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Pickleball Apes Charm S vs Pickleball Apes Charm X

The Pickleball Apes Charm S is a 16 mm hybrid paddle; the Pickleball Apes Charm X is a 16 mm elongated one. Across the 6 specs with a clearly better direction the Charm X takes 3 and the Charm S takes 2. The Charm S swings lighter (115.0 vs 124.0) — quicker hands at the net, where the Charm X plows through the ball instead. That is a preference, not a win. They retail for the same $199.99.

Two paddles from the same brand, so the differences are the ones the maker chose. Every number below is lab-measured, not a manufacturer claim.

Spec by spec

Pickleball Apes Charm S compared with Pickleball Apes Charm X
SpecPickleball ApesCharm SPickleball ApesCharm X
Price$199.99$199.99
Core thickness16 mm16 mm
Static weightNeither is better — it's a feel preference.8.1 oz8.2 oz
Swing weightHigher = more power and plow-through; lower = quicker hands.115.0124.0
Twist weightHigher is more forgiving on off-center hits.6.326.30
Balance pointHigher = more head-heavy.24.0 cm24.6 cm
Spin2,051 RPM2,075 RPM
Power56.5 MPH56.3 MPH
Pop36.3 MPH36.5 MPH
Firepower6263
Handle length5.5 in5.8 in
Grip size4.250 in4.250 in
ShapeHybridElongated
BuildGen 4Gen 4
SurfaceRaw Texture/Peel PlyRaw Texture/Peel Ply
Face materialKevlarKevlar
Spin ratingHighHigh
CertificationUSAPUSAP

Highlighted cells win a spec that has an unambiguously better direction (6 of them here). Swing weight, static weight and balance point are never highlighted — neither direction is better, they are feel preferences.

Where each one ranks

Pickleball Apes Charm S

Spin2051 rpm(68)
Power56.5(71)
Pop36.3(51)
Swing weight115.0(56)
Twist weight6.3(47)
Balance point24.0 cm(58)

Pickleball Apes Charm X

Spin2075 rpm(79)
Power56.3(62)
Pop36.5(62)
Swing weight124.0(96)
Twist weight6.3(45)
Balance point24.6 cm(94)

Percentiles are ranks against paddles measured by the same lab, never blended across labs.

Keep going

Open this in the interactive comparison to add up to two more paddles, or tune either one with lead tape on its own page: Charm S · Charm X.

Static weight 8.1 oz vs 8.2 oz — a few grams of tape moves swing weight far more than static weight, so either can be pushed toward the other.

More head-to-heads