Weight Discrepancy in Used Yonex Ezone 98

[vag0st]

Hi everyone,

I just bought a used Yonex Ezone 98 as my third racket today. When I first held it, it felt lighter than usual. After fully inspecting it and finding nothing visibly wrong, I thought it might just be my imagination. However, once I got home, I couldn't shake the feeling. So, I used my kitchen scale to check the weight.

To my surprise, my other two Ezone 98 rackets are almost identical in weight, but the new one is a whole 10 grams lighter! This discrepancy has left me feeling really disappointed about the purchase. I've been looking for a used Ezone 98 for over 1.5 years, and now I've lost all the excitement I had.

I've always thought Yonex had the best quality control, but a 10-gram difference feels insanely off. It almost feels like a different racket (though I haven't hit with it yet). The strings and overgrips are the same across all three rackets, and I measured them without dampeners. The only difference is in the serial numbers.

Here are the details of my rackets:

1. Yonex Ezone 98
- Strings: PTPro yellow
- Overgrip: Super Grap overgrip
- Serial Number: 2587574 | 110423UK

2. Yonex Ezone 98 (Osaka edition)
- Strings: PTRev orange
- Overgrip: Super Grap overgrip
- Serial Number: 2715754 | 280623UK

3. (New Purchase) Yonex Ezone 98
- Strings: PTRev white
- Overgrip: White Super Grap overgrip
- Serial Number: 2782615 | 050823GR

The "GR" in the new racket's serial number threw me off a bit. The seller mentioned she got it from Poland, so I assume it's an EU version.

Has anyone else experienced such weight discrepancies with Yonex rackets? Is this within acceptable quality control limits? Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[tele]

Hi everyone,

I just bought a used Yonex Ezone 98 as my third racket today. When I first held it, it felt lighter than usual. After fully inspecting it and finding nothing visibly wrong, I thought it might just be my imagination. However, once I got home, I couldn't shake the feeling. So, I used my kitchen scale to check the weight.

To my surprise, my other two Ezone 98 rackets are almost identical in weight, but the new one is a whole 10 grams lighter! This discrepancy has left me feeling really disappointed about the purchase. I've been looking for a used Ezone 98 for over 1.5 years, and now I've lost all the excitement I had.

I've always thought Yonex had the best quality control, but a 10-gram difference feels insanely off. It almost feels like a different racket (though I haven't hit with it yet). The strings and overgrips are the same across all three rackets, and I measured them without dampeners. The only difference is in the serial numbers.

Here are the details of my rackets:

1. Yonex Ezone 98
- Strings: PTPro yellow
- Overgrip: Super Grap overgrip
- Serial Number: 2587574 | 110423UK

2. Yonex Ezone 98 (Osaka edition)
- Strings: PTRev orange
- Overgrip: Super Grap overgrip
- Serial Number: 2715754 | 280623UK

3. (New Purchase) Yonex Ezone 98
- Strings: PTRev white
- Overgrip: White Super Grap overgrip
- Serial Number: 2782615 | 050823GR

The "GR" in the new racket's serial number threw me off a bit. The seller mentioned she got it from Poland, so I assume it's an EU version.

Has anyone else experienced such weight discrepancies with Yonex rackets? Is this within acceptable quality control limits? Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

I am assuming the answer is probably no, but just in.case, is it possible you have a 98L? It would be more than 10g lighter, but the previous owner could have thrown weight into the handle.

 

[vag0st]

I am assuming the answer is probably no, but just in.case, is it possible you have a 98L? It would be more than 10g lighter, but the previous owner could have thrown weight into the handle.

I've checked multiple times but the racket states it's Ezone 98 (no L displayed anywhere) and the specs on the frame state the weight to be 305g which is the normal Ezone 98 weight.
Also the racket is in perfect condition, only 1 small scratch and the doesn't seem to be modified in terms of base grip or bottom cap etc

 

[tele]

I've checked multiple times but the racket states it's Ezone 98 (no L displayed anywhere) and the specs on the frame state the weight to be 305g which is the normal Ezone 98 weight.
Also the racket is in perfect condition, only 1 small scratch and the doesn't seem to be modified in terms of base grip or bottom cap etc

10g does seem like a lot, unless your heavier racquets are 5g over spec and your lighter one is 5 g under. What are the strung weights of all three? Also did you open the trap door?

 

[vag0st]

10g does seem like a lot, unless your heavier racquets are 5g over spec and your lighter one is 5 g under. What are the strung weights of all three? Also did you open the trap door?

I changed all the overgrips to make sure they don't have excess dirt or sweat and measured them again.
The heavier is 331, the other is 327 and the newest 323.
So the 1st and 3rd have an 8g difference.

Also, opened up all 3 caps, nothing unusual, they all still have the yonex seal unbroken so nothing added in there.

 

[tele]

So the newest one, with overgrip, is 323? Based on TW strung specs w/o overgrip, that would make it about 5g underspec, which seems like it could be within tolerance. The good news is that the one that you don't like is the lightest one, so if you are up for a little customization, you can probably pretty easily get it within an acceptable range of the other two, as long as the swingweights and balances are not really far off. If you have access to a pro shop that can check the swingweight/balance of each racquet, you can use the TW customization tool to guide you as far as adding weight is concerned. If you don't like lead tape, the Head bumper guard tape is actually pretty heavy. Good luck.

 

[MikhailT]

are you sure they all have the same base grip? The seller could have replaced the stock base grip with a lighter one

 

[Trip]

Not to rub salt in the wound, but this right here is a classic example of why, whether Yonex or not, if you're even semi-serious about specs, you should only buy a used frame from someone who can give you the actual measured unstrung spec, in fully stock form (shameless plug: as I do, in each and every one of my classifieds listings).

So, what to do now? Well, if you really want to know what you're dealing with, you need to cut out as much excess variability as possible. If you're willing to sacrifice grips, strings, and grommets (if the headguards are in enough various states of wear), I'd strip the frames right now do their bare molds, then take measurements (balance and swing weight included). At that point, you'll really know how much of a baseline difference you have on your hands, and can make a truly informed decision as to whether it's worth keeping the black sheep (by figuring out how much customization you'll have to do, to both the black sheep and your other frames, to produce an identical middle ground spec, and whether that spec is usable enough for you).

TL;DR - It's becoming more and more apparent that while Yonex may still have a lower standard of deviation across certain serial batches, their global figures per model are probably not that much better than industry average, if any better at this point. Made in Japan or not, they're likely succumbing to the same inevitable corporate pressure to increase volume and lower costs, just like everyone else. It just is what it is.

 

[bobeeto]

Yonex is producing more and more frames than ever, their QC has definitely taken a hit. Also possible that you have different gauges of string that weigh differently but that shouldn’t really be that big of a difference

 

[LOBALOT]

My pal had a similar but opposite experience. He asked me to match his 3 Ezone 98's.

I started work and one was 10g heavier with a much heavier swingweight. I opened the buttcap and there was bubble gum in the handle. I peaked under the bumper and there was lead. I asked him where he got it and he said he had bought it on fleabay.....

The base grip was also not a Yonex but much beefier.

I just am not sure you can count on purchasing racquets like this and not expect issues.

Check to make sure the base grips are the same (OP mentions the overgrip). Look inside the handles and make sure they didn't remove material.

Are the bumper guards intact?

 

[codonnell]

My pal had a similar but opposite experience. He asked me to match his 3 Ezone 98's.

I started work and one was 10g heavier with a much heavier swingweight. I opened the buttcap and there was bubble gum in the handle. I peaked under the bumper and there was lead. I asked him where he got it and he said he had bought it on fleabay.....

The base grip was also not a Yonex but much beefier.

I just am not sure you can count on purchasing racquets like this and not expect issues.

Check to make sure the base grips are the same (OP mentions the overgrip). Look inside the handles and make sure they didn't remove material.

Are the bumper guards intact?

Bubble gum is certainly a new way of counterbalancing to me hahaha. I agree that if you buy online there’s always a chance the frame has been customized at least a small bit. Found putty and lead in the handle before without knowing.

 

[vag0st]

Not to rub salt in the wound, but this right here is a classic example of why, whether Yonex or not, if you're even semi-serious about specs, you should only buy a used frame from someone who can give you the actual measured unstrung spec, in fully stock form (shameless plug: as I do, in each and every one of my classifieds listings).

So, what to do now? Well, if you really want to know what you're dealing with, you need to cut out as much ambiguity as possible. If you're willing to sacrifice grips and strings, I'd remove both, taking the frames right down to their bare molds and grommets (and if the headguards are in various enough states of wear, remove those and the grommets, too). Then measure the specs (balance and swing weight included). That way you know how much of a difference there is in the base frames themselves -- before grips or strings. Then, you can make a decision as to whether it's worth keeping the black sheep (trying to customize around the deviation).

TL;DR - It's becoming more and more apparent that while Yonex may still have a lower standard of deviation across certain serial batches, their global figures per model are probably not that much better than industry average, if any better at this point. Made in Japan or not, they're likely succumbing to the inevitable pressure to increase volume and lower costs, just like everyone else. Just is what it is.

That makes sense when you actually know what exactly you're looking for in terms of SW or balance etc.

All I know is that I like playing with the Ezone, and I was at least trying to have consistency between my rackets.

If the SW of the stock Ezone is my ideal SW, that is unknown to me, as there might be a racket out there that fits my game way better.
Unfortunately, I'm not a pro and I haven't had a chance to try all the rackets in the world or experiment too much to be able to say, you know what, my ideal SW is X and the balance I want is Y etc if that makes sense. That being said of course I'm trying to have as much consistency as possible in terms of strings, tensions, dampeners, grips etc that I use as every detail counts hence why I wanted this racket to be close to the ones I already have.

Thinking about it this one will probably end up going to my parents' house abroad and use it when I go there for holidays (a few months per year) and that's about it.
It's not worth spending toom much to make them match as I don't even know if the specs I'm currently playing with, are even my ideal specs tbh.
I might try to add some lead to bring it closer to my other 2. I think a few grams right above the handle where the 'V' is should do it without messing too much with the specs.

To also answer the other questions, as I said I removed the overgrips and the base grips seem to be the same stock ones, same with all 3 butt caps, nothing there.

What do you think in terms of just adding some lead myself to try and bring it closer to the others?

 

[Trip]

What do you think in terms of just adding some lead myself to try and bring it closer to the others?

Certainly wouldn't hurt to give it a try. Just remember a rough rule of thumb for points of swing weight per gram at various locations: 1g @ 9 & 3 = ~2pts; 10 & 2 = ~2.5pts and 12 = ~3pts.

 

[LOBALOT]

Bubble gum is certainly a new way of counterbalancing to me hahaha. I agree that if you buy online there’s always a chance the frame has been customized at least a small bit. Found putty and lead in the handle before without knowing.

Exactly, and imagine having to remove it. It was mess. Disgusting

 

[LOBALOT]

Certainly wouldn't hurt to give it a try. Just remember a rough rule of thumb for points of swing weight per gram at various locations: 1g @ 9 & 3 = ~2pts; 10 & 2 = ~2.5pts and 12 = ~3pts.

Exactly, I would pick a master of the 3 and match them all to it. Frankly, it is easier being lighter than the reverse I had to deal with.

 

[miki]

i had the same experience with used yonex vcore. Discovered the previous owner removed original grip and put 2 or 3 overgrgips. I restored racquet with factory grip and everything is great up to 1g.

 

[am1899]

FWIW, Yonex factory base grips are lighter than most replacement base grips on the market. So if that’s been changed out on any of the frames in question, that could account for at least some of the difference.

Regardless, as others have pointed out, it seems Yonex QC may not be quite as good as it used to be.

 

[Crozzer95]

Can you post some pictures?