Pickleball Apes Pulse V vs Wilson Vesper Control 17mm
On published specifications these two are very close. Every derived index sits within 8 points, which is inside the margin of an estimate built from spec sheets. Choose on price, handle length, or whichever brand you can demo.
DinkDex is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this page we may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. This never affects which paddles we rank or how we rank them.
| Spec |  | WilsonVesper Control 17mm |
|---|---|---|
| Price (MSRP)Manufacturer Spec | $199.99▲ | $249.00 |
| PowerDerived | 37▲ | 34 |
| ControlDerived | 75 | 76▲ |
| SpinDerived | 85 | 85 |
| ForgivenessDerived | 70 | 70 |
| Swing weight indexDerived | 37 | 33 |
| Core thicknessManufacturer Spec | 16.5 mm | 17 mm |
| Face materialManufacturer Spec | Raw carbon | Raw carbon |
| Core materialManufacturer Spec | Polypropylene honeycomb | Polypropylene honeycomb |
| ShapeManufacturer Spec | Widebody | Widebody |
| LengthManufacturer Spec | 15.9" | 15.9" |
| WidthManufacturer Spec | 8" | 8" |
| Handle lengthManufacturer Spec | 5.5"▲ | 5.25" |
| Static weightManufacturer Spec | 8.14 oz | 8.1 oz |
| Balance pointDerived | 20.9 cm | 20.6 cm |
| ThermoformedManufacturer Spec | No | No |
| USAP approvedManufacturer Spec | Yes | Yes |
| ReleasedManufacturer Spec | 2024 | 2025 |
These two are hard to separate
Every derived index is within a few points. Our scores come from spec sheets, and spec sheets can't capture feel — at this margin the honest answer is that you should demo both rather than trust a number.
Analysis
Where they actually differ
Only differences big enough to matter are listed. Anything inside the margin of an estimate is left out.
- Core thickness
- 16.5mm against 17mm. The thicker core dwells on the ball longer; the thinner one rebounds harder.
- Handle
- Pickleball Apes Pulse V has the longer handle at 5.5" — the deciding factor if you hit a two-handed backhand.
- Price
- Pickleball Apes Pulse V is $49 cheaper at MSRP.
Choose the
Pickleball Apes Pulse V
- You hit a two-handed backhand
- Budget matters — it's $49 less
No retailer links for this paddle yet.
Choose the
Wilson Vesper Control 17mm
- You prefer the brand or the feel
No retailer links for this paddle yet.
Also consider
