadge’s storefront, and Shark Athletics’ by SharkLax, the storefront its listing’s brand story names. The one independent play test is The Adventurous Boomer’s review of quiet pickleballs (October 2026), whose author plays on a home court surrounded by houses; they bought the Selkirk Q1 themselves and received the Tourna Whisperball free from Tourna, which they disclose. They write that Franklin and Gamma declined to take part. The Capital Area Pickleball Association, a Wisconsin players’ club, published a pros-and-cons write-up of the Gamma Librarian in March 2025. Neither site sells balls that we could find.
What we left out
- Tourna Foam Balls, 4-pack. Tourna’s own product title is “Foam Balls – 4 Pack – for Tennis or PIckleball”, and its page says “Each foam ball weighs 20 grams and has a diameter of 72mm.” USA Pickleball’s Equipment Standards Manual gives a ball’s size as “2.87 inches (7.29 cm) to 2.97 inches (7.54 cm) in diameter” and its weight as “between 0.78 and 0.935 ounces (22.1 and 26.5 grams)”, so this dual-sport practice ball sits under both ranges. Tourna’s pickleball-specific quiet ball, the Whisperball, is pick 3.
- Diadem Official Quiet Ball. The Adventurous Boomer played it, but the only Amazon offer we found was from a third-party seller at a price above Diadem’s own list price.
What owners report
Owner reports come from three r/Pickleball threads: an August 2024 thread on quiet pickleballs, a January 2026 thread on the Gamma Librarian and a March 2026 thread on Franklin’s quiet ball, plus an October 2025 thread asking for a quiet practice ball. Each is a handful of replies, not a sample, and each reply is attributed as one person’s account below.
Detailed Reviews
Selkirk Q1 Quiet Ball, Approved quiet ball
Clubs, HOAs and parks that need a quieter ball and still want one on USA Pickleball's approved list.
$11.99 from AmazonAs of Oct 25, 19:45 UTCVerdict
On USA Pickleball’s approved ball list, typed I/O from 29 January 2026, unlike the other seven picks, and also on its Quiet Category page. Selkirk claims it is “34% quieter than a standard pickleball”; The Adventurous Boomer found it noticeably quieter but did not measure it.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. The Adventurous Boomer: Q1 Quiet Ball, 3-ball sleeves.
Selkirk pitches the Q1 at HOAs, municipalities, parks departments and facility managers, and its product page says it plays “34% quieter than a standard pickleball, helping facilities meet strict community noise standards.” Selkirk does not say how it measured the 34%. Its page also says “It’s the only quiet ball currently eligible for use in USAP-sanctioned play.” The approved ball list also carries Quietstorm’s “QUIET SLAM MAGENTA” (type I/O, listed 10 April 2025), whose quiet status we could not confirm and which we found no Amazon listing for. When we checked the list on 24 October 2026, the Q1 was on it and none of the other seven picks was. The Q1 is also a pick in our best pickleball balls roundup, where we link the 12-pack, and in our explainer on indoor versus outdoor pickleball balls.
The Adventurous Boomer bought two sleeves of three and played them for more than a month. They write: “The Q1 is definitely quieter than a conventional outdoor ball.” They also write: “I haven’t measured the sound level myself, so I can’t verify the 34% figure.” On feel, “The Q1 feels slightly softer than a typical outdoor ball, although nowhere near as soft as an indoor ball,” and they found it plays “remarkably like a normal pickleball.” Their caveat: “It isn’t silent, and it isn’t nearly as quiet as some of the foam balls I have tested.” After a month, they report the balls “show no signs of cracking or going out of round.”
Selkirk’s page lists 40 holes, 0.86 oz and a 2.9 in diameter; its Amazon listing details give 2.8 in, so the two Selkirk sources differ. Selkirk’s page does not say indoor or outdoor; its Amazon listing calls them “outdoor pickleball balls”, while the approved list types the Q1 I/O (indoor and outdoor). The linked listing is the 3-pack, sold by Selkirk’s own Amazon storefront and shipped by Amazon; the 12- and 100-packs are on the same listing.
Specs (3-pack, the linked listing)
- Type: outdoor per Selkirk’s Amazon listing; approved list type I/O; 40 holes (Selkirk)
- Weight and size: 0.86 oz, 2.9 in (Selkirk’s page; its Amazon listing details give 2.8 in)
- Noise: “34% quieter than a standard pickleball” (Selkirk; method not stated)
- Construction: injection-molded, polyethylene (Selkirk’s page and Amazon listing)
- Approval: on USA Pickleball’s approved list (Q1 Quiet Ball, I/O, added 01/29/2026) and on its Quiet Category page
- Pack: 3 balls
Pros
- On USA Pickleball’s approved ball list and on its Quiet Category page
- Plays “remarkably like a normal pickleball” by The Adventurous Boomer’s account
- No cracks or out-of-round balls after a month of the tester’s play
Cons
- Less quiet than some foam balls, by The Adventurous Boomer’s account
- The 34% figure is Selkirk’s; no independent measurement found
- Selkirk’s page and its Amazon listing give different diameters (2.9 in and 2.8 in)
Who should buy it
Clubs, HOAs and parks that need a quieter ball and still want one on USA Pickleball’s approved list.
Gamma Librarian Foam Pickleball, Quiet Category foam ball
Players and venues that want a foam ball USA Pickleball lists in its Quiet Category, for casual court games or wall practice.
$12.99 from AmazonAs of Oct 25, 16:39 UTCVerdict
A foam ball on USA Pickleball’s Quiet Category page but not on the approved ball list. Gamma’s page says “APPROX 60DB OF NOISE”; one owner on r/Pickleball calls it “very quiet but not totally silent.”
Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/Pickleball: Librarian Foam (pack size not stated).
Gamma’s product page calls it “a remarkable choice for quiet play” and says its construction makes it “ideal for noise-sensitive environments.” Gamma’s blog says it “delivers only 60dBA of sound, the same level as a normal conversation,” and its Amazon listing says “approximately 60 dB”. None of the three says how or from what distance the figure was measured, so we cannot set it beside Selkirk’s percentage. The Quiet Category page lists it among four quiet balls; the approved ball list has no Librarian entry.
The Capital Area Pickleball Association’s write-up (March 2025) says “Suitable for both indoor and outdoor play, the Librarian ball can be used on various court surfaces, including wood and concrete.” Its cons: “It can take a while to get used to not having audio feedback to know if you hit the ball solidly,” and “The foam design may result in slower gameplay, which might not be preferred by competitive players.” Owners on r/Pickleball broadly agree on the noise and differ on the play. In the Librarian thread, one writes “I use them on a basement wall and they are very quiet but not totally silent,” adding that someone upstairs could hear even dinks with no other sound and that they would rule them out against a shared apartment wall; another warns “Make sure the balls don’t get wet!”, and a third says there is “no feel for the ball on the paddle” with foam balls. In the 2024 quiet-ball thread, one commenter writes that “its quiet, but you can impart so much spin on the ball its not even the same game.”
Gamma publishes no hole count, weight or diameter figure; its blog says the Librarian has “the same diameter and weight as your favorite traditional pickleball,” and its Amazon listing details give a 2.91 in diameter. The Amazon listing says it “Performs consistently across indoor and outdoor courts.” The linked listing is the 3-pack, sold by Amazon; 6- and 48-packs are on the same listing.
Specs (3-pack, the linked listing)
- Type: indoor and outdoor (Gamma’s Amazon listing); hole count not published
- Weight and size: not published by Gamma as figures; 2.91 in diameter per Gamma’s Amazon listing details
- Noise: “APPROX 60DB OF NOISE” (Gamma’s page); “only 60dBA of sound” (Gamma’s blog); method and distance not stated
- Construction: foam
- Approval: not on USA Pickleball’s approved list; listed on its Quiet Category page
- Pack: 3 balls
Pros
- On USA Pickleball’s Quiet Category page as a quiet ball
- Owners describe it as very quiet against walls and in garages
- Gamma publishes a sound figure (about 60 dB), which the other foam-ball makers here do not
Cons
- Not on the approved ball list
- Plays differently: owners report heavy spin and less feel, and CAPA notes slower play
- Gamma’s 60 dB figure comes with no method or distance
Who should buy it
Players and venues that want a foam ball USA Pickleball lists in its Quiet Category, for casual court games or wall practice.
Tourna Whisperball, Foam ball for rec games
Groups who want quiet recreational games with a foam ball that plays close to a plastic one.
$12.41 from AmazonAs of Oct 25, 19:45 UTCVerdict
The foam ball The Adventurous Boomer says “comes closest to giving us the quiet we want without requiring us to give up the way we normally play pickleball” of those they tested; it is not on either USA Pickleball list.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. The Adventurous Boomer: Whisperball, pack not stated.
Tourna’s product page says the Whisperball “lets you play pickleball indoors or outdoors without the noise” and that it is “Designed for quiet play, it mimics the feel of a real ball without disturbing neighbors or household members.” The Adventurous Boomer received the balls free from Tourna and says so. Their verdict: “Of all the foam pickleballs we have tested so far, the Tourna Whisperball comes closest to giving us the quiet we want without requiring us to give up the way we normally play pickleball.” They write that “The Whisperball is remarkably quiet,” that it takes topspin and sidespin, and that in their view it is good enough for competitive recreational games where noise matters. They put its weight at approximately 0.9 ounces and still found that “even the Whisperball can be affected by air currents” outdoors.
Tourna says the ball is engineered to match the bounce, diameter and weight of a regulation pickleball but publishes no figures or hole count; the Amazon listing details give a 2.5 in diameter, which does not match Tourna’s own description, so we treat diameter as not published. The approved list has no Tourna entry, and the Quiet Category page does not list it. The linked listing is the 4-pack, sold by Amazon; a 12-pack is on the same listing.
Specs (4-pack, the linked listing)
- Type: indoors or outdoors (Tourna); hole count not published
- Weight and size: not published by Tourna; about 0.9 oz as weighed by The Adventurous Boomer
- Noise: no figure published; Tourna calls it designed “for quiet play”
- Construction: high-density foam (Tourna)
- Approval: not on USA Pickleball’s approved list; not on its Quiet Category page
- Pack: 4 balls
Pros
- Played most like a normal ball of the foam balls The Adventurous Boomer tested
- Takes topspin and sidespin, by the same tester’s account
- Heavier than several other foam balls they tried: about 0.9 oz against about 0.8 oz, by their account
Cons
- Not on the approved ball list or the Quiet Category page
- Wind still moves it outdoors, the tester reports
- The tester’s balls were a free sample from Tourna (disclosed)
Who should buy it
Groups who want quiet recreational games with a foam ball that plays close to a plastic one.
GoSports GS40 Q-Foam, Foam ball for court play
Players who want a quiet foam ball for casual court games and wall practice, not for sanctioned play.
$12.99 from AmazonAs of Oct 25, 19:45 UTCVerdict
A foam ball GoSports calls quiet and sells for any court, indoors or outdoors; GoSports itself says it should not be used for tournament games, and the one owner report we found says it does not bounce high enough.
Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/Pickleball: GS40 Q-Foam 3-pack (commenter links this listing).
GoSports’ product page describes “foam balls … engineered to look & perform similar to traditional plastic pickleballs but are quiet during gameplay,” “Perfect for courts where gameplay noise is an issue,” and calls them “virtually silent balls” that “reduce disturbance for neighbors.” Its FAQ says “You can play on any pickleball court, indoors or outdoors, or use them for solo practice at home against a wall or garage door,” and that “bounce and hit distance will vary, so they should not be used for tournament games.” This is a different ball from the plastic GoSports GS40 picked in our best pickleball balls guide; the approved list has the plastic GS 40 (Out, 21 April 2023) and no Q-Foam entry.
In the Franklin quiet-ball thread, one commenter who links this exact 3-pack says “I have these for drilling indoors at home. But I feel like they don’t bounce high enough.” That is a single report. GoSports lists each ball at roughly 22 grams and 2.9 inches and gives no hole count. The linked listing is the 3-pack, sold by Amazon.
Specs (3-pack, the linked listing)
- Type: indoors or outdoors (GoSports); hole count not published
- Weight and size: roughly 22 g, 2.9 in (GoSports)
- Noise: no figure published; GoSports calls them “virtually silent”
- Construction: proprietary high-density foam (GoSports)
- Approval: not on USA Pickleball’s approved list (GoSports’ entry is the plastic GS 40); not on its Quiet Category page
- Pack: 3 balls
Pros
- Sold for court play as well as wall practice, by GoSports’ own FAQ
- GoSports publishes weight and diameter
- Sold by Amazon
Cons
- GoSports says it should not be used for tournament games
- One owner says it does not bounce high enough
- No independent test found
Who should buy it
Players who want a quiet foam ball for casual court games and wall practice, not for sanctioned play.
Franklin Silent Serve, X-40-inspired foam ball
3-pack optic yellow · Indoor and outdoor
Players who want a quiet foam ball for practice and casual hitting where noise is restricted, and who accept a different bounce.
$9.99 from AmazonAs of Oct 25, 19:45 UTCVerdict
Franklin’s foam quiet ball, which it says was “Crafted with our X-40 in mind”; Franklin’s listing says it is not for official tournament play, and the owner reports we found are mixed on its bounce.
Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/Pickleball: Silent Serve (pack size not stated).
Franklin’s product page says “Our quiet pickleballs are the perfect way to play pickleball in noise restricted areas!” and that the balls “were designed to look and play like a traditional pickleball.” Its Amazon listing says they are “constructed for premium performance on indoor and outdoor court surfaces” and that “These balls are not regulated for official tournament play.” The approved list has no Silent Serve entry, and the Quiet Category page does not list it. Franklin declined The Adventurous Boomer’s review, the tester writes.
The March 2026 r/Pickleball thread on this ball has one hands-on account: “they do not bounce like a pickleball at all, on ground or paddle – their purpose is for like maybe hotel rooms, airports or somewhere you want to hit without causing disturbance / soft ball.” Another commenter saw one court of ten at their club using it. Franklin gives a 74 mm diameter and no weight or hole count. The linked listing is the 3-pack in optic yellow, sold by Amazon; when we checked, Amazon showed only a few left in stock.
Specs (3-pack, optic yellow, the linked listing)
- Type: indoor and outdoor court surfaces (Franklin’s Amazon listing); hole count not published
- Weight and size: weight not published; 74 mm (Franklin)
- Noise: no figure published; Franklin calls them “quiet pickleballs”
- Construction: PU foam (Franklin’s Amazon listing)
- Approval: not on USA Pickleball’s approved list; not on its Quiet Category page
- Pack: 3 balls
Pros
- Franklin designed it with its X-40 outdoor ball in mind
- Sold for noise-restricted courts as well as practice
- Sold by Amazon
Cons
- One owner says it does not bounce like a pickleball
- Franklin’s listing says it is not for official tournament play
- Franklin publishes no weight or hole count
Who should buy it
Players who want a quiet foam ball for practice and casual hitting where noise is restricted, and who accept a different bounce.
CORE Stealth, Holeless foam ball
Players who want a quiet foam ball mainly for wall drills and practice at home.
$12.95 from AmazonAs of Oct 25, 19:45 UTCVerdict
A holeless foam ball CORE describes as “virtually silent”, sold for walls, indoors and outdoors; CORE says it does not carry USA Pickleball tournament approval.
Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/Pickleball: Stealth set of 3 (commenter links this listing).
CORE’s product page says “Experience the Quiet Revolution in Pickleball!” and that the balls “offer the same size, weight, and bounce as traditional outdoor pickleballs, but with a virtually silent performance.” Its comparison table lists the Stealth’s holes as “None” and its court surface as “Anywhere”, and its FAQ says Stealth balls “do not carry USAPA tournament approval.” The approved list has no Stealth entry, and the Quiet Category page does not list it.
In the October 2025 r/Pickleball thread, one commenter who links this exact listing writes “These silent foam balls are great. I use them indoors against be the lounge wall.” That is a single report. CORE publishes no weight or diameter figure; its Amazon listing details give 2.87 in. The linked listing is the set of 3, sold by CORE’s own Amazon storefront and shipped by Amazon.
Specs (set of 3, the linked listing)
- Type: indoor and outdoor (CORE); no holes (CORE’s comparison table)
- Weight and size: not published by CORE as figures; 2.87 in per CORE’s Amazon listing details
- Noise: no figure published; CORE calls it “virtually silent”
- Construction: foam
- Approval: not on USA Pickleball’s approved list (CORE says it carries no tournament approval); not on its Quiet Category page
- Pack: 3 balls
Pros
- Holeless foam ball CORE sells for wall play indoors as well as outdoor games
- One owner uses it against an indoor wall
- Sold by CORE’s own storefront
Cons
- No tournament approval, by CORE’s own FAQ
- No published weight, and the diameter comes only from the Amazon listing
- No independent test found
Who should buy it
Players who want a quiet foam ball mainly for wall drills and practice at home.
Shark Athletics Quiet Pickleball Balls, Foam ball in a 2-pack
Players who want to try a quiet foam ball for home practice or casual games in a small pack.
$12.99 from AmazonAs of Oct 25, 19:45 UTCVerdict
A foam ball Shark Athletics sells as “designed for a quieter game”, for indoor or outdoor play; Shark Athletics has no website we could find, so its claims come from its own Amazon listing, and we found no independent test or owner report.
Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Shark Athletics Amazon listing.
Shark Athletics’ Amazon listing says its balls “are designed for a quieter game, perfect for noise-sensitive environments,” and are “Suitable for both indoor and outdoor play”. The listing title calls them “Indoor Practice Foam Pickleball Training Balls”, and the pack note says two balls make the set “ideal for practice sessions or competitive games with friends and family.” The listing gives the material as foam and publishes no hole count, diameter or per-ball weight. The approved ball list returned no Shark Athletics entry when we searched it on 24 October 2026, and the Quiet Category page does not list it.
The listing is sold by SharkLax and shipped by Amazon. SharkLax is Shark Athletics’ own storefront: the listing’s “From the brand” story opens “SharkLax began with a passion for sports and a vision to create high-quality, innovative equipment that could elevate athletic performance.” The linked listing is the 2-pack in blue, the smallest pack in this guide.
Specs (2-pack, blue, the linked listing)
- Type: indoor and outdoor (Shark Athletics’ Amazon listing); hole count not published
- Weight and size: not published per ball
- Noise: no figure published; the listing says “designed for a quieter game”
- Construction: foam (listing details)
- Approval: not on USA Pickleball’s approved list; not on its Quiet Category page
- Pack: 2 balls
Pros
- Sold for indoor and outdoor play, by its listing
- A 2-pack, the smallest pack here, for trying a foam ball
- Sold by the brand’s own storefront (SharkLax) and shipped by Amazon
Cons
- No maker website; the only source is the brand’s Amazon listing
- No hole count, diameter or per-ball weight published
- No independent test or owner report found
Who should buy it
Players who want to try a quiet foam ball for home practice or casual games in a small pack.
Neobadge Silent Pickleball Balls, 40-hole foam ball
4-pack green with black dots · Indoor or outdoor
Players who want a quiet foam practice ball with a 40-hole pattern for home or wall practice.
$15.99 from AmazonAs of Oct 25, 19:45 UTCVerdict
A 40-hole foam ball Neobadge sells for quiet practice indoors or outdoors; Neobadge has no website we could find, so its claims come from its own Amazon listing, and we found no independent test.
Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Neobadge Amazon listing.
Neobadge’s listing says the ball “Reduces noise while playing indoors or outdoors” and is “Perfect for practicing in noise-restricted areas, such as apartments, offices, or quiet neighborhoods.” It describes high-density foam with a “40 Recessed Hole Design”. The listing highlight gives a 2.91 in diameter, while the listing details give 2.95 in. The approved list has no Neobadge entry, and the Quiet Category page does not list it.
The linked listing is the 4-pack in green with black dots, with a mesh bag, sold by Neobadge’s own Amazon storefront and shipped by Amazon; yellow and plain green are on the same listing.
Specs (4-pack, green with black dots, the linked listing)
- Type: indoors or outdoors, 40 recessed holes (Neobadge’s Amazon listing)
- Weight and size: weight not published; 2.91 in (listing highlight) or 2.95 in (listing details)
- Noise: no figure published; Neobadge calls it a “Low-Noise Design”
- Construction: high-density foam (Neobadge)
- Approval: not on USA Pickleball’s approved list; not on its Quiet Category page
- Pack: 4 balls with a mesh bag
Pros
- 40 recessed holes, by Neobadge’s listing
- Sold for indoor or outdoor practice
- Sold by Neobadge’s own storefront
Cons
- No maker website; the only source is Neobadge’s Amazon listing
- Two different diameters on the same listing
- No independent test or owner report found
Who should buy it
Players who want a quiet foam practice ball with a 40-hole pattern for home or wall practice.
How to Choose a Quiet Pickleball Ball
Two USA Pickleball lists, two questions. The approved ball list answers “can this ball be used in sanctioned play?”; a ball for a USA Pickleball sanctioned tournament must be named on it, under its Equipment Standards Manual. The Quiet Category answers “does USA Pickleball recognise this ball as quieter?” When it launched the Quiet Category in September 2023, USA Pickleball said it would “promote products that deliver essentially 50 percent or less of the acoustic footprint of equipment commonly sourced and used in community parks,” and that it covers “paddles, balls, paddle covers, and noise mitigation screens.” Its Quiet Category page (last updated 12 August 2026) lists four balls: the Accel DigiPro 3.0, the DigiPro 3.1 FastPlay, the Gamma Librarian Foam and the Selkirk Q1. Of those, only the Q1 is on the approved list. The DigiPro balls are not picks because we found no Amazon listing for them. The paddle certifications on the same page are a separate matter and say nothing about a ball.
What the noise numbers mean. Each figure here comes from a different source and none states the same test: Selkirk’s “34% quieter than a standard pickleball” (no method given), Gamma’s “APPROX 60DB OF NOISE” (no method or distance given) and USA Pickleball’s 50 percent Quiet Category threshold. USA Pickleball’s Quiet Category page also lists two approved plastic balls under “Lower Acoustic Profile”, the Onix Fuse at 83.3 dBA and the Monarch Outdoor at 81.6 dBA, without stating how or from what distance they were measured. Neither is a pick here: Onix’s Fuse pages do not describe the ball as quiet, and we found no Monarch Outdoor listing on Amazon. Because the numbers use different bases, we do not rank the balls by them.
Foam or quiet plastic. Seven of the eight picks are foam; the Selkirk Q1 is an injection-molded plastic ball. The Adventurous Boomer found the Q1 plays much like a normal ball but “isn’t nearly as quiet as some of the foam balls I have tested,” and that wind moves foam balls outdoors, even the Whisperball. Owners describe foam balls taking more spin and giving less feel on the paddle. Our explainer on the types of pickleball balls covers how foam and plastic balls differ.
Court or wall. The makers split here. Gamma, Tourna, GoSports and CORE sell their foam balls for court play as well as practice; Shark Athletics’ listing names “practice sessions or competitive games with friends and family”; Neobadge and Franklin pitch theirs at practice and noise-restricted areas. If you play on a gym floor or a hard court, our guide to indoor versus outdoor pickleball balls explains how the surface changes the choice of a regular ball, and our roundup of indoor pickleball balls compares eight balls for indoor play.
Your venue may already have a list. Some towns and clubs name the balls they allow. Mashpee, Massachusetts, for example, posted an expanded list of “approved low-noise pickleballs” for its outdoor courts in August 2026, with Franklin Silent Serve Foam and Tourna WhisperBall among its practice and beginner balls and the Gamma Librarian Foam under USA Pickleball’s Quiet Category. Ask your venue before you buy.
Pack size and cost per ball. Every link here buys a pack of two, three or four, which suits trying a ball before a group buys more. The $ and $$ tiers in the reviews are worked out per ball from the pack each link buys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is there a pickleball that is quiet?
Yes. Several makers sell balls they describe as quiet, low-noise or silent; most are foam, and the Selkirk Q1 is a quieter plastic ball. USA Pickleball’s Quiet Category page lists four quiet balls, including the Gamma Librarian and the Selkirk Q1. We found no independent measurement of how quiet any of them is, and one Librarian owner calls the foam balls “very quiet but not totally silent.”
Q. Can you use quiet pickleball balls in a tournament?
Only if the ball is on USA Pickleball’s approved ball list for a sanctioned event. Of the eight picks, only the Selkirk Q1 is on it (type I/O, added 29 January 2026). GoSports, Franklin and CORE say their foam balls are not for tournament play, and the other foam picks are not on the list. Our post on which ball is used for competition covers the tours.
Q. What is USA Pickleball’s Quiet Category for balls?
A separate USA Pickleball designation, launched in September 2023, for equipment it recognises as quieter; it covers balls as well as paddles, covers and screens. Its equipment page lists four quiet balls: Accel’s DigiPro 3.0 and 3.1 FastPlay, the Gamma Librarian Foam and the Selkirk Q1. Being on it does not put a ball on the approved list.
Q. How much quieter are quiet pickleball balls?
We found no independent measurement of these balls. The figures available are the makers’ and USA Pickleball’s: Selkirk says the Q1 is 34% quieter than a standard pickleball, Gamma says the Librarian makes about 60 dB, and USA Pickleball’s Quiet Category aims at “essentially 50 percent or less of the acoustic footprint” of common equipment. None of them gives a method we could compare.
Q. Why are pickleballs so loud?
USA Pickleball describes “the distinct staccato ‘pop’ sound the ball makes on impact.” Selkirk says its Q1’s material blend “Significantly reduces the signature ‘pop’ of the ball”, and the foam balls here replace the hard plastic shell altogether.
Q. Are foam pickleballs any good?
For quiet play and practice, owners and testers say yes with trade-offs. Owners on r/Pickleball describe the Gamma Librarian as very quiet but report heavy spin and less feel; one owner says the Franklin Silent Serve does not bounce like a pickleball; and The Adventurous Boomer found the Tourna Whisperball played closest to a normal ball of the foam balls they tried, with wind still a factor outdoors.
The bottom line
Final Verdict
If your club or HOA needs a quieter ball that is still on USA Pickleball’s approved list, the Selkirk Q1 Quiet (check price) is the one pick here that is, with the caveat that its 34% figure is Selkirk’s own and a tester found foam balls quieter. For a foam ball USA Pickleball lists in its Quiet Category, the Gamma Librarian (check price) is the choice, though it plays differently from plastic. For quiet recreational games with a foam ball that plays close to a normal one, The Adventurous Boomer’s pick is the Tourna Whisperball (check price). The others suit casual court play and wall practice, and none of them is on the approved list. For the full ball lineup, see our best pickleball balls guide.
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