Disclosed are methods, devices, and systems for improved sports paddles that alter and/or reduce impact noise or the perceived level(s) thereof. Such paddles may be used for racquet sports, with the paddle including a handle and a body with a core layer, one or more inner layers and a top layer, wherein the density, compressibility/elasticity, thickness, segmentation, and/or shape of the materials used to form the various layers and/or openings/voids formed therein can be selected and designed to provide a paddle having desired playing characteristics and sound altering properties.

A racket includes a rigid support, a foam core covering the rigid support, and two panels covering the foam core. The rigid support includes a first frame and a second frame connected to the first frame. The first frame has a plurality of through holes. The foam core includes a foam body made up of a plurality of foam particles and a foam handle. The foam body covers the entire first frame and fills up the through holes, and the foam handle covers the entire second frame, wherein one of the panels is bonded to the foam core and covers the entire top surface of the foam core, and the other panel is bonded to the foam core and covers the entire bottom surface of the foam core.

Methods and apparatus for lowering an actual and perceived-sound level produced by sports equipment are described. In some examples, methods and apparatus to lower sound levels produced by pickleball balls are described. In some examples, internal surface features such as ribs, peaks, tabs, channels, divots, and damping layers may be applied. In some examples, composite layered designs may result in lowered amplitude and/or in shifted resonant frequencies. In some examples, heat or light sources may be used to alter the internal surfaces of ball constructs. In some examples the composite layered design may include isolated surface plates. In some examples, electroactive components may reduce sound emission. Methods of measuring a sound level at frequencies and using the measurement results to iteratively design ball designs are described.

A pickleball paddle having an injection molded multi-piece frame surrounding and supporting a hitting face assembly. The frame provides design flexibility to separate control of the paddle stiffness from the playability characteristics of hitting face assembly. Speed of assembly is increased and cost of components are decreased by utilizing an injection molded frame.

A pickleball paddle has a perimeter weighting system to improve performance characteristics and/or to provide swing weighting. The weighting system may include flexible weight strips disposed in recesses formed about a perimeter of the paddle. Alternatively, the weighting system may include slidable weights disposed in one or more channels. The weighting system may further include handle weighting to provide swing weighting. The at least one weight can have a relatively high mass, sufficient to noticeably alter CG of the paddle.

An automatic ball machine for racquet sport gamification includes an imaging system to capture an image of the court, a ball launching system, and a controller to determine the machine's location and execute a workout routine. The routine may include launching a sequence of balls with predetermined shot types and target locations. The automatic ball machine may determine its location on the court and in response thereto, adjust the delivery of the balls to provide the appropriate shot type to the appropriate location. The imaging system may monitor and evaluate the user's returned shots, and provide a rating of their performance. The machine can replicate workout routines, enabling unbiased comparisons and competition between users.

A method for manufacturing a pickleball racket includes the following steps: (a) impregnating a composite material with resin; (b) wrapping a core mold, made of PolyMethylMethAcrylimide (PMI), with at least one location to form an elastic layer; wrapping the composite material around the elastic layer and the core mold to form a composite material layer, to form a semi-finished product; (c) placing the semi-finished product into a mold and heating the mold to a predetermined temperature to form internal pressure within the semi-finished product; (d) stopping heating and cooling the semi-finished product to solidify it; (e) removing a pickleball racket from the mold. The pickleball racket forms an integral structure in the order of a core mold, an elastomer layer, and a composite material layer. The pickleball racket is light in weight and has strength and rigidity. The striking surfaces of the pickle racket has hitting elasticity, and shock absorption.

The ball is a thin-walled hollow sphere that includes an array of apertures with dimples in a pattern that are concentric to the aperture array. Dimples are provided on the exterior surface of the ball between the apertures with the pattern and dimensions of the dimples varying based on proximity to the apertures. Internal protuberances are provided on the interior surface of the hollow ball such that the interior surface also manages aerodynamic airflow through the ball. Channels are also provided around each of the apertures within the ball which may intersect proximate dimples or be spaced therefrom. The ball also includes apertures having converging and diverging sidewalls that form a venturi shape to increase inflow air into the apertures and outflow air out of the apertures. Finally, the ball also maintains a weight:diameter ratio within a fixed range.

A pickleball training apparatus comprising a strap, a chord, and a pickleball ball wherein the chord is interposedly connected to the strap and the pickleball ball. The strap comprises a hook and loop fastener, thereby enabling a user to secure the strap to a pickleball paddle by wrapping the strap around the handle of the paddle. The chord, being an elastic band, enables the user to volley the pickleball ball off of the paddle, such that the material properties of the chord return the pickleball ball back to the user.

A pickleball paddle with novel core characteristics and/or materials, and related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are provided.