Help me decide: Ezone 98, vcore 98 or vcore pro 97

WayneBretsky

WayneBretsky

Rookie
Trying to decide between these 3 rackets. Really enjoy all of them, each with pros and cons.

Ezone 98
- plush yet solid feel, not as much spin potential as vcore

Vcore 98
- spin machine, but a bit harsher on my arm, especially on off center hits

Vcore pro 97
- incredibly comfortable yet lacks a little punch, great touch

I’m leaning toward Ezone or vcore pro because of some arm discomfort from vcore 98, but love the racket. Ezone seems to be better overall but that comfort and feel of the pro is delicious. What do you guys think? Help me decide!
 
SupahMan5000

SupahMan5000

Hall of Fame
what's your game style?

if you play well with all 3 its prob a crapshoot of which one youll like more in the long term. i will say with the 310 it feels great, but depending on how you hit it might wear you down? working harder to hit through the ball over time could lead to dissatisfaction. but if you have a big hitter style game VCP could be perfect

personally as a big hitter (if i had to choose in this weight class) im going with EZ98. easy power, enough control that it comes down to your shot selection and technique, and just nice well rounded stability. the less spin potential doesnt bother me i hit a flatter ball anyway. only hit with more top spin when i am on defense and it is easier to generate that myself when the pace is lower
 
KC!

KC!

Hall of Fame
VCORE if you hit with spin, Ezone if your stroke is more flat. Are you currently hitting with 2021 or 2023? There is a big difference in stiffness, 2023 much more comfortable.The VCORE Pro is more of a control racquet, so you’ll have to generate more of your own power than with other two. But very comfortable racquet, so just have to weigh options.
 
WayneBretsky

WayneBretsky

Rookie
SupahMan5000 said:
what's your game style?

if you play well with all 3 its prob a crapshoot of which one youll like more in the long term. i will say with the 310 it feels great, but depending on how you hit it might wear you down? working harder to hit through the ball over time could lead to dissatisfaction. but if you have a big hitter style game VCP could be perfect

personally as a big hitter (if i had to choose in this weight class) im going with EZ98. easy power, enough control that it comes down to your shot selection and technique, and just nice well rounded stability. the less spin potential doesnt bother me i hit a flatter ball anyway. only hit with more top spin when i am on defense and it is easier to generate that myself when the pace is lower
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Im a bit of a mix of aggressive all courter that likes to counter punch. 4.5-5.0 level currently. Good problem to have where I like all 3 rackets for different reasons. I think Ezone is probably best blend of everything. Anybody play with the vcore pro and wish they had more pop? Or am I psyching myself out lol?
 
CAREDDINGTON

CAREDDINGTON

Semi-Pro
WayneBretsky said:
Trying to decide between these 3 rackets. Really enjoy all of them, each with pros and cons.

Ezone 98
- plush yet solid feel, not as much spin potential as vcore

Vcore 98
- spin machine, but a bit harsher on my arm, especially on off center hits

Vcore pro 97
- incredibly comfortable yet lacks a little punch, great touch

I’m leaning toward Ezone or vcore pro because of some arm discomfort from vcore 98, but love the racket. Ezone seems to be better overall but that comfort and feel of the pro is delicious. What do you guys think? Help me decide!
Click to expand...
Vcore Pro 97 is the much better option. However, if you can not generate enough power with the Pro I would go with the Vcore 98 and string it with a softer string(copolys or mulitfiliments) to compensate. But if you can generate the power, Pro all the way.
 
CAREDDINGTON

CAREDDINGTON

Semi-Pro
Also, you could try the Diadem Elevate V3. The Elevate line of rackets from Diadem, especially the V3, are very comfortable yet do not sacrifice precision or power.
 
SupahMan5000

SupahMan5000

Hall of Fame
WayneBretsky said:
Im a bit of a mix of aggressive all courter that likes to counter punch. 4.5-5.0 level currently. Good problem to have where I like all 3 rackets for different reasons. I think Ezone is probably best blend of everything. Anybody play with the vcore pro and wish they had more pop? Or am I psyching myself out lol?
Click to expand...

that's why in this weight class I went with the Ezone 98 just much easier to use and pretty predictable response. I wanted to like the VCP310 cause it leaves room for customization but it is just too anemic for my liking.

in the VCP range the 97D is much better imo. but that is if you want to use a 12oz racket. you would also be lacking more spin potential in that than the EZ98.

Ezone 98 is great for all-courter if you find the 310 lacking in power. just nice blend of power and stability for blocking shots back on defense and really ripping the ball on offense
 
Torps

Torps

Semi-Pro
WayneBretsky said:
Trying to decide between these 3 rackets. Really enjoy all of them, each with pros and cons.

Ezone 98
- plush yet solid feel, not as much spin potential as vcore

Vcore 98
- spin machine, but a bit harsher on my arm, especially on off center hits

Vcore pro 97
- incredibly comfortable yet lacks a little punch, great touch

I’m leaning toward Ezone or vcore pro because of some arm discomfort from vcore 98, but love the racket. Ezone seems to be better overall but that comfort and feel of the pro is delicious. What do you guys think? Help me decide!
Click to expand...
Having owned all three in the past year v7 VCore 98 all the way.. more traditional eastern flat hitter here I feel like this racket does everything better than the EZ98 and VCP97. The 97D is the best though if you are ok with the 320gm frame. It can do everything and there’s more than enough spin production. It’s still more lower powered than the Ezone or VCore though
 
brentzki

brentzki

Rookie
VCore 98 '23 is very plush and arm friendly IMO. What demo strings were in it? Were they dead? I found the VCore 98 better on the arm than the EZ98 IMO.

That said I owned the EZ98 for a brief stint and now own the VCore 98 and I think the VCore 98 does pretty much everything but a bit better, besides serving and returning. The EZ98 is probs better in that department.
 
Torps

Torps

Semi-Pro
brentzki said:
VCore 98 '23 is very plush and arm friendly IMO. What demo strings were in it? Were they dead? I found the VCore 98 better on the arm than the EZ98 IMO.

That said I owned the EZ98 for a brief stint and now own the VCore 98 and I think the VCore 98 does pretty much everything but a bit better, besides serving and returning. The EZ98 is probs better in that department.
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VC98 is the better racket for returning imo if you’re aggressive and take the ball on the short hop. The launch and spin help keep the ball in while taking time away from your opponent. I’ve found zero loss in stability against big serves compared to the Ezone.
 
brentzki

brentzki

Rookie
Torps said:
VC98 is the better racket for returning imo if you’re aggressive and take the ball on the short hop. The launch and spin help keep the ball in while taking time away from your opponent. I’ve found zero loss in stability against big serves compared to the Ezone.
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Agree when you can get a good swipe at it that it's great at returning, holds rock solid in the stability department. I'm a 1hbh player and just found the EZ98 was strong at block and chip returns when you dont have much time or able to get a good swipe. Feel like sometimes if I do it with the VC98 it could sail long. Think you always need to apply some form of slice or spin on return with VC98 if you want it to be consistent.
 
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Torps

Torps

Semi-Pro
brentzki said:
Agree when you can get a good swipe at it that it's great at returning, holds rock solid in the stability department. I'm a 1hbh player and just found the EZ98 was strong at block and chip returns when you dont have much time or able to get a good swipe. Feel like sometimes if I do it with the VC98 it could sail long. Think you always need to apply some form of slice or spin on return with VC98 if you want it to be consistent.
Click to expand...
Gotcha.. makes sense
 
FuzzyYellowBalls

FuzzyYellowBalls

Legend
Ezone, whatever racket has "more spin potential" is really not going to be significantly more to the point of winning matches. The Ezone is the compromise. Save the arm.
 
brentzki

brentzki

Rookie
FuzzyYellowBalls said:
Ezone, whatever racket has "more spin potential" is really not going to be significantly more to the point of winning matches. The Ezone is the compromise. Save the arm.
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It's more than just spin potential tbh. It's more so how the racquet swings through the air. I personally think the beam on the VC98 swings much better for those who brush the ball and follow through with the tip of the racquet, vs EZ98 which I think swings better flatter strokes. I think this also correlates with how the EZ98 cuts through the air on those flat 1st bombs with how the beam is designed, which I think people rave about how good the EZ98 is for serving.

The VC98 is going to be better if you hit with spin on every shot than the EZ98 as you're likely to have more safety and security of the ball dipping in with higher launch angle. I personally always hit with spin, it just comes down to how much penetration vs spin I choose to put on the ball. Which is why I gravitate towards the VC98 more as it accommodates my playstyle better.

I think it ultimately comes down to how they hit the ball and how it feels vs. "spin potential"
 
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brentzki

brentzki

Rookie
FuzzyYellowBalls said:
While you two agree and it is in general more arm friendly, the OP 's arm has had issues already with the VC, no need to risk taking 6 months off with TE.
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That's why I asked which model, and what string etc were in the racquet. There's been no real feedback of arm discomfort for the new VC98 model so far from those who have owned it, whereas the EZ98 has found multiple cases of arm sensitivity. It could be potentially detrimental to recommend the EZ98 if its the recommendation is based off arm comfort.
 
T

Trip

Hall of Fame
@WayneBretsky - As an aggressive all-courter who likes to counterpunch and hits flat, go EZ98, no contest. Long-term, I think you'll find the VC98 won't be as controllable and the VCP97 310 will be too underpowered.

As for comfort, I think you can find as much as you need via string setup -- ie. a soft copoly strung low enough (ex: Mayami Tour Hex, Hyper-G Soft / Ghostwire), a spinny hybrid (ex: Ocho TNT / Cream), or full-bed synthetic (ex: Ocho TNT / Multifeel).
 
S

Srik

Rookie
Vcore pro 97 310 - this is generally low on free power and stability too. What would be best soft copoly full bed that adds to some free power on full big swings ?
 
T

Trip

Hall of Fame
I find it very interesting that the VCP is even in the conversation here when the word counterpunching is at least a somewhat sizeable requirement. The 97 310 is woefully lacking on easy power and the extreme level of dwell and pocketing are typically not on most counterpunchers' grocery lists... OP, just stick with the EZ98 and string a modern, soft co-poly under 50 pounds and/or mix in enough synthetic/gut, and your arm should be fine.
 
S

stapletonj

Hall of Fame
I have also tried all 3 and stuck with my vcore. I have also had arm problems in the past with hyper G at 57 lbs. (!) Went to gutM/polyX and 61/55 and have had no arm trouble AT ALL since.
Of course, YMMV.
 
P

Paulo Braz

Semi-Pro
My yonex are L3 size, and I wanted to test them with a smaller grip, because I feel that a smaller grip helps me in the forehad and a bigger one in the backhand, I don't know but I feel that difference. With that I removed the cushion grip, and I'm using it with two overgrips. To compensate for the difference in weight, I placed about 8.5g of lead next to the buttcap. This left the racquet with its original weight and more HL, having a more manageable feel. Even playing without a cushon grip, it didn't affect comfort that much.
 
ichaseballs

ichaseballs

Professional
i used the v6 vc98 without any issues. same setup on the v7 gave me some elbow pain. even though the v6 is stiffer, it has a denser string bed.
i think the VCP97 with a bit of weight is your best bet. even 1 gram at 3+9 each was enough for me. plush comfort yet controllable power. it def does not have the ez power like the vcore or ezone.
 
T

Trip

Hall of Fame
NapalmFist said:
Get the VCORE Pro 97D
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A super solid stick that solves all the instability problems of the 97 310 and has quite possibly one of the most consistent string beds of any stick made, but IMHO, unless the OP has tremendous, consistent racquet head speed and a healthy portion of brute strength, I think he'll ultimately find the D too low-powered and too cumbersome, and is much better off with an EZ98, customized to whatever spec is desired.

TL;DR - Not that we should be modeling most, or any, of our decision after pro's, but if Ben Shelton saw the writing on the wall, I think the rest of us could take some hints, too (granted, he switched from an easier-swinging HD, but that drives the point home even further). Again, not that the D isn't a joy to play with just for the sake of it; but if competition is involved for the OP, then IMHO EZ98 all the way.
 
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N

NapalmFist

New User
Trip said:
A super solid stick that solves all the instability problems of the 97 310 and has quite possibly one of the most consistent string beds of any stick made, but IMHO, unless the OP has tremendous, consistent racquet head speed and a healthy portion of brute strength, I think he'll ultimately find the D too low-powered and too cumbersome, and is much better off with an EZ98, customized to whatever spec is desired.

TL;DR - Not that we should be modeling most, or any, of our decision after pro's, but if Ben Shelton saw the writing on the wall, I think the rest of us could take some hints, too (granted, he switched from an easier-swinging HD, but that drives the point home even further). Again, not that the D isn't a joy to play with just for the sake of it; but if competition is involved for the OP, then IMHO EZ98 all the way.
Click to expand...
I clearly have a strong preference for control racquets. I don't really give any creedence to what pros play with because they don't play with stock models and much of those decisions are probably money based. Many people claim players are playing with totally different racquets painted to match their sponsor racquet, which is all about companies driving sales.
 
bnjkn

bnjkn

Professional
I'm also thinking about getting one of these. Right now I'm looking for consistency from the baseline, especially depth consistency.

I don't want my shots to be too deep because during matches when my shots are landing too close to the opponent's baseline, that triggers my fear of hitting too long out, because sometimes there's not enough topspin on my shots, and then I start to swing slower just to make the ball land shorter, and I hate when that happens.

I'm aware that this is mostly topspin technique that I have to work on, and that a new racquet will not solve my tecnique issues, but I'm not sure if it is a "spin racquet" (like a Vcore) or a "control racquet" (like the VCP 97D) that could help with depth consistency, or maybe the EZ98 since the weight of the D could hurt spin generation for me (as I might not be able to swing it as fast).
 
SupahMan5000

SupahMan5000

Hall of Fame
bnjkn said:
I'm also thinking about getting one of these. Right now I'm looking for consistency from the baseline, especially depth consistency.

I don't want my shots to be too deep because during matches when my shots are landing too close to the opponent's baseline, that triggers my fear of hitting too long out, because sometimes there's not enough topspin on my shots, and then I start to swing slower just to make the ball land shorter, and I hate when that happens.

I'm aware that this is mostly topspin technique that I have to work on, and that a new racquet will not solve my tecnique issues, but I'm not sure if it is a "spin racquet" (like a Vcore) or a "control racquet" (like the VCP 97D) that could help with depth consistency, or maybe the EZ98 since the weight of the D could hurt spin generation for me (as I might not be able to swing it as fast).
Click to expand...
you will be fine with the EZ98. it seems like you hit a flatter shot?

theres enough spin potential in the EZ98 to get a little more shape once you work on your technique
 
A

artdeco

Semi-Pro
Trip said:
A super solid stick that solves all the instability problems of the 97 310 and has quite possibly one of the most consistent string beds of any stick made, but IMHO, unless the OP has tremendous, consistent racquet head speed and a healthy portion of brute strength, I think he'll ultimately find the D too low-powered and too cumbersome, and is much better off with an EZ98, customized to whatever spec is desired.

TL;DR - Not that we should be modeling most, or any, of our decision after pro's, but if Ben Shelton saw the writing on the wall, I think the rest of us could take some hints, too (granted, he switched from an easier-swinging HD, but that drives the point home even further). Again, not that the D isn't a joy to play with just for the sake of it; but if competition is involved for the OP, then IMHO EZ98 all the way.
Click to expand...
Honestly I think the HD is actually a recipe for arm problems unless you are 6ft4 and incredibly strong, or you use gut mains.
I currently have full synthetic gut, and while it's incredible for slices, it's a lot of effort on serve and forehand (effortless tho on one hand backhand).
 
bnjkn

bnjkn

Professional
SupahMan5000 said:
you will be fine with the EZ98. it seems like you hit a flatter shot?

theres enough spin potential in the EZ98 to get a little more shape once you work on your technique
Click to expand...
Yes, my shots have a clear tendency to be flatter. I wasn't fully aware of this until recently when I played some matches in a club tournament. It became clear that (naturally I was more nervous than during practice) many times my shots were lacking spin and that hurt my confidence to swing out and go for my shots. I definitely need to work to get more shape on the shots.
 
C

Chalkdust

Professional
WayneBretsky said:
Trying to decide between these 3 rackets. Really enjoy all of them, each with pros and cons.

Ezone 98
- plush yet solid feel, not as much spin potential as vcore

Vcore 98
- spin machine, but a bit harsher on my arm, especially on off center hits

Vcore pro 97
- incredibly comfortable yet lacks a little punch, great touch

I’m leaning toward Ezone or vcore pro because of some arm discomfort from vcore 98, but love the racket. Ezone seems to be better overall but that comfort and feel of the pro is delicious. What do you guys think? Help me decide!
Click to expand...
WayneBretsky said:
Im a bit of a mix of aggressive all courter that likes to counter punch. 4.5-5.0 level currently. Good problem to have where I like all 3 rackets for different reasons. I think Ezone is probably best blend of everything. Anybody play with the vcore pro and wish they had more pop? Or am I psyching myself out lol?
Click to expand...
I'm similar to you in level and playing style.

Two generations ago I demo'd the Vcore 98 and Vcore 95 amongst others. I found the Vcore 98 to have unpleasant vibrations for me - felt harsh. Vcore 95 felt great and ended up being my main stick. I did need to add some lead to it though.

Then one generation ago I did some more demos. Tried the Vcore Pro, the Ezone 98, and the Ezone Tour. There was nothing objectionable about the Pro, but it just didn't do anything for me. The Ezone 98 was ok, but not great. The EZT was fantastic, and I ended up switching to it. The 2020 Tour is not just the 98 with added weight, it also has more flex.

Lately I demo'd the new Vcore 98 and new Ezone 98. I still don't like the Vcore 98 - still feels harsh. The new Ezone 98 I do really like - feels much better than the previous generation, and actually feels similar to my EZT only a bit lighter. I'm sticking with the 2020 EZT for now, but if I had to choose a new stick, I'd go with the new Ezone 98 and add some weight to it. I believe it now has the same flex as the new EZT, so I would go with the regular and customize rather than the tour.

One stick I have not yet tried but want to is the new Vcore 95. Based on previous experience, if I had to choose a stick from the Vcore line, this is the one I would likely prefer.
 
WayneBretsky

WayneBretsky

Rookie
Chalkdust said:
I'm similar to you in level and playing style.

Two generations ago I demo'd the Vcore 98 and Vcore 95 amongst others. I found the Vcore 98 to have unpleasant vibrations for me - felt harsh. Vcore 95 felt great and ended up being my main stick. I did need to add some lead to it though.

Then one generation ago I did some more demos. Tried the Vcore Pro, the Ezone 98, and the Ezone Tour. There was nothing objectionable about the Pro, but it just didn't do anything for me. The Ezone 98 was ok, but not great. The EZT was fantastic, and I ended up switching to it. The 2020 Tour is not just the 98 with added weight, it also has more flex.

Lately I demo'd the new Vcore 98 and new Ezone 98. I still don't like the Vcore 98 - still feels harsh. The new Ezone 98 I do really like - feels much better than the previous generation, and actually feels similar to my EZT only a bit lighter. I'm sticking with the 2020 EZT for now, but if I had to choose a new stick, I'd go with the new Ezone 98 and add some weight to it. I believe it now has the same flex as the new EZT, so I would go with the regular and customize rather than the tour.

One stick I have not yet tried but want to is the new Vcore 95. Based on previous experience, if I had to choose a stick from the Vcore line, this is the one I would likely prefer.
Click to expand...
Agreed, if I could describe the vcore it would be “harsh”. VCP feels great but I think it’ll be underpowered. Leaning heavily towards EZ98
 
P

Paulo Braz

Semi-Pro
How do you compare the Vcore 95 2023 vs Ezone 98 2022 in the following respects? I ask because I liked the Vcore 100 and its handling, does the 95 have a similar handling?

- Control
- Power
- Stability
- launch angle
- Maneuverability
 
WayneBretsky

WayneBretsky

Rookie
Paulo Braz said:
How do you compare the Vcore 95 2023 vs Ezone 98 2022 in the following respects? I ask because I liked the Vcore 100 and its handling, does the 95 have a similar handling?

- Control
- Power
- Stability
- launch angle
- Maneuverability
Click to expand...
A friend of mine, college player and current teaching pro, said he loves the vcore 95. I was using 2021 vcores, I’ve heard the 2023s are a bit softer but I’m not willing to risk my arm again lol
 
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