Looking for More Serve Power – switching EZONE 98

[orbionsk]

Hi everyone, I'm currently looking for a racquet with an optimal swingweight that provides enough power, especially on serves. I used to play with the Tecnifibre TF-40 (2022) and really liked the serve power it offered. Recently, I switched to the Wilson Blade 98 16x19 v9, but I find it lacking in that department.
Now I'm leaning towards the Yonex EZONE 98 (2025). Could anyone tell me if the EZONE 98 will give me more serve power and a higher swingweight feel compared to the Blade?

 

[heavyD]

Just this week I did a racquet swap between sets and came to the realization that I can't get anywhere near the power on serve with the EZ98 that I can with the 25PD. I get that the PD is more powerful as a starting point but for me the difference is dramatic as I get more pop on serve from the Extreme Pro and PA98 than I do the EZ98. I thought the EZ98 was always considered great for serve but for me with this latest version it feels like there's a little bit too much flex at the top of the head.

 

[duffybarracuda]

I serve better with my Ezone 98 +vs all others i tested and coming from Aero 100+.

..but for me with this latest version it feels like there's a little bit too much flex at the top of the head.

^^Thats a very good point, the upper part of the head feels little bit weird to me too , yea like a soft racket there.
Well all in all i am realy happy with the new model, super Racquet.

.

 

[heavyD]

I serve better with my Ezone 98 +vs all others i tested and coming from Aero 100+.

^^Thats a very good point, the upper part of the head feels little bit weird to me too , yea like a soft racket there.
Well all in all i am realy happy with the new model, super Racquet.

.

I'm battling through wrist tendinitis and it's been great for me because it's very plush and comfortable but the flex at the top of the head is noticeable and I wonder if that's why I'm struggling to get the pace on serve that I'm used to seeing. Otherwise it's a pretty good overall 98 frame and I've even warmed up to the paint job.

 

[patrickluvsoj]

I’m an ezone 98+ user! @duffybarracuda

Regular ezone 98 is great for serving but it doesn’t have high swing weight feel @orbionsk

Ezone 98 tour would fit the bill but hard to wield in longer matches. But if you are fit and strong then it can be great option. Ezon 98+ could be good too but obviously needs more adjustment.

@heavyD I’m surprised to hear you serve better with the pure aero 98. I had the opposite experience. I always wanted to like the racket but could never figure it out

 

[duffybarracuda]

I'm battling through wrist tendinitis and it's been great for me because it's very plush and comfortable but the flex at the top of the head is noticeable and I wonder if that's why I'm struggling to get the pace on serve that I'm used to seeing. Otherwise it's a pretty good overall 98 frame and I've even warmed up to the paint job.

to me the same, more up is more lenght and so more power, but the ezone seems little bit spongy, without power in the upper area. The sweetspot should be little higher.

 

[heavyD]

I’m an ezone 98+ user! @duffybarracuda

Regular ezone 98 is great for serving but it doesn’t have high swing weight feel @orbionsk

Ezone 98 tour would fit the bill but hard to wield in longer matches. But if you are fit and strong then it can be great option. Ezon 98+ could be good too but obviously needs more adjustment.

@heavyD I’m surprised to hear you serve better with the pure aero 98. I had the opposite experience. I always wanted to like the racket but could never figure it out

Better but I wouldn't say a lot better with the PA98. Definitely a lot better with the Extreme Pro, TF 305S, or even Shift 99 for that matter. I guess it's just the variance with different people and different racquets which is why so many of us are eternally searching for the holy grail of frames.

 

[TheBoom]

Just this week I did a racquet swap between sets and came to the realization that I can't get anywhere near the power on serve with the EZ98 that I can with the 25PD. I get that the PD is more powerful as a starting point but for me the difference is dramatic as I get more pop on serve from the Extreme Pro and PA98 than I do the EZ98. I thought the EZ98 was always considered great for serve but for me with this latest version it feels like there's a little bit too much flex at the top of the head.

Tbf, I think the pure drive is the best serving racket so tough comparison there.

Stock Ezone 98 isn’t great, but upping the weight/SW helps a ton. I actually think it swings really easily through the air so kick serves get a lot of action. Once you up the weight and as long as you have fast swing speeds it absolutely crushes

 

[LordGulbis]

I tried the Ezone 98 (2025) a few months ago and I also found it quite anemic, I was getting pushed around a bit more than what I'm used to.

 

[TheNadural]

I did a speed test today with a 25 EZ98 328/32.3/322 otoro spin/otoro snap and a blade v9 16x19 328/32.3/326 otoro/sync and the blade was consistently faster. It has a slightly higher SW but I thought the thicker beam and stuffer hoop meant the EZ98 would easily carry it. Blade was ~5mph better than EZ98 top end and ~3mph on average.

This was a small sample of ~15 balls each with averages in mid 80s and top shot at 98.

The balance and statics were the same but the blade just felt easier to swing, more balanced in my hand, and cut through the air. I would speculate that the thinner beam was the difference more than the SW. Maybe the smaller feeling Wilson handle too.

Also tried my daughter’s blade 100L 310/33/314 sensation/vlcty and it was about the same speed as the EZ98.

This was surprising in that the EZ is clearly more powerful on ground strokes. Could also be an artifact of where I hit on the face in serves vs ground strokes. The blade is amazing when you hit the sweet spot but less forgiving off center toward 3 & 9 and I am not a pure striker yet. The EZ always feels pretty good.