I disagree with his video about recommending ppl not buy or try it. Every person is different and physical fitness is key. I switched from the Pure Aero to this racquet and it’s been great. Nice having a less stiff racquet.
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Yonex EZONE Racquet 2022
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
1HBHfanatic
Legend
-he is not wrong
-i just posted this on the video
" agree ^^ thats the MAIN problem of all the "new school" fast, speedy, racquets of today, a well dampened racquet BUT TOOOOOO dam LITE!!!!!!!!!, the racquet/s lose the "impact war" of ball versus racquet, transferring bad-vibrations to arms!! to counter (somewhat) these ezones need to be strung in the mid 40lbs range "
- a lite racquet with poly strings is a bad recipe
mhkeuns
Hall of Fame
Just an opinion of one of many online reviewers. Everyone is different. But, I’m sure there will be people agreeing & disagreeing to the vid.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Well, kind of. Vibrations, for me they only happen if I miss the sweetspot. I'm not a pro, but I'm hitting the sweet spot in my sticks 90% of the time. So, I'm not going to chase away vibrations by going heavy anticipating a need a heavy racket to help with off-center shots. I'd go heavy for power and heft on my ball, but not for stability or to be pain free. The hardest hitters are faced by scores of college kids using stock Ezone 98s, they have no issues with vibration or stability.
Anyway, the ezone 2022 is the same as the other Yonex offerings of late, extremely friendly on the arm. A small sliver of my mind thinks Mark took a harsh stand "don't buy this racet" to stir up views and comments, but maybe he got a bad batch. There's almost zero chatter online about the Ezone (non tour) giving anyone wrist or arm issues. I think it's near clash like in muted feel. Anyway, I wonder if anyone else's arms/wrists experienced that kind of pain, will be interesting to see the comments.
Maverick13
Semi-Pro
Ironically, I added some lead to 3&9 on my Ezone and it’s given me the first tennis elbow I’ve had in years. Probably unrelated but super strange coincidence.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Ouch, sorry, TE sucks!
ericykchan
Rookie
I agree on both. I almost only play with Yonex racquets (ezeon, vcore, vcore pro) now and never have any issue. Also, like you, i don't want to think Mark does it to get views but I also have to admit that's my first reaction when he came out this strong on warning people not to buy.
1HBHfanatic
Legend
-agree
-the issue now is that yonex has found a way to dampen the sock even better now (2022 ezone)
-but the weight issue is the factor, too damm lite!
@FuzzyYellowBalls
-if you/one dont generate the head speed, the shock is going to the arm
-i think thats why some people find them great and some others find it bad !?!?! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Curtennis
Hall of Fame
I’ve been playing Ezone 98 exclusively for the last month and no hand, wrist or elbow pain. Everyone’s different I guess.
Im also using Polytour Pro which is fairly soft.
my only issue is that I just might not be good enough to harness the power. This is a racquet I have to grip a little more western, I have to really think about my windshield wiper motion with. There’s other racquets like the VC95 I can just sort of hit with and keep the ball deep without much thought. The Ezone, while I’m capable to hit some absolute bombs, I find difficult to just keep friendly rally balls in with. It’s almost like I have to hit the ball like I’m trying to always finish the point. Requires so much RHS to keep balls in. But that might also be making me a better player. Not allowing me to take the easy way out sometimes.
Im also using Polytour Pro which is fairly soft.
my only issue is that I just might not be good enough to harness the power. This is a racquet I have to grip a little more western, I have to really think about my windshield wiper motion with. There’s other racquets like the VC95 I can just sort of hit with and keep the ball deep without much thought. The Ezone, while I’m capable to hit some absolute bombs, I find difficult to just keep friendly rally balls in with. It’s almost like I have to hit the ball like I’m trying to always finish the point. Requires so much RHS to keep balls in. But that might also be making me a better player. Not allowing me to take the easy way out sometimes.
iceman_dl6
Professional
Having been using the 2022 EZ98, the cause of arm pain for some, is its low stock twist weight. A racquet reviewer/youtuber, named “Tenncom” actually documents this and says it had poor off center stringbed performance. In my experience, adding weight at 3 & 9 and at the handle remedies this.
galahad
Rookie
In one part of this video he says the feel is great, then he says the frame is killing him. In one part he says he has great touch on volley's, but later he says the volleys would fly on him. He also says his one handed backhand was working well, but later he says the backhand was late.
The review, aside from being the only one which has identified significant arm trouble with this frame, is within itself contradictory. The RA is mid-range.By all
accounts it is more plush then the previous version. It simply cannot be that every player would experience pain when using this, or the frame would never be used by
anyone.
galahad
Rookie
There are clearly no universals. It simply can't be that this frame will automatically give each user arm problems. nor will EVERY lite frame impact everyone the same way. I'm growing more and more convinced that arm issues are a technique or conditioning problem, and less an equipment problem. And beyond that, I think a full bed of stiff Poly doesn't help
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
I never thought of that, I guess if people death grip the stick and barely swing there could be some vibrations, but man the newer Yonex are pretty muted in my mind.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
I think it's a bit of a inside joke so to speak, the whole review.
galahad
Rookie
According to TW:
The strung weight of this frame is 323g
The strung weight of the "super arm friendly"Wilson Blade is 320g
is that too light also?
This guy should be sued for this. It is not an opinion, he said the racquet will injure everyone and this isn’t true. It’s horrific everyone can publish things in internet and then we have what we have.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
TomTennis495
Professional
To me that review seems like he has a personal beef with yonex. Ive played with many racquets and the 2022 ezone is a great stick. You can injure your arm on any racquet you hit off center with....
I looked at his response to comments, and he’s not joking. Complained that his demo even had a hybrid in there, so it wasn’t the strings. I have a hybrid Lynx Tour/Synt gut and love it.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Check the discord lol, you can get some hints.
1HBHfanatic
Legend
-i dont know if i agree with these numbers!!?!!
-my personal experience is different
-i have both racquets, y.E.98(2022 16/19) and w.blade.98(v8 16/19) and i find the blades heavier, by a good bit
-the w.blades are def. better option for bigger hitting
-the yonex is very well dampened, the handle dampening does a great job at "masking the bad vibrations
-but the y.e.98 does feel and play lighter!!, thusly more shock (in contrast)
- @iceman_dl6 IME all yonex racquets ive had, needed HELP at 3 and 9 (with lead) to help with the "twist weight issue"
-the twist weight issue is a natural occurrence with yonex sticks, due in part to the "isometric head shape", not a big issue since i add lead often
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1HBHfanatic
Legend
-BTW i was chosen to do a review of this y.e.98 2022 racquet
-i compared it to the y.e.98 2020 version
-it should be early on this thread, if you are interested
-i compared it to the y.e.98 2020 version
-it should be early on this thread, if you are interested
Saitamaxpunch1
Rookie
Wanted to play a few more times to confirm, but I am some feeling golfer's elbow develop (inner elbow) from this racquet. Could be possible that the whippiness + and good slice on the racquet encourage me to overdo it at times. Not really sure what else is causing this as I have 6 racquets and no issues with the others. String it at 42lbs Volkl cyclone and love it otherwise.
Curious - how often do you play, and do you do strength/mobility workouts?
Saitamaxpunch1
Rookie
3 to 4 times a week with other light workout on the side
just wondering. So nothing crazy. Hope you get better soon
I took @iceman_dl6 advice and added a leather grip for weight in the handle and I felt it would be better distributed than just thru the buttcap and make the racket feel a bit more solid without losing whippiness.. it actually made a difference. Static weight 333gr and added 1gr at 12 to make it SW 318 and 32cm balance and it plows a bit better now along with quite a bit less twisting. I don't think I want to do 3 and 9 on this racket as i don't want to make it swing more sluggish. I tried 11 and 1 before and it was firing balls a little too much. Anyways, it is a good setup. I like it even more now. If I string with lynx tour I will even shed the weight at 12 as lynx tour will make up that 3sw pts difference and will distribute the weight more evenly thru the head (even more stability). Will report but this improved my experience quite a bit already. I think it did help with flattening balls and staying more sturdy thru the contact.
I do like the racket and it's my main just trying to make it fit for my game a bit more.
I do like the racket and it's my main just trying to make it fit for my game a bit more.
ericykchan
Rookie
That kinda sucks if I have to join his discord to understand a review that he put out such warning. He is not being serious with his words in this case.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Relax, don't over-react. Here's my tip...take everything he said in the pros and go on that, try it, if it hurts your elbow, then you'll know. In general negative experiences get posted on message boards for all kinds of products, more so than positive. There's almost no chatter about elbows and wrists concerning any Yonex racket, EXCEPT, the Ezone Tour version.
Yeah his review pretty much all pros and only real con was elbow... So stellar review if you don't have elbow pain. I have regularly sensitive elbow and ez98 is very easy on my elbow... No pain. Still my main
SlowTiger
Professional
This guy likes to over exaggerate things and plays victim. He made a video saying how TW was taking legal action against him because he made a negative review of their review. All they really did was flag him on YouTube for copyrights which they have every right to do because he actually stole their intro and used it as his own for that video
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Ryebread
Hall of Fame
EZ98 2020 or 2022 is not an issue for me. In my 40's, playing 5-6x a week of 4.0-4.5 tennis.
2022 is a better frame IMO.
FWIW:
I can't play with a Radical MP (wrist) or all Babolats (wrist and elbow) or even the Extreme Tour (wrist).
I'm not a brand loyalist. I have 20 racquets of all sorts. No bias. Just truth.
2022 is a better frame IMO.
FWIW:
I can't play with a Radical MP (wrist) or all Babolats (wrist and elbow) or even the Extreme Tour (wrist).
I'm not a brand loyalist. I have 20 racquets of all sorts. No bias. Just truth.
1HBHfanatic
Legend
-btw, i should add/clarify
-i personally would not have said "this racquet is BAD, and dont buy"!?!?!
-i think this racquet like ALL racquets have a player in mind (target players)
-it would be a good racquet for people who swing FAST, and or have modern grips, not so much for continental and/or Easter grips
-"new school strokes" tend to favor that swing style (FAST) so, i really think thats their target player
-slightly slower swinging stroke or less aggressive "grip players" will like the y.vcore line !?!
-slower swinging "more classical swing style (eastern forehand players, like myself) tend to favor the vcore.PRO weight
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I really don't get why people string with full polys if they have arm pain. I run DR98s with multi mains, 17L poly crosses strung at 48lbs and it allows my 49 year old body to play regularly without arm pain. I am switching to the new Ezone because it's a little easier to use...but I notice at the cost of the DR98 plushness. I wouldn't recommend a leather grip either - use a thin synthetic that is a little more comfy. It's a solid frame but Yonex basically made it easier to play to widen it's appeal by making it a little more stiff and lighter than the DR98. Plays a little too much like the VCORE 98s after this update but without the VCORE harshness
Wheelz
Hall of Fame
Yes, he goes 55 pounds with 1.30 (16g) strings... and usually plays stock SW, which is low on ezone 98. The odds were against him and his elbow.
I bought an ezone 98 (2022) earlier this year and I can see why some people would like it, but it's not for me. I used to use the Pure Strike (PO7, 16x19) and eventually had some issues with tennis elbow (possibly due to the racquet, possibly due to leaving in poly strings too long, maybe both)- in any case, I think it is a suitable racquet for people who are looking for a pure strike competitor (given it's 98" and 16x19). it is definitely very maneuverable and feels pretty whippy to me- i almost felt like i had to slow my swing down at times. currently, i prefer slightly heavier racquets, as I have been using the Gravity Pro/Tour for the past year (and most recently I picked up a Speed Pro 2022).
One thing I did notice is that the feel is very different compared to the other racquets I have used-i guess muted/dampened is the right word. although I didn't have any serious overt elbow/forearm pain, i felt like if i continued to use it, i might have a recurrence of my prior issues with arm pain. in other words, i think it is dampened but that doesn't translate to arm comfort necessarily- so i'd personally be a little wary of using it if comfort is one of the main priorities for someone. but hey, everyone's different so who knows.
(for reference, i use gut/poly in all my racquets for comfort).
One thing I did notice is that the feel is very different compared to the other racquets I have used-i guess muted/dampened is the right word. although I didn't have any serious overt elbow/forearm pain, i felt like if i continued to use it, i might have a recurrence of my prior issues with arm pain. in other words, i think it is dampened but that doesn't translate to arm comfort necessarily- so i'd personally be a little wary of using it if comfort is one of the main priorities for someone. but hey, everyone's different so who knows.
(for reference, i use gut/poly in all my racquets for comfort).
iceman_dl6
Professional
I don’t know if fellow clay court players using it noticed it, but for me, it’s a tad underpowered even with poly strung at 45 lbs on clay. It’s that flexy feeling throat that bothers me on that surface only. I found that my stiffer ‘21 VC95 plays better on clay. But on hard court, it’s the other way around! No wonder a lot of successful clay courters use stiffer racquets, i.e. Babolats.
NastyWinners
Hall of Fame
Any light-ish racket is going to carry the risk of causing arm pain if you don't have picture perfect technique.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Pro flex ratings can vary and trend toward low flex, nothing near what silly rec players attempt to use. Even the "babs"
LazyStringer7
New User
I started playing with the ezone 98 this week, i could see how some people could have arm pains. I think string setup for this racquet really decides whether it's an arm disaster or not in stock form compared to a lot of other racquets. definitely try going for a softer setup when trying it out, and I think it is definitely worth a try.
galahad
Rookie
But Mark isn't saying that every frame thats 305 or less will kill your arm.
He's saying this frame, specifically, will do that
So it's not really a weight issue, its an Ezone issue.
TomTennis495
Professional
When does the ezone tour come out?
tennisandtennis
Semi-Pro
July, according to my pro shop
TomTennis495
Professional
Ok thanks. Bracing for the pricing but I need 2 new ones.
tennisandtennis
Semi-Pro
Are you after the weight or the string pattern? IIRC the Tour is an 18x20?
TomTennis495
Professional
the latest version is 16x19 with a bit more weight. I have not seen the specsOf version 7
tennisandtennis
Semi-Pro
If you're worried about the price, you could always just get a pair of EZONE 98s and customize them. Unless you're a high-level player, I doubt you'd be missing out on much. I got my pair of 100s for about $350 combined. Like-new condition.
Wheelz
Hall of Fame
Why not the ezone 100 (or vcore 100) for clay ?
kailash
Hall of Fame
+1
I demoed many racquets including Ezone 98 2022. I played couple of sessions, and felt some milder pain in the elbow in both. On the contrary, nothing with the new VCore 98. And the VCore Pros are rock solid with zero arm issues!
Maybe the upcoming Ezone Tour will fix the weight problem, there by fix the Tennis Elbow issues. But with the previous Tour version many had arm issues: we will have to wait and see.
