Arm pain 2020 Yonex EZone 98 tour?
- Thread starter 5sets
- Start date
SupahMan5000
Hall of Fame
strings and tension hes using? also RA doesnt tell the whole story
McGradey
Hall of Fame
Could be a bunch of different reasons why the racquet was hard on his arm.
In my experience, you can trigger arm discomfort simply by changing racquets, no matter the specs — adjusting to different weights and balances can change your swing or timing, or the new specs may just irritate your arm, just as an overly stiff racquet or string can.
Even a racquet with a low/comfortable RA rating could cause a problem if it means you suddenly start swinging much harder or faster to compensate for the different performance.
As mentioned above, stiffness rating is only one factor and doesn't tell the whole story. The new Wilson Shift models have a relatively high RA rating but reviewers all describe the racquet as comfortable.
In my experience, you can trigger arm discomfort simply by changing racquets, no matter the specs — adjusting to different weights and balances can change your swing or timing, or the new specs may just irritate your arm, just as an overly stiff racquet or string can.
Even a racquet with a low/comfortable RA rating could cause a problem if it means you suddenly start swinging much harder or faster to compensate for the different performance.
As mentioned above, stiffness rating is only one factor and doesn't tell the whole story. The new Wilson Shift models have a relatively high RA rating but reviewers all describe the racquet as comfortable.
Sorry to hijak the post but i think this is exactly what’s happening to me! I’m coming out of a super light raquets (head instinct power 110) & have been trying all different types of racquets and weights and now I have arm pain. Any suggestions of how to get rid of the arm pain without having to take time off of tennis?!! I’m doing ice & Advil thx
I'm not a doctor, but every time I've tried to play through arm pain, it always got worse. I had to stop playing for a month to give my elbow the time it desperately needed to heal, and after that I made changes. I had a 2015 Pro Staff 97 that felt very tinny so I switched to the 2014 Pro Staff 90. The thin box beam, the high static weight, and gut in the mains all went a long way to keeping my arm healthy.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
When you demo racquets, you might get pain because a lot of them have dead poly strings on them as poly demos don’t get restrung every 10-15 hours as is needed. Better to demo racquets with soft strings.
Wow a month? Ugh
Wow really? Ugh but i don’t have a choice with what they give me right? I’m worried this is going to cause me time of tennis now ugh i wonder if pt would help...
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Tennis Warehouse gives you the choice of poly or multi strings on demos.
Great to know thx
ChrisJR3264
Legend
I’ve never found the racket to give me tennis elbow. The string set up and tension has a lot to do with it.
ChrisJR3264
Legend
What a meant to say was any racket to give me tennis elbow. When it did I just adjusted my string set up.
Was playing with the DR98 and then switched to the Tour in '20 for more stability and plow-thru; I'm convinced the Tour worsened/accelerated my shoulder issues. Coming back from shoulder surgery I started playing with the PK Black Ace 300. No arm or shoulder issues and back to hitting big serves without any next day soreness.
Saitamaxpunch1
Rookie
Never tried the 2020 EZT, but I switched to the 2022 EZT after my elbow was hurting on Babolats and it seems to have fixed the issue (despite the exact same string setups).
MiddlingPlayer
Rookie
Got TE playing with the EZT2020 after 3 months(never had it before). I string my own rackets and always kept the strings fresh and strung between 48-52lbs.
Since having moved on from that racket, no TE with any other rackets since.
Since having moved on from that racket, no TE with any other rackets since.
yourtennisfit
Professional
The Ezone is not an armfriendly racket - RA doesn't tell the entire story here.
Somewhere between the VDM and the thin throat, the racket feels muted but more jarring than a lot of comparable options. Plus the tour is a heavy stick.
That is also why the Pure Drive doesn't necessarily have to be bad just because of its 70+RA
if the stick doesn't produce as much vibration to your arm, you are fine regardless of the RA rating
Somewhere between the VDM and the thin throat, the racket feels muted but more jarring than a lot of comparable options. Plus the tour is a heavy stick.
That is also why the Pure Drive doesn't necessarily have to be bad just because of its 70+RA
if the stick doesn't produce as much vibration to your arm, you are fine regardless of the RA rating
Crocodile
G.O.A.T.
Yes I have had feedback from 2 people that they experienced elbow pain from this racquet and they think it’s due to how the weight was distributed iin concert to being an isometric head. I can’t say whether this is the case but haven’t heard much negative feedback from the standard E Zone which gets a better rap.
5sets
Hall of Fame
Thanks guys, that’s great intel! I ended up getting a Vcore Pro 97H. I’m liking the specs on paper and i played a leaded up 97 310g four months ago so it shouldn’t be such a big change. With a leather grip and overgrip mine’s about 12.6 Oz which is about .3 Oz heavier than my leaded up 310s were, so time will tell if my 42 year old arm can handle it deep in a second set……
tele
Hall of Fame
I don't know your level, so some of or all of this may be redundant. This worked for me, but YMMV:
see a doctor - nothing on this forum can be considered medical advice, and it would be a good idea to assess how much trouble your elbow is actually in
do you use a loose grip? if not, focusing on maintaining one on your groundstrokes can make large difference to shock transmitted to your arm. If you find it impossible to loosen your grip, you are probably arming the ball and should get someone to help you with your form.
Choosing a racquet and getting used to it will help. Err on the side of frames described as "arm friendly" with a more open string pattern. Prince ATS Textreme Tour 290 might be a good one to try.
Moreover, if you are not striking cleanly all the time, keeping your head focused, Federer-style, on the contact point (which needs to be in front of your body), before, during, and immediately after contact can improve timing and boost your chances of hitting the sweet spot, which will also reduce shock to your arm.
get the softest strings you can use. Although many say any non-poly string is sufficient, the small comfort differences between multis can be amplified if you have an injury. String with isospeed professional classic or control classic unless you are going to use natural gut.
Get a flexbar and do the tyler twist exercises, including after your pain subsides.
Hope you feel better soon.
Thx so much! I ended up seeing an orthopediest & I have rotator cuff tendinitis ugh! I think the grips were normal from the demos. Great to know about the strings thx!
So when players go from a super powerful frames to testings tons of frames which require player generated power....players start using to much upper body muscle(s) and not enough core/legs. This combined with gripping the racquet too tightly tends to cause injury in the elbow or shoulder. Demoing is risky as the strings might arrive dead and the young player lacks experience enough to know. You can reduce the risky by using multi-filament.(as mentioned before)
My suggestion would be focus on Rehab and waiting longer than you expect before you start playing. I would focus on anti-inflammatory diet/medicine/herbs/etc. I would wait longer than I felt was needed then try super friendly frames like those made by Prokennex/Prince. I would play with friendly strings. I would work on my grip and swings for a bit then look for a new frame. It should be less jarring then going from a 110 to 100 testing everything.
heavyD
Hall of Fame
But the Pure Drive is bad. It's the first racquet that introduced tennis elbow to my body and I experimented with a variety of strings.
yourtennisfit
Professional
Not saying that it might not be a problem - but I think it's more than just the RA doing that
Bill Lobsalot
Hall of Fame
Go with syngut at 45 and any racket will be arm friendly. I wanted to like poly, but felt plasticky to me and very firm.
thx this is super helpful & makes a lot of sense. So once I'm better & eventually go back to demoing, am I better off ordering from TW to demo vs my local tennis store (where I've been getting the other demos) in order to ensure they come with friendly strings? I'm only a 3.5 level so I've been demoing the team lines in different brands. thx again
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how tall are you?
I'm 5'5 & 108 pounds
Just wanted to double check you weren't aiming too light...
thx do u think I am?
I am biased I started with a full size adult racquet at a young age. I believe in the heaviest racquet possible. The lighter the racquet the more your timing needs to be spot on...the more you need a really good swing...the more you need to be relaxed. The other issue it depends on who you are playing. There is a reason pros use such heavy racquets. I don't think for your height/size a team racquet, Gravity S or other slightly light racquet is wrong. The problem with light racquets is often players will grip it tighter, swing "harder" ...trying to increase power. When they normally need to relax more, work on timing, string for more pop and try to improve their stroke/footwork.
In the end it depends on the players you are playing and how you play. A team racquet is wtihin the range I would expect for someone your height. If you were lets say 6 feet it would be abnormal, but if you had spot on timing and played well.(at six feet) it would still be fine.(as long as you weren't being pushed around) Normally for a second racquet I would recommend Speed Mp, Prince Textreme Tour 290. Gravity S or Speed Team if you need something lighter. If the person had a strong one handed backhand 98s would start to creep into the list, but all the above can play well one handed. Normally for a second racquet you are looking for extra pop, spin potential and I prefer a slightly neutral racquet.(room to grow is a nice bonus) If the racquet is too spin friendly players might not learn how to add spin themselves. Spin is important as it is what helps you keep the ball in....
I also try to avoid stiff racquet recommendations because you never know how the player is going to string the racquet as they progress. It is safer to have injury protection built in. If the racquet becomes too powerful they often string it with stiff strings/high tension versus learning to add more topsin, buy a new racquet or shorten their swing a bit.
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thx I sent u a message
Fighting phoenix
Hall of Fame
So the Ezone 98Tour 2020 vs 2022 - even the the RA of the 2020 version was lower, is the consensus that it might be harder on the arm?
I've been reading a lot of forums where this seems to be a cult following of the 2022 EZ98Tour. How different is it from the 2020 model? Better? Worse?
I've been reading a lot of forums where this seems to be a cult following of the 2022 EZ98Tour. How different is it from the 2020 model? Better? Worse?
5sets
Hall of Fame
They are both arm killers is what I’m hearing. I bought EZone 98 tour 2020 because it’s listed as lower RA then the 22 but thankfully returned it before I used it because even though it’s RA isn’t bad EZones really tear apart shoulders and elbows as I’ve heard on this thread and Jonas.
Saitamaxpunch1
Rookie
I went to the EZT 2022 to rest my arm from the pain I got from babolats (see my signature). It wasn’t overnight but after 2 months my elbow and wrist pain are gone (despite me still playing). I am not sure about 2020, but haven’t heard anyone mention issues with the 2022.
Oddly I did have some arm pain in the regular EZ 2022
Note I use high gauge (18) and low tension (42lbs) in all my rackets so that may be a factor
Oddly I did have some arm pain in the regular EZ 2022
Note I use high gauge (18) and low tension (42lbs) in all my rackets so that may be a factor
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is the same true for the eZone 100 L do u know?
5sets
Hall of Fame
I think so. It has to do with the way the eZones are constructed. Although they don’t have as high stiffness as Babolats on contact they are not so muted as a Pro Kennex or Volkl. Of course without having seen you play take that with a grain of salt. What’s good for me may not work for you and so on.
It has a high vibration frequency(153 Hz) and on the stiffer side of frames at 68. I would use safer strings and if using poly I would be careful to restring in a timely manner. The Vibration Frequency says it would could be a arm killer. I am not sure I would worry with Multi-filament. I wouldn't string with stiff poly at high tension. It is similar to a Pure Drive in that you need to be careful with how you string it. The main negative of the frame is as a player grows they can string themselves into a likely injury. It can happen with most frames, but high power stiff frames tend to be the especially problematic.
Would I avoid the frame? No not if you really like it. Just make sure you pay attention and don't go crazy with reigning in the racquet with high tension strings.
gotcha good to know thx
great info thx!
Doulke
New User
I also find the 2020 tour being a stiff racket.
If I play over an hour, 1,5 to 2 the next day I get some soreness on the tennis elbow.
I use strings that are on the softer side and hybrids. It is muted so crisper polys fit better to it.
Also I string lower than 50 and have added blue tac in the handle.
I like it cause it’s the most powerful racket I have used but also provides good control, pure drive feels less powerful with less control and needs a lot of spin to be able to use it and keep the ball in.
But due to its “stiffness“ I ve set it aside and prefer my gravity pro and blade.
If I play over an hour, 1,5 to 2 the next day I get some soreness on the tennis elbow.
I use strings that are on the softer side and hybrids. It is muted so crisper polys fit better to it.
Also I string lower than 50 and have added blue tac in the handle.
I like it cause it’s the most powerful racket I have used but also provides good control, pure drive feels less powerful with less control and needs a lot of spin to be able to use it and keep the ball in.
But due to its “stiffness“ I ve set it aside and prefer my gravity pro and blade.
