Keys to Yonex?

vsbabolat said:
No, they’ve been a top brand for 45 years. You’ve had so many grand slam winners both men and women. Nothing has changed
Click to expand...

I have to agree with what @bobeeto was saying. I’m fully aware Yonex has been an excellent quality brand for a very long time with a long list of great players. But it hasn’t been popular at all in the US at clubs until the last up to 5 years maybe.

I live in Indy and we have a club with what is often regarded the best pro shop or at least among them in the country and they stopped carrying Yonex for a long time because no one bought them. I could’ve gone months in the mid 2000’s without ever seeing a Yonex. Same as when I lived in New Jersey and Texas.

They are absolutely the hot brand right now in the US.

And while they’ve always had representation on tour it’s exploded lately it seems
 
mavsman149 said:
I have to agree with what @bobeeto was saying. I’m fully aware Yonex has been an excellent quality brand for a very long time with a long list of great players. But it hasn’t been popular at all in the US at clubs until the last up to 5 years maybe.

I live in Indy and we have a club with what is often regarded the best pro shop or at least among them in the country and they stopped carrying Yonex for a long time because no one bought them. I could’ve gone months in the mid 2000’s without ever seeing a Yonex. Same as when I lived in New Jersey and Texas.

They are absolutely the hot brand right now in the US.

And while they’ve always had representation on tour it’s exploded lately it seems
Click to expand...
Ya get me. Yonex is crushing the social game with the kids
 
mavsman149 said:
I have to agree with what @bobeeto was saying. I’m fully aware Yonex has been an excellent quality brand for a very long time with a long list of great players. But it hasn’t been popular at all in the US at clubs until the last up to 5 years maybe.

I live in Indy and we have a club with what is often regarded the best pro shop or at least among them in the country and they stopped carrying Yonex for a long time because no one bought them. I could’ve gone months in the mid 2000’s without ever seeing a Yonex. Same as when I lived in New Jersey and Texas.

They are absolutely the hot brand right now in the US.

And while they’ve always had representation on tour it’s exploded lately it seems
Click to expand...
I wonder why I have always seen Yonex rackets at US clubs my whole life? I wonder why I have always seen Yonex rackets at USTA tournaments my whole life. But you’re right it’s only been popular for a couple of years because your experiences. The hell with what I have experienced or anyone else has it’s all myopic.
 
vsbabolat said:
I wonder why I have always seen Yonex rackets at US clubs my whole life? I wonder why I have always seen Yonex rackets at USTA tournaments my whole life. But you’re right it’s only been popular for a couple of years because your experiences. The hell with what I have experienced or anyone else has it’s all myopic.
Click to expand...
VS you’re amazing bro but you’re not where the buck stops man
 
vsbabolat said:
I wonder why I have always seen Yonex rackets at US clubs my whole life? I wonder why I have always seen Yonex rackets at USTA tournaments my whole life. But you’re right it’s only been popular for a couple of years because your experiences. The hell with what I have experienced or anyone else has it’s all myopic.
Click to expand...
lol...was about to write the same thing.

The Dr98, highly regarded as the best Ezone ever, was released in…2016? And its predecessor, the Ai98, the next "best" Ezone, was released in 2014. If they weren't popular in the US, I wonder how TW (and other online retailers) sold so many? There should be tons of "new old stock" floating around.

And don't even get me going on the older RD line.

They were popular in the early 90s in NY when I played college tennis, and they've been popular in VA ever since I moved here in the mid 90s.
 
vsbabolat said:
I wonder why I have always seen Yonex rackets at US clubs my whole life? I wonder why I have always seen Yonex rackets at USTA tournaments my whole life. But you’re right it’s only been popular for a couple of years because your experiences. The hell with what I have experienced or anyone
Click to expand...
Just for fun, I’m looking at the January 2005 ATP Rankings right now for the top 100. Hewitt, Nalbandian, Ancic, Srichiphan, and Monaco. I believe that’s it for Yonex guys, I won’t bother counting how many there are now, because I know it’s significantly more. I could compare women’s top where Yonex stereotypically thrives but I’m too lazy, I’m easily willing to bet Yonex has way more women now too. They’ve clearly stepped up their marketing. Good for them, they make great products, as they always have.

www.forbes.com

How Yonex Became A 55-Year Overnight Success In Tennis

With an impressive roster of top talent—including Casper Ruud, Jessica Pegula, Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul—the Japanese sports equipment brand has raised its game and seen record growth.
www.forbes.com www.forbes.com

For good measure here’s a recent article from Forbes about how Yonex is an, “overnight success in tennis”.
 
Last edited:
This thread could be called anything but "Keys to Yonex".
Anyways, it´s fun to see Wilson players going to Yonex. Hope she stays like T.Paul. Anyone can notice if it´s the 98 or 100?
 
mavsman149 said:
I have to agree with what @bobeeto was saying. I’m fully aware Yonex has been an excellent quality brand for a very long time with a long list of great players. But it hasn’t been popular at all in the US at clubs until the last up to 5 years maybe.

I live in Indy and we have a club with what is often regarded the best pro shop or at least among them in the country and they stopped carrying Yonex for a long time because no one bought them. I could’ve gone months in the mid 2000’s without ever seeing a Yonex. Same as when I lived in New Jersey and Texas.

They are absolutely the hot brand right now in the US.

And while they’ve always had representation on tour it’s exploded lately it seems
Click to expand...
The problem is currently that most other brands have had Qality control issues even more then in the pre 2020's.
 
Roquestil said:
This thread could be called anything but "Keys to Yonex".
Anyways, it´s fun to see Wilson players going to Yonex. Hope she stays like T.Paul. Anyone can notice if it´s the 98 or 100?
Click to expand...
I'd hate to think that she's using the 100 given how much power she naturally has and how uncontrollable she could be with her Wilson. The 98 should be a sufficient bump in power such that she doesn't have have her foot on the gas all the time. I'm wagering it's the 98.
 
Last edited:
Robert F said:
I've had some of the best fits and tennis shoes from the nike and some of the worst.
I've come to settle for brands that are much more consistent with production and consistentcy between year to year models--which has been Wilson for me now. Asics fit the bill for a while too.
Click to expand...
One word: Lotto

Robert F said:
Yonex has been a stellar brand for years, but I think it has become the "It" Brand of the past 3 years and really heated up this past year on the tour and recreationally.
I don't remember it every being the racquet to get since being a kid until now. Racquet nerds over the year would talk good about Yonex but almost as a side note "If you are unhappy with your APD and want a little more heft try the Yonex..."
Click to expand...
I remember a few years ago when Camila Giorgi switched from Babolat to Yonex, someone was saying that Babolat were cutting back pretty significantly on their sponsorship/endorsement deals with players, and Yonex were stepping up to fill the void. Seems to be true based on observing the pros the past few years.

I also see quite a few Yonex frames where I play recreationally/club. Still more people using Wilson and Head, but when I talk to people about their racquets, most of the Yonex people seem to have switched recently, or at least pay attention to what they use. A lot of the other brand players don't seem to care and just use what they have always used.
 
Gemini said:
I'd hate to think that she's using the 100 given how much power she naturally has and how uncontrollable she could be with her Wilson. The 98 should be a sufficient bump in power such that she doesn't have have her foot on the gas all the time. I'm wagering it's the 98.
Click to expand...
Yeah I would assume that too
 
Casey 1988 said:
The problem is currently that most other brands have had Qality control issues even more then in the pre 2020's.
Click to expand...
about the only other that has seemed to step it up is ProKennex but the brand gets labeled an old persons brand becuse they have so many 105 square inch and oversized 110 sqyuare inch heads of any brand and more 100--102 inch models in an extended length then any brand when the Black Ace series is one of the better.

The problem is ProKennex is currently doing more in the Pickleball area of sponsoring players or getting the models into unsponsored by a paddle brand, players while most of the Black Ace Pickleball paddles in the top line are now ban in most of the leagues for being too good with only one pro league allowing the Paddles so I would assume this long list of ban paddles will get changed in 2025 to meet the rules for all Pro leagues and associations like USA Pickleball or similar leagues. Nobody is sending the models to the people online to test for review of the one or two who use ProKennex.
 
vsbabolat said:
You have forgotten Stan the man, Rios, Richard Krajicek, Washington. Prince not sponsoring anyone has created a vacuum. Yonex has benefitted form that. Yonex has always been a big player on both tours and always had big names. I remember as a kid when the first isometric graphite rackets came out with the R-7 and R-10. Was very popular at the clubs.
Click to expand...
what rackets did Washington played with?
 
Casey 1988 said:
... while most of the Black Ace Pickleball paddles in the top line are now ban in most of the leagues for being too good with only one pro league allowing the Paddles so I would assume this long list of ban paddles will get changed in 2025...
Click to expand...
Wait, what? I'm loathe to talk about pickleball, but why were certain paddles banned? What was different or special about them?
 
robyrolfo said:
Wait, what? I'm loathe to talk about pickleball, but why were certain paddles banned? What was different or special about them?
Click to expand...
Too much spring in these paddles for ProKennex or too grippy in the ones not made by ProKennex in the recent bans by all but one of the top 3 leagues. Their was one that was too much tech in having both as the issue but once the stock is gone from these companies I bet the companies are making the paddles only to the specs seeing as how much crossover there is between elites and the 3 leagues. Even one of the Leagues has gone to a Drop shot to set the ball in play for 2025 that the ones in this league are arguing the shot is unathletic when Paddle Tennis has a drop shot to set the ball and the others one has ban the overhand shot while the other ban above the waist on setting the ball in play.
 
Last edited:
Casey 1988 said:
Too much spring in these paddles for ProKennex or too grippy in the ones not made by ProKennex in the recent bans by all but one of the top 3 leagues. Their was one that was too much tech in having both as the issue but once the stock is gone from these companies I bet the companies are making the paddles only to the specs seeing as how much crossover there is between elites and the 3 leagues. Even one of the Leagues has gone to a Drop shot to set the ball in play for 2025 that the ones in this league are arguing the shot is unathletic when Paddle Tennis has a drop shot to set the ball and the others one has ban the overhand shot while the other ban above the waist on setting the ball in play.
Click to expand...
Ok, I see they are already getting desperate with these rules changes!
 
Which Yonex racquet model is she using? I can't find that racquet colour in Yonex website (black frame and blue head guard).
 
vokazu said:
Which Yonex racquet model is she using? I can't find that racquet colour in Yonex website (black frame and blue head guard).
Click to expand...
One of the commentators mentioned that she is “testing” a Yonex racquet for the Adelaide International, hence the “blacked out” PJ by Yonex. But I think Yonex purposely kept the new EZone head grommet on.
Maybe she will switch to it for AO, now that she won the final.
 
im really surprised she went with the 100.. coming from a 98 Wilson thin beamed 18x20. im scratching my head as to why she didnt end up with the ez98?
 
It's a 100? String pattern looks more like a 98.

Last cross is significantly lower on 100 than on 98.
UhnGJsA.jpeg



100
457412112_3806488602960574_2702676681827871002_n.jpg
 
esm said:
One of the commentators mentioned that she is “testing” a Yonex racquet for the Adelaide International, hence the “blacked out” PJ by Yonex. But I think Yonex purposely kept the new EZone head grommet on.
Maybe she will switch to it for AO, now that she won the final.
Click to expand...
Likely due to Yonex only producing the grommets in blue for this gen. All pros are going to have the same blue filament for the ezone head guard with their various gens
 
is anyone else surprised maddy isn't stencil-ing yet? are they saving that for the ao to start? do you think this is still the "demo period"?
 
Subway Tennis said:
She’s going bigger than ever. Its fantastic to see, I just hope she can control the firepower lol.

Meanwhile Hurkacz has gone from Yonex to Wilson and lost all the pop on his ball :confused:
Click to expand...
I don't think so.

If any he should have more pop with that kblade 98 than with vcore pro 97.
 
sajlent555 said:
I don't think so.

If any he should have more pop with that kblade 98 than with vcore pro 97.
Click to expand...

His ball speeds were way down and he seemed to have lost a little bit of shape. It was one of the main talking points during his United Cup matches where he played like crap.

Hopefully its just a matter of dialling in his string setup and adjusting, but at the moment the switch has been more for his bank balance and there has been an unexpected compromise on court.
 
Yeah because he is still recovering from his Wimbledon injury and he still isn't 100% fit.

He played very good against Shevchenko and Fritz.
 
vandre said:
is anyone else surprised maddy isn't stencil-ing yet? are they saving that for the ao to start? do you think this is still the "demo period"?
Click to expand...
I’m suprised, given Keys’ status, the fact that it’s a WTA 500 and also how well she is playing with the racquet.

The funny thing is that this also happened at Adelaide a few years ago when Soonwoo Kwon came from the clouds and won the event out if nowhere with a stencil-less Yonex:

2023-adelaide-international-2-day-6.webp
 
sajlent555 said:
Yeah because he is still recovering from his Wimbledon injury and he still isn't 100% fit.

He played very good against Shevchenko and Fritz.
Click to expand...
No way. It has nothing to do with the injury. He came back from that injury 5 months ago and his ball was fine when he was still using the Yonny.

It’s the racquet. He might adjust and it might be fine or he might not, but at the moment it’s not working.
 
Last edited:
Subway Tennis said:
I’m suprised, given Keys’ status, the fact that it’s a WTA 500 and also how well she is playing with the racquet.

The funny thing is that this also happened at Adelaide a few years ago when Soonwoo Kwon came from the clouds and won the event out if nowhere with a stencil-less Yonex:

2023-adelaide-international-2-day-6.webp
Click to expand...
Adelaide seems to be the place for that. Kokkinakis did the same in 2022 with a blacked out, unstencilled Ezone to win his first and only ATP title.
 
Subway Tennis said:
No way. It has nothing to do with the injury. He came back from that injury 5 months ago and his ball was fine when he was still using the Yonny.

It’s the racquet. He might adjust and it might be fine or he might not, but at the moment it’s not working.
Click to expand...
XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

yeah, that's why Nicolas Massu approved it... because now with the new racket his ball is slower and easier for the opponent

honestly guys, where do you come from? if you know so much just from watching tv then why aren't you on ATP/WTA tour?
 
sajlent555 said:
XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

yeah, that's why Nicolas Massu approved it... because now with the new racket his ball is slower and easier for the opponent

honestly guys, where do you come from? if you know so much just from watching tv then why aren't you on ATP/WTA tour?
Click to expand...
I dont know more than Nico Massu, but I know more than you do lol.

The racquet change is a big adjustment and is not working for him yet. That is all. No need to be upset about it.

It has nothing to do with an injury that he returned from 5 months ago lol.
 
You are just proving your ignorance by saying "he returned from injury 5 months ago".

He maybe was playing but he wasn't fully fit and his movement WAS CLEARY AFFECTED because he was still RECOVERING. That's why he gave up in Cincy after 1 set vs. Tiafoe. At USO he lost 0-3 to Thompson. Yeah fully recovered from his injury. Paris Master? 1-6 3-6 to Michelsen... YEAH FULLY RECOVERED.

I don't understand how can you say that his new racket doesn't work for him YET xD He put up a great fight against Machac (lost 1-2) and tested out Taylor Fritz. That was his 5th match since 29.10.2024 (he really shouldn't have played Paris Masters).
 
sajlent555 said:
I don't understand how can you say that his new racket doesn't work for him YET xD He put up a great fight against Machac (lost 1-2) and tested out Taylor Fritz. That was his 5th match since 29.10.2024 (he really shouldn't have played Paris Masters).
Click to expand...
The reason I’m saying his racquet change isn’t working for him yet is because he is playing like poop at the moment and specifically has lost some pop.

If you’re not happy with my eye test, you have the reduced ball speeds to refer to, which were shown during his United Cup matches.

Even when he returned last year and was on the comeback trail, with declined movement, he was still hitting a bigger ball then, while playing with his old Yonex setup.

Maybe the racquet change will work longterm, maybe it will be like other players who attenpt a switch and then retreat. Need to allow him more time to make such a big adjustment. It’s not worth getting too emotional about in the short term, but not many positives to go on right now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Azarenka new racket?
2
Replies
66
Views
21K
jmacdaununder2
jmacdaununder2
lacoster
Mackenzie McDonald to Yonex?
Replies
43
Views
4K
innoVAShaun
innoVAShaun
Nolkobolko
Bublik Frame
Replies
8
Views
4K
Trip
T
D-Lite
Martina Hingis - New Yonex frame/paint-job at US Open 2013
Replies
27
Views
13K
Swan Song
S
O
Yonex on Tour
Replies
36
Views
5K
jmacdaununder2
jmacdaununder2
Back
Top