Abstract: A pickleball paddle includes a handle, and a paddle head coupled with the handle. The paddle head includes a first outer faceplate, a second outer faceplate, and a core arranged between the first outer faceplate and the second outer faceplate. The core includes a honeycomb structure having multiple cells, with each of the multiple cells defined by honeycomb cell walls, and each of the honeycomb cell walls having a height. A majority of the multiple cells of the honeycomb structure are filled with a polymer, the polymer does not extend past the height of the honeycomb cell walls, and the polymer does not expand when exposed to heat.