Pickleball players chasing every competitive advantage have a new weapon in their arsenal: the Selkirk Project Boomstik®.
It hits harder, plays faster, and sounds louder than anything else on the court. Players have been buzzing about its unique, booming pop since its release.
So, why is it so loud? How does it compare to other pickleball paddles? And does that sound actually help your game? Let’s break it down.
Why the Boomstik sounds so different
The Boomstik’s signature sound comes from its BoomCore™ technology, a fusion of PureFoam™ and an EVA Power Ring, engineered for maximum energy transfer.
Most paddles dull the sound to some extent, as energy dissipates through the core. But with the Boomstik, that energy explodes outward, producing a cleaner, sharper, and louder “boom” at impact.
Think of it this way:
-
A traditional paddle sounds like a soft thud.
-
The Boomstik sounds like a sharp boom.
And because its MOI Tuning System increases stability and sweet-spot size, you get this loud, powerful response even on off-center hits.
How much louder is it than other paddles?
Players on forums and reviews consistently describe the Boomstik as one of the loudest paddles on the market.
It has been described as:
-
Crisper: Less muted than Gen 3 power paddles.
-
More explosive: Like a “crack” rather than a "thunk."
-
Attention-grabbing: several players said it made opponents turn their heads mid-rally.
In fact, a reviewer on PickleHeads had this to say about the paddle:
"The sound is as distinctive as the performance – it delivers a sharp, loud crack that makes the name 'Boomstik' more than marketing hype."
To truly grasp the Boomstik’s sound, check out this review where you can see and hear the paddle in action:
Does the loud sound mean more power?
In a word: yes.
The sound is a byproduct of the Boomstik’s engineering, not just for show. With 12–14% more exit speed than previous Selkirk power paddles, the Boomstik pickleball paddle delivers legitimately faster ball speed. The booming sound simply confirms what the numbers already prove:
-
More speed off the face = less time for your opponent to react
-
The paddle shaves 25 milliseconds off your opponent’s response window. This is equivalent to the blink of an eye.
So when you hear the boom, you know the ball is moving fast.
Will the noise bother people?
Probably not, or at least not in a bad way.
Pickleball courts already have plenty of sound from balls and paddles, and the Boomstik doesn’t cross into “neighbor complaint” territory like some equipment controversies in the sport.
Instead, most players describe the noise as satisfying and confidence-boosting, providing a little extra oomph on every drive.
