First Impressions: Pickleball Apes Zen S+ — A Strong Third Foam Release
Pickleball Apes is gearing up to release their third foam paddle, the Zen, and I took it straight into open play to see how it stacks up against two familiar Apes models: the Joy S+ and the Sword & Shield J2CR. I went in blind—no specs, no marketing, just the paddle and a play session. Here’s what stood out.
🧱 Build, Shape & Metrics
The Zen arrives in the S+ hybrid shape (16.2" × 7.8") with a curved top—same silhouette as the Joy S+. It uses another variation of Apes’ diced core construction and features their take on durable grit.
Measured specs:
Swingweight: 108
Twistweight: 7.15
These numbers are surprisingly strong for how light the paddle is, landing closer to widebody metrics than typical elongated foam paddles.
🎾 On‑Court Feel & Performance
Based on the sound and ball feel, my early guess is that the Zen uses MPP foam, similar to the Aireo Cyclone. Both paddles share that thonky, hollow acoustic signature and deliver lively pop off the face.
Compared to the Joy S+
The Zen is noticeably more powerful than the Joy. The Joy remains an underrated $100 all‑court paddle, but the Zen adds:
More firepower
A more aggressive surface texture
Durable grit with high spin potential
Spin levels so far look competitive with other top durable‑grit paddles.
⚔️ Zen vs. Sword & Shield J2CR
This comparison highlights the biggest difference: ball feel.
Zen: MPP‑style, hollow, poppy
J2CR: EPP‑style, denser, more dwell
Spin and power were similar, but the J2CR had a slight edge in firepower, offering better plow‑through on drives while maintaining comparable pop.
That said, I only logged about five games with the Zen, so this ranking may shift as the paddle breaks in.
✅ Early Verdict
The Pickleball Apes Zen S+ is shaping up to be a very solid release—a harder‑hitting, high‑spin upgrade to the Joy lineup with a modern durable‑grit surface and lightweight widebody‑like stability.
The Zen is expected to launch in early August. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but I’ll share more details on construction, foam type, and cost as soon as Apes releases them.
That wraps up my first‑hit impressions of the Pickleball Apes Zen S+. More testing is coming soon—stay tuned for the full review.
