Ezone 98 2022, Racket of the year or too early??

[KC!]

They had a NAIA tournament at one of my clubs this past weekend. They had the two top women's teams in the country competing in the finals. Keiser College out of Florida & Georgia Gwinnett College out of Georgia. 95% of these girls were using either a Yonex Ezone or Vcore racquets. It was some high-level tennis, these girls were crushing the ball. Definitely interesting how Yonex has taken over as main racquet on college courts it seems. It used to be Blades you would see as the main racquets on courts, Yonex is doing something right. My current racquet is the Blade Pro, but Yonex has me intrigued with their new Ezone's & Vcore's.

 

[Power Player]

I don't know why, but I just can't get on this Ezone bandwagon. I am currently using a Vcore Pro 100 (newest generation) for playing doubles and have been on a search for something with a lil more free power to play singles with as I am not as young as I used to be and like some more free power until I get more in shape. I figured with me using the Vcore Pro that a Vcore/Ezone would have been the ticket. I tried the Vcore 100 and 98 and both more than I was looking for. Got the Ezone 100 and I just could not like it or get to used to, so I figured let me try the 98 and it was the same feeling. I just could not get used to it, very weird since my vcore pro was like heaven on earth within 10 mins hitting with it. I ended up switching with my buddy who has the 360+ extreme tour (which I am pretty sure exact specs as E98 minus beam) and the head just felt all around better. Does the Ezone line take some more time to get used to? I liked the free power it gave me and it didn't do anything bad, but not great either. The feel compared to my VcorePro was not even close. The one I demo'd was a 2022 model, does 2020 have better feel?

Vcore pro has a much different feel, much more classic and soft. The regular Vcores are softer so you may like those. Feel on the 2022 Ezone is better than the 2020 by a bit - imo.

Things to try - lower tension - 45#s or so with full poly, the pocketing is great then.

Honestly the Ez98 may not be for you and the Head may be the way to go. The thing to understand is once you go more modern and forgving you will sacrifice some of that buttery feel from the old frames. It will boil down to how much you want to sacrifice. For me the EZ98 is quite good for being a modern frame. That said, if you want a 98 that feels insanely good, the Blade Pro is the way forward. But it is more of a head heavy frame and has a higher SW.

I'd demo the new Diadem Elevate, that may do it for you. And compare it to the Head Extreme Tour. There are not many other frames that will toe the line between classic and modern. Another option would be the Pure Strike Vs, but that is probably not going to give you much free power. So for free power while still playing like a control frame, the Ezone98 is top tier, but the Diadem and Extreme Tour are great alternatives if you don't like the Ezone.

 

[scottydc5]

Vcore pro has a much different feel, much more classic and soft. The regular Vcores are softer so you may like those. Feel on the 2022 Ezone is better than the 2020 by a bit - imo.

Things to try - lower tension - 45#s or so with full poly, the pocketing is great then.

Honestly the Ez98 may not be for you and the Head may be the way to go. The thing to understand is once you go more modern and forgving you will sacrifice some of that buttery feel from the old frames. It will boil down to how much you want to sacrifice. For me the EZ98 is quite good for being a modern frame. That said, if you want a 98 that feels insanely good, the Blade Pro is the way forward. But it is more of a head heavy frame and has a higher SW.

I'd demo the new Diadem Elevate, that may do it for you. And compare it to the Head Extreme Tour. There are not many other frames that will toe the line between classic and modern. Another option would be the Pure Strike Vs, but that is probably not going to give you much free power. So for free power while still playing like a control frame, the Ezone98 is top tier, but the Diadem and Extreme Tour are great alternatives if you don't like the Ezone.

I am going to try a Vcore 100 again and I actually have the Diadem showing up tomorrow or Wednesday. Everyone I talk to says the Vcore 100 is the racquet I am always asking about. More free power than the Vcore Pro 100 and less power than my PD and FX500. The Vcore 100 is the first one out of their mouth followed by the 360+ Extreme Tour (but customized)