Yonex EZONE DR 98 vs PK KI 5 320
- Thread starter Aloysius
- Start date
I have. Found the pk more solid overall stringbeds and more predictable, maybe a slight bit more power from center of stringbeds on yonex. They both have a nice muted solid thud when you hit tho. Arm friendly always goes to PK. even tho the lay up is stiffer, the sand absorbs some of that initial impact force. the DR is much stiffer than the specs suggest, it's feels more like a 65 or 66 (quite similar feel to new pure strike actually). Always had issues controlling my forehand with the yonex. The yonex swings heavier and less maneuverable. Both of them disappointed me on serves tho, and yonex on topspin groundstrokes. I now use a pure aero lite, with 4g lead at 3/9, and a shock shield replacement grip and overgrip, 4 grams of blue tac in butt,and babolat RVS dampener and gamma worm. That combo comes in at 330 grams, 6 pts head light, estimated swingweight around 325. More solid than both the pk and yonex, every bit as comfortable, much better spin, more stability across the face of the racket on mishits,and more maneuverable. I keep a ki5 280 with some lead in my bag (similar specs after mods as the pure aero above), it is also more solid (with the mods) than the 320 or DR, and most importantly it serves better. Spin isn't as much as the babolat obviously, but it is much more predictable and I'd say a little more powerful, but that may just be because it doesn't hit as loopy a ball. To me it is 95% of a pure strike in terms of power and spin, but without the harshness.
I'm sure with weight at 3/9 the 320 and DR would be more solid, but they get too heavy for me to use as effectively and I ironically get arm pain from heavier rackets (pk ki5 pse is what flared my biceps pain after being pain free with a 5g for a decade). If you like the 320, I highly recommend getting the 280 and adding some weight to the hoop, it is the most solid pk I've hit since the ki5 PSE (that list includes (with lead on all of these in varkous amounts) 5g, Redondo 98, previous ki5 315, previous ki5 280, q5 295, q5 315, ki10, qtour 325, 300, and 295. ) If you don't want to mess around with customizing, the new pure strike 98 is better than the 320 and DR, better spin, better power, better stability than DR, feels maybe a touch less than the 320 but close, better serves. For me it was the smaller sweetspot compared to my modded pure aero lite and ki5280 that led me to sell it, it was too heavy for me to add lead to. But it would be my pick of all the rackets on the market in the 305g and heavier section
I'm sure with weight at 3/9 the 320 and DR would be more solid, but they get too heavy for me to use as effectively and I ironically get arm pain from heavier rackets (pk ki5 pse is what flared my biceps pain after being pain free with a 5g for a decade). If you like the 320, I highly recommend getting the 280 and adding some weight to the hoop, it is the most solid pk I've hit since the ki5 PSE (that list includes (with lead on all of these in varkous amounts) 5g, Redondo 98, previous ki5 315, previous ki5 280, q5 295, q5 315, ki10, qtour 325, 300, and 295. ) If you don't want to mess around with customizing, the new pure strike 98 is better than the 320 and DR, better spin, better power, better stability than DR, feels maybe a touch less than the 320 but close, better serves. For me it was the smaller sweetspot compared to my modded pure aero lite and ki5280 that led me to sell it, it was too heavy for me to add lead to. But it would be my pick of all the rackets on the market in the 305g and heavier section
maximum power always comes down to swingweight and swing speed. where stiffness comes in is how quickly that power falls off as you get out of the sweetspot. there was an article about philapousis (sp?) serving with his racket (known to be heavy) and wood ones (also heavy)...his fastest serve with the modern racket was only 2 mph faster I believe. the reason pure drives etc feel like cheating is due to the stiffness...it makes for near max power even when you don't hit it dead center. since I miss the sweetspot a lot more often than pros, I've found that using a very stiff racket and doing what I can to maximize the shock absorption is the key to winning more points
Aloysius
New User
Don't mean to be rude... but is that English?
lwto
Hall of Fame
5
LOL, good,
you had the same problem figuring that out as I do with a PK Ki5I did finally figure out PK is Pro Kennex?
Stretchy Man
Professional
AI100 is not arm friendly at all. DR98 is better but there are more comfy options out there.
Hansen
Professional
what are these options, i´m curious
Aloysius
New User
Not arm friendly at all? Isn't the AI100 marketed as a more arm friendly ADPGT? From what I read on these forums, it is more arm friendly than DR100 and AI/DR98, but it may be PR for all I know...
I am just curious how the AI100 differs from the KI5 320, and which different play styles they are suited for.
Stretchy Man
Professional
I've read that a lot too that Yonex make arm friendly racquets. My elbow is calling that a myth. The AI100 has a stiffness rating of 68 with no dampening technology and that is exactly what it felt like.
The older model Ki 5 (315) was definitely more comfortable than a DR98. I haven't tried the newer stiffer Ki 5 (320), but I found the Q5 (315) to be pretty stiff.
Most comfortable racquets I've found are the old flexible prince racquets Tour 100 and Tour 98, but the new 100P isn't bad. Volkl V1 Pro and old model ProKennex Ki5 was good too.
Interesting the ki5 280!!!
Do you know the BB London (now playing with it)?
Is it possible to compare?
regards,
Ruud
Sorry haven't played with any Becker rackets
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
Yeah old Princes were comfy, but they were SO MUTED in the sweetspot that I preferred the response off center, I had no idea what was going in if I hit the sweetspot (also the sweetspot tended to feel like an unusual hotspot in the stringbed IME).I've read that a lot too that Yonex make arm friendly racquets. My elbow is calling that a myth. The AI100 has a stiffness rating of 68 with no dampening technology and that is exactly what it felt like.
The older model Ki 5 (315) was definitely more comfortable than a DR98. I haven't tried the newer stiffer Ki 5 (320), but I found the Q5 (315) to be pretty stiff.
Most comfortable racquets I've found are the old flexible prince racquets Tour 100 and Tour 98, but the new 100P isn't bad. Volkl V1 Pro and old model ProKennex Ki5 was good too.
I have tried both DR98 and PK KI 320 and for my game (flat hitting style) I preferred PK as it has given me way more spin to clear the net.I know lot of folks love DR98 and for some reason I couldn't adjust to it as I kept hitting to net at the critical moments may be I should have tried longer with different strings.
I have found PK frames (q5 295) 6 months ago and my chronic wrist injury doesn't bother me anymore.I have 30 plus raquets at home and PK Q5 295 is only frame works like a charm for my wrist injury infact most of the PK frames.Great control as well with 16*20 giving confidence to go for my shots and I have tested in match conditions which is the real test to see where muscle memory is and I have won more matches with this frame.
I would caution that Ki 280 needs little weight even though it is a great frame.Lot off spin with these new frames compared to older model.I prefer Q series probably because I'm used to Wilson K 61.95 and other Head Oval shape frames.I would probably go with Ki 280 and customize as I prefer to customize my frames.
All these frames are great for arm and mainly unique design with big sweetspot 100inch head combined with 16*20 control built into them.
Good luck
I have found PK frames (q5 295) 6 months ago and my chronic wrist injury doesn't bother me anymore.I have 30 plus raquets at home and PK Q5 295 is only frame works like a charm for my wrist injury infact most of the PK frames.Great control as well with 16*20 giving confidence to go for my shots and I have tested in match conditions which is the real test to see where muscle memory is and I have won more matches with this frame.
I would caution that Ki 280 needs little weight even though it is a great frame.Lot off spin with these new frames compared to older model.I prefer Q series probably because I'm used to Wilson K 61.95 and other Head Oval shape frames.I would probably go with Ki 280 and customize as I prefer to customize my frames.
All these frames are great for arm and mainly unique design with big sweetspot 100inch head combined with 16*20 control built into them.
Good luck
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
Actually thought the Babolat pure Strike VS Tour was comfier than the Yonex DR 98. But I loved the spin on the DR 98 over the PK and Babolat rackets.
