Yonex EZONE (2018)

ej28405

ej28405

New User
randzman said:
I concur Zero ... now I can conquer.

After a month with the racket I'm reiterating how great the eZone is.

I was quite reluctant to move away from the DR98 as it was so 'comfy' but now it's harder to hit the DR98 ... so it's for sale ... 4 1/4 ... 8/10 condition. New 58lb. NXT.

Furthermore, I can now play left-handed in part because I don't have to swing as hard.

I'll say I'm 50% as good lefty (groundstrokes); 25% as strong with serve.
Click to expand...
Is it the blue dr 98 you have for sale? If so where is it posted?
 
L

Luke Yonex

Rookie
randzman said:
Sir, in a word, nonsense.

What is it about my posts, sone of the most beloved in Tennis Warehouse's lineup in recent weeks, that makes you consider it as a jab to Yonex?

No need to take this personal as you took my post as a personal attack on Yonex.

Sheesh.
Click to expand...
Na you took it personal not him, I disagree with you the Dr is suited for all levels of play from beginners to advanced
 
B

blai212

Hall of Fame
ezone 98/100 was nice, new vcore 98 galaxy is an ABSOLUTE BEAST. i have ezone 98 blue/lime and blue 100+ in immaculate condition, kind of a shame, but that’s just how much i love the vcore 98 galaxy. If you havent gotten the chance, give the galaxy a try with a quality string setup and you’ll be in love too.
B


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Kurt0707

Kurt0707

Rookie
Xero said:
Hi folks,
After playing Angell TC 97 18x20 for half a year and also tried many other different racquets, the new ezone 98 is my go to racquet!!
I played TT100p, ezone DR 98 & 100, TC95, TC100, Beast 100, Head PC 600, PT 630, pure control (295g), pure aero......too many...
New Ezone 98 has the same playability as my TC97, but even more forgiving especially on the defensive side, I blocked fast balls back more easily with the Ezone 98,
Serve is much better with the new Ezone 98, i think may be 30% faster than TC97...
The score of Ezone 98 from TW review is not fair, the new Ezone 98 is Great! I tried 4g lead tape at 12 but didnt feel right, change to 2g@10 and 2g@2, it was very great, I didnt feel any discomfort, stiff feel in upper hood was similar to other racquets, I think the lead tape really help solving this ...
I suggest anyone like dr 98 should at least demo the Ezone 98 first...although dr98 has the addictive plush feel, the extra pop from Ezone 98 really help on serve and groundstrokes, and the Ezone 98 feels super stable for me!

Conclusion: Ezone 98 is a powerful but not too powerful control racquet, great feel after putting lead @10&2 ( I use babolat tung tape), great serve, very stable you can feel it by just holding on hand, light weight, rooms for customization....overall it's a very underrated racquet.....i am very happy to find this treasure
Click to expand...

This is pretty much the same story as mine.. I haven't used any Yonex before, but used and tried many other brands and models (generally 18x20, Prince & Wilson) and more recently Angels. Most recently I have been using Prince TT100P/TT95 and also Angell Lime (98, 18x20), most of the time the Lime due as it offered best combination of comfort, control, ease of play and stability. Also power was good by adjusting string tension without losing the control. But I was still looking for another option with more power, especially strong on serves.

So ezone 98 fitted very well especially with some customization (and I have increase the weight to 340gr and SW to 325, lead at 10&2 as well),. I am really playing my best singles tennis with this now... (and I have been playing multiple decades now).I found that this also works with my more flatter game (and also provides good spin and angle shots when necessary), and even compared to Blade 18x20 2015 strangely, strings spacings are slightly less (with thicker 16 gauge).

No comfort issues either., and this is a show stopper for my sensitive elbow after having TE several times. The upper loop is a bit stiffer, but I would not call it board stiff, and this has helped me actually to return balls that are more difficult to reach easier, but not uncomfortably. It could have been a little heavier, stability would have been great too, but its still quite OK with the increase weight and tape.

I saw many comparisons to other Yonex models, especially DR98, and would love to hear about the experiences of non-Yonex players and their setups/customization. Xero, What is your string setup by the way?
 
R

redmini

Semi-Pro
Any of you folks able to offer a comparison between the Ezone 98 and the Yonex Dual G100? (I Have the latter and am wondering about a possible switch to the Ezone or VCore 98 (or Angell K7 red. ). Looking for more serve power and a bit more flexi comfort.


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Kurt0707

Kurt0707

Rookie
redmini said:
Any of you folks able to offer a comparison between the Ezone 98 and the Yonex Dual G100? (I Have the latter and am wondering about a possible switch to the Ezone or VCore 98 (or Angell K7 red. ). Looking for more serve power and a bit more flexi comfort.


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Click to expand...

I was also looking for the same, coming from playing with Angel K7 Lime, same stifness with K7 Red. I now mainly use Ezone 98, which is still comfortable but crisper, offering easier power and easier serves. Vcore is more stiff than Ecore, so havent tried that. But i had to increase weight and swingweight a little. Ezone 98+ could also be an option if SW is not too much.
 
R

redmini

Semi-Pro
Kurt0707 said:
I was also looking for the same, coming from playing with Angel K7 Lime, same stifness with K7 Red. I now mainly use Ezone 98, which is still comfortable but crisper, offering easier power and easier serves. Vcore is more stiff than Ecore, so havent tried that. But i had to increase weight and swingweight a little. Ezone 98+ could also be an option if SW is not too much.
Click to expand...

Thanks Kurt. I haven't tried the k7 but the k7 red is one option I'm considering (not the green) along with the Ezone 98 and VCore 98. Can I clarify my understanding of what you said please? Are you saying that the Ezone 98 provides easier power and bigger serves but feels a bit crisper than the K7 Red? How stable is the hoop compared to the k7 red? And do they provide similar amounts of spin and control to each other? Some people complain about the stiffness in the upper hoop of the Ezone 98 but usually in comparison to the DR98 , which is a lot softer than many frames there. How does this upper hoop stiffness compare to other frames you've tried?


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Kurt0707

Kurt0707

Rookie
Hi, I was just commenting on comfort and power, K7 both are similar in comfort, and K7 Lime is slightly more powerful than Red due to higher weight in stock form.. the point was ezone 98 is a good option for power and comfort, sorry for not being clear maybe. And yes compared to both Lime and Red its more powerful and better serving, in my opinion. About stability Lime is more stable than Red and I have read Red could feel less stable in stock form.

about upper hoop, yes its more stiffer than most rackets, but its not unfortable and i dont hit too much with upper hoop.. mainly when i am late to reach on the sides and this stiffness actually helps me...
 
R

redmini

Semi-Pro
Kurt0707 said:
Hi, I was just commenting on comfort and power, K7 both are similar in comfort, and K7 Lime is slightly more powerful than Red due to higher weight in stock form.. the point was ezone 98 is a good option for power and comfort, sorry for not being clear maybe. And yes compared to both Lime and Red its more powerful and better serving, in my opinion. About stability Lime is more stable than Red and I have read Red could feel less stable in stock form.

about upper hoop, yes its more stiffer than most rackets, but its not unfortable and i dont hit too much with upper hoop.. mainly when i am late to reach on the sides and this stiffness actually helps me...
Click to expand...

Thanks Kurt. Do you find the Ezone more stable than the k7 Red?


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Kurt0707

Kurt0707

Rookie
redmini said:
Thanks Kurt. Do you find the Ezone more stable than the k7 Red?


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Click to expand...

i would say they are similarly stable in stock form, K7s are very unique in that their composition which makes them flexible and stable.. for hard hitters may need some lead and this applies to Ezone 98 as well. I like the crisp feel of Ezone when playing aggresive game, and i think you cannot go wrong with both of these, and if comfort is top of your list and you like more plush feel, K7 red is a great option. More power you can also get by stringing lower.
 
X

Xero

New User
Kurt0707 said:
This is pretty much the same story as mine.. I haven't used any Yonex before, but used and tried many other brands and models (generally 18x20, Prince & Wilson) and more recently Angels. Most recently I have been using Prince TT100P/TT95 and also Angell Lime (98, 18x20), most of the time the Lime due as it offered best combination of comfort, control, ease of play and stability. Also power was good by adjusting string tension without losing the control. But I was still looking for another option with more power, especially strong on serves.

So ezone 98 fitted very well especially with some customization (and I have increase the weight to 340gr and SW to 325, lead at 10&2 as well),. I am really playing my best singles tennis with this now... (and I have been playing multiple decades now).I found that this also works with my more flatter game (and also provides good spin and angle shots when necessary), and even compared to Blade 18x20 2015 strangely, strings spacings are slightly less (with thicker 16 gauge).

No comfort issues either., and this is a show stopper for my sensitive elbow after having TE several times. The upper loop is a bit stiffer, but I would not call it board stiff, and this has helped me actually to return balls that are more difficult to reach easier, but not uncomfortably. It could have been a little heavier, stability would have been great too, but its still quite OK with the increase weight and tape.

I saw many comparisons to other Yonex models, especially DR98, and would love to hear about the experiences of non-Yonex players and their setups/customization. Xero, What is your string setup by the way?
Click to expand...
Kurt0707 said:
This is pretty much the same story as mine.. I haven't used any Yonex before, but used and tried many other brands and models (generally 18x20, Prince & Wilson) and more recently Angels. Most recently I have been using Prince TT100P/TT95 and also Angell Lime (98, 18x20), most of the time the Lime due as it offered best combination of comfort, control, ease of play and stability. Also power was good by adjusting string tension without losing the control. But I was still looking for another option with more power, especially strong on serves.

So ezone 98 fitted very well especially with some customization (and I have increase the weight to 340gr and SW to 325, lead at 10&2 as well),. I am really playing my best singles tennis with this now... (and I have been playing multiple decades now).I found that this also works with my more flatter game (and also provides good spin and angle shots when necessary), and even compared to Blade 18x20 2015 strangely, strings spacings are slightly less (with thicker 16 gauge).

No comfort issues either., and this is a show stopper for my sensitive elbow after having TE several times. The upper loop is a bit stiffer, but I would not call it board stiff, and this has helped me actually to return balls that are more difficult to reach easier, but not uncomfortably. It could have been a little heavier, stability would have been great too, but its still quite OK with the increase weight and tape.

I saw many comparisons to other Yonex models, especially DR98, and would love to hear about the experiences of non-Yonex players and their setups/customization. Xero, What is your string setup by the way?
Click to expand...

I strung my ezone 98 with Babolat origin 17 @53 ，and tc 97 with xcel @53
 
T

TforTommy

Semi-Pro
what modifications have people done to their ezone 98? Have never tried the dr but so far my 2018 ezone green 305 is much more comfortable then alot of frames i've tried. wonder how it would feel after some lead
 
X

Xero

New User
TforTommy said:
what modifications have people done to their ezone 98? Have never tried the dr but so far my 2018 ezone green 305 is much more comfortable then alot of frames i've tried. wonder how it would feel after some lead
Click to expand...

great feel just putting few grams @2 and 10
 
Kurt0707

Kurt0707

Rookie
mine is currently Yonex Rexis 16 Mult mains and Wilson Revolve Co-poly 17 crosses at 53/49... needed something comfortable and easy on the arm not knowing how it will feel. Also wanted to have it less spiny and more powerful/good feel for my flatter game. Maybe even will switch to NG mains in the next round. It kind of depends on your game and what you want to achieve ....
 
Znak

Znak

Hall of Fame
Ah man... I'm going through a weird allergy to the Ezone 98. Everything was going swimmingly and out of nowhere I started getting hand pains. I've seen the doc and physio — they both have different diagnosises but in general that'll go away... Changed to softer strings in the Ezone that helped a bit, but anything slightly off center jolts back that pain. So for the past two weeks I switched back to the DR and zero pain... I'm really bummed because I was really enjoying the Ezone (and also I sold my 2nd DR)! Has anyone experienced anything similar? How can two racquets with such similar RA feel stiffer than the other?
 
Crashbaby

Crashbaby

Semi-Pro
Ezone 98 is lighter than the DR and has lower swing weight. Maybe try adding a few grams to the hoop. It should help on the comfort stakes. That little extra boost to match the swing weight should be done if a fair comparison is to be made.
 
Znak

Znak

Hall of Fame
Crashbaby said:
Ezone 98 is lighter than the DR and has lower swing weight. Maybe try adding a few grams to the hoop. It should help on the comfort stakes. That little extra boost to match the swing weight should be done if a fair comparison is to be made.
Click to expand...
Interesting, I just added some weight to 3/9, will test drive it tomorrow night and report back.
 
XFactorer

XFactorer

Hall of Fame
TforTommy said:
how abount strings? what strings are you guys using in this frame?
Click to expand...
I like Yonex PolyTour Fire and PT Air in this. I'm trying out the new Tecnifibre Ice Code in it as well - not bad. I don't like Poly Tour Pro and Strike in it, though. Sad because I like Poly Tour Pro in the previous version of the EZONE. I string everything at 45 lbs.
 
T

TforTommy

Semi-Pro
XFactorer said:
I like Yonex PolyTour Fire and PT Air in this. I'm trying out the new Tecnifibre Ice Code in it as well - not bad. I don't like Poly Tour Pro and Strike in it, though. Sad because I like Poly Tour Pro in the previous version of the EZONE. I string everything at 45 lbs.
Click to expand...
cool man, interesting. I heard people saying something along of the lines of it being more string sensitive.

my go to is ALU power which is kinda similar to yptp imo. What would you think about that combo? Otherwise might try hyper g
 
TimeToPlaySets

TimeToPlaySets

Legend
I some some UTR12's hitting with an EZone today
They were utterly crushing the ball.
What is the vibe of this racket? What segment does it compete in?

What's the difference between the blue one and the green one ?
 
shapovalovnextgoat

shapovalovnextgoat

Rookie
TimeToPlaySets said:
I some some UTR12's hitting with an EZone today
They were utterly crushing the ball.
What is the vibe of this racket? What segment does it compete in?

What's the difference between the blue one and the green one ?
Click to expand...
It's a classic tweener, 305 g unstrung, 98 sq inch head size. Easier on the arm compared to something like a pure strike, but still pretty crisp. I play with one, and love it!

The green and blue are the exact same racquet with different paintjobs. Yonex is even coming out with a limited edition gold colour in the next few weeks.
 
XFactorer

XFactorer

Hall of Fame
TforTommy said:
cool man, interesting. I heard people saying something along of the lines of it being more string sensitive.

my go to is ALU power which is kinda similar to yptp imo. What would you think about that combo? Otherwise might try hyper g
Click to expand...
I like ALU Power and Element in it. I use those two strings, too. And I'm the probably the one you've ready saying it's string sensitive. It totally is.
 
B

blai212

Hall of Fame
i use poly hybrid with signum pro xperience 17L mains and poly plasma 18g crosses 52/50 and it hits pretty nicely...im interested in trying rexis if anybody is up for a trade...


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Casius_Juventus

Casius_Juventus

Rookie
Znak said:
Ah man... I'm going through a weird allergy to the Ezone 98. Everything was going swimmingly and out of nowhere I started getting hand pains. I've seen the doc and physio — they both have different diagnosises but in general that'll go away... Changed to softer strings in the Ezone that helped a bit, but anything slightly off center jolts back that pain. So for the past two weeks I switched back to the DR and zero pain... I'm really bummed because I was really enjoying the Ezone (and also I sold my 2nd DR)! Has anyone experienced anything similar? How can two racquets with such similar RA feel stiffer than the other?
Click to expand...

Yes I experienced the same as soon as I switched to the new Ezone. The increased hoop stiffness (not measured in the RA which measures flexural stiffness about the throat) is most probably the culprit as well as perhaps the new parallel drilling (TW playtests noted the harshness of the feel as compared to DR). I certainly appreciated the increased precision I was getting with the new Ezone but at an unfortunate cost to comfort (which was my utmost reason to switching to Ezone 6 years ago in the first place). I had to reduce my string tension significantly in order to dampen down the harshness of the hoop but frankly, it was a significant adjustment too far. Sadly for me, this spelt the end of my road with Yonex. I have lost all confidence in them as I totally disagree with the direction they're going (apparently, so do Wilson with their introduction of their Clash range). I have now switched to Dunlop Srixon CX 200 which to me is more reminiscent of the Ai98 which I miss profusely (never sell a racquet you love). I must add also that from my experience so far with Dunlop Srixon, their QC is now more superior to Yonex, and so are their Handles (but then again, almost any handle out there is better than Yonex's). All the best with your recovery.
 
Znak

Znak

Hall of Fame
Casius_Juventus said:
Yes I experienced the same as soon as I switched to the new Ezone. The increased hoop stiffness (not measured in the RA which measures flexural stiffness about the throat) is most probably the culprit as well as perhaps the new parallel drilling (TW playtests noted the harshness of the feel as compared to DR). I certainly appreciated the increased precision I was getting with the new Ezone but at an unfortunate cost to comfort (which was my utmost reason to switching to Ezone 6 years ago in the first place). I had to reduce my string tension significantly in order to dampen down the harshness of the hoop but frankly, it was a significant adjustment too far. Sadly for me, this spelt the end of my road with Yonex. I have lost all confidence in them as I totally disagree with the direction they're going (apparently, so do Wilson with their introduction of their Clash range). I have now switched to Dunlop Srixon CX 200 which to me is more reminiscent of the Ai98 which I miss profusely (never sell a racquet you love). I must add also that from my experience so far with Dunlop Srixon, their QC is now more superior to Yonex, and so are their Handles (but then again, almost any handle out there is better than Yonex's). All the best with your recovery.
Click to expand...
Good to know, the cx200 has been on my list to try for awhile, seems right in my range. I tried adding lead to the Ezone and while it dampened things, overall I felt less connected than without it... Could be my imagination since I'm hyper aware of my hand. After the session my hand was in decent pain so I'm stopping to heal for a bit....

Out of curiosity, do you have the 18x20 or 16x19 Dunlop? And is it the tour edition?
 
Casius_Juventus

Casius_Juventus

Rookie
Znak said:
Good to know, the cx200 has been on my list to try for awhile, seems right in my range. I tried adding lead to the Ezone and while it dampened things, overall I felt less connected than without it... Could be my imagination since I'm hyper aware of my hand. After the session my hand was in decent pain so I'm stopping to heal for a bit....

Out of curiosity, do you have the 18x20 or 16x19 Dunlop? And is it the tour edition?
Click to expand...

I used about 5g of lead in the hoop on my DR (3g @12, 2g @3,9) but with the new Ezone I didn't need to use any. Speaks volumes really.
Adding more detail, I actually use the Dunlop Srixon CX200 Plus (98sqin head, 16x19). I started out using the CX200 Tour 95 18x20 but I just couldn't gel with the dense string pattern. I also had to lead it up to about 360g to get the power I needed. I have far less issues with the CX200 Plus. The extended length gives me ample swing weight without needing to add lead to the hoop and the wider string pattern allows for much better feel and pocketing using 17g strings (with the Tour 18x20 I had to use 19g strings at sub 40lbs tension to get any pocketing).
PS. I bought all my Dunlop Srixon racquets at different times and they all came in "dead on spec" which I have never experienced with any other manufacturer. Hats off to Srixon.
 
Last edited:
dje31

dje31

Professional
I demoed the Ezone 98+ alongside my EZXi98. Played and felt similar, but the extra length added a bit on serves, reach, etc. Hadn't played an extended racquet before, but no issues going from one to the other and back again.

My EZXi98 are still working well for me, but if they were lost, broken, or stolen, I could move to the EZ98+ with virtually no issues in the transition.
 
Alexh22

Alexh22

Professional
Thanks for the response. People have been saying how they share similar hoop but I am not lucky enough to swing an xi98 to know.
 
dje31

dje31

Professional
Where the EZDR was an evolution of the EZAi, the EZ98 is the spiritual successor to the EZXi98.

Frame geometries of Ai and DR were similar, more rounded Isometric head shapes.

Likewise, EZXi and EZ98 are more rectangular in the head. Laying them on top of each other, they're really close in overall geometries. Not identical...not exact same mold, but darn close.
 
XFactorer

XFactorer

Hall of Fame
Official specs are out!

EZONE 98

The world leader in Golf, Tennis and Badminton equipment. At YONEX, we take the game as seriously as you do. We are a company driven by technology, so we constantly explore new materials, new designs and new ways of improving your game.
yonex.com
 
S

Soznie

New User
I'm curious if the VDM is going to make the response to feel even more softer than the DR or at least similar to the DR. DR 98 had no VDM and it feels somewhat too soft for my liking unless I'm using a stiff poly setup. I know some people are saying it's not as plush as the Ai/DR though. Either way, if it has better feel than the DR, I'm sold. Eagerly waiting for the reviews.
 
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