Alright, I’ve never played with a Pickleball Apes paddle before, but I had heard good things about them. I’m used to playing with a Diadem 18k Power Pro paddle. So when Pickleball Apes sent me the Pulse X, I have to say I was excited to give it a shot.
From the get-go I notice the Apes paddle has the same shape as the Diadem – so far so good.
I got the paddle in my hands and immediately threw an over grip on it because I needed the tack. From there, I took it out to the courts to practice with it. The next day, I went straight into a 4.0+ tournament with it. Here were my main thoughts:
Phenomenal Responsiveness
The moment I grabbed the paddle it felt fluid. Every dink, block, and drive felt like the paddle was an extension of my arm. No lag, no dead spots—just pure, immediate feedback. I felt like I was never lacking at the kitchen line. Even when my opponent sped it up and I had some mishits, it felt even more forgiving than my Diadem. The resets? Smooth like butter.
Sweet Spot & Dwell Time
This paddle finds that perfect “hang time” with the ball. I get just enough dwell to feel the shot, which gives me confidence on those touchy third‑shot drops. I have to note – it isn’t so spongey that you lose pop. For me, the Pickleball Apes Pulse X feels like the sweet spot – not too soft, not too stiff.
Pop Without the Wildcards
I love a paddle that gives me solid pop – but if it’s too aggressive, I end up blasting balls into the net or out of bounds. With the Energy X, the pop is punchy and reliable, never over‑zealous. I can unleash a firm shot and still trust it to land where I aim. I definitely found myself winning more hand battles than normal while at the kitchen line.
Power for Days
When I need to rip a drive, this thing delivers. The results of the 4.0+ doubles tournament? Well, I went 7‑0 playing with the Pulse X. Power shots were crisp and precise. I found that I was even able to take some off of my swing without compromising any power – no wobble, no putting extra effort in. It feels like the paddle does half the work for me.
Build & Feel
The grip is comfy without being too bulky (especially with an overgrip), and the weight balance lets you crush hard shots without wearing out your arm by match point. It’s got a solid feel that made long tournament days way more enjoyable (and I personally love the color).
Is this your next paddle?
There could be a few factors that keep you from moving forward with this paddle. First, this might be on the heavier side. If you don’t want a paddle that will fatigue you faster, go for something that under 8.0 oz. Second, the price could be another limiting factor. I would say that this paddle is a fantastic paddle for someone who is fairly experienced in pickleball, but if you’re just getting into the sport there are a TON of options that are under this price point that give you all the needed technology. Third, and this could be picky, but maybe you don’t like the color!
Here’s some great news though. Pickleball Apes has a variety of paddles at lower price point, lighter weights, and different colors if the Pulse X doesn’t seem like the paddle for you!
However, if you want to get some really good bang for your buck, the Pulse X paddle comes highly recommended. If you have a particular face preference, they’ve got several different options to fit your needs!
Check out the paddle here: Pulse Series Paddles
Check out some of their other paddles here available on Amazon: Pickleball Paddles
Here are the full specs on the Pickleball Apes Pulse X – just the tech details so you can nerd out on the numbers:
- Paddle Length Specs: 16.5” H x 7.5” W
- Paddle Thickness (Core): 16.5 mm
- Core: Narrow-cell Honeycomb Poly Core
- Surface: Poly Aramid Fiber Weave
- Weight: 8.2 – 8.4 oz
- Swing Weight: 118 – 120
- Grip Length: 5.75 in
- Grip Circumference: 4.25 in
- Cover: Includes a zippered neoprene paddle cover
