Pickleball Apes CHARM – First Look and Initial Impressions

Pickleball Apes is back with their latest release, the Charm, and I think this might be their most interesting paddle yet. In this post, I’m sharing my first impressions and breaking down what makes this new paddle stand out from the crowd.

If you’ve followed Pickleball Apes for a while, you know they’ve put out some great paddles already with the Pulse and Harmony, both of which offered unique designs and strong playability. The CHARM builds on that foundation while introducing a brand-new core design unlike anything else I’ve tested so far.

A New Approach to Foam Core Design

Most foam paddles on the market today use one of a few common approaches:

• a solid EPP foam core

• a floating core with EVA foam surrounding the EPP

• a core with cutouts or voids for flexibility and responsiveness

• Maybe some others…
  
  

The CHARM takes a completely new route by introducing horizontal cuts across the width of the core, allowing it to flex more naturally and redistribute energy more efficiently. According to Pickleball Apes, this design helps absorb impact and provide a smoother, more controlled response off the face of the paddle.

It also retains the corner foam enhancements that first appeared in the Harmony series, which contribute to added stability and forgiveness on off-center hits. The animation Pickleball Apes shared (in the video) gives you a good sense of how this flex works internally, though of course, the actual paddle has less visible flex once the face and other layers are applied.

Paddle Specs and Build

The Pickleball Apes CHARM comes in three shapes. Elongated, hybrid, and standard, and features a 16 mm core paired with an aramid fiber face.

• Static Weight:

  • Elongated - 8.17oz

  • Hybrid - 8.18oz

  • Standard - 8.15oz
    
    

• Swing Weight:

  • Elongated - 122.6

  • Hybrid - 116.2

  • Standard - 110.7
    
    

• Twist Weight:

  • Elongated - 6.3

  • Hybrid - 6.5

  • Standard - 7.3
    
    

• Price: $199 USD ($180 with code PickleballBlast)
  
  

On-Court Performance and Feel

After a few sessions with the CHARM, I can say this paddle has a very unique feel. It’s plush and soft on impact, which makes it easy to control in the soft game. Dinks, drops, and resets all feel confident and deliberate.

What surprised me most, though, was where the power shows up. On full swings from the baseline, the power is respectable but not overwhelming. However, on medium length swings, like flicks or more compact swings at the net I noticed more pop than expected. It’s not that sharp, rigid pop you find in many paddles though, it’s a smoother, more elastic energy that I think comes from the new flex core.

Overall, I’d place the CHARM near the top of the all-court category, maybe brushing the lower edge of power paddles. It doesn’t match the raw punch of something like the Boomstik, Loco, or Black Opal, but it offers a blend of control, comfort, and responsiveness that feels good.

Who the CHARM Is For

If you’re a fan of Pickleball Apes or simply enjoy trying new tech, the CHARM is definitely worth a look. It’s ideal for:

• Players who prefer a soft, plush feel but still want some accessible power,
  

• Those who value control and touch in the kitchen, but want to be able to unlock some power
  

• Anyone curious about how a horizontal flex core might change the feel of a paddle.
  
  

It’s also a great choice if you already liked the Harmony but wanted something that feels a bit more powerful without losing the soft touch that made that paddle shine.

Final Thoughts

The Pickleball Apes Charm feels like a genuine step forward for the brand. A paddle that takes risks with its design and delivers something truly new to the market. The horizontal core cuts are a clever innovation, the aramid face adds a satisfying feel, and the blend of control and comfort makes it enjoyable to play with.

I’ll be spending more time with the Charm to get long term impressions, and will let you know if any of my thoughts change.