Neither I am lol I was just dropping the numbers, I don't think that's a regular string tension to use.
Yonex Ezone Tour 98
- Thread starter 5point5
- Start date
EpitomeOfAwesome
Semi-Pro
Has anyone played with both EZone 98 and EZone Tour and liked EZone 98 better?
Is the EZone Tour too much heft for usta 3.5 men who are not close to 4.0?
Is the EZone Tour too much heft for usta 3.5 men who are not close to 4.0?
I’m a 3.5 and play my best tennis with VCP HD. Don’t just get bogged down on the weight of the racquet.
tariqsaleem
New User
It really depends on your style of play. If you play with a lot of topspin and a 100 inch racket then a heavier racket can get trickier. Eventually a resonably heavier racket will always help your game as it will be more stable and have more plow through. Too heavy though and you might struggle with manuverability so its a balancing act.
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Return_Ace
Hall of Fame
Yeah... I think I'm going to give up on my Ezone Tour just based on how easily it's scuffing; another hour of play today and I just have chips and scrapes all over.
Just had it restrung from full bed Lynx Tour to a hybrid of Lynx Tour crosses with Volkl Power Fiber II mains and I think i miss the firmness of the full bed.
Just had it restrung from full bed Lynx Tour to a hybrid of Lynx Tour crosses with Volkl Power Fiber II mains and I think i miss the firmness of the full bed.
Corey Klein
Rookie
Do you slap the ground with the racquet and rush towards the net like Murray when some hits a drop shot on you?
rader023
Rookie
Give up on it as in keeping it looking good, or not use it anymore because it is chipped?
tariqsaleem
New User
I got my delivery of this beauty just a little while back. I'll post a detailed opinion piece after i use it in a match situation but i just hit a wall for an hour with this and im already loving it.
Very stable but i might play around with a bit of lead at 3 and 9 to make it even more stable.
As i'm used to heavier rackets the racket actually felt very good to me. Just the right blend of weight and balance and for anyone interested this one actually more manuverable then the last gen ezone 98+, similar levels of stability, more comfortable, easier to swing on the serve and a little less powerful.
The sweet spot seems to be really big and nice and its a very comfortable racket as well. Pockets the ball very well
Very stable but i might play around with a bit of lead at 3 and 9 to make it even more stable.
As i'm used to heavier rackets the racket actually felt very good to me. Just the right blend of weight and balance and for anyone interested this one actually more manuverable then the last gen ezone 98+, similar levels of stability, more comfortable, easier to swing on the serve and a little less powerful.
The sweet spot seems to be really big and nice and its a very comfortable racket as well. Pockets the ball very well
tariqsaleem
New User
Brilliant QC as well... i didn,t measure it brand new but it with the overgrip and dampener (1gm) that i put kn before the hit it came out at 338gm.
If you go by TW's measuring of used racquets, my new racquet goes from a 10 to an 8 in about 3 hours of play. All it takes is a low volley where you inadvertantly scrape the ground when trying to get low. I would rather make that volley and suffer a scrape then have a pristine looking racquet.
Return_Ace
Hall of Fame
Maybe, I'm questioning everything I do now.
But I do think most of it comes from hitting low volleys/approaches and constantly making contact with the ground.
It's more that I was hoping to potentially move/return to Yonex just because I'm a bit tired of playing the Head QC roulette game, and the Ezone Tour seemed to fall within the specs. that I like.
However with that said, between the fragile paint (yes, I'm one of those people that likes to keep their rackets somewhat healthy looking, and the thought of managing 3 of these would be a nightmare), and that I'm not gelling with the current string setup (at least during last night's hitting session), I'll just leave it in the bag but not use it as a primary racket.
Pretty much this.
Although my experience with all of my Head rackets is that I can make the volley and mostly keep the paint on the racket (i.e. the Yonex is probably about a 6-7 now after 8 hours of play, my Radicals are definitely at least an 8 after maybe 20 hours of play whilst unCAPd, with about maybe an extra 100+ hours of CAPd play).
kurnoolion
New User
I finally received my EZONE 98 Tour today. Can't wait to try it out! It weighed at 311.25g and 320mm balance. Is 3.75g difference within acceptable margin of deviation for Yonex?
!<-_->!
Hall of Fame
Mine came in at 313g iirc. Hit with it against a wall comparing it to my weighted up 2020 EZone. Not same strings so can't comment about feel, but would say the Tour felt like it was easier to get through the ball. Volleys also felt more stable. However, since it was just the wall I don't think it's a fair enough assessment to say that the Tour felt better.
Mine weighed 314g
kurnoolion
New User
Thanks. Yours seems pretty close to the expected weight. Did you check the balance too? I bought mine new on e b a y, and wanted to make sure I didn't receive a QA failed stick or something.
It's the 1st Yonex racquet I have purchased that wasn't exactly on the number (probably 6 racquets). I do not know how to check balance
tariqsaleem
New User
Finally got to hit with my new beauty. it was a social doubles so i got a lot of chance to experiment and try my full array of shots. Here are my impressions.
Forehand -is just awesome!! Probably my best shot with the racket. i can hit with a lot of plow through and control and very good amounts of topspin. def not Pure Aero level top spin but I can still hit a very heavy ball with a lot less net clearance which gives me a lot more control.
Backhand - I know people say this is a heavy racket but on the backhand I find its actually swinging faster then I am used too because of which i am mistiming balls a bit. Will be playing around with weight a bit to see if that helps without messing up the forehand. I still hit a heavy ball and i can just drive through on the double backhander but I still need a few more sessions to get my timing right.
Volley - Surprisingly not as stable as I thought it would be - but it has huge potential. Deep volleys are not a problem but it did'nt behave the way I wanted to when trying to place the ball near the net. Not the most maneuverable racket I've owned but not difficult to work with at all. Again i think just a couple of grams strategically placed should do the trick.
OverHead - love it, I can hit anywhere on the court with a lot of control.
Serves - Not my best serving racket (that is the Head Graphene 360 extreme mp) but its still right up there. Lots of power on the flat serves and I can get decent amount of spin on both kick and slice serves. Slightly heavy to swing when serving which I thought was strange since it actually swings very easy for me on the forehand side and a bit too fast on the backhand side. I am guessing that this is a side effect of the slightly head heavy balance compared to the rackets I am used too.
Comfort - Very comfortable.
Verdict: I'll be sticking to this for a while simply because this is right up there on my forehand side. I can do almost anything on that side with it and with lots of control including topspin shot, forehand slices, flat shots when I try to finish the point. Cant wait for a singles games with this as I think this will actually better for me in singles then doubles until i figure out how to improve stability on the net. For now the Prince Textreme 100 Tour remains my racket of choice as its does everything better overall but this def hits a heavier ball and with more control. People who are trying to compare this to the DR. I sold the DR because it lacked power for me and wasnt stable enough. Tried the Ezone 98 plus after and didnt like it much (lacked maneuverability). This Tour version plays a like the DR version but with more power and stability. A must try for those who liked the DR but thought it needed a bit more weight.
Forehand -is just awesome!! Probably my best shot with the racket. i can hit with a lot of plow through and control and very good amounts of topspin. def not Pure Aero level top spin but I can still hit a very heavy ball with a lot less net clearance which gives me a lot more control.
Backhand - I know people say this is a heavy racket but on the backhand I find its actually swinging faster then I am used too because of which i am mistiming balls a bit. Will be playing around with weight a bit to see if that helps without messing up the forehand. I still hit a heavy ball and i can just drive through on the double backhander but I still need a few more sessions to get my timing right.
Volley - Surprisingly not as stable as I thought it would be - but it has huge potential. Deep volleys are not a problem but it did'nt behave the way I wanted to when trying to place the ball near the net. Not the most maneuverable racket I've owned but not difficult to work with at all. Again i think just a couple of grams strategically placed should do the trick.
OverHead - love it, I can hit anywhere on the court with a lot of control.
Serves - Not my best serving racket (that is the Head Graphene 360 extreme mp) but its still right up there. Lots of power on the flat serves and I can get decent amount of spin on both kick and slice serves. Slightly heavy to swing when serving which I thought was strange since it actually swings very easy for me on the forehand side and a bit too fast on the backhand side. I am guessing that this is a side effect of the slightly head heavy balance compared to the rackets I am used too.
Comfort - Very comfortable.
Verdict: I'll be sticking to this for a while simply because this is right up there on my forehand side. I can do almost anything on that side with it and with lots of control including topspin shot, forehand slices, flat shots when I try to finish the point. Cant wait for a singles games with this as I think this will actually better for me in singles then doubles until i figure out how to improve stability on the net. For now the Prince Textreme 100 Tour remains my racket of choice as its does everything better overall but this def hits a heavier ball and with more control. People who are trying to compare this to the DR. I sold the DR because it lacked power for me and wasnt stable enough. Tried the Ezone 98 plus after and didnt like it much (lacked maneuverability). This Tour version plays a like the DR version but with more power and stability. A must try for those who liked the DR but thought it needed a bit more weight.
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Jono123
Semi-Pro
Im a Blade 16x19 player. Im looking for a change and the EZone 98 & Tour has caught my eye. I mainly play competitive club dubs so Im leaning towards the 98 due to perceived maneuverability. The 98 does seem a little on the light side though, so I cant decide. I have a eastern FW with compact strokes and tend it hit quite flat and deep, so Im curious if this stick lends itself to that. Im going to demo both racquets today and decide. I'll probably put a nice multi in it , something like One Bi Phase for added feel and zip.
Villain
Professional
The Tour has a reasonably tight 16x19 pattern which should work well if you hit the ball flatter. Can’t speak to how the regular 98 pattern is in comparison. The Tour is a good feeling and playing racquet and you should have little trouble getting used to it coming over from a Blade.
heartattack
Semi-Pro
Hey for those of you who have this racket, is the chamber under the "Grommets" or Head foam filled or empty? I'm interested as well!
parasailing
Legend
This racquet is so popular can't even get a demo of it to try.
I still looking for that elusive 16x19 that plays like my Blade v7 18x20.
I still looking for that elusive 16x19 that plays like my Blade v7 18x20.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Best bet could be a leaded up Ultra Tour 16x19. I got my UT 18x20 to play close to my Blade with lead in the head.
parasailing
Legend
Wilson quality control is pretty bad as I had the Ultra Tour 18x20 and it played no where near my Blade. I think I will just have to wait patiently until I can get a demo of the Ezone 98 Tour.
TagUrIt
Hall of Fame
Don’t bother demoing, just buy it!! It really is a remarkable racquet.
TagUrIt
Hall of Fame
I can’t say I’ve ever looked under the cap, but the Tour is perfectly balanced. You can hang it on your finger at the center of the frame and both sides are equally balanced.
4pt HL is still head heavy for me. I like a more HL balance
After a very, very long wait, I finally received my demo of the Ezone Tour! It's strung with PTP yellow 1.25 at 53 pds, and the static weight is 328g with no dampener or overgrip. The balance, which I checked several times, is 32.5 cm, and is almost identical in specs as my DR 98, which really surprised me. I am looking forward to trying out the Tour during the next week, and will share my impressionss next weekend. I have a good feeling about it, because I received a rare under spec sample. 
Kurt0707
Rookie
I was also was disappointed with the UT even after customization, could not replace Blade.. basically I was looking for a more stable and forgiving option to my Vcore 95/Regna 98, similar to Blade, and Ezone Tour seems to fit on paper.. I cant demo so I ordered one, since I am already a big Yonex fan.. would be curios to know how other blade 18x20 users (2015 or v7) compare Ezone Tour to that.. anyways, really looking forward to playing with it.
Mine is about 310-311g unstrung but much more headlight at 6pt HL when strung. I'm not complaining since I prefer an underspeced and more headlight balance but afraid if I order another racket it would feel much different by having that 315g and 4pt HL balance. Surprised to see the QC quite off from advertised specs
Same boat here...blade user looking for a touch more umph without losing the stability and ample sweet spot.
justinhaughtmd
Rookie
Owned and played the 98+ and Tour. 98+ is better for serves and has more power. It has noticeably more vibration and the power level drops off drastically outside the sweetspot. If you get it moving it has a lot of plowthrough. The Tour has much better feel, pocketing, and a more consistent stringbed. It is very stable. It is less powerful, for sure, and needs a softer poly IMO. I kept the Tour because my strokes and the response is more consistent. I hit less out and it is more predictable. Be warned, serve power comes well, but you have to get it moving. All in all the Tour is one of the best advanced frames I’ve hit. I’m not gonna lie I like my son’s Vcore Pro 330 almost the same and they swing about the same too.
brewcrew
Rookie
I got two and they were both 311.
Thanks for your input. I was leaning towards the 98+ but not so sure anymore. Seems that the feel from the stiffness reduction in the 98 Tour is liked by playtesters across the board. Kinda wishing they had a 98+ with the Tour's graphite layup.
ok, i have played with the racquet 3 times now. i normally play with a Vcore Pro 97 330 or 310. This racquet although lighter than the 330 plays very similar and feels just as heavy. i love it because i have long strokes and this racquet needs to move to be effective. it is very stable at the net and on BH slices. On serves you definitely need to throw it at the ball but the result is great. took me a while to dial that in and OH's. overall and am happy and am switching to the tour full time.
How is comfort compared to the 310 and 330? Does this feel stiffer or softer?
comfort is great, feels a bit more muted. I had no issues with the 310/330 either.
Any particular reasons you're leaving the vcore 330/310 for the ezone tour?
justinhaughtmd
Rookie
Definitely stiffer, less comfortable and slightly more power than the 330, but overall is stable and comfortable compared with the regular Ezone. The 330 feels fantastic though. TBH, I don't know which one I like better. The 330 is no slouch power-wise and is very soft with a good feel. The Tour has a little more power and spin. Both are really good!!
kailash
Hall of Fame
Anyone here tried both and can compare? What is not mentioned is that the PAT would be better in maneuverability (6 HL balance).
kurnoolion
New User
I called up Yonex customer service and they said I can request a replacement if I feel like the racket is under weight. They also said under 310g is considered as QC fail, which is not the case for me. So, I'm keeping the racket. Unstrung balance was 7HL per spec, and was 5HL after stringing with Hyper-G 18 gauge..
kurnoolion
New User
I called up Yonex customer service and they said under 310g is considered QC fail. So I guess 311g is ok..
