SKILLTREE BUYING GUIDES
PICKLEBALL APES PADDLE BUYING GUIDE
Start with
the Zen S+.
Meet the Hybrid Wide in the Apes lineup: SilverBack Grit, a 16 mm profile, and the dimensions to compare with your current paddle.
Featured picks
Zen S+ · official Pickleball Apes product image.
FEATURED / PICKLEBALL APES
Zen S+
Elite initial spin. One durability tradeoff.
The Zen starts with standout spin, close to the Ultré Power 2. It loses some of that edge with wear, but in my experience, the worn-in spin still feels good and comparable to the JOOLAs I’ve used.
My experience + estimated comparison
My worn-in comparison is personal experience. For initial spin, the cited results are 2,333 RPM for Zen S+ and 2,384 RPM for Ultré Power 2.
An illustrative estimate applies reported accelerated-wear losses to human-generated starting RPM: Zen, 2,333 × (1 − 31.2%) ≈ 1,605; JOOLA Perseus Pro IV, 2,112 × (1 − 18.8%) ≈ 1,715. Zen’s modeled value is about 6.4% lower.
These are calculated scenarios, not measured ending RPM. Applying cannon-test loss rates to human-generated spin assumes a relationship that has not been validated. The JOOLA wear specimen’s thickness is unspecified; its 16 mm starting-spin result may not describe the same configuration. The Zen source labels 16.5 mm, while the catalog guide lists 16 mm. Accelerated wear does not predict normal-play lifespan, and this comparison does not establish results for JOOLA Generations 3–5.
Zen S+
Hybrid Wide.
SKILLTREE
10% off eligible purchases, including Zen S+ preorders.
Use code SKILLTREE for 10% off eligible purchases, including Zen S+ preorders. Skilltree earns commission on qualifying referrals. Confirm the discount and current terms at checkout.
Listed as Pre-Order Batch 5 on October 14, 2026. Confirm the current price, availability, and delivery terms with Pickleball Apes.
Price and approval checks are dated October 14, 2026; confirm your event’s current requirements before ordering.
POKÉMON COMPARISON · SLAKING
Slaking-level stats. One limiting trait.
Slaking has the stats, but its Truant ability is the catch. That is my Zen S+ comparison: exceptional potential with one limitation that matters to me.
Slaking-level stats, one limiting trait: spin durability is what keeps Zen S+ out of my personal top tier.
Voldemort
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Lobbed.
Zen S+: exceptional potential with one limitation that matters to me.
spin durability is what keeps Zen S+ out of my personal top tier.
Full review, specifications, and comparisons
The details behind the shape.
Pickleball Apes calls this shape S+ (Hybrid Wide). Its manufacturer-listed dimensions are 16.2 × 7.8 inches, with a 5.5-inch handle.
Construction · Triple Density Frame with Diced-Core TechnologyManufacturer measurements · swingweight 106–109 · twistweight 7.0–7.2Specifications from Pickleball Apes, checked October 14, 2026. Listed ranges are manufacturer figures.
See the complete manufacturer listing ↗JohnKew’s Zen S+ database entry lists elite initial spin at 2,333 RPM and Tier 4 spin durability, checked October 15, 2026. Initial spin and spin durability are separate measures; the tier alone does not establish a measured percentage loss for this exact paddle.
My personal ranking and character analogy are separate from JohnKew’s attributed data and the manufacturer specifications above.
One shape. A closer look at the construction, grip, and listed measurements.
Shape & setup
Shape, grip, and setup details
A useful fit check
Compare the handle length and circumference with the grip you already use. Weight and dimensions describe the paddle; your own contact feel and preferred setup still matter.
SHAPE & FIT
Know the exact model.
The Zen listing currently offers S+ (Hybrid Wide). Match that name and shape when comparing specifications or looking up approval status.
Before you order
Offer, preorder, and approval questions
BEFORE YOU DECIDE
A few practical questions.
Is there a discount code?
Use Skilltree’s code SKILLTREE for 10% off eligible purchases. Pickleball Apes confirmed that Zen S+ preorders qualify. Shop through Skilltree’s affiliate link. Skilltree earns commission on qualifying referrals. Confirm eligibility, the final discount, and current terms at checkout; checkout application and offer stacking have not been tested.
Is Zen S+ USAP approved?
The USAP registry lists Zen S+ as Pass, added June 9, 2026; checked October 14, 2026. Confirm your event’s current requirements.
Is it available to ship now?
The checked listing is a preorder. Read the current delivery terms at Pickleball Apes before ordering; this guide does not promise a shipping date.
What is the Zen S+ tradeoff?
The cited 2,333 RPM starting-spin result gives Zen S+ a strong initial-spin case. Its manufacturer-listed 106–109 swingweight and 7.0–7.2 twistweight suggest a useful balance of handling and resistance to off-center twisting. Spin retention is the compromise: the cited Tier 4 durability result is a reason to weigh long-term spin separately from the starting number.
Use SKILLTREE for 10% off eligible purchases, including Zen S+ preorders. Confirm current terms at checkout.
SKILLTREE
10% off eligible purchases, including Zen S+ preorders.
Sources & disclosure
Sources, dated checks, and commission disclosure
SOURCES & DISCLOSURE
Know what you’re reading.
- Pickleball Apes Zen product listing · specifications, price, preorder status, and product image.
- USAP Zen S+ registry entry · approval status.
- Pickleball Apes affiliate confirmation and coupon assignment · SKILLTREE, 10% customer discount, and Zen S+ preorder eligibility; confirmed October 15, 2026.
Sources checked October 14, 2026. Prices, offers, and availability can change. Skilltree is a Pickleball Apes affiliate and earns commission on qualifying referrals through its link or code. Affiliate offers confirmed October 15, 2026; confirm the final discount and current terms at checkout.