topspn
G.O.A.T.
I pretty much change every stock grip to Oehms leather and OG. Just love the more direct bevel feel
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Yonex EZONE 2020 AO
- Thread starter Vincent Wang-Bouchard
- Start date
Thiem's 1HB
Rookie
So what's the weight of it installed then smart arse? And what's the measured thickness using calipers?
Ash Tennis
Professional
Credit to the person who first showed me this link.
sanister
Professional
Ok.If you can show a clearer closeup picture I can verify.I have a roll of Megatac in black that looks like it so that would be my guess.
Ash Tennis
Professional
edit
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sanister
Professional
Its still very blurry but yeah looks like Mega Tac.Here’s a pretty good one:
Tourna Grip Mega Tac Overgrip Black | Tennis Warehouse
www.tennis-warehouse.com
Ash Tennis
Professional
And that’s with my iPhone X cameraIts still very blurry but yeah looks like Mega Tac.
Tourna Grip Mega Tac Overgrip Black | Tennis Warehouse
sanister
Professional
Ok.Mine turn out like that sometimes too.Try and hold the phone a bit more steady seems like u clicked while it was moving or shaking a bit & get a more closeup of the surface if u can.
Ash Tennis
Professional
K thanks for the tip!
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
That’s a nice tip, thanks for the heads up. I was planning to rewrap the stock base grip on my 98s to make the overall grip size a little smaller. I also don’t absolutely love the muted feel. I may look into removing the mesh as well then.
McLovin
Legend
Well duh...don't I feel like a dumb-a...Base grip for Ezones? They come with the dimples type replacement grip which is 128. The 126 is non dimpled style. See pic below
In all honesty, I removed the base grips from my VCORE 98 +s & replaced w/ Tecnifibre XtraFull the day they arrived, so I never even noticed they were dimpled... But, that doesn't excuse me not actually looking at the images a tad closer...
Faris
Professional
Hahah nah its alright. How are you liking the Tec XtraFull on your vcore 98+s? Bet they're better quality than what the racquets came with..
dr. godmode
Hall of Fame
Was really hoping someone would have swingweight measures for these racquets given all the new posts in this thread. Instead people just trying to find the thickness of one of the worst ever factory grips. Oh TTW...
McLovin
Legend
Yeah, they've been really nice. I prefer 4 1/2" grips, but the Yonex 4 1/2 feel thicker to me (maybe its the grip shape?), so I bought 4 3/8", and with the XtraFull it brings it closer to what I'm used to. I also built up the buttcap, because, as we all know, Yonex buttcaps have no flare.
OnyxZ28
Hall of Fame
At least it's not the Capcom model
Ezone 2020
Ezone 2020 Tour
Ezone 2020 Championship Edition
Ezone 2020 Ultimate
PierreMBK
Rookie
AC126EX was the old stock grip on previous Yonex racquets, probably the topic "Let's gather all grip specs..." is referring to as the standard synthetic grip. It still exists and we can easily find it on retail. The difference of 0,1mm (1,4mm Vs. 1,5mm) is due to one is installed on the handle whereas the other one is new and not installed yet.
This topic is old now and not updated anymore but a guy have recently created version 2 of this topic where we can update those informations, thanks to him : @newyorkstadium
New Yonex stock grip ("improved", Yonex said), even in Vcore racquets is this AC128EX. And this is not very qualitative I agree. That's why we are looking for good alternatives but as you said there are also other threads to talk about it [emoji28][emoji16][emoji106]
Anyway thanks for all your comments guys.
This topic is old now and not updated anymore but a guy have recently created version 2 of this topic where we can update those informations, thanks to him : @newyorkstadium
New Yonex stock grip ("improved", Yonex said), even in Vcore racquets is this AC128EX. And this is not very qualitative I agree. That's why we are looking for good alternatives but as you said there are also other threads to talk about it [emoji28][emoji16][emoji106]
Anyway thanks for all your comments guys.
Ash Tennis
Professional
I come back one hour later and we’re still talking about grips. 
the_faceless_player
Hall of Fame
I come back one hour later and we’re still talking about grips.
Says the guy who posts 8,458 times a day and starts a billion threads......
Ash Tennis
Professional
I’ve started like one thread in the past three weeks, and it was because I was tired of people talking about the grips on this thread! But 8,458 is pretty closeSays the guy who posts 8,458 times a day and starts a billion threads......
Dansan
Semi-Pro
I did the same thing. Replaced with leather grip, didn't even realize that I was removing the vibration dampening mesh....I used a knife and carved it right off, thought it was glue or something
I don't think I noticed any difference in vibrations, but I definitely could feel the bevels with a little more direct feedback.i am speculating at 324-327 strung. taking reference from vcore pro 310,320,330 and vcore 95. It should not even smell 330.haha
Dansan
Semi-Pro
For those with leather grips on the 98, how have you re-balanced it ? I've pretty much added lead to the 12 oclock part of the hoop until I came back to around 32cm balance which is about 6-7pt HL. I've got a yonex dampener (4g!!) on there as well as overgrip. It's come out to 340g exactly. I may remove the dampener and replace it with a rubber band to shave weight and get it under 340 around 336 or 337g or so. That's a heavy dampener..
Corey Klein
Rookie
So I, like many others here I'm sure, have been playing with Yonex racquets for many years now. It is generally well known and agreed upon that their base grips are lousy. Seriously, they're just terrible. This relentless perseveration regarding finding a stock base grip is simply mind boggling.
FIRETennis
Professional
That dampener is insane! I have one too in my bag and it changes the feel of racquets although it dampens pretty well. Try the Pacific "O" dampeners, slim profile 2.5g and rarely fall off. Better than the Sampras Tourna "O" imo.
Ash Tennis
Professional
I don’t usually play with a dampener but I will try your recommendation, and buy the pacific O.
topspn
G.O.A.T.
#64 rubber band is all i use
Yoneyama
Hall of Fame
The AC128EX is the only original base Yonex grip I can recommend. The AC126EX is pretty average, hence why they stopped using it. It was very thin, but not durable. The 128 is a lot more durable, and has a very nice design that leaves little valleys on the overlaps, so that when you wrap an overgrip you can if you chose to, wrap the overgrip overlaps into the valleys which results in a perfectly flat overgrip.
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
I've seen both tour players and weekend warriors add lead to the throat of their racquet or spread along the bottom of the hoop (6 o'clock). These locations effectively depolarize a racquet because they add more mass near the center of the frame. Arguably depolarized racquets swing or drive through the ball better and feel more solid. Seems to me that using a 4 gram dampener is a low effort way to accomplish this while getting the dampening benefit. Rubber bands and lighter dampeners add 1-2 grams at most.
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
Mr Backhand
Rookie
Dang
dje31
Professional
I don't believe the VDM is wrapped around the underlying formed grip. From the graphic from Yonex, it looks like it surrounds the handle section of the hairpin, so I don't think you are actually removing VDM.
Click on this link and expand the technology tab for VDM: http://yonexusa.com/sports/tennis/products/tennis/racquets/ezone-series/ezone-tour/
Click on this link and expand the technology tab for VDM: http://yonexusa.com/sports/tennis/products/tennis/racquets/ezone-series/ezone-tour/
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
That's what I thought initially but other posters made me think otherwise. Thanks for the validation, seems like glue and grip residue to me...
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
I can't tell the difference. The 2020 plays more muted than the 2018 for what it's worth.
dje31
Professional
That said, it would be neat if you could get a heat sleeve made of VDM to retrofit old racquets with it. I imagine it would be instantly installed on 70% of Babolats.
Thiem's 1HB
Rookie
'VDM' is likely to be in the hairpin (or around the hairpin) and I suspect is just a another type of carbon fibre cloth which they've just added to the layup or even just some cheap mesh. It's actually quite difficult to staple through the hairpin for some reason which why I suspect this is where the 'VDM' is. The handle is just normal foam. I supect VDM is just marketing hokum like Babolat Cortex etc.
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dje31
Professional
If you can believe your lying eyes, perhaps VDM is actually something real, and not just some marketing snake oil.
When VDM first came up in the VCore Pro update (green version), there was a demonstration on the Fukky page of what it's supposed to do.
Of course, it could be a bunch of stuff and nonsense...who really knows?
When VDM first came up in the VCore Pro update (green version), there was a demonstration on the Fukky page of what it's supposed to do.
Of course, it could be a bunch of stuff and nonsense...who really knows?
Thiem's 1HB
Rookie
If that's how Yonex are trying to market it, then it really is a complete load of hokum. It might be relevant if tennis involved a metal ball bearing directly striking the handle of a racquet, but it doesn't. You're talking about a completely different type of vibration that's transmitted from the head of the racquet along the length of the layup towards the hairpin with different torsional forces etc. You could probably achieve the same effect with some putty in the bottom of those acrylic boxes. Many, many racquets were plenty comfortable before 'VDM' came along so I can't imagine its anything revolutionary. The proof of the pudding is in the actual playing. I can still feel a load of vibrations coming through the handle on the EZ98 if I hit the ball at the top of the stringbed for example.
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haqq777
Legend
I just read up on it and definitely seems like the Vibration Dampening Mesh (VDM) is on the hairpin inside the handle which users can't access (unless they take handle off revealing bare hairpin). So it is just glue or maybe some other residue users have removed from under the replacement grip. Here is a picture from Yonex website.
!<-_->!
Hall of Fame
Curious to see what the RA# is for the EZONE Tour or what the feel actually is like. Found the DR too muted or possibly mushy. The 2020 is still muted, but a bit crisper. Hoping the Tour will be right in the middle, or possibly have a similar feel to the Dual G 97 310 if possible.
2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
The "vdm" stuff looks just like foam to me!I just read up on it and definitely seems like the Vibration Dampening Mesh (VDM) is on the hairpin inside the handle which users can't access (unless they take handle off revealing bare hairpin). So it is just glue or maybe some other residue users have removed from under the replacement grip. Here is a picture from Yonex website.
The sticky stuff on the handle is indeed glue.
RandomAsian
Rookie
Sorry to ask again since there’s been so many messages about the new sticks I haven’t been able to catch up. So, the stock replacement grip of the new Ezone is around 1.5 mm thick right?
PierreMBK
Rookie
Yep, read few messages earlier [emoji106]
RandomAsian
Rookie
Haven’t checked this thread for a few days and oh my I didn’t realize there was such a heated discussion on the grip lol
RandomAsian
Rookie
Btw has anyone tried Tour bite on these new Ezones (preferably the 98) or just TB in general? Is TB really that stiff and harsh on the arm like people say?
Also how does Yonex poly tour Spin compare to Solinco’s Hyper G and TB?
Note: didn’t want to start a new thread over at the “Strings” section since I wanna know how the string plays on the new Ezone
Also how does Yonex poly tour Spin compare to Solinco’s Hyper G and TB?
Note: didn’t want to start a new thread over at the “Strings” section since I wanna know how the string plays on the new Ezone
mscream
Professional
I think what everyone can agree on is that the stock replacement grip is consistently below standard across the Yonex line up. It's as if they expect people to replace them right away and only put an alibi grip on it for that reason.
For me, the new EZONE 98 plays firmer than the old DR98. Stiffer strings worked for me in the DR98 because of the flex in the throat, not sure if I would want to use a very stiff string in the new one, unless it's at low tension, otherwise it could feel boardy. YMMV as usual.
For me, the new EZONE 98 plays firmer than the old DR98. Stiffer strings worked for me in the DR98 because of the flex in the throat, not sure if I would want to use a very stiff string in the new one, unless it's at low tension, otherwise it could feel boardy. YMMV as usual.
Love how much fun they were having with it! It’s got me wondering if I could create a similar effect using my old screen protector for my phone ( the Tech21 one that absorbs impacts ) - maybe slice it up and stick a length to each of the bevels. They use a similar demo with a ball bearing on their website so show what happens with and without one - ie the ball bounces off with it but shatters the screen without it. It’s going to increase grip size a little bit but probably only as much as an over grip. I’ve no need to atm but it’s just an idea in case it’s useful for anyone with a stiff racquet.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
From what I recall of the DR98 it played more plush and flexy at the top half but less comfortably on the lower half compared to the new one. Having said that the new one is still plenty plush compared with most racquets. I declined to get the DR when it was about because the vibration on the lower half of the string-bed aggravated my golfers elbow at the time - it tended to be when I got jammed by a shot right at me. No such issues with the new one I tried though. No such issues with the DG100 I ended up with then either, although its a firmer racquet. I’ve noticed a similar vibration lower down on the Clashs although that’s otherwise comfy. Everyone has their own feel though of course.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
parasailing
Legend
I had the DR 98 and felt it was stiff in the top half of the hoop and the DR 98+ feels a lot more plush. Looking forward to trying the Ezone 98 Tour and 98+ due out in summer to see if they can bring back that DR 98+ magic.
