Pickleball Apes Pulse S - pickleball paddle review

If you've been waiting for a new control paddle to hit the scene and boost your soft game, check out Pickleball Apes' latest release: the Pulse S. This is one of the most exciting paddle launches for me all year.

You might already know that the Pickleball Apes Pro Line Energy S (the best intermediate paddle of 2024) is my go-to paddle. Mine is beat to heck and I've been begging Pickleball Apes to send me a new one. They told me to hang tight as they were launching a revamped Pulse line.

The big question for me is: if this paddle is all about control, how will it perform on power and spin? Read my Pickleball Apes Pulse S review to find out.

If you're after one of the best control paddles out there and are already a fan of what Pickleball Apes offers, the Pulse S is worth considering.

I really like Pickleball Apes, particularly the way they're experimenting with new ideas like Kevlar® surfaces. While other brands are maxing out power paddles in 2024, they're pushing their paddles more in the control direction. This paddle even uses nylon, which I've never seen before.

Watch my initial thoughts on the Pulse S:

For all my excitement about this paddle, it didn't quite live up to the hype. Pickleball Apes claimed it would have 5-7% more power and a larger sweet spot than the Pro Line Energy S but neither claim checked out for me on the courts.

I struggle to put the ball away and often tire myself out swinging for power. I have more mishits with this paddle than with their Pro Line Energy S model. The Pulse S also has a light feel that can be unstable at times, especially in fast kitchen exchanges.

That said, it's one of the best control paddles I've tested. So, if you're all about your touch game, it's worth a look. I never have to think much about my technical touch shots—they just work so well, with great accuracy and consistency in rallies.

Spin is great too, right up there with the best spin paddles in 2024 (though the Pro Line Energy S is slightly better here). If you value a soft feel, this is one of the most plush paddles I've tested this year. It has a natural feel that will appeal to lower-level players who are just learning touch shots.

If you don't care much about power and want to play a more classic game with drops and dinks, this pure control paddle is a rarity in 2024. Fewer and fewer players are using the big power paddles like the Gearbox Pro Power because it's harder for intermediate players to win games with them.

A lot of lower-level intermediates want a control-oriented paddle. So, if that's you and you have $180 to spend (after our 10% discount is applied), the Pickleball Apes Pulse S is worth considering.

I love the purple design with the white handle. Pickleball Apes make good-looking paddles and the Pulse S is no different. They usually use unique materials too and they've brought nylon into this paddle. Let's take a closer look:

The Pro Line Energy paddles stood out for their unique Kevlar®/carbon fiber blend. It made the paddle surface powerful, great for generating spin, and soft at the same time.

Pickleball Apes went a step further with the Pulse S, bringing nylon into the mix too (hence the purple color versus red). The PB Apes team told me that, while they originally added nylon just for the aesthetic, they discovered that it gives the paddle a more plush feel.

It definitely works, though the tradeoff is a little bit less spin. So, while I dig the purple vibe, I'd take a more powerful black paddle any day.

The next new feature is the two-layer foam walls. This is meant to give the paddle a softer feel and widen the sweet spot.

I love paddles with foam-injected walls but the double layering doesn't work for me here. The sweet spot is smaller than I expected.

Pickleball Apes claims that this tech makes the paddle more stable but I'd say stability is a weak spot for this paddle. I've felt it twist in my hands a few times.

On the plus side, this tech is meant to eliminate the break-in period. I can vouch for this—it plays the same on week two as it did out of the box.

The Pulse S is decent on drives, especially since the game is moving toward drives with 60% power that dip and stay low. I've been able to bring in a third-shot drive strategy which has served me well.

Still, a lot of my volleys are soft and weak. They often land short in the court, making it hard to take quick advantage in the point.

The softness is most challenging on putaway power, where I don't capitalize on pop-ups (which can be few and far between against high-level players). It took me over four shots to put away points that would have taken 1-2 with most premium paddles.

Power is the Pulse S's weakest attribute. I've been tiring myself out trying to get enough power for my game. So, if power is your main focus, I'd recommend the Bread & Butter Filth or Paddletek Bantam TKO-C instead, two of the best power paddles I've tested.

Control is the Pulse S's best attribute, and what it was designed for. I have great accuracy in long dink rallies and, most impressively, on third-shot drops. These are usually difficult to hit, especially at the start of your session, but they feel easier with this paddle.

It's effortless to land the drop and get to the kitchen, often on the first attempt (instead of hitting high and having to drop on your fifth shot, for example). It reminds me of the PIKKL Hurricane Pro (one of the best control paddles right now) with how easy it is to drop.

That said, I get the same high level of control from the Pro Line Energy S. That paddle is $50 cheaper and has a much stronger balance of control and power.

This isn't a 10/10 spin paddle. My returns sometimes come off flat and don't have that ripping topspin I'm used to seeing from paddles like the Bread & Butter Loco and Proton Series One.

It's a half-point down from the Pro Line Energy S, probably due to the nylon. I compared the grit on both paddles and there's no question the Pro Line has more. So, it's no surprise that it grips the ball and spins better.

That said, most rec players will find more than enough spin to play a competitive game. It's the same as the ProXR Zane Navratil Signature and the Ronbus R2 PULSAR FX.

You get decent forgiveness because it's a soft control paddle that won't pop the ball up if you make common mistakes like putting too much swing on your touch shots.

However, forgiveness falls short because of the sweet spot. I can feel a lot of dead zones near the throat and edges, and I've had more mishits than I'd like. It reminds me of more technical paddles like the JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus where you really have to hit dead center. This is surprising for a control-oriented paddle.

I'm keen to test the square-shaped version of this paddle (the Pulse V) to see if that gives you a big boost in sweet spot and forgiveness.

I usually prefer a light feel because I have slow hands and want a boost in speed, but not if it leads to an unstable paddle. The Pulse S is just too light in play and prone to twisting in your hands. I've had misfires at the kitchen because of it.

I don't put lead tape on when I'm testing a paddle, because I want to get a fair assessment. If I were to continue playing with this one, I'd definitely add some to extend the sweet spot and improve stability. A lot of rec players won't want to bother with this, though.

This is one of the better grips I've tested recently. I like the feel and the color—the clean white to play off the purple design. It holds up well in sweaty sessions.

Kevlar® is super strong so I'm confident the face will hold up well. However, it's a bit thin and feels less solid than many raw carbon fiber paddles. That's something to keep an eye on, as well as how long the grit lasts.

There are no special aerodynamic features but the paddle's light feel makes it quick at the kitchen. The hybrid shape helps, making it faster than an elongated paddle.

Rating:

At $199.99 (or $180 with our exclusive discount), this is $50 more expensive than the Pro Line Energy S. Pickleball Apes have given a few reasons: it costs more to make, took a year of R&D, and required higher certification costs from UPA and USA Pickleball. That makes sense for a small business, but is this paddle worth it?

Overall, I think the Pulse S is fairly priced at $200. If you're a lower intermediate wanting to learn technical touch shots like third-shot drops and dinks, most newer paddles are simply too poppy for you. It's the reason why so many players give up and start driving every shot, which won't win games at a higher level.

So, if you want a touch paddle to help you grow in confidence, continue your pickleball journey, and advance your game, the Pulse S is a serious contender. The only thing is there are cheaper rivals like the Vatic Pro Flash and PIKKL Hurricane Pro.

Overall, unless you really want to avoid power and pop in a paddle, you can get better value from the Pro Line Energy S ($134.99 with our discount). It has the same control but offers a way better all-round game for intermediates.

If the Pickleball Apes Pulse S isn't for you, check out some other paddles I recommend:

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