Yonex EZONE 2020 AO

Crashbaby said:
Got my new 98 today, 302 grams with the plastic off the handle and 318mm balance. So a little light and a little head heavier than spec. Strung it up with ptp 1.2mm and a yonex dampener with Supergrap overgrip. Now weighs 327 grams. This is very light, raining here so no hitting.... I’m thinking it’s gonna need some lead tape to play anything like my xi98. My xi98’s vary between 2 and 4 grams over the specified 310 grams. So that’s 10 to 12 grams heavier. That’s a completely different class of racquet. Unless yonex has broken the laws of physics, this is looking like a platform stick. Not something that can be used stock. If a 305 gram 2020 Ezone only has a 317 swingweight, what would my underweight stick have?
Or do we pretend this is pro stock and praise the .... that there’s room to customise to a decent spec?
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I don’t disagree with your logic on most things but go hit this thing first before worrying about just the spec.

I have always Gravitated towards heavier swing weights and static weights. I just switched to the racquet and really enjoyed hitting with it stock. In the end I did add a small amount of weight (.1 ounce total) at 10 and 2 and I am even happier. Numbers are just numbers....Go play with it first before worrying about how to modify it. Sounds like regardless of how it plays, you won’t like it just from the placebo effect.

This stick isn’t normal...
 
Rusbus said:
I don’t disagree with your logic on most things but go hit this thing first before worrying about just the spec.

I have always Gravitated towards heavier swing weights and static weights. I just switched to the racquet and really enjoyed hitting with it stock. In the end I did add a small amount of weight (.1 ounce total) at 10 and 2 and I am even happier. Numbers are just numbers....Go play with it first before worrying about how to modify it. Sounds like regardless of how it plays, you won’t like it just from the placebo effect.

This stick isn’t normal...
Click to expand...
I’ll give it try stock for a while, just in case! :)
 
I hit with both yesterday:

The new 100 felt and hit more solid to me than the previous 100, so for people who like the 100 line, that one is worth a try. It may have partly had to do with some fresh strings, though.

I normally play with the previous Ezone 98, and this update was a total dog turd. None of the "DR feel" that the reviews kept bringing up. It was extremely shaky and unstable on almost every shot. It had none of the solid feel or control of the previous Ezone, let alone the DR line. It felt like they took away all the stability to try to beef it up a little more, and it's still not very powerful. The big selling point for me with the previous Ezone was the easy spin, control, and forgiveness, and I lost most of that with this piece of junk. This was just a bad move on Yonex's part.
 
mnttlrg said:
I hit with both yesterday:

The new 100 felt and hit more solid to me than the previous 100, so for people who like the 100 line, that one is worth a try. It may have partly had to do with some fresh strings, though.

I normally play with the previous Ezone 98, and this update was a total dog turd. None of the "DR feel" that the reviews kept bringing up. It was extremely shaky and unstable on almost every shot. It had none of the solid feel or control of the previous Ezone, let alone the DR line. It felt like they took away all the stability to try to beef it up a little more, and it's still not very powerful. The big selling point for me with the previous Ezone was the easy spin, control, and forgiveness, and I lost most of that with this piece of junk. This was just a bad move on Yonex's part.
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Wow, that’s a big no for you then! I got mine yesterday, paid for in full version. Raining here, so no hitting yet. Feels crazy good bouncing balls on it. Hoping you just hit one with a dud string job... pretty sure it can’t be that bad. Even Stevie Johnson dumped his Vcore and looks to be using it.
I’m pretty sure the testers are being honest. Tennis Nerd was adamant it’s an improvement over the 2018 and even said it was better than the XI98 so I’m pretty hopeful as the XI is crazy good if you can handle the stiffness. XI98 does soften up with 4g of lead and leather grip, but then you’re swinging just over 350g
 
Crashbaby said:
Wow, that’s a big no for you then! I got mine yesterday, paid for in full version. Raining here, so no hitting yet. Feels crazy good bouncing balls on it. Hoping you just hit one with a dud string job... pretty sure it can’t be that bad. Even Stevie Johnson dumped his Vcore and looks to be using it.
I’m pretty sure the testers are being honest. Tennis Nerd was adamant it’s an improvement over the 2018 and even said it was better than the XI98 so I’m pretty hopeful as the XI is crazy good if you can handle the stiffness. XI98 does soften up with 4g of lead and leather grip, but then you’re swinging just over 350g
Click to expand...
Tennis Nerd is like the worst reviewer ever
 
Crashbaby said:
I’m pretty sure the testers are being honest. Tennis Nerd was adamant it’s an improvement over the 2018 and even said it was better than the XI98 so I’m pretty hopeful as the XI is crazy good if you can handle the stiffness. XI98 does soften up with 4g of lead and leather grip, but then you’re swinging just over 350g
Click to expand...

My Xi98 flex like crazy on serves and overheads. I think TW has shown them at 64-66 stiffness but to me they feel like 61-62.
 
Crashbaby said:
Wow, that’s a big no for you then! I got mine yesterday, paid for in full version. Raining here, so no hitting yet. Feels crazy good bouncing balls on it. Hoping you just hit one with a dud string job... pretty sure it can’t be that bad. Even Stevie Johnson dumped his Vcore and looks to be using it.
I’m pretty sure the testers are being honest. Tennis Nerd was adamant it’s an improvement over the 2018 and even said it was better than the XI98 so I’m pretty hopeful as the XI is crazy good if you can handle the stiffness. XI98 does soften up with 4g of lead and leather grip, but then you’re swinging just over 350g
Click to expand...
Hopefully this came across in the original post, but I am a depolarized setup kind of guy. I don't like when they take weight out of the sides to beef up the tip. I get all the power I need from my regular shots, so I primarily want stability and no twisting.
 
I
mnttlrg said:
Hopefully this came across in the original post, but I am a depolarized setup kind of guy. I don't like when they take weight out of the sides to beef up the tip. I get all the power I need from my regular shots, so I primarily want stability and no twisting.
Click to expand...
That sounds like it explains why you didn’t gel with it.
 
mnttlrg said:
Hopefully this came across in the original post, but I am a depolarized setup kind of guy. I don't like when they take weight out of the sides to beef up the tip. I get all the power I need from my regular shots, so I primarily want stability and no twisting.
Click to expand...

With the weight drop and the lower SW maybe you should try adding some weight at 3 & 9 (possibly to the handle as well if you like the standard balance) and see if the racquet suddenly improves for you before you reject it outright... just a thought.
 
This is a really good racquet but it needs weight at the top of the hoop to make it properly playable ie a higher swingweight. I added bumper protection tape (3g) across the bumperguard and after that, the racquet was perfect as that was probably +10pts in swingweight.
 
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I tried the black prototype Ezone 100 with YPTP 52lbs, found it stiffer and gave me a bit of a sore shoulder. I'm now trying the production version strung with Hyper G 52lbs, its completely different unless the string makes that much of difference. The production version is much softer than the prototype, I have no arm pain and the feel of the racquet is very soft, powerful and lacking in a little bit of control. I did notice the TW play testers bumbed up the string tension to 54lbs, has anyone else had this issue?
 
CamSki said:
I tried the black prototype Ezone 100 with YPTP 52lbs, found it stiffer and gave me a bit of a sore shoulder. I'm now trying the production version strung with Hyper G 52lbs, its completely different unless the string makes that much of difference. The production version is much softer than the prototype, I have no arm pain and the feel of the racquet is very soft, powerful and lacking in a little bit of control. I did notice the TW play testers bumbed up the string tension to 54lbs, has anyone else had this issue?
Click to expand...
The final version is the same racquet as prototype...
 
Er niu more duh whale bee lon ching sue woon.
Same "mass times gravity" as PD t, PA T or pre 'lilo' s friend' pro
 
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New 2020 version is crazy soft compared to the Xi98, hit with both last night, both stock with same string and tension. Xi98 is crisp and solid, new one is soft, even mis hits we’re comfortable. This racquet is plush! Also more plush than the 2018.
Only got 15mins in with the new racquet so need more time with it. I think the others on here suggesting to add a few grams to up the swingweight a bit are giving good advice. I’ll try it stock for a decent hit, seemed really low on power outside of the sweet spot. But good in it. Easy to swing big on serves, no lack of pace there. Ps. keep in mind mine is 3 grams under spec at only 302g unstrung. I think it may also need a crisper string than poly tour pro, might try poly tour strike after a few more hits.
 
lima said:
Can't decide to buy Ezone 100 or not. I'm worried about the comfort but generally I love the power and forgiveness of tweener racquet. Hmmmm what to do
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Angell TC100 63RA my friend.

Thin beam, plush (think DR98 but nicer), all the power you need.
 
I just played the first time Ezone 100 yesterday. My previous racquet was Prince TXT 100P and I liked everything about it expect low launch angle which I coudn't get used to.

First of all I felt I didn't like custom string which was YPTP 1.25 25/24kg (I didn't like it once in Prince too but thought with yonex it might be playing better). For me the string is too plasticky and I prefer Cyclone/PLII/Silverstring to it. I liked serving with Ezone a lot - good power and tons of spin. Quite easy to adapt. Slices were outstanding with this racquet and volleys were too in terms of stability and touch. I would love to have bit more control here but considering it is more of baseliner racquet I think it is good blend of qualities anyway. I struggled a bit with my groundstrokes and need more time to get used to Yonex here but it was my first hit after a longer break so I won't judge it here for now. I think it might be also because Prince required me to hit more loopier ball to make it pass the net and wit Yonex it is not needed.

Anyway. nice all court racquet with really good feel for a tweener.
 
Anyone found new ezone 98 has small sweetspot? I have xi 98 playing for now, played ai, dr. I also put lead tape to 3, 9, 12 o'clock, and I do Multi/Poly stringing, doesn't help much....Anyone has same feeling?
 
Ryanblessed said:
Anyone found new ezone 98 has small sweetspot? I have xi 98 playing for now, played ai, dr. I also put lead tape to 3, 9, 12 o'clock, and I do Multi/Poly stringing, doesn't help much....Anyone has same feeling?
Click to expand...
How do you compare it to dr?
Faster and stiffer?
 
fox said:
I just played the first time Ezone 100 yesterday. My previous racquet was Prince TXT 100P and I liked everything about it expect low launch angle which I coudn't get used to.

First of all I felt I didn't like custom string which was YPTP 1.25 25/24kg (I didn't like it once in Prince too but thought with yonex it might be playing better). For me the string is too plasticky and I prefer Cyclone/PLII/Silverstring to it. I liked serving with Ezone a lot - good power and tons of spin. Quite easy to adapt. Slices were outstanding with this racquet and volleys were too in terms of stability and touch. I would love to have bit more control here but considering it is more of baseliner racquet I think it is good blend of qualities anyway. I struggled a bit with my groundstrokes and need more time to get used to Yonex here but it was my first hit after a longer break so I won't judge it here for now. I think it might be also because Prince required me to hit more loopier ball to make it pass the net and wit Yonex it is not needed.

Anyway. nice all court racquet with really good feel for a tweener.
Click to expand...

If you want more control, u should try the vcore pro 100...really good maneuverability through the air and control of thin beamed frame


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
blai212 said:
If you want more control, u should try the vcore pro 100...really good maneuverability through the air and control of thin beamed frame


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I would love more control on volleys but will not sacrifice power on groundstrokes.
 
yoyoyonex said:
tYAYAPs.jpg


Does Anyone know about this yonex racket?
Click to expand...

looks like a racquet from that Portuguese custom racket maker, Dahcor.
 
I found it super light, and I've been using a dr98....I just purchased 2 vcore pro 97 HD frames, going to roll with them for a bit
 
Ryanblessed said:
Anyone found new ezone 98 has small sweetspot? I have xi 98 playing for now, played ai, dr. I also put lead tape to 3, 9, 12 o'clock, and I do Multi/Poly stringing, doesn't help much....Anyone has same feeling?
Click to expand...
I think it does have a smaller one compared to the XI. An isometric head is supposed to give a larger sweet spot, this is the least isometric head in an Ezone so far. Stands to reason the sweet spot will be smaller on the 2020 than on the extra isometric head of the Xi. It also weighs less and it has less swing weight and it feels softer. None of these traits increase sweet spot size. I think the Xi is way more solid, but it takes a corresponding toll on your arm.
The above is not being negative about the 2020, I’m actually really looking forward to more hitting with it as the super plush feel is something I think my arm needs, love the XI but sometimes with full poly it’s borderline a bit stiff especially on miss hits on my stock frame. When weighted up it improves, but then you need more skills to wield it. The 2020 feels so much plusher and more comfortable with the same string and tension even at its lower weight.
It’s got my attention for the time being :)
 
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For those of you who have used the DR, the EZONE 98, and the new 2020 EZONE, is the price tag worth the $50-70 more per stick than the previous version?

I’ve used the DR’s since they came out. Love them. Never tried the 98 version as I was waiting for this one. I’ve modified my DR’s so they aren’t close to the stock specs. Which I would do with both the newer versions.

I always buy in pairs, and saving upwards of $140 on a pair is very tempting ...

Thoughts?
 
@tdhawks the 2020 version of the Ezone 98 is better than the previous version and IMO worth the extra coin. As a DR user I think you would like the 2020 98 better especially if you will be modifying it.
 
I am currently using Babolat Pure Drive 2018, but with stiff strings, I can get some hand pain.
looking for a more comfortable/control oriented racquet, after reading this thread it seems EZONE 2020 100 is more comfortable.
Anyone here played with BPD and moved to EZONE 2020 to compare?
 
dman34 said:
I am currently using Babolat Pure Drive 2018, but with stiff strings, I can get some hand pain.
looking for a more comfortable/control oriented racquet, after reading this thread it seems EZONE 2020 100 is more comfortable.
Anyone here played with BPD and moved to EZONE 2020 to compare?
Click to expand...
Exactly the same for me. Abd looking for more comfort and feel. Would like to read a comparison between the two :-)
 
Just received a strung Ezone 2020. Checked the weight/mass and balance specs and it's pretty spot on. 321g and 12.75 in balance. The shape does harken back to the Ai/DR mold versus the previous Ezone. I've currently got Klip Legend 16 (M)/Luxilon 4G 16L (C) as the setup. I'm not exactly sure when I'll get to hit it since the weather is supposed to be unfavorable for outdoor tennis for the rest of the month.
 
Edit: I found my answer about grip size with Yonex thanks. I would go for same size 2 (4 1/4) as my Babolat.
 
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dman34 said:
I am currently using Babolat Pure Drive 2018, but with stiff strings, I can get some hand pain.
looking for a more comfortable/control oriented racquet, after reading this thread it seems EZONE 2020 100 is more comfortable.
Anyone here played with BPD and moved to EZONE 2020 to compare?
Click to expand...
There is no Yonex racquet that is stiff or even close to Babolat Pure Drive.
 
Just a quick update on my long-term-demo of the 2020 Ezone 98. I didn't like it stock, and then tried 4g of lead at 12:00, as others have done. That was fantastic for beefing up the swing-weight, but I was worried about the balance-point in the long-run, so I removed the lead and added a Yonex vibration dampener at the bottom of the string bed. I swear this almost feels as good as the extra weight at twelve, as the dampener is about 4g as well, so it basically just shifted the same amount of weight to a different spot in the hoop. I'm going to continue with this set-up for a while because the gut/poly string I have is still in great shape, and will probably last a very long time. I also might try 1g of lead at 12:00 in addition to the dampener. The more I play with the 2020 Ezone 98, the more impressed I am. It basically does everything the DR98 does, only with a little more crispness and power, which in my opinion, is continuous improvement. :)
 
Use the vcore 100 currently with 3 grams of tungsten at 3/9, but now you all have me curious about the ezone100. Has anyone played both and offer comparisons?
 
I hit more with mine last night.

Most of my comparisons will be against the 2018 EZONE. I'll note the DR when I have things to say about it. Please read the following as opinion and not fact.

I'm playing with it in stock form and I'm liking it a lot. I briefly had an affair with the VCORE 98 because I didn't like my 2018 EZONE that much. But it was a love/hate from the beginning. I missed the DR softness. The 2018 EZONE had that jarring upper hoop as its main con. The pros of it included the ease of use, extra power and stability (compared to the DR). The new EZONE only enhances the pros and completely dropped the con of the last generation. I'm pretty happy with it so far. Even more power, just as much stability. My hitting partner commented a few times that my ball jumps more, too. So I'm happy to hear that.

Last night I physically compared the two EZONEs. The 2020 version has longer mains than the 2018. Width at 3 and 9 o'clock is about the same. Most of the other frame geometries are similar from appearance. And I no longer have a DR to compare it with. Might have an Xi98 or a DR100 to compare it with in my closet somewhere (if anyone is interested). I play with all my racquets in stock form.

I'll need to play more with different strings in the coming months to see how it goes. Currently have the EZONE strung up with Black Code 18g. I normally go for PolyTour Pro 120 at 45 lbs as a baseline since that worked so well in the DR. In the 2018, it absolutely did not work for me. I found PolyTour Fire at 45 to be a better fit in that. Strike was amazing in the VCORE 98, but only lasted a week. And it didn't suit the 2018 EZONE, either (too stiff of a stringbed resulting in harsh feedback when combined with the Hyper MG stuff).

There's a different pop to this racquet compared to previous generations. I don't think it's black code since I've used that in other racquets. It seems like the same pop I got from the Gravity MP. Makes it sound like I'm hitting the ball harder than I really am. I shanked quite a few balls last night, but the racquet never wobbled the way the DR98 did. But I got a lot more awkward "oops?!" shots that just went into the back curtain - usually when I tried to guide the ball. To me, that's a power issue of the racquet combined with poor timing/positioning from me.

That's all I have for now. I'll install some PolyTour Pro in the coming weeks and gather more thoughts. Or just repeat the fact that I love this iteration more than the the previous one.
 
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ArliHawk said:
Use the vcore 100 currently with 3 grams of tungsten at 3/9, but now you all have me curious about the ezone100. Has anyone played both and offer comparisons?
Click to expand...
Yes I did however I have hit Ezone only once so far. For me it is def softer and more stable than VCore. Hits better volleys and serves. Seems that VCore has more control and more spin but Im not spin type player. EZone feels like a softer PD type tweener while VCore plays more like players type frame just bulkier and 100”. But they are really similiar tbh.
 
XFactorer said:
I hit more with mine last night.

Most of my comparisons will be against the 2018 EZONE. I'll note the DR when I have things to say about it. Please read the following as opinion and not fact.

I'm playing with it in stock form and I'm liking it a lot. I briefly had an affair with the VCORE 98 because I didn't like my 2018 EZONE that much. But it was a love/hate from the beginning. I missed the DR softness. The 2018 EZONE had that jarring upper hoop as its main con. The pros of it included the ease of use, extra power and stability (compared to the DR). The new EZONE only enhances the pros and completely dropped the con of the last generation. I'm pretty happy with it so far. Even more power, just as much stability. My hitting partner commented a few times that my ball jumps more, too. So I'm happy to hear that.

Last night I physically compared the two EZONEs. The 2020 version has longer mains than the 2018. Width at 3 and 9 o'clock is about the same. Most of the other frame geometries are similar from appearance. And I no longer have a DR to compare it with. Might have an Xi98 or a DR100 to compare it with in my closet somewhere (if anyone is interested). I play with all my racquets in stock form.

I'll need to play more with different strings in the coming months to see how it goes. Currently have the EZONE strung up with Black Code 18g. I normally go for PolyTour Pro 120 at 45 lbs as a baseline since that worked so well in the DR. In the 2018, it absolutely did not work for me. I found PolyTour Fire at 45 to be a better fit in that. Strike was amazing in the VCORE 98, but only lasted a week. And it didn't suit the 2018 EZONE, either (too stiff of a stringbed resulting in harsh feedback when combined with the Hyper MG stuff).

There's a different pop to this racquet compared to previous generations. I don't think it's black code since I've used that in other racquets. It seems like the same pop I got from the Gravity MP. Makes it sound like I'm hitting the ball harder than I really am. I shanked quite a few balls last night, but the racquet never wobbled the way the DR98 did. But I got a lot more awkward "oops?!" shots that just went into the back curtain - usually when I tried to guide the ball. To me, that's a power issue of the racquet combined with poor timing/positioning from me.

That's all I have for now. I'll install some PolyTour Pro in the coming weeks and gather more thoughts. Or just repeat the fact that I love this iteration more than the the previous one.
Click to expand...

Good to hear that you like this better than the 2018 version. You mentioned playing with the vcore 98 as well. How does the vcore 98 compare against the 2020 ezone 98 ?
 
sgtennis1 said:
Good to hear that you like this better than the 2018 version. You mentioned playing with the vcore 98 as well. How does the vcore 98 compare against the 2020 ezone 98 ?
Click to expand...
VCORE 98 will be firmer (in the shaft and stringbed) overall. I think the EZONE edges out on power, but the VCORE will have the control... and possibly better feel. Spin, for me, is comparable. I think the VCORE 98 and 2018 EZONE had the same level of power.
 
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