Abstract: A sound absorbing game paddle containing a blade having a support structure and a filling. The support structure preferably defines adjoining cells of various shapes, including for example hexagonal and non-hexagonal cells. The filling preferably comprises one or more of a foam, a gel, a silicone or other polymer, and can fill some or all of the cells at any desired volume(s). Contemplated methods include a manufacturer building a version of a game paddle without a filling, and subsequently building another version of the same or similar paddle with a filling. Further contemplated methods include developing an improved game paddle with altered sound emissions by determining that an existing game paddle has undesirable peak amplitudes and frequencies of sounds emitted, and then designing an improved game paddle with a sound absorbing filling.