Ezone snapped in half at handle

[Curtennis]

This is a first for me.
During a point in a match i felt a massive loss of power and I thought I broke a string. I looked down, clearly saw I didn’t and figured it was just in my head.
Halfway through that next point I realized my racquet is broken! I choked up on my grip, ran to the net and won the point with a volley
Then remembered my racquet was broken

I have 6 or 7 of these ezones that I rotate through play a lot. There’s no way this 3 year old racquet has that many miles on it.

Has anyone else experienced this? I included pictures of the hoop as well to show that I’m not a racquet smasher/abuser.

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[hitthefence38]

I have 3x ezones, and I played with it for a year. I have never seen it break at the handle like you.

 

[Trip]

@Curtennis - Wow Curt! Takes the phrase "man hands" to a new level!

 

[Curtennis]

I have 3x ezones, and I played with it for a year. I have never seen it break at the handle like you.

i just hope it’s not a sign of things to come as I invested in 6 of them (or is it 7?) cause I didn’t plan on ever switching away.

Let’s hope just a freak accident

 

[Trip]

Never even heard of something like this happening in any '22 EZones, or any Yonex ever, for that matter. At least not in that specific location. Thus, I'd have to presume it to be a freak QC fail. Probably a void in the layup, at precisely the right (wrong) location, and bam: eventual stress fail.

 

[superjon027]

I’ve had two racquets break at the buttcap, where it wasn’t stapled properly to the pallet. Luckily both happened within a year, so was covered under warranty.

Just curious, did it snap through the pallet and also through the hairpin? If not, you could probably repair the pallet with epoxy.

 

[Trip]

Just curious, did it snap through the pallet and also through the hairpin? If not, you could probably repair the pallet with epoxy.

​

That angle appears far too sizeable to just be the pallet foam. It's very likely a crack/break of the hairpin itself.

 

[Curtennis]

I’ve had two racquets break at the buttcap, where it wasn’t stapled properly to the pallet. Luckily both happened within a year, so was covered under warranty.

Just curious, did it snap through the pallet and also through the hairpin? If not, you could probably repair the pallet with epoxy.

Maybe at first it broke just through the pallet, but I swung it a few more times after. I must have been swinging it opposite of the broken side a couple of them cause it didn’t feel as broken.
The hairpin is absolutely broken if it wasn’t before.

 

[Rosstour]

Maybe at first it broke just through the pallet, but I swung it a few more times after. I must have been swinging it opposite of the broken side a couple of them cause it didn’t feel as broken.
The hairpin is absolutely broken if it wasn’t before.

That is odd. I have broken a few frames in a match before, but always in the lower hoop returning a big serve. I wonder if this was failing for a while and the grip obscured the cracks?

 

[mixtape]

You applied the grip too tightly!

But seriously... Wow!

 

[bobeeto]

There’s levels to the death grip…

 

[Curtennis]

That is odd. I have broken a few frames in a match before, but always in the lower hoop returning a big serve. I wonder if this was failing for a while and the grip obscured the cracks?

Between the grip and overgrip it probably was held together slightly longer than it otherwise would have been.

I’ve been using a pretty extreme western grip so have been catching the hoop more than usual lately.

 

[AmericanTwist]

maybe you should contact yonex and make a warranty claim. i've never seen a frame break at the handle before. I wouldn't be surprised if yonex shipped you a new one but asks for your old one back to do research on. Did you win that set? lol...

 

[A_Instead]

I have seen this with Wilson Pro staff before..

 

[Dadof2wildmonkeys]

Can we see with out the overgrip?

 

[Curtennis]

maybe you should contact yonex and make a warranty claim. i've never seen a frame break at the handle before. I wouldn't be surprised if yonex shipped you a new one but asks for your old one back to do research on. Did you win that set? lol...

It broke at 4-1 games in the third set after splitting the first two. I lost the game and ended up winning the third set at 7-6 (7-4 in tie break) I had to play with my 23 pure aero. Took some adjusting that late in the match in 90 degree weather with no more water left.

 

[Curtennis]

Can we see with out the overgrip?

I just fully snapped it in half, cause why not?
But the palled was already all broken. Just had to finish off the hairpin.

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[Dadof2wildmonkeys]

Wow, thanks. The pin is a graphite layup? The pin on my head speed pro is metal. I actually always wondered if some pins were graphite

 

[snoflewis]

You have a touch tennis racquet now. I see no misfortune here

 

[fritzhimself]

Wow, thanks. The pin is a graphite layup? The pin on my head speed pro is metal. I actually always wondered if some pins were graphite

Every tennis racket has a carbon hairpin under the handle. But there are these cheap aluminum rackets that have aluminum under the handle.
This is not the case with the Head Speed Pro.

@Curtennis I've never seen anything like that either.
In any case, that's a reason for complaint - it can only be a faulty racket.

 

[esm]

Wow, that’s nasty. lol.
Wondering what is the YY warranty on faulty equipment?

 

[Roads_to_tennis]

I believe you will definitely be able to get a new one under warranty (how old is it?)
Your racquet doesn't have any major paint chippings and graphite exposed, and also, it is done in 2 piece.

 

[ChrisJR3264]

These so called VDM and servo filter technologies to mute the frame need to be eliminated. Make something up, put foam in the head, silicone in the handle. Say you put something “unique” in the throat. Call it a day.

 

[Dadof2wildmonkeys]

Every tennis racket has a carbon hairpin under the handle. But there are these cheap aluminum rackets that have aluminum under the handle.
This is not the case with the Head Speed Pro.

@Curtennis I've never seen anything like that either.
In any case, that's a reason for complaint - it can only be a faulty racket.

Ah ok, i guess my mistake. I replaced the grip from 3 to 5 (tk82) on the head speed pro 360+ version , and thought it was metal, but i will take another look.

 

[fritzhimself]

Ah ok, i guess my mistake. I replaced the grip from 3 to 5 (tk82) on the head speed pro 360+ version , and thought it was metal, but i will take another look.

5 Griffe — Postimages

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I've done this many times and it's 100% carbon.

 

[McLovin]

 

[Curtennis]

Every tennis racket has a carbon hairpin under the handle. But there are these cheap aluminum rackets that have aluminum under the handle.
This is not the case with the Head Speed Pro.

@Curtennis I've never seen anything like that either.
In any case, that's a reason for complaint - it can only be a faulty racket.

If you know how to get in touch with anyone who gives a damn, I’d love to inquire. Even a courtesy discount would be nice. Like I mentioned earlier I’ve had it for about 3 years. But I rotate through 6 of them and also am an absolute racquetholic and play with tons of other racquets as well. If this was my only stick the amount of miles I have on it would be like 3 months of regular play. No way it’s more than that

 

[Donmikan]

Wow, thanks. The pin is a graphite layup? The pin on my head speed pro is metal. I actually always wondered if some pins were graphite

Maybe what you saw were the metal weights they place in the handle to increase weight

 

[Big_Dangerous]

I was thinking of this same thing, lol Radwanska:

 

[fritzhimself]

If you know how to get in touch with anyone who gives a damn, I’d love to inquire. Even a courtesy discount would be nice. Like I mentioned earlier I’ve had it for about 3 years. But I rotate through 6 of them and also am an absolute racquetholic and play with tons of other racquets as well. If this was my only stick the amount of miles I have on it would be like 3 months of regular play. No way it’s more than that

I think the most obvious would be the sports store where you bought those frames.
Even the online retailers should have an open ear for this.
Yonex normally deals with customer complaints very fairly.
As it stands, you certainly didn't saw the handle or use the racket incorrectly.
For this reason, a complaint should be successful.

 

[Roads_to_tennis]

Now there is another question on my mind.

Why do so many racquets break at this cross section? Is hairpin a weak or highly stressed part in tennis racquet?

 

[Automatix]

Now there is another question on my mind.

Why do so many racquets break at this cross section? Is hairpin a weak or highly stressed part in tennis racquet?

They don't. Where did you get the idea there are many instances of that kind of break?
That video of Radwańska is not only above the handle but also at the exact place where the plastic Cortex was placed.

 

[happyandbob]

I have seen this with Wilson Pro staff before..

I’ve also seen this with a recent Pro Staff, but closer to the buttcap.

 

[esgee48]

In post #17, OP said he finished snapping the handle off. If I were Yonex, I would have very much like to see the frame ‘as damaged’ and not completely snapped. They will not be able to assess if it was material failure as alleged in this thread, normal use or racquet abuse because the user finished the job and destroyed the evidence.

You could contact the place you bought the frame, but the frame is out of warranty. Contacting Yonex IMO is not likely to work since since you can’t send in the racquet with the damaged handle. Just giving you a reality check. FWIW, warranty periods start when the customer receives the product. They end when the period expires. Normally, they’re not extended cuz the item carries a liability booked cost which expires with the warranty. This applies whether you use the product or not since the product is not under the manufacturer’s control.

 

[Hit 'em clean]

Yep, this is appears to be bad mfg defect I would go back to place you bought it from. Usually they will at least ask their Yonex rep to take a look. I would imagine the rep could get a replacement approved but it would be an exception. Be as nice as possible when asking… they don’t have to replace it, even if they should. It’s the right thing to do even if it’s out of warranty. Just kindly ask and prey upon what will be most people’s reasonable sense to take care of it, but don’t assume. Ask right way and people will take care of you in most circumstances

 

[fritzhimself]

Today a club member showed me his “accident”.
He had only caught something in the fence anyway - his brother on the other side still heard the crack.
So material defects are ruled out in this case.



I've never seen it before, I didn't think it was possible.

 

[SupahMan5000]

I warrantied an Ezone last year for this

 

[Curtennis]

I can’t remember which retailer I got it from. Had 6 (5 now).
However I did emailed Yonex USA and hit them on Twitter and zero response.

Meanwhile I had a grommet issue with my girlfriends Babolat a few weeks ago, called them on the phone, spoke to a human and they sent her a brand new racquet, not just grommets as I had requested.
Fantastic service.

 

[SupahMan5000]

I can’t remember which retailer I got it from. Had 6 (5 now).
However I did emailed Yonex USA and hit them on Twitter and zero response.

Meanwhile I had a grommet issue with my girlfriends Babolat a few weeks ago, called them on the phone, spoke to a human and they sent her a brand new racquet, not just grommets as I had requested.
Fantastic service.

Yonex USA is kinda in shambles they’re severely understaffed. But if you call Torrance they usually can sort you out in a couple weeks

 

[ChrisJR3264]

I can’t remember which retailer I got it from. Had 6 (5 now).
However I did emailed Yonex USA and hit them on Twitter and zero response.

Meanwhile I had a grommet issue with my girlfriends Babolat a few weeks ago, called them on the phone, spoke to a human and they sent her a brand new racquet, not just grommets as I had requested.
Fantastic service.

If they’re not responding for this, I’d put them on blast. I know that sounds terrible - but let’s be honest. Retailers want to charge $300 for a racket and Yonex preaches how great their Japanese mfg quality is.

They’ve had issues with this servo filter on the percepts cracking as well.

 

[fritzhimself]

As I said, I've been stringing rackets for a good 30 years and tuning them for almost as long.
I have seen a lot of damaged frames, but always above the handle.

If there is damage, it doesn't come from nothing.
Someone must have helped it along.

Sorry - but I can't explain it any other way.
BTW - I have never destroyed a racket.

 

[onehandbh]

As I said, I've been stringing rackets for a good 30 years and tuning them for almost as long.
I have seen a lot of damaged frames, but always above the handle.

If there is damage, it doesn't come from nothing.
Someone must have helped it along.

Sorry - but I can't explain it any other way.
BTW - I have never destroyed a racket.

I've never hit or thrown my racquet, and my experience with breaking racquets is the similar to your's. All 10+ racquets I've broken have happened above the throat. More specifically, it has happened at around 4 or 8 o'clock and always from either serves or overheads.

 

[goldvixer]

happened to me around a year ago on my ezone 2022, and I had it for around one year, handle cracked in the same spot.

 

[LOBALOT]

This is a first for me.
During a point in a match i felt a massive loss of power and I thought I broke a string. I looked down, clearly saw I didn’t and figured it was just in my head.
Halfway through that next point I realized my racquet is broken! I choked up on my grip, ran to the net and won the point with a volley
Then remembered my racquet was broken

I have 6 or 7 of these ezones that I rotate through play a lot. There’s no way this 3 year old racquet has that many miles on it.

Has anyone else experienced this? I included pictures of the hoop as well to show that I’m not a racquet smasher/abuser.

IMG-0690 hosted at ImgBB

Image IMG-0690 in the Cmoretennis's images album

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IMG-0691 hosted at ImgBB

Image IMG-0691 in the Cmoretennis's images album

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IMG-0692 hosted at ImgBB

Image IMG-0692 in the Cmoretennis's images album

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IMG-0693 hosted at ImgBB

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It is a design feature to help dig up half volleys when you don't quite get past the service line.

 

[talynen]

Never even heard of something like this happening in any '22 EZones, or any Yonex ever, for that matter. At least not in that specific location. Thus, I'd have to presume it to be a freak QC fail. Probably a void in the layup, at precisely the right (wrong) location, and bam: eventual stress fail.

I had someone I sold a '25 Ezone 98 to tell me it cracked at the neck. No symptoms on the other two I had for a while before selling those also, though.

 

[Shaolin]

Yonex will probably cover that and send a new one. I would contact them.