New Yonex Exone Pics

[TheOneHander]

Bought a blue DR 98+ a couple weeks ago and loving the look.
Hopefully they come out with the extended 27.5 length, but it is missing from the YonexUSA site so hope is low. Maybe a few months from now?
Wish this was in blue too, but I wouldn't mind a deep purple or deep green.

Deep purple would be sweet. I can't recall a players' racquet ever having a purple cosmetic but I'd buy one in a heartbeat for sheer aesthetic value regardless of specs.

Regardless, Yonex's recent cosmetics have been really nice. Using black as a base color with bright secondary colors is a great idea--black sticks look super badass, but the other colors make them recognizable and interesting.

Re: the new stick's specs, I'm glad they kept the beam size the same. That's one of my favorite parts of the DR98+. The thicker beam in the head makes it feel solid but still retains the flex from the thinner throat.

 

[dje31]

The Prince CTS Precision from the late 80s/ early 90s had a deep purple metallic flake PJ. My wife still has hers, and it still looks great. Especially with neon green strings, which are easy to find now.

 

[Classic-TXP-IG MID]

Don't like it

Maybe the green will look better in person, but from the pics it looks more like snot than lime.

It's not tempting me with the colour scheme, however, I agree that it's how it plays that's the most important. When it comes to looks, we all end up getting used to things and then they appear normal... happens to me with cars all the time... when it comes out I think "that looks ugly..." then a year or so later I catch myself admiring the same car... Probably the same here... however, if its performance is ****, it doesn't matter how good it looks... Same goes for many things in life...

 

[TennisManiac]

Interesting specs. and technology. I really like the way the DR feels. I'm not sure what this new frame is suppose to do better. It's definitely uglier then the DR. I know that much.

 

[EdMcMush]

I don't see any specs listed for flex. I wouldn't be surprised if it was stiffer than the DR98 before it. One complaint about the DR98 was being low powered. Interesting how a new racquet line comes out and it gets progressively stiffer until it's no longer the same racket anymore.

I think the Ai98 was fine and users just got the wrong grip size because very flexible rackets and pencil grips don't mix well unless you can consistently hit the sweet spot. When more time passes, we're all going to look back at the Ai98 and see it as the Yonex version of the PT57A.

if thats the case i should save all 4 of my ai98s then

 

[parasailing]

I don't see any specs listed for flex. I wouldn't be surprised if it was stiffer than the DR98 before it. One complaint about the DR98 was being low powered. Interesting how a new racquet line comes out and it gets progressively stiffer until it's no longer the same racket anymore.

I think the Ai98 was fine and users just got the wrong grip size because very flexible rackets and pencil grips don't mix well unless you can consistently hit the sweet spot. When more time passes, we're all going to look back at the Ai98 and see it as the Yonex version of the PT57A.

I also had the AI 98 and go with smaller grip but didn't realize that was the cause of me not really liking the racquet. I always felt it flex too much in the throat similar to the Prince EXO3 Tour.

 

[TennisManiac]

I like the lighter spec compared to DR98 - more room for customizing...hopefully they change NOTHING else.

Agree

 

[srvnvly]

When you're excited to post new racquet pics, then realize you have a spelling error in the thread title then realize you can't edit it

 

[lwto]

Would be very interested if it doesn't hurt my shoulders like the DR100 does.. Still not sure here what the difference is.

 

[lwto]

I like the lighter spec compared to DR98 - more room for customizing...hopefully they change NOTHING else.

Why not just get the Dr Lite.. great for customization.

 

[Simon_the_furry]

I'm a little concerned about the lighter weight, honestly. I don't want to bother with tape.
Hopefully it won't get pushed around.

 

[XFactorer]

Let's all start speculating on when these will come out! August is set to be the worldwide release. But when will us mortals be able to get them from TW? I need to get one before Sectionals!

 

[Powderwombat]

Great strategy - release the undesirable colour initially and then come out with a blue version 1 year later.

 

[1990's Graphite]

Kinda like the paintjob, it grows on you day by day....

 

[FV_Br]

and the Ezone 100 is not 305 grams, they just corrected it to 300 grams.

 

[Melon23]

Would be very interested if it doesn't hurt my shoulders like the DR100 does.. Still not sure here what the difference is.

I thought it was just me! I have similar issue. Played with DR98, then impulsively purchased DR100 after quick demo. The thing just kills my shoulder - so uncomfortable compared to DR98. I was hoping for same feel, just a bit more power. Boy, was I wrong. DR100 also loses string tension much quicker than DR98. I love Yonex and am a diehard user, but the DR100 is a disappointment.

 

[TennisManiac]

Great strategy - release the undesirable colour initially and then come out with a blue version 1 year later.

Agree. A pathetic marketing gimmick that unfortunately works. Shame on Yonex. I'll wait for a nicer paint job and order a blue DR98. They won't get me.

 

[CodyZzZ]

As a super-fan and user I've been so looking forward to this, honestly a bit disappointed on the PJ, 6.5/10 for me. You can tell they made a really good product with the previous DR since they didn't change a thing in terms of specs. I'm now hoping that the real thing looks much better than the photos. Fingers crossed.

 

[CodyZzZ]

Agree. A pathetic marketing gimmick that unfortunately works. Shame on Yonex. I'll wait for a nicer paint job and order a blue DR98. They won't get me.

Agree to your agrees. I guess then we should expect a smexier blue one in November-ish?

 

[dr325i]

Woah... box-ish beam? Interested.

???

 

[jmacdaununder2]

Looks better than the new Extreme PJ.

My k*** looks better than the new Extreme paint job...

 

[jmacdaununder2]

I don't see any specs listed for flex. I wouldn't be surprised if it was stiffer than the DR98 before it. One complaint about the DR98 was being low powered. Interesting how a new racquet line comes out and it gets progressively stiffer until it's no longer the same racket anymore.

I think the Ai98 was fine and users just got the wrong grip size because very flexible rackets and pencil grips don't mix well unless you can consistently hit the sweet spot. When more time passes, we're all going to look back at the Ai98 and see it as the Yonex version of the PT57A.

Ai98 is a really pretty much a tweener; it will never be a PT57A's bootlace...

 

[NickJ]

When you're excited to post new racquet pics, then realize you have a spelling error in the thread title then realize you can't edit it

Maybe it's not an error, and it's a new line . . . . !!

 

[srvnvly]

Maybe it's not an error, and it's a new line . . . . !!

Counter Touch...with fins

 

[dje31]

It's well known in product management and marketing that when you either run out of ideas, or simply have a great product that you don't want to screw up, just change the color way or cosmetic.

If you want to get fancy, a slight name change, and the "addition" of new, cutting edge technology---that can't be seen, felt, or disproven, along with a bunch of science-y charts, stats, marketing buzz words, and "facts," touting how much better this new version is than the previous iterations, and / or the competition---never seems to hurt sales.

 

[Tommy Haas]

Why do the other manufacturers not follow that marketing strategy? Imagine if Head did that? We'd have the 23rd graphics change of the PT57A by now.

 

[lacoster]

Deep purple would be sweet. I can't recall a players' racquet ever having a purple cosmetic but I'd buy one in a heartbeat for sheer aesthetic value regardless of specs.

Regardless, Yonex's recent cosmetics have been really nice. Using black as a base color with bright secondary colors is a great idea--black sticks look super badass, but the other colors make them recognizable and interesting.

Re: the new stick's specs, I'm glad they kept the beam size the same. That's one of my favorite parts of the DR98+. The thicker beam in the head makes it feel solid but still retains the flex from the thinner throat.

Yonex had the immensely popular SRQ 500 that was deep purple back in the 90's. It was the racquet that almost every WTA pro had back in the mid 90's, namely Monica Seles and Venus Williams.

 

[downs_chris]

my club is getting their ezone demos around August 8th....

 

[Swan Song]

Yonex had the immensely popular SRQ 500 that was deep purple back in the 90's. It was the racquet that almost every WTA pro had back in the mid 90's, namely Monica Seles and Venus Williams.

Nice RQ-380

 

[TennisManiac]

Ok... so the new Ezone 98 is apparently going to be 320 gms or 11.3 oz strung and 5 pts. hl. And the DR 98 is 325 gms or 11.5 oz strung and 6 pts. hl. So basically I guess it's safe to say that Yonex just made the DR 98 a little bit lighter and a bit more powerful with the difference in weight in the head and the "Hyper MG" layup. Sounds perfect to me. But will it still feel as plush and forgiving as the DR? That's the question. I wish we didn't have to wait for another 4 weeks for this frame to come out. I'm chomping at the bit over this one.

 

[junk]

Ok... so the new Ezone 98 is apparently going to be 320 gms or 11.3 oz strung and 5 pts. hl. And the DR 98 is 325 gms or 11.5 oz strung and 6 pts. hl. So basically I guess it's safe to say that Yonex just made the DR 98 a little bit lighter and a bit more powerful with the difference in weight in the head and the "Hyper MG" layup. Sounds perfect to me. But will it still feel as plush and forgiving as the DR? That's the question. I wish we didn't have to wait for another 4 weeks for this frame to come out. I'm chomping at the bit over this one.

this is pretty much what i tried to achieve with my DR 98. i removed the original grip and use two overgrips, plus i added 4 grams of lead at 3 & 9 - 4 x 4 inch strips. this kept the racket weight roughly unchanged but made it 1-2 pts less head light than listed. instead of 6 pts HL i got somewhere between 4 and 5 pts HL based on my kitchen table measurements

 

[flanker2000fr]

Well, I know I really like my DR 98 (blue), and as soon as I am back from vacation I will be buying a second one before this new iteration hits the shelves. I won't take the chance with the new model for now, as they might have messed ever so slightly with something that was perfectly good to start with.

I don't mind the new paint job so much (though I much, much prefer the current blue), but I am disconcerted that they have changed the technical specs on what is one of their biggest hits.

 

[Tommy Haas]

Yonex just made the DR 98 a little bit lighter and a bit more powerful with the difference in weight in the head and the "Hyper MG" layup. Sounds perfect to me.

That usually results in a stiffer frame unless this Hyper MG compensates.

 

[flanker2000fr]

That usually results in a stiffer frame unless this Hyper MG compensates.

My fear exactly. There are tons of stiff racquets in the market already, which is why I feel it would be such a shame if they tampered with the plush feel of the DR 98. That, and the fact that I already had to put 5g of lead tape in the hoop, and I can't be bothered to tamper all that much with a racquet to make it feel / swing right.

 

[whorng]

It seems like Hyper MG is technology to stiffen the racquet.
See below where it says more power and ball speed. Also increase in strength.
"HYPER-MG: Explosive Power
Embedded within the inner portion of the upper frame, HYPER-MG (Hyper Modulus Graphite) material dramatically enhances frame snapback speed, increasing repulsion power and ball speed. Upper frame flexural strength is increased by 5%."

My bet is 63 stiffness compared to 62 on the DR 98.

 

[n8dawg6]

why is yonex so obsessed with repulsion

 

[junk]

i kind of wish this new racquet is not better than DR98. i have 3 of DR98s and perfectly happy with them. if the new one is any "better" (reviews, feedback, etc) i will be very tempted to switch. but i hate switching racquets. and i know for sure that the switch won't make me play better...

 

[Tommy Haas]

My bet is 63 stiffness compared to 62 on the DR 98.

At least Yonex doesn't go crazy with increasing stiffness.

Ai98=61 RA
DR98=62 RA
Ezone=63 RA?

 

[dje31]

For those keeping score, the EZone Xi98, prior to the Ai98, was 63RA

 

[TennisManiac]

i kind of wish this new racquet is not better than DR98. i have 3 of DR98s and perfectly happy with them. if the new one is any "better" (reviews, feedback, etc) i will be very tempted to switch. but i hate switching racquets. and i know for sure that the switch won't make me play better...

I know what you mean. We're always looking for the next best thing. At least I'm guilty of that. Always looking for a racquet that will do something a little better than the one we're playing with now. And after switching we find out that we played better with the old one and switch back. And our game goes nowhere as a result of screwing around and wasting time. I've been doing this for years.

 

[dje31]

...And our game goes nowhere as a result of screwing around and wasting time. I've been doing this for years.

No need to feel pregnant about that, TM; the same can be said for many / most of us here on these here TW chat boards...present company included.

I'm completely satisfied with my two EZone Xi98s, now that I've dialed-in the strings, tension, etc, and how they work for my game...and yet I admit to being tempted by the DR98 in blue...and if the new EZones are even closer to my Xis, and are later offered in blue...well, you know...

 

[Tommy Haas]

The Xi98 may be the most pure of the Ezones as it has the least amount of tech. I don't blame you for staying with it. I'm still using the PK5G from circa 2000.

 

[Federerkblade]

Which strings and tension do you use for your xi 98 ?

 

[dje31]

Cyclone 19 mains, Gosen OGSM 17 crosses

1 @ 47M / 43C

1 @ 41M / 37C

 

[Federerkblade]

I use ptp 1.25 found 1.20 harder to control indoors

 

[dje31]

The Cyclone 19 is 1.10, and OGSM 17 is 1.22. Easy on the arm, very spin-friendly, never gets board-y, even when old and dead.

No real control issues here, and most of my court time these days is on Har-Tru.

 

[Raz78]

Hi, the weight they have specified on yonex webpage is it unstrung och strung weight ?
305g, and 285g for the lighter version ?

 

[TennisManiac]

Hi, the weight they have specified on yonex webpage is it unstrung och strung weight ?
305g, and 285g for the lighter version ?

Unstrung. Add about 15 grams to those numbers for the strung weight.

 

[JOSHL]

The Cyclone 19 is 1.10, and OGSM 17 is 1.22. Easy on the arm, very spin-friendly, never gets board-y, even when old and dead.

No real control issues here, and most of my court time these days is on Har-Tru.

I have reels of both of these so I may have to try it in my DR 98+!!!

 

[dje31]

I have reels of both of these so I may have to try it in my DR 98+!!!

I don't see why not. Fill yer boots!

Disclaimer: I'm an old school, old fart (52), all-courter, 4.5, mostly Eastern and Continental grips, OHBH, all kinds of spin and flat, playing since I was 7.

Your results may vary...no promises...but danged if it doesn't work for me.