Frans Bleker
Professional
Which Yonex is this ?? And do you think this looks like Stock racket ?
It is the DR 98 with a paint job.
It is the DR 98 with a paint job.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
how do you know this ?? I thought most college players don't use PJ. albeit, he might be an exception since he is one of the very few college guys with actual endorsement contract with Yonex.
Frans Bleker
Professional
He was the nr 1 junior player, he started with the DR 98 and still has it. The grommets of the DR 98 and the Ezone are very different, if you zoom in, you'll see DR grommets. And you can also compare the Head shape, it does not match with the ezone, but it does match with the DR.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
It is DR 98 and not DR 100 ? head size look more like 100 ?? this is DR 98 in blue
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
this is DR 100.
Frans Bleker
Professional
I remember he played a match against timofey skatov, a player who is using the ezone 100. When they shook hands Geller's racket was looking way smaller than Skatov's Ezone 100. Plus Yonex said that he was playing the DR 98 at the time. He might have switched between the 100 and 98 as well, but I think he uses the 98 now.
achapa8807
Semi-Pro
UPDATE
I have since added tungsten at 3 and 9 as well as a leather grip. I have also strung them both at 57/54 with 4G and I am very happy with the results. 4G is one of those strings that with time, it gets smoother and the ball will sit in the strings a little longer. Once I added the weight, I had to go up on the tension since I was getting some extra power that wasn't there before. Not saying that this stick doesn't contain a lot of power, but I think once you add some weight and expand the sweet spot, you need to go up on the tension since the racquet will be producing some extra power that it wasn't before. I have fully switched since modifying the racquet. I am really happy with the playability and what this frame has done for my game. My BH has improved tremendously, FH gains some added spin and even more power, volleys and touch have improved, and my serve, which has been a weapon, got some extra pop and placement.
I have since added tungsten at 3 and 9 as well as a leather grip. I have also strung them both at 57/54 with 4G and I am very happy with the results. 4G is one of those strings that with time, it gets smoother and the ball will sit in the strings a little longer. Once I added the weight, I had to go up on the tension since I was getting some extra power that wasn't there before. Not saying that this stick doesn't contain a lot of power, but I think once you add some weight and expand the sweet spot, you need to go up on the tension since the racquet will be producing some extra power that it wasn't before. I have fully switched since modifying the racquet. I am really happy with the playability and what this frame has done for my game. My BH has improved tremendously, FH gains some added spin and even more power, volleys and touch have improved, and my serve, which has been a weapon, got some extra pop and placement.
FV_Br
Rookie
I used a pair of Ai100 for 2 years, now swinging an Ezone 100, can compare both.
POWER: Ai100 has more power than EZ100
CONTROL: EZ100 has much more control than Ai100
MANUVEARABILITY: EZ100 is easier to handle, specially for OHBH
TOP SPIN: both are equal
SLICE: EZ100 is a little better, maybe due to the better handling
COMFORT: I would say that at the same tension and strings, Ai100 is smoother. If you consider 5 lbs lower tension on the EZ100, they are comparable in comfort and playability
Considering my game type with OHBH, I prefer the EZ100. I believe players with a 2HBH will be happier with the Ai100.
Frans Bleker
Professional
Geller uses a DR 98, not a 100. A 100 has 6 in the throat and the 98 has 8 like Geller's racket.
Yes, I combine it usually with ALU Power and have recently tried it with Yonex's newest string the PolyTour strike. Nice feel, adds a touch of plushness to the string bed, and great control. Nice string to use in a hybrid setup.
achapa8807
Semi-Pro
Played it recently in my EZONE 98 and it was good. Don’t get as much spin as I do with Cyclone, but it’s a nice feeling string in this frame. I’d say it’s a go-to for most Yonex frames; it plays well in every Yonex I’ve ever tried. I played it in 120 and it actually popped in four days at the bottom of the frame, weird.
achapa8807
Semi-Pro
Is PTS like Alu Power?
You might say that. Supposed to give good power and control with above avg tension maintenance. I haven't played with it for long enough to compare. Did notice it had a good amount of bite, maybe better than ALU. I hit a lot of shots when I play: topspin, flat, slices, cuts, etc. and have found it to a very solid all around performer.
mpournaras
Hall of Fame
Look at this guy ova heeya! Mr. Big Shot over heeya "hits a lot of shots" when he plays! The rest of us can barely start a rally!
dgoran
Hall of Fame
Hahah although maybe I misread but I took it more like he is a retriever type of player that puts a lot of shots back unlike me that looks to end points quicker...
Can I ask why you decided to sell it? And what you switched to?
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
dgoran
Hall of Fame
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Classic-TXP-IG MID
Hall of Fame
??? An attempt at humor?... Anger Management...? Let me hear you start singing... "I feel pretty... oh so pretty... I feel pretty and witty and..."
achapa8807
Semi-Pro
So, something strange happened today but in a good way.
I had modified my EZONE 98s with leather and lead, and although I started playing well, I also played a bit inconsistent. I took off the leather grips since I was feeling arm pain, even without the lead. Placed a synthetic grip on both of them that were a little thicker by like .2mm, and it was a HUGE change. Feels better in my opinion due to less vibration. The balance has changed and my volleys are a heck of a lot better now.
I had modified my EZONE 98s with leather and lead, and although I started playing well, I also played a bit inconsistent. I took off the leather grips since I was feeling arm pain, even without the lead. Placed a synthetic grip on both of them that were a little thicker by like .2mm, and it was a HUGE change. Feels better in my opinion due to less vibration. The balance has changed and my volleys are a heck of a lot better now.
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XFactorer
Hall of Fame
Does anyone feel that the EZONE 98 plays better in warmer temps than cooler temps? The other racquet that's been finicky was the VCT89. I only played with it int he summers, then would play with the Xi98 in the winters. I know. Two completely different racquets. 
I just put in a set of PolyTour Pro 120 at 45 and it feels fine. In the winter, though, it didn't feel as great - too stiff in the stringed and had a metallic sound. And to compare, it never happened in the DR98.
I just put in a set of PolyTour Pro 120 at 45 and it feels fine. In the winter, though, it didn't feel as great - too stiff in the stringed and had a metallic sound. And to compare, it never happened in the DR98.
achapa8807
Semi-Pro
Does anyone feel that the EZONE 98 plays better in warmer temps than cooler temps? The other racquet that's been finicky was the VCT89. I only played with it int he summers, then would play with the Xi98 in the winters. I know. Two completely different racquets.
I just put in a set of PolyTour Pro 120 at 45 and it feels fine. In the winter, though, it didn't feel as great - too stiff in the stringbed and had a metallic sound. And to compare, it never happened in the DR98.
I am not too sure about that, but I do know it plays better without leather!
Xfactorer,
What string setups have you found the most success with? I used to play in high school at like 60lbs, but I've been playing mid-50s for about three years now. I'm thinking of going down to 50 soon.
achapa8807
Semi-Pro
Has anyone felt a difference in the feel of the string bed while using 16g or 17/18g strings?
XFactorer
Hall of Fame
PolyTour Fire at 45. I've been playing the EZONEs in the 45-ish range for a while now. EZONE Xi98 w PolyTour Spin at 45. EZONE Ai/DR98 with PolyTour Pro at 48. EZONE 98 with Fire at 45. I currently have the EZONE 98 with PolyTour Pro at 45. It's better than it was in the cold weather. Fire might still have the edge though.
achapa8807
Semi-Pro
Definitely going to go low on this racquet. I feel like I will benefit from it as I’ve tended to play better the more the tension drops from 54 off the stringer.
Maybe slightly off topic but maybe useful to folks in case you found yours too tight as I did recently. The new strings in my Yonex (it’s a Dual g but that’s not important) were too tight for me - maybe caused by using a different stringer and or changing from PTF to msv cofocus which plays stiffer. Anyway I found a way to more effectively reduce tension than by playing, or even standing on them at home both of which made too little difference too slowly. So I retell it here in case others want to try it - obviously I accept no liability for any results if you do!
As I didn’t like the strings As they were I tried an experiment- and discovered that heating them for a minute or two with a hair dryer and then pressing a heavy pan on them reduced tension by a couple of pounds each time I did. I was thus able to get it down to a more acceptable tension. And it plays fine - much more like the power, spin and comfort I wanted. I used the Racquettune app to measure the changes.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I think standing on your strings may be a horrible idea cause you could snap the frame?
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Depends how you do it. Doing it on my lounge carpet so the whole frame was supported caused no problems. And frame can flex anyway. I had heard of others trying it to soften their stiff Babolat rackets! Didn’t work much to loosen the strings though! Hair drier option turned out more effective and controllable.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Znak
Hall of Fame
Anyone have a multi they can recommend for this stick? I just picked up 2 on sale at a local shop hoping to see how it compares to my DRs. I find the DRs really respond well to a stiff string, and I'm wondering since this stick is stiffer to begin with if I need to search for something a little softer.
Multifeel Black 16G, it is a lower powered multifilament.
XFactorer
Hall of Fame
So... I left the EZONE for the new, VCORE.... and now I'm back to the EZONE!
Sometimes you just don't appreciate what you have until it's gone. I appreciate the pop/power and ease of use that the EZONE has. VCORE has the same power, just don't pop as much. It comes down to personal preference.
Sometimes you just don't appreciate what you have until it's gone. I appreciate the pop/power and ease of use that the EZONE has. VCORE has the same power, just don't pop as much. It comes down to personal preference.
Znak
Hall of Fame
Just played with it for 2 hours last night for the first time. Man, I don't get the hate, I think I might make a full switch to the EZONE from the DR! It felt very similar to the DR but with more clarity... although it's still early days, hoping it'll be my gotoSo... I left the EZONE for the new, VCORE.... and now I'm back to the EZONE!
Sometimes you just don't appreciate what you have until it's gone. I appreciate the pop/power and ease of use that the EZONE has. VCORE has the same power, just don't pop as much. It comes down to personal preference.
time_fly
Hall of Fame
So... I left the EZONE for the new, VCORE.... and now I'm back to the EZONE!
Sometimes you just don't appreciate what you have until it's gone. I appreciate the pop/power and ease of use that the EZONE has. VCORE has the same power, just don't pop as much. It comes down to personal preference.
Interesting. I recently played the new VCORE 98+ and compared it to the EZONE 98+. Honestly, although they are not quite identical, the differences are small and it was hard to decide if one was objectively “better” than the other. I suspect that if you like one, you could play with the other one pretty easily.
XFactorer
Hall of Fame
People hate change. The new EZONE is not the DR and thus the hate.
I was playing a match with the EZONE and my strings popped during the first game. Had to switch back to the DR. I was able to seamlessly, but it highlighted the instability I had with the DR. And that was enough for me to not look back. I never liked the stiffer upper hoop or the minutely stiffer overall feel. But I've adjusted and I think I'm getting more power, too, with the new EZONE.
I recently strung my DR98+ with Yonex Rexis 16L in the manis, and Yonex Poly Tour Strike 17 in the crosses. It plays pretty good, and it will mostly likely work fine in the Ezone 98 too. A full bed of Rexis is great. I tried that in the new VCore 98 (305) demo from TW.
OlivierJulienB
Rookie
Znak
Hall of Fame
I played another 2 hours tonight with my buddy whos an extremely big hitter. I was definitely feeling more shock from the stick tonight — but when I went back to the DR to see the difference, although it felt more comfortable, it was more muted/less sensation. There is a bit of a plasticky feel I get with the EZONE, I don't know if it's the fact it does feel more stiff? Either way still need more time with it, fun stick!
XFactorer
Hall of Fame
Most of the shock/stiffness/discomfort I get is from the upper stringbed. It's super harsh there in the new EZONE whereas the DR doesn't have that. Luckily, I don't consistently hit up there unless I'm pulled out wide or I just happen to shank a ball here and there.
Jakesteroni
Semi-Pro
Is this thread strictly for the standard length? Haven't really seen much talk or another thread for the plus version.
XFactorer
Hall of Fame
Nope, discuss extended length if you'd like.
The Vcore 98 had great spin and power. I felt like I could crush forehands, as long as the targets were fairly big. Otherwise, I would miss. The Ezone 98 felt a little more precise, with almost as much power, but clearly less spin. I preferred serving with the Ezone 98 as well, as it had just a little more control for me.
The only two racquets I actually own right now are the DR98 and DR98+. I use the standard length for doubles, and the extended version for singles and going to drills. But I demo new models often, and think the Ezone 98 doesn't get the credit it deserves. I could easily switch to it. Great stick.
martinelli
New User
How could you compare ezone 98 300g and 285g with vcore 98?
I returned to the game after a few years. I would describe myself as a intermediate player with some arm little issue (elbow).
I hesitate between ezone and vcore, which will be less stiff and what weight will be better for elbow and my game?
I returned to the game after a few years. I would describe myself as a intermediate player with some arm little issue (elbow).
I hesitate between ezone and vcore, which will be less stiff and what weight will be better for elbow and my game?
I haven't tried the lighter Ezone 98 (285), but hopefully, there is another member who can provide feedback. The specs certainly look interesting. I would classify it as lite, flexible & midsize. There are not too many sticks out there like that. My guess it will be more manuverable than the 305g version, and possibly less comfortable. Not sure though. In my Saturday morning doubles group, we have someone using a Head Graphine Touch Radical S, which is even more flexible. He loves it and plays great. A solid 4.0 player in his early 60's. But if you have a sensitive elbow, I would choose the Ezone over the Vcore.
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