Pickleball Paddle Core Materials: What's Actually Inside Your Paddle

Core Materials at a Glance

That table gives you the quick version. The rest of this guide goes deeper into each material so you understand why these differences exist and which tradeoffs make sense for your game.

Polymer Honeycomb Cores

Polymer honeycomb is by far the most common core material in pickleball paddles today. Somewhere around 90% of paddles on the market use it. The material is polypropylene, the same type of plastic found in food containers and automotive parts. When formed into a honeycomb structure, it creates a core that is light, flexible, and quiet.

The flexibility is the key characteristic. Polymer cores compress slightly on contact, which softens the feel and gives players more control over ball placement. This small amount of give also makes the paddle quieter, which matters at noise-restricted communities and indoor facilities. According to the USA Pickleball approved paddle list, the vast majority of approved paddles now use polymer cores.

How Polymer Cores Feel

The sensation is often described as a muted "thud" rather than a sharp "pop." The ball sits on the paddle face a fraction longer than with harder core materials. This extended dwell time gives players more feedback and the ability to direct shots with greater precision.

For dinking and reset shots, polymer cores shine. The soft contact makes it easier to take pace off incoming drives and drop the ball short. Players transitioning from tennis often find polymer cores more comfortable because the dampened feel reduces vibration through the handle.

Polymer Core Thickness

This is where things get interesting. Polymer cores come in varying thicknesses, and the thickness changes performance as much as the material itself.

• Thin (11-13mm): More power, less control. The thinner core compresses less, creating a harder response. Popular with singles players and power hitters.
• Standard (14-16mm): The balanced option. Good power and good control. This is where most recreational paddles fall.
• Thick (16mm+): Maximum control and the largest sweet spot. Less power on drives but excellent for soft game play. Gaining popularity at the 4.0+ level as players prioritize consistency.

The trend in competitive pickleball is moving toward thicker cores. The Joola Ben Johns Hyperion, one of the most popular high-end paddles, uses a 16mm polymer core specifically for the enlarged sweet spot and control it provides.

Who Should Choose Polymer

Almost everyone. That sounds like a non-answer, but polymer cores genuinely work for all skill levels and playing styles. If you are buying your first real paddle, get a polymer core. If you play at noise-restricted facilities, get a polymer core. If you prioritize control and touch over raw power, polymer is the obvious choice.

The only players who might want something different are those specifically chasing maximum power and willing to sacrifice control for it.

Nomex Honeycomb Cores

Nomex is a brand name for an aramid fiber material developed by DuPont in the 1960s. You might recognize the name from its use in firefighter gear and race car suits. The material resists heat and is extremely rigid, which translates to a very hard, powerful paddle core.

In pickleball's early days, Nomex cores were the standard. The original Engage paddles and many early tournament-level paddles used Nomex. It fell out of favor as polymer technology improved and noise restrictions became more common, but Nomex still has its advocates.

How Nomex Cores Feel

Hard and loud. That is the honest description. A Nomex paddle produces a sharp, cracking sound on contact that you can hear across the gym. The core barely compresses, so the ball rebounds off the face faster and with less dwell time.

The sensation is closer to hitting a ball against a wall than the cushioned feel of polymer. Some players love this immediate response. Others find it jarring and hard to control.

The Power Advantage

Nomex cores generate more raw power than polymer with the same swing speed. The rigid core transfers energy to the ball efficiently, and drives come off the paddle noticeably faster. For players who like to hit hard and flat, Nomex delivers.

This power comes at a cost. The lack of dwell time makes touch shots more difficult. Dinking with a Nomex paddle requires precise technique because the ball wants to fly off the face. Resets are harder to execute softly.

Noise Concerns

Nomex paddles are significantly louder than polymer paddles. This is not a minor difference. Some communities and indoor facilities have banned certain Nomex paddles specifically because of the noise they produce. The growing number of noise ordinances related to pickleball courts has pushed many manufacturers away from Nomex entirely.

If you play at a public park or community center, check whether there are noise guidelines before buying a Nomex paddle. Getting told you cannot use your $150 paddle is not a fun experience.

Who Should Choose Nomex

Power-focused players who play at venues without noise restrictions. Also worth considering for singles players where driving the ball is a bigger part of the game plan. Nomex paddles can be found at lower price points than premium polymer paddles, so budget shoppers might look here too.

That said, the selection of Nomex paddles shrinks every year as manufacturers move toward polymer. Finding a high-end Nomex paddle from a major brand is getting difficult.

Aluminum Honeycomb Cores

Aluminum cores are the rarest of the three materials and becoming harder to find with each passing year. The metal honeycomb provides excellent touch and a unique feel that some players swear by, but durability problems have pushed most manufacturers away from it.

How Aluminum Cores Feel

Soft and responsive with a distinctive metallic ping on contact. Aluminum cores offer the most touch of any core material. The ball seems to slow down on the paddle face, giving you extra time to place shots precisely. For kitchen play, this feel is hard to beat.

The sound is moderate. Louder than polymer but much quieter than Nomex. It has a higher-pitched tone compared to the deeper thud of polymer paddles.

The Durability Problem

Aluminum dents. That is the core issue, no pun intended. Over time, the honeycomb cells compress and deform from repeated ball strikes. Dead spots develop on the face where the cells have collapsed, and once that happens, the paddle's performance degrades permanently.

How long an aluminum core paddle lasts depends on how often and how hard you play. Casual recreational players might get a year or more out of one. Frequent players who hit hard could see dead spots within a few months. Polymer and Nomex do not have this problem.

Who Should Choose Aluminum

Honestly, it is hard to recommend aluminum cores for most players in 2026. The control benefits that aluminum provides can now be matched by thick polymer cores without the durability trade-off. If you find an aluminum core paddle at a yard sale or used equipment shop, it can be a fun experience. But spending full price on one when polymer alternatives perform as well and last longer does not make much sense.

The exception might be very casual players who only play a few times a month and prioritize feel above everything else.

How Core Thickness Changes Everything

One thing that confuses newer players is that two paddles with the same core material can feel radically different if they have different core thicknesses. A thin polymer paddle can feel harder and more powerful than a thick Nomex paddle. Thickness is that influential.

Thin Cores (11-13mm)

Less material between the two face layers means a firmer feel and faster ball speed off the face. Thin cores have smaller sweet spots, so off-center hits lose more energy. These paddles reward players with consistent contact who want maximum pop.

Standard Cores (14-16mm)

The Goldilocks zone for most players. Enough thickness for a decent sweet spot and comfortable feel, with enough stiffness to maintain power on drives. If you are not sure what thickness to choose, start here.

Thick Cores (16mm+)

The largest sweet spot and most forgiving feel. Thick cores absorb more impact energy, which means less power but more control. These paddles are increasingly popular at competitive levels because consistency matters more than occasional big shots.

Several pro players have moved to 16mm paddles in recent years, including Ben Johns, which has influenced recreational players to try thicker options. The trend toward thicker cores shows no signs of slowing down.

Picking the Right Core for Your Game

For most players reading this, the answer is a polymer honeycomb core between 13mm and 16mm thick. That covers the overwhelming majority of available paddles and playing styles. Here is a quick decision guide:

• Prioritize control and quiet play: Polymer, 16mm
• Want balanced performance: Polymer, 14mm
• Prioritize power: Polymer, 13mm or thinner
• Want maximum power and don't mind noise: Nomex
• Want maximum touch for casual play: Aluminum (if you can find one)

The core is just one piece of the puzzle. Face material, paddle shape, weight, and grip size all interact with the core to create the final feel. But understanding what is inside your paddle gives you a baseline for comparing options and figuring out why two paddles that look identical on the shelf can play so differently in your hand.