{
  "id": "apes-zen-s-plus",
  "url": "https://pointcast.xyz/paddles/apes-zen-s-plus",
  "brand": "Pickleball Apes",
  "model": "Zen S+",
  "year": 2026,
  "launch": {
    "date": "2026-08-15",
    "precision": "month",
    "label": "August · sold in preorder batches"
  },
  "lifecycle": "current",
  "listPriceUsd": 199.99,
  "listPriceLabel": null,
  "build": "foam",
  "buildLabel": "Full foam (Gen 4)",
  "thickness": "16mm",
  "shapes": "Hybrid · 5.75 in handle",
  "pro": null,
  "summary": "Pickleball Effect: a genuinely unique power profile. Big on full swings, low pop otherwise.",
  "construction": "Diced MPP floating foam core inside three progressively denser foam rings. SilverBack grit under a protective film.",
  "core": {
    "layers": [
      "16mm MPP floating foam core",
      "three progressively denser foam rings around the core",
      "horizontal incisions cut into each side"
    ],
    "face": "SilverBack durable grit texture",
    "edge": "",
    "source": "https://pickleballeffect.com/equipment-reviews/pickleball-apes-in-depth-review/"
  },
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Zen S+ (Hybrid Wide) 16mm",
      "shape": "hybrid",
      "lengthIn": 16.2,
      "widthIn": 7.8,
      "handleIn": 5.75,
      "thicknessMm": 16,
      "weightOz": "7.76",
      "sw": 107,
      "tw": 7,
      "specSource": "https://pickleballeffect.com/equipment-reviews/pickleball-apes-in-depth-review/",
      "note": "Brand page spec table renders client-side (values absent from fetch). Dimensions quoted from Pickleball Playbook entry (their sample: 7.87 oz, sw 109.15, tw 7.03). weightOz/sw/tw here are Pickleball Effect lab statics (7.76 oz / 107 / 7.00, https://pickleballeffect.com/paddles/pickleball-apes-zen-s-plus/); brand did not publish a weight range."
    }
  ],
  "status": {
    "usap": "yes",
    "usapSource": "https://equipment.usapickleball.org/paddle-list/?gv_search_view=11045&filter_5=Apes&filter_55=&mode=all",
    "upaa": "no",
    "upaaSource": "https://upaa.unitedpickleball.com/approved-paddles/",
    "quiet": false,
    "patent": "none-known",
    "investigation": null,
    "lifecycle": "current"
  },
  "certNote": "USAP approved Jun 9.",
  "timeline": [
    {
      "date": "2026-06-09",
      "precision": "day",
      "kind": "approval",
      "text": "USA Pickleball lists Pickleball Apes 'Zen S+'.",
      "source": "https://equipment.usapickleball.org/paddle-list/?gv_search_view=11045&filter_5=Apes&filter_55=&mode=all"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-07-28",
      "precision": "day",
      "kind": "preorder",
      "text": "'Zen Pre-Order Batch 4' listing published on pickleballapes.com (Shopify published_at).",
      "source": "https://pickleballapes.com/products/zen-new-paddle.json"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-08-18",
      "precision": "day",
      "kind": "variant",
      "text": "Pickleball Effect publishes its in-depth Zen S+ review ($199.99; release dated August 2026).",
      "source": "https://pickleballeffect.com/equipment-reviews/pickleball-apes-in-depth-review/"
    }
  ],
  "labs": [
    {
      "lab": "Pickleball Effect",
      "kind": "review",
      "url": "https://pickleballeffect.com/equipment-reviews/pickleball-apes-in-depth-review/"
    },
    {
      "lab": "Pickleball Effect",
      "kind": "database-entry",
      "url": "https://pickleballeffect.com/paddles/pickleball-apes-zen-s-plus/"
    },
    {
      "lab": "Matt's Pickleball",
      "kind": "review",
      "url": "https://www.mattspickleball.com/paddle/zen-s-plus"
    }
  ],
  "colorways": [],
  "madeIn": null,
  "warranty": "1 year",
  "notes": "Hybrid-only so far and sold in pre-order batches (Batch 4 at $188.88 vs $199.99 list as of 2026-09-21). Handle is listed at 5.75 in but Pickleball Effect says it plays like 5.5 in; grip 4.25 in.",
  "productUrl": "https://pickleballapes.com/products/zen-new-paddle",
  "sources": [
    "https://pickleballeffect.com/equipment-reviews/pickleball-apes-in-depth-review/",
    "https://thekitchenpickle.com/blogs/gear/best-new-pickleball-paddles-september-2026/"
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "image": "https://pointcast.xyz/images/og/paddles/apes-zen-s-plus.png"
}