What's wrong with Yonex?
- Thread starter BigT
- Start date
Lakers4Life
Hall of Fame
Back in late 80's into the 90's, players that used Yonex were mostly women. Martina Navratilova and Martina Hingis were some of the top players of thier time. Even back in the 80's, men who used Yonex, complained they would crack at the apex points of the head, because it sticks out so much, and they still do tend to break at that point.
In that era Rios and Kraicheck used Yonex to name two top players.
bluetrain4
G.O.A.T.
I guess that would turn off some insecure male juniors, but I've never seen the "chick frame" thing really matter -- in other words, the few male juniors I've seen play with Yonex really don't get hassled all that much or seem to care that much. Plus, Yonex's visability via top female pros has dropped off drastically, to the point where, although my 40 yo self may associate Yonex with females, this generation hardly sees that. Kerber is the only Top 10 player who even plays Yonex. I remember when they seemed to be omnipresent among top females - Seles, Navratilova, Hingis, Kournikova, Zvereva, Dementieva, Date (when she was Top 10), Vlaidisova (when she was briefly an "it" girl), Dokic (when she first broke out and made waves as a youngster), just to name a few top (or at least very visible and talked about) players who all sported Yonex frames.
I think in the U.S. it's simply a matter of exposure overall - you don't see them and many stores and pro shops don't have them. And, there's not a lot of top pros (male or female) right now who are using Yonex.
I always remember Rios and Krajieck with their Yonex frames. There were a few other top males, but I can't think of them.
I always liked Yonex frames, and even owned a pair of RDS 001s a couple of years ago. Quality stuff.
Lakers4Life
Hall of Fame
Yeah, but who was more popular and won more? Answer: the Women. Women are not as hard on rackets as men are. Though Serina is one exception.
Lakers4Life
Hall of Fame
You left out Wozniaki, She is a current top 10 player and former no. 1, though she has yet to win a Grand Slam.
cork_screw
Hall of Fame
Well ask yourself one question. Before or at the moment they release a racquet, are you excited or do you want to demo a new release? I certainly don't. But every year Head or Wilson releases a stick, I get excited and try to demo a few sticks.
I really think it's how Yonex markets their brand. They should really pinpoint a point of improvement and find a way to enhance the stick in that way. They should locate a technology and plug it into the updated line. They should drop the Vcore bullsh*t and come out with independent lines that relate well with a customer base; like Head has with Radical, Prestige, Instinct and have those lines be generation lineage lines that go on that people want to associate as with certain playing styles and characteristics for those certain racquets. I don't think Yonex is business savvy like the other brands.
Prince is the same way. Some of these brands seem clueless as to how to approach getting brand loyalty in a customer base.
I really think it's how Yonex markets their brand. They should really pinpoint a point of improvement and find a way to enhance the stick in that way. They should locate a technology and plug it into the updated line. They should drop the Vcore bullsh*t and come out with independent lines that relate well with a customer base; like Head has with Radical, Prestige, Instinct and have those lines be generation lineage lines that go on that people want to associate as with certain playing styles and characteristics for those certain racquets. I don't think Yonex is business savvy like the other brands.
Prince is the same way. Some of these brands seem clueless as to how to approach getting brand loyalty in a customer base.
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bluetrain4
G.O.A.T.
She actually isn't Top 10 right now. But, she definitely should have been included since she's (a) a very visible player, somewhat of a "star" (even if it's been fading), and (b) not far removed from being the No. 1 player.
I always thought of Yonex as making good players sticks, but every time I check their new offerings it's mainly light, oversized, thick-beamed white racquets. From a performance and aesthetic perspective, I don't think those qualities are attractive to too many players. Additionally, rather than update cosmetics, they seem to throw out an entire line of racquets and start over. They've made some great racquets and the fit and finish of their products is excellent.
McLovin
Legend
Pat Cash & Andres Gomez come to mind, although Cash used Prince as well.
mrmike
Semi-Pro
There is a blast from the past, Andres Gomez! Did he use an R22, or maybe an R27? I used to like watching him play. Laid back guy but he could belt the heck out of the ball when he wanted to. I remember old Cliff Drysdale always calling him "Go Go".
Blitzball
Professional
Well honestly, I think many people just aren't willing to give Yonex racquets a try purely because of the rectangular headshapes. That's the reason I don't own any of their sticks-- I know Yonex makes quality racquets....but I just can't bring myself to abandon circular headshapes.
Relinquis
Hall of Fame
Why is the headshape an issue? you hit at the centre of the string-bed, not the edge of the frame.
it's like people who say they can't hit with a 93" frame because they shank the ball too often compared with their 100" frames. If you are really hitting 1 cm from the edge that often you're doing it wrong.
they should come out with a pro-spec line. something that is as close as possible to what their pros actually use. i would love to check out the sticks Rios, Hewitt and Wawrinka use(d), not lighter, daintier versions.
it's like people who say they can't hit with a 93" frame because they shank the ball too often compared with their 100" frames. If you are really hitting 1 cm from the edge that often you're doing it wrong.
they should come out with a pro-spec line. something that is as close as possible to what their pros actually use. i would love to check out the sticks Rios, Hewitt and Wawrinka use(d), not lighter, daintier versions.
New Vcore Tour 97s are thin beamed and the 330 version is definitely heavy.
VCORE tour 97s are rounder.
"they should come out with a pro-spec line"... not lighter, daintier versions"
Again, VCORE 97 Tour, 330 version, hefty tank, not light at all.
Jack Romeo
Professional
actually, it was only his second championship in 1994 when he used yonex. he was using a different brand when he won his first french open the previous year.
I agree that the isometric shape should be irrelevant, and I think it is the easiest way to explain away people's disinterest in the brand because perhaps the mental block is the result of socialization rather than the actual product. More specifically, it's hard to see yourself liking/doing something if you've never seen someone like you doing it. Players using Yonex tend to be female, hit with a 2 handed backhand, and play a style that has not yielded success relative to their peers. Male professionals who use Yonex tend to fall in the same category - easily forgetable grinders. I love that style, I love the racquets, but I think that people associate the square head with a very specific style of play that most don't like to think of as inspiring enough to lay out $200 to mimic, even if only symbolically. Martina Navrotilova is the only player I can think of who used a Yonex and had a 1hbh and played agressively.
sansaephanh
Professional
This man speaks truth. Which is why i play with 93-95's. Perfect in terms of spec range and feel for me.
Wawrinka is using Yonex and has one of the best one handers in tennis.
rdis10093
Hall of Fame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvDWfuGcWzY
one of the few guys that could take it to fed in 2006 his prime no less.
plays with a yonex and has one hander
one of the few guys that could take it to fed in 2006 his prime no less.
plays with a yonex and has one hander
Uvijek Argen
Semi-Pro
Also Joachim Johansson...one hand backhand and monster serve.
http://youtu.be/AiNIjvth8Qw
http://youtu.be/AiNIjvth8Qw
That guy has talent. Where is he ? I think he retired early due to injury.
Wawrinka has talent but lacks consistency. Proof of his talent is his great game against Djockovic in the Australian Open this year.
zapvor
G.O.A.T.
oh i love wawarinka. but marketing dollars are at work.
racertempo
Semi-Pro
What is this, the link is broken? Actually, the link says that an article on wiki does not exist.
"Cherry picking, suppressing evidence, or the fallacy of incomplete evidence is the act of pointing to individual cases or data that seem to confirm a particular position, while ignoring a significant portion of related cases or data that may contradict that position. It is a kind of fallacy of selective attention, the most common example of which is the confirmation bias. Cherry picking may be committed unintentionally.[1]
The term is based on the perceived process of harvesting fruit, such as cherries. The picker would be expected to only select the ripest and healthiest fruits. An observer who only sees the selected fruit may thus wrongly conclude that most, or even all, of the fruit is in such good condition.
Cherry picking can be found in many logical fallacies. For example, the "fallacy of anecdotal evidence" tends to overlook large amounts of data in favor of that known personally, "selective use of evidence" rejects material unfavorable to an argument, while a false dichotomy picks only two options when more are available.
The term is based on the perceived process of harvesting fruit, such as cherries. The picker would be expected to only select the ripest and healthiest fruits. An observer who only sees the selected fruit may thus wrongly conclude that most, or even all, of the fruit is in such good condition.
Cherry picking can be found in many logical fallacies. For example, the "fallacy of anecdotal evidence" tends to overlook large amounts of data in favor of that known personally, "selective use of evidence" rejects material unfavorable to an argument, while a false dichotomy picks only two options when more are available.
Brian11785
Hall of Fame
^^ Wow. Someone can (well....except for hyperlinks) copy and paste. Impressive.
No need to be snarky. Seriously though. No one was disputing your general argument about the perception of Yonex racquets as female and/or grinders' sticks. If anything the company's picking up of Wawrinka is possibly a sign that they are aware of those perceptions and actively trying to change them.
No need to be snarky. Seriously though. No one was disputing your general argument about the perception of Yonex racquets as female and/or grinders' sticks. If anything the company's picking up of Wawrinka is possibly a sign that they are aware of those perceptions and actively trying to change them.
Vertiz
Rookie
It's tough to breakout when there are so many major racket companies such as Wilson, Head, Prince, Babolat. In the US, Head and Babolat are the primary powers simply because of their marketing in the juniors/universities, along with their rackets being pretty awesome (literally 70% of the guys over here use bab PD). Yonex doesn't really market at all over here and I recently played with the 95D. Amaaazing racket, high quality, amazing packaging (came in this black cloth drawstring bag), and plays like a razer blade through butter. If they keep up what they're doing and manage to sign a player who breaks out and wins a few big titles they can easily jump into the mix.
Someone Else
Banned
Yonex: Made in Japan (at least all their expensive models).
All other brands: Made in China & yet...same price as Yonex.
That ends the matter for me.
All other brands: Made in China & yet...same price as Yonex.
That ends the matter for me.
racertempo
Semi-Pro
Chick stick at the pro level does not mean they are chick sticks in general. Most local player's games are a whole lot more similar to pro women's compared to pro men's games. Meaning, I enjoy watching women's doubles more then men's double's because it is more similar to my 4.0-4.5 doubles and I can learn more.
I love yonex frames, and I have been seeing much much more use of them in the past 2 years in my area....and I have never seen a woman with one in my area, women are playing a lot with the Juice around here. And I am the kind of person who notices what a person is playing with anytime I am near a court
I love yonex frames, and I have been seeing much much more use of them in the past 2 years in my area....and I have never seen a woman with one in my area, women are playing a lot with the Juice around here. And I am the kind of person who notices what a person is playing with anytime I am near a court
syke
Professional
That's a funny comment coming from someone who is from North Korea.
I bet the Koreans love the Japanese.
dekko1
Semi-Pro
That's a funny comment coming from someone who is from North Korea.
I bet the Koreans love the Japanese.
I don't come from N. Korea and I agree with that.
As for Yonex is not good for one hand backhands, how da hell can anyone say that?? Can someone pls explain to me with some proper scientific proof that this is the case?? This is one of the stupidest things I've heard, like saying Wilsons are not good for my topspin Lob, or my drop shots.
I've played with Yonex for a long time over the years, I have a one handed backhand and know, and have known many great players with one handed backhands that played with Yonex.
tistrapukcipeht
Professional
This thread is still going?
Yonex makes the best products, arguably, so only negative is their marketing and Tomic didn't do much for them tanking like that in front of 20K people.
Yonex makes the best products, arguably, so only negative is their marketing and Tomic didn't do much for them tanking like that in front of 20K people.
The square head shape definitely gives a bigger sweet spot on badminton racquets. I originally used Yamaha and Carlton badminton racquets 30 years ago, then Yonex became available. The build quality and ease of use with a huge sweet spot made them take over the badminton world, also the shoes. So I made the switch from Dunlop in tennis racquets as well. I have never been disappointed with the build quality or ease of use either.
vandre
Hall of Fame
didn't Navratilova win a boatload of majors with a yonex and a ohbh???
