EZone DR98 Nick Kyrgios Edition

jarko111

Hall of Fame
The Yonex Ezone AI RALLY is also blue. I am having trouble posting a link to image from Google Images.. just saying, tho, might pick up one of those since I like OS racquets and pretend it's the new DR lol
 

smalahove

Hall of Fame
Look on the Yonex page to see how many players are endorsing their products. Look at the prince page. I never thought I'd see the day.

Yes, but as long as it lasts:

Pouille >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Kyrgios

;-)
 

Sambuccashake

Hall of Fame
The Yonex Ezone AI RALLY is also blue. I am having trouble posting a link to image from Google Images.. just saying, tho, might pick up one of those since I like OS racquets and pretend it's the new DR lol
EZONE-Ai-RALLY_3.jpg

2l9nk3s.jpg
 

kimguroo

Legend
Yonex did new paint job with AI100 which was red color and it was limited edition for Japanese market.
I remember that it was sold out quickly and hard to get.
Probably Yonex learned from it and try to boost some sales with new PJ.
 

haegger

Semi-Pro
seems like Yonex realized they have a very good product, no need to update it with more tech upgrades...they just changed the colors for those that may like an upgrade after 2 years. Fischer used to do that with the vacuum pro/pro one. let the buyer determine wether the new colours mean that much to them or not and then let the product speak for itself-the marketing does it own thing. Respect for the brand. kudos.

I agree. I think DR98 will be a flagship of the Yonex's line, just like Pro Staff/Blade (Wilson), Pure Aero/Pure Drive (Babolat), and Radical/Prestige (HEAD).
 

Emkay

New User
I love my DR 98. As long as they keep the specs the same, they can paint it whatever color they want.
 

every7

Hall of Fame
Yonex did new paint job with AI100 which was red color and it was limited edition for Japanese market.
I remember that it was sold out quickly and hard to get.
Probably Yonex learned from it and try to boost some sales with new PJ.

@kimguroo - can you please post some pictures from this? Would like to see what the racquet looked like.
 

Dan Z

Semi-Pro
Its not a signature racquet. its just a blue AI 98/100 (thankfully....)
I'll be buying two 98's to replace my aging AI98's just as soon as they are available. Love the blue colour and know for sure I'll be able to get at least 10% extra bazoingas on my ground strokes in comparison to the regular PJ.
 

BigM

Rookie
This is a legit picture. Not sure I want the ANA frame or the Nick lol But just changed to drop the female stigma attached to the this particular frame. So wrong but it looks sweet!
 

Tommy Haas

Hall of Fame
I'll be buying two 98's to replace my aging AI98's just as soon as they are available.

There are still Ai98s being sold new or do you want the crisper feel and increased power of the DR98? Is it more the blue PJ or the playing characteristics that made you move to it?

Stupid to make a special retail dr98 for him if he actually plays with xi98

Is Kyrgios still using the Xi98? Does he use it because he's just used to it or is the Xi98 the Yonex equivalent of the Head PT57 and Wilson H22?
 
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There are still Ai98s being sold new or do you want the crisper feel and increased power of the DR98? Is it more the blue PJ or the playing characteristics that made you move to it?



Is Kyrgios still using the Xi98? Does he use it because he's just used to it or is the Xi98 the Yonex equivalent of the Head PT57 and Wilson H22?

I don't know. But I held a Xi98 minutes ago and that thing feels very light. Pretty sure his is heavily customized.
 

ThirdEye

Semi-Pro
Is Kyrgios still using the Xi98? Does he use it because he's just used to it or is the Xi98 the Yonex equivalent of the Head PT57 and Wilson H22?

It's because it works and he doesn't care what it is. I've read a NYT interview a few weeks ago, apparently he doesn't even know (or care) about the racquet head size or which strings he's using.
 

jarko111

Hall of Fame
Watching him live against Harrison on my HD television and I have to say the blue makes the head shape look a lot more isometric than the green and yellow. The darker color all around makes his brighter strings pop that much more.
The way he slaps that serve. It's just incredible.
 

dje31

Professional
I've been using the EZone Xi 98, supposedly the "real" Kyrgios racquet, and love it, despite the association to Nick the jerk.

That said, the blue DR pj is awfully sweet. Not sure I'll like the feel as much as the EZXi98...but will probably demo...and then convince myself to use it, due to the PJ.

Yeah, I'm shallow like that.
 

Dan Z

Semi-Pro
There are still Ai98s being sold new or do you want the crisper feel and increased power of the DR98? Is it more the blue PJ or the playing characteristics that made you move to it?
To be honest I've not seen any ai98's for sale over here (UK) for ages. I still love them but was under the impression the DR's were VERY similar sticks.
 

Automatix

Legend
To be honest I've not seen any ai98's for sale over here (UK) for ages. I still love them but was under the impression the DR's were VERY similar sticks.
I helped a guy choose what his girlfriend should demo in order to pick a suitable racquet. She demoed the Ai 100 and DR 100 and found the latter to be actually different feeling than the Ai and "easier to use" (I didn't inquire what it meant - easier power&spin I'd say but not sure).
 

Harry_Wild

G.O.A.T.
nick.jpg

Watching his match against Djokovic and his 29+ aces serving exhibition; Kyrios seems to be using a thinner beam racquet then the that is EZone DR 98 Blue! It is also glossy!
2017Jan15095842_631642798.jpg

KYRGIOS-big.jpg

Does anyone know what racquet Kyrios is using under his glossy paintjob?
 
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moon shot

Hall of Fame
nick.jpg

Watching his match against Djokovic and his 29+ aces serving exhibition; Kyrios seems to be using a thinner beam racquet then the that is EZone DR 98 Blue! It is also glossy!
2017Jan15095842_631642798.jpg

KYRGIOS-big.jpg

Does anyone know what racquet Kyrios is using under his glossy paintjob?

Xi98 as said above

RoIRSs8.jpg
 

Tommy Haas

Hall of Fame
His Xi98 with blue DR98 paint job is thicker than the real DR98. Probably just the camera angle that made his racquet look thinner.

The Xi98 would be good for someone who wants a more raw feeling EZONE. The DR98 has a lot of shock dampening technology. The Ai98 is what I prefer as it's the flexiest of the EZONEs.
 

every7

Hall of Fame
The red version of the rack that @kimguroo posted looks the best imo. Yonex frames look great in red. The matte paintjob distinguishes it, too.
 

Harry_Wild

G.O.A.T.
In tonight match; against Alexander Zverev; Darren Cahill said that Nick Kyrgios uses the retail version "unaltered" in his matches! Just because I curious; I going order it! Impulsive yes! It will be fun using a Yonex racquet! Never try it before that brand!
 

jarko111

Hall of Fame
These commentators as of late spill so much T about racquets. I've watched tennis hardcore since 2002 and the last two years have had more information of what players are actually hitting with. The Delpo match for instance.. they were all over the fact he is using the same racquet he won the US Open with.. just an example. And Courier always has tons of info on TTC about Rogers layout.
 

Seth

Legend
These commentators as of late spill so much T about racquets. I've watched tennis hardcore since 2002 and the last two years have had more information of what players are actually hitting with. The Delpo match for instance.. they were all over the fact he is using the same racquet he won the US Open with.. just an example. And Courier always has tons of info on TTC about Rogers layout.

Maybe Courier is one of us.
 

kimguroo

Legend
In tonight match; against Alexander Zverev; Darren Cahill said that Nick Kyrgios uses the retail version "unaltered" in his matches! Just because I curious; I going order it! Impulsive yes! It will be fun using a Yonex racquet! Never try it before that brand!
So are you going to order XI or DR?
You know that He uses XI which is PJ of DR ^_^
 

Shaolin

G.O.A.T.
Very interesting …yeah Cahill just said on air that Nick plays completely off the shelf ''not one piece of lead tape'' and ''light as a feather'' Yonex.

If true he's gotta be one of the only pros using a fully stock racquet.
 
S

Sirius Black

Guest
Very interesting …yeah Cahill just said on air that Nick plays completely off the shelf ''not one piece of lead tape'' and ''light as a feather'' Yonex.

If true he's gotta be one of the only pros using a fully stock racquet.
But TTW experts tell me that my frame needs to be 14 oz and have silicone in the handle to even hit at the 3.5 level
 

fundrazer

G.O.A.T.
Very interesting …yeah Cahill just said on air that Nick plays completely off the shelf ''not one piece of lead tape'' and ''light as a feather'' Yonex.

If true he's gotta be one of the only pros using a fully stock racquet.

I think the weight for his sticks has been posted here before, and that it was roughly the weight of stock xi98 + a leather grip which I believe he uses.
 

Harry_Wild

G.O.A.T.
Maybe Courier is one of us.
If Roger cannot be honest with Courier who he actually played many times on the tour, use the same Wilson racquet as he did; is a Davis Cup Captain and he has known for a while; who can he be honest with? LOL!
 

dgoran

Hall of Fame
If Roger cannot be honest with Courier who he actually played many times on the tour, use the same Wilson racquet as he did; is a Davis Cup Captain and he has known for a while; who can he be honest with? LOL!
He can be honest with the Benjamin(s)
 

dje31

Professional
FWIW, I've got two EZone Xi98 racquets. Both started life as 4-3/8, since TW was sold out of 4-1/2, my normal grip ( though in the old days, I'd use 4-5/8 ) .

I used the half-size-up build-up heat shrink sleeve, cut to about 2/3 of full length, since I use a OHBH, then the standard length Fairway leather grips, no overgrip, no lead.

Unstrung, they're 329g and 330g.
 
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