Yonex Extended Length Racquets

SupahMan5000

Hall of Fame
With the Vcore + likely coming this fall, me enjoying the Ezone 98+ a lot, and an Ezone refresh coming fairly soon :

How does everyone like the Extended length offerings from yonex? Is there anything you want changed or you think they’re good as is
 

A_Instead

Legend
I really like the current Ezone 98+... I also find great performance with the Pure Aero+.. (it doesn't feel as long in a good way)
both have great control and provide that extra power and reach compared to their std counterparts..
I will explore the new vcore 98 + once it comes out..
 

SupahMan5000

Hall of Fame
I really like the current Ezone 98+... I also find great performance with the Pure Aero+.. (it doesn't feel as long in a good way)
both have great control and provide that extra power and reach compared to their std counterparts..
I will explore the new vcore 98 + once it comes out..
I tried the VC98+ from 2018? I think that’s the right year. Wasn’t a big big fan but didn’t hate it either. preferred the DR98+ at the time
 

AmericanTwist

Professional
Only by buying and playing with so many frames 55ra - 71ra and playing with a variety of strings, gauges, and materials, am I able to narrow down what I think is optimal for me keeping in mind that my game is still improving. Having said this I own a few Ezone 98+s and a few Vcore 98+s. I like both and this has influenced me to try to extend my standard frames. I like the UP/UT for its tight pattern (maybe anathema to a lotta 'holics out there lol). If Yonex made extended frames in a softer flex with a tighter pattern that would appeal to me. I do really like the isometric head though. So I've also strung up some Yonexes with thicker gauge poly. Works so far I think.

Away from Yonex I tried a friend's Wilson 27.5" 104" blade this past week. Pretty good frame and very light. Pattern is too open for me though.
 

SupahMan5000

Hall of Fame
Only by buying and playing with so many frames 55ra - 71ra and playing with a variety of strings, gauges, and materials, am I able to narrow down what I think is optimal for me keeping in mind that my game is still improving. Having said this I own a few Ezone 98+s and a few Vcore 98+s. I like both and this has influenced me to try to extend my standard frames. I like the UP/UT for its tight pattern (maybe anathema to a lotta 'holics out there lol). If Yonex made extended frames in a softer flex with a tighter pattern that would appeal to me. I do really like the isometric head though. So I've also strung up some Yonexes with thicker gauge poly. Works so far I think.

Away from Yonex I tried a friend's Wilson 27.5" 104" blade this past week. Pretty good frame and very light. Pattern is too open for me though.
I really want to extend my UPs as well.

Seems like it might take some trial and error to figure out SW and balance but that might give that racket the magic touch
 

SupahMan5000

Hall of Fame
The Ezone 98+ I think is one of the least talked about yonex rackets but is prob at the top of their best frames. Only issue I think would be the 333 SW. it’s a beefy racket but like the Ezone tour (which is fairly popular) some tail weighting does wonders

Extended racquets can be daunting but if more people were to approach it like a “tour” frame that is higher SW and a bit tougher to swing, it could be more widely accepted.

The Ezone 98+ is very playable stock but I also think that, compared to the popularity of the Ezone 98, it needs a slight reduction in SW
 

mhkeuns

Hall of Fame
With the Vcore + likely coming this fall, me enjoying the Ezone 98+ a lot, and an Ezone refresh coming fairly soon :

How does everyone like the Extended length offerings from yonex? Is there anything you want changed or you think they’re good as is

How do you compare the WO 18x20 XTD to the Ezone 98+? I compared the Ezone Tour & the plus version and went with the Tour version feeling that it produced heavier balls. Though I absolutely love my WO 18x20, I’m super curious about the XTD version. I would love to hear how the Ezone 98+ compares to the WO 18x20 XTD, both on their pros and cons.
 

SupahMan5000

Hall of Fame
How do you compare the WO 18x20 XTD to the Ezone 98+? I compared the Ezone Tour & the plus version and went with the Tour version feeling that it produced heavier balls. Though I absolutely love my WO 18x20, I’m super curious about the XTD version. I would love to hear how the Ezone 98+ compares to the WO 18x20 XTD, both on their pros and cons.
As @A_Instead mentioned the beam on the Ezone is quite wide. They’re pretty similar tbh in stock form but the WO swings a little faster and feels a little more predictable with the 18x20.

The Ezone of course has a bit more inherent free power but in stock form it gets a little clunky when you need to swing fast cause of that wider beam. The string pattern is a little more open but dense enough you maintain predictability but keeps a good level of shape on the ball repeatedly. The WO some strokes when you’re not on top of the ball it gets flattened out a bit

IMO the Ezone 98+ is the closest match to the WO XTD 18x20 on the market. The Ezone is the densest 16x19 extended option that is still fairly controllable and stable. I can use them interchangeably and would likely leather and lead the Ezone as well

TLDR;
Ezone:
More power, better feel but clunkier

WO:
More predictable, more stable, but stiff feel maybe a little underpowered in comparison
 

A_Instead

Legend
Ezone 98 plus is nice...for me the racket head seems so far away from the handle.. takes awhile to get used to it...
 
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