Pickleball Apes Charm S vs Pickleball Apes Zen S+
The Pickleball Apes Charm S and the Pickleball Apes Zen S+ are both 16 mm hybrid paddles, so this one comes down to the measured numbers. Across the 6 specs with a clearly better direction the Zen S+ takes 5 and the Charm S takes 0. The Zen S+ swings lighter (107.0 vs 115.0) — quicker hands at the net, where the Charm S 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
| Spec | Pickleball ApesCharm S | Pickleball ApesZen S+ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 | $199.99 |
| Core thickness | 16 mm | 16 mm |
| Static weightNeither is better — it's a feel preference. | 8.1 oz | 7.8 oz |
| Swing weightHigher = more power and plow-through; lower = quicker hands. | 115.0 | 107.0 |
| Twist weightHigher is more forgiving on off-center hits. | 6.32 | 7.00 |
| Balance pointHigher = more head-heavy. | 24.0 cm | 23.6 cm |
| Spin | 2,051 RPM | 2,093 RPM |
| Power | 56.5 MPH | 57.4 MPH |
| Pop | 36.3 MPH | 36.8 MPH |
| Firepower | 62 | 82 |
| Handle length | 5.5 in | 5.8 in |
| Grip size | 4.250 in | 4.250 in |
| Shape | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Build | Gen 4 | Gen 4 |
| Surface | Raw Texture/Peel Ply | Durable Texture |
| Face material | Kevlar | — |
| Spin rating | High | Very High |
| Certification | USAP | USAP |
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
Pickleball Apes Zen S+
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 · Zen S+.
Static weight 8.1 oz vs 7.8 oz — a few grams of tape moves swing weight far more than static weight, so either can be pushed toward the other.