Yonex Ezone 98 vs Percept 97

[FortyLoveIWin]

Hey everyone

I am a 33 year old male 4.5+ player that has gotten back into tennis after about a ten year hiatus due to burnout and injury. I’d describe my game as all court, flat backhand, heavy forehand. Injury free and fit now, thankfully. I’m coming from a 93 sq inch head prestige covered in lead that I got sometime around 2010 probably. Been playing with the Blade V8 98 for the last year or so. Loved it at first but it feels a little dead/mushy and somewhat unpredictable to me on touch.

Been demoing for a few months and have settled between the two listed in the title. I love the Ezone 98 for the forgiveness and easy power but have a hard time controlling it coming from such an extreme control racket and it seemed to bother my arm a little bit it could’ve been unrelated to the racquet. The Percept 97 surprised me as I found it spin friendly and accurate. My only worry with it is if in a third set or some hours of tennis if I wish I had that ezone free power to lean on. Any advice would be great! Thank you.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

Being able to play is priority #1, I'd avoid anything that bothers the arm.

Here is one way to think about it, I bet, either racket in your hand, will lose and win the same matches.

 

[eric42]

Agree w/ above, it really makes little difference. You just want a racquet that gives you the confidence to take full normal swings with, and won't hurt you. Your average level of tennis really won't change. I can pretty much play the same level of tennis with either a Pro Kennex Copper Plus 90 from the 80's, or a Percept 97 even though I'd never main stick that PK.

 

[FortyLoveIWin]

Thanks guys. I agree with what you’re saying. In my junior days I didn’t think twice about which racket I was using. The market and technology these days paired with the marketing has overwhelmed me.

 

[Ryebread]

the P97 gets pushed around a LOT.
It is way more of a platform stick, than a Blade 98.
so it needs lead bc there is no plow. volleys feel flat.
Both of them, blade 98 and P97 have good control, not much power. But the Blade has a bit more.

I would try the Extreme Pro. And the Blade 100 v9.

 

[setfan]

the P97 gets pushed around a LOT.
It is way more of a platform stick, than a Blade 98.
so it needs lead bc there is no plow. volleys feel flat.
Both of them, blade 98 and P97 have good control, not much power. But the Blade has a bit more.

I would try the Extreme Pro. And the Blade 100 v9.

I am finding that I am not volleying as well with my Percept 97 as I do with an old Pro Kennex 5G. The Kennex is a 100 inch head size so assumed that this was the reason - larger head size v Percept 97 equals smaller sweet spot and less feel at net.
I have added lead tape to the Percept, but doesnt improve much at net, if anything it slows my reaction time a fraction.
Do you think its possible to turn the Percept 97 into a better volleying racquet?