The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) announced today an official paddle partnership with the OWL. The revolutionary paddle is headlining USA Pickleball’s Quiet Category and now joins the APP’s official paddle portfolio as its only official paddle that reduces noise while raising the bar on product performance for players of all levels.

The APP is deeply committed to growing the game of pickleball and developing future pickleball players by providing ample opportunities for play. The OWL aligns to this mission and has disrupted the sport by addressing noise issues in sound-sensitive locations across the country, given the distinct staccato ‘pop’ sound the ball makes on impact.

“The OWL is truly revolutionary as a paddle that meets players' competitive demands while also answering a need that sets it apart in the marketplace,” said Tom Webb, APP chief marketing officer. “We are honored to announce the OWL as an official APP paddle, building on our commitment to get more people playing pickleball more often.”

Recently approved by USA Pickleball as an officially approved paddle for use in USAP-sanctioned events, The OWL is named after nature’s silent predator and with good reason. It is the first paddle on the market with multiple patent-pending design features that deliver:

• A 50 percent reduction in total noise profile
• A hertz level below 600
• A decibel level below 80
  

This is far below the 1,100-1,200 hertz and near-harmful decibel range above 85 when striking a ball that industry-standard pickleball paddles register. The paddle has already proven to be popular among players, including by international tennis hall-of-famer and 17-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe in the recently nationally televised broadcast of Pickleball Slam 2.

“The APP Tour delivers a diverse portfolio of premier tournaments and events for both professional and amateur players,” said Rick Schwenk, Chief Marketing Officer of OWL Sport. “We’re excited to partner with the APP to showcase the performance of the OWL and to support the growth of the sport together both across the U.S. and globally.”

USA Pickleball (USAP)—the sport’s national governing body—created the Quiet Category in September 2023 to reduce the sport’s sound output during recreational play by recognizing pickleball products that help diminish acoustic output without negatively impacting performance. The OWL became the first product certified by USAP for the category in November 2023 and, more recently, the first in the category officially approved for use in USAP-sanctioned events like the APP Tour.

The OWL is one of four official APP paddle partners, each with a tailored experience to meet different needs of the sport’s players across all levels. More information about OWL Sport, including how to order the OWL paddle, is available at owlpaddle.com.

More information about the APP and its upcoming events—including two USAP ‘Golden Ticket’ events currently open for player registration—are available at theapp.global.