Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Yonex EZONE Racquet 2022

[TW Staff]

Attention Talk Tennis Members:

Happy holidays! We are very excited to offer our first racquet playtest of 2022. We have a limited number of an upcoming Yonex EZONE racquet launching early next year in two head sizes- 98 and 100. Both are available in a grip size 2. This playtest is open to USA Talk Tennis members only.

VERY IMPORTANT: Playtesters will be required to get their test racquet strung. Each racquet will be shipped with Yonex POLYTOUR PRO 16L string.

Application period is closed. Selected playtesters will be notified via email by Tuesday, December 14th.

We have a very limited quantity of racquets to playtest. We select playtesters based on a number of factors, including message board participation and performance on past playtests.

Your review is due by January 14, 2022.

Posting a full review by the deadline is necessary to remain in good standing for future playtests. Reviews lacking sufficient effort will resort in disqualification from the playtest program.

Include the following in your review:

String and tension used for test:
Tennis experience/background:
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Current racquet/string setups:
How many hours did you play with the racquet?

Comments on racquet performance for each stroke (each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum):
-Groundstrokes:
-Serves:
-Volleys:
-Serve returns:

Comments on racquet performance in each area (should be 2-3 sentences minimum)
Power/Control-
Top Spin/Slice-
Comfort-
Feel-
Maneuverability-
Stability-

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

TW Staff

We will delete “request sent” emails, but encourage a lively “pre-game” discussion on the racquets.

 

[djNEiGht]

Is this for a new line or an update to existing lines?
Vcore
Ezone
Vcore pro
Etc

thank you

 

[theSHAMOO]

Is this for a new line or an update to existing lines?
Vcore
Ezone
Vcore pro
Etc

thank you

likely for the new ezone that yonex has been teasing.

 

[McLovin]

Woohoo! Here's hoping Christmas comes early this year!

 

[time_fly]

likely for the new ezone that yonex has been teasing.

I hope so. The Ezone should be next up for an update, and it has always been my favorite Yonex line.

 

[A_Instead]

Another premium racket from a premium manufacturer..

 

[fundrazer]

Would be cool to get in on this one. Actually have not tried the EZones since leaving the DR98. Shifted slightly back to more control oriented sticks, but now maybe looking for something with a little more easy power again. Did try the VCore Pro 97 and played with the 97HD for a bit though.

 

[tennisfan17]

Hope I can be selected! Always interested to see the future of Yonex lines

 

[boulderchips]

Crossing my fingers on this one. I currently play with the 2020 Ezone 98, and I'm curious to see where Yonex goes with the new gen. Regardless, looking forward to hearing what playtesters think!

 

[A_Instead]

The big question is...when will Britney switch to the updated Ezone model..
If my memory serves me correctly...she is the only TW Staff play tester to stick with same model with all updates... She stays true.. loyalist...a good trait to have..

 

[mad dog1]

Crossing my fingers on this one. I currently play with the 2020 Ezone 98, and I'm curious to see where Yonex goes with the new gen. Regardless, looking forward to hearing what playtesters think!

Would be great if it plays like the 2021 VC95!

 

[XFactorer]

Would be great if it plays like the 2021 VC95!

But why not just get the 2021 VC95 or VC98, then?

My one wish is there will be more flex while maintaining power and control of the current gen.

 

[mad dog1]

But why not just get the 2021 VC95 or VC98, then?

My one wish is there will be more flex while maintaining power and control of the current gen.

I have the 2021 VC95 already. Love it. Tried the VC98. Didn’t like it. It would be nice if Yonex could make the Ez98 play like a more forgiving version of the VC95.

 

[CGTTT]

Played many Vcore Tours, VCP... Look forward to testing this Yonex...

 

[Crimsonchen]

Currently using the 2018 vcore 95, loved the vcp 97, but never got to test the new ezones so if it is the Ezone, it'd be awesome to test it out!

 

[PMF]

I threw my name in for the 98. Will probably get one regardless. LOL

 

[A_Instead]

The New VCore Pro 100 is going to be hard to top..

 

[mad dog1]

The New VCore Pro 100 is going to be hard to top..

Is it good?

 

[A_Instead]

Approaching perfect...except for the broom shaft grip...but all Yonex have that issue...

 

[mad dog1]

Approaching perfect...except for the broom shaft grip...but all Yonex have that issue...

Curious if you tried the vcp97 310?

 

[joah310]

Wow the ezone is due to update? time sure flies.

 

[Yamin]

Thought the ezones of this gen played great but were a little stiff. Looking to get into next year's 98+ if it's soft enough

 

[TennisHound]

These tests are just coooooleest thing!!

 

[NickJ]

UK member here, don't care, still gonna ask for an Ezone & VCore Pro please. Oh and a VCore, and another Ezone. And chuck in the new Strike VS too please. Aaand, a Blade or three. Any Technifibres knocking about?? Pro Lab stuff? Hello? Anyone . . . . ?




I love you all.

 

[McLovin]

Approaching perfect...except for the broom shaft grip...but all Yonex have that issue...

Are you referring to the lack of butt cap flare? If so, there's a fairly easy fix for that: replace the butt cap w/ one that has more flare (and for even more flare, size-up one size on the replacement butt cap).

I've done it on my VCORE 98 +s w/ a 4 1/2" Pacific on my 3/8" pallet, but I know Wilson works as well (also w/ the trap door replacement):

It's clean, looks professional, doesn't add/subtract any weight, and is easily undone.

 

[A_Instead]

My prediction is that the 100 won't change much..it's recipe serves most in it's segment and is pretty tasty as is... perhaps a dash of salt, etc is all it needs.
The 98 could use a little adjustment to keep up with the Jones's. That segment is hot right now.

 

[smithie]

TW really needs to give their international folks a playtest that they can participate in! I always get serious playtest envy every time something comes up!

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Wish Yonex would move the standard 98 back to 310. The current 305/315 options just seem to beg for a middle ground, imho.
305 wants more plow, 315 wants more manueverability.

 

[XFactorer]

Wish Yonex would move the standard 98 back to 310. The current 305/315 options just seem to beg for a middle ground, imho.
305 wants more plow, 315 wants more manueverability.

I personally favor the 305 approach. It made the racquet easier to swing and I think they implemented better stability through materials (like M40X and Hyper MG) to make up for the shaved weight. I don't miss the plow through or swing weight of the DR gen. 305 also opens up the racquet to more players than a 310. You can add more weight easily with tape than shave it off (this is coming from a player who only ever uses stock specs)

 

[mad dog1]

You can add more weight easily with tape than shave it off

Agreed. And now with an affordable swing weight device like the briffidi, it takes the guesswork out of figuring out how much lead and where to add it to achieve a desired spec.

 

[Power Player]

I don't care about if it's 305 or 310. Make it feel like the old DR98! Those were really great racquets.

 

[McLovin]

Wish Yonex would move the standard 98 back to 310. The current 305/315 options just seem to beg for a middle ground, imho.
305 wants more plow, 315 wants more manueverability.

I’m happy with the move to 305g. I prefer it in the 310 range, but it’s much easier to add weight than subtract, and even with the better QC from Yonex, there is always a chance you’ll get one over spec.

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Oh wow, just seeing on another thread the beam is up to 24.5 mm for the 98. Yikes!

 

[joah310]

Wish Yonex would move the standard 98 back to 310. The current 305/315 options just seem to beg for a middle ground, imho.
305 wants more plow, 315 wants more manueverability.

Making it 305 means I can comfortably add a leather grip

 

[n8dawg6]

I personally favor the 305 approach. It made the racquet easier to swing and I think they implemented better stability through materials (like M40X and Hyper MG) to make up for the shaved weight. I don't miss the plow through or swing weight of the DR gen. 305 also opens up the racquet to more players than a 310. You can add more weight easily with tape than shave it off (this is coming from a player who only ever uses stock specs)

i prefer the 305. i imagine this will be a goodun’ if the feel isnt numbed any more than it already is

 

[Petesampras752]

Oh boy, I'm itching to try the 98!

 

[XFactorer]

i prefer the 305. i imagine this will be a goodun’ if the feel isnt numbed any more than it already is

Ha! I like not feeling where the ball is. I'd be too depressed when constantly feeling that I'm hitting it off center or near the rim.

 

[mad dog1]

i prefer the 305. i imagine this will be a goodun’ if the feel isnt numbed any more than it already is

Hopefully vdm will be a thing of the past.

 

[XFactorer]

Hopefully vdm will be a thing of the past.

It's included in the 2022 model. You can see the logo for it in one of the Yonex_Tennis IG teasers.

 

[mad dog1]

It's included in the 2022 model. You can see the logo for it in one of the Yonex_Tennis IG teasers.

Perhaps the logo is just for marketing purposes or added in microscopic quantities like Head did with Graphene or not at all like Babolat did with Graphite Tungsten.

 

[A_Instead]

Looking forward to the new paint at the AO..
really looking forward to the retooled 98

 

[McLovin]

Ha! I like not feeling where the ball is. I'd be too depressed when constantly feeling that I'm hitting it off center or near the rim.

Hopefully vdm will be a thing of the past.

VDM seems to be a polarizing feature. I really liked it, coming from the 2018 VCORE 98 + to the 2021 version, but others did not like it (I know @downs_chris is still hanging on to his Dr100s, hoping the next revision is to his liking). There doesn't seem to be a middle ground for past users of Yonex.

 

[mad dog1]

VDM seems to be a polarizing feature. I really liked it, coming from the 2018 VCORE 98 + to the 2021 version, but others did not like it (I know @downs_chris is still hanging on to his Dr100s, hoping the next revision is to his liking). There doesn't seem to be a middle ground for past users of Yonex.

I don’t mind it at all in the VC95.

 

[XFactorer]

VDM seems to be a polarizing feature. I really liked it, coming from the 2018 VCORE 98 + to the 2021 version, but others did not like it (I know @downs_chris is still hanging on to his Dr100s, hoping the next revision is to his liking). There doesn't seem to be a middle ground for past users of Yonex.

I just think it's hard to tell what VDM brings to the table on its own. Consider the DR when there was QuakeShut Gel + in the handle. Was it that or the Nanometric DR material in the frame that contributed to the overall success of the DR line? It's likely a combination of the materials and the frame geometries. VDM is used in both VCORE and EZONE lines now, and some people like one over the other. Yet the differences are more than just the vibration dampening material inside the handle.

 

[Power Player]

I definitely can see why people don't like the VDM. It really dampens the frame a lot. And honestly it does not provide back any huge comfort benefit. With the Blade V7, the frame was dampened but it still felt great to me and my arm always felt fresh after playing.

A friend of mine plays the VC95 with a wide worm dampener across the bottom. I would never feel a thing if I did that..lol. I use mine with no dampener.

 

[Cindysphinx]

How did I miss this? Was it posted for just a day?

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

How did I miss this? Was it posted for just a day?

Snooze you lose on TT

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Just seeing the instagram teasers, the grommet holes seem giant on these new ezone hairpins. That has been a continuing trend.

I would suggest this, plus changing frame geometry, has more to do with the feel change than any "vdm" or other substance does.

 

[ProRadTour]

Any chance of extending these play tests to tennis only customers in Australia? Would be cool to have more input from the community and engage the Australian TT community

 

[TennisHound]

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