Yonex racket brainstorming....

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

I am replacing my Regnas as they are getting a little old condition-wise and since I can't get matched pairs nor avoid buying auction and I'm not going to Japan, I'm going regular Yonex. I got the ones I am using now matched form Tennis Only (australian TW),

I narrowed it down to Vcore 98, Tour, Ezone 98, Tour.

Balance is somewhat important to me and I prefer the non-tour balance, but I like the results of the tours in a way.

Issue, I've gone to the finals of a tournament using an Ezone Tour demo, played well with the Vcore Tour, Ezone 98 and Vcore 98, I do fine with all of them.

All 4 seem really good, but here are some observations....

Vcore 98- I can see the extra spin a little bit, launch angle is nice but not really wow for me. Slightly more predictable than the Ezone 98

Ezone 98- serve booms, very easy 1 hander shots , sometimes it goes launchy, but not that often.

Vcore tour- seems like a just right mix except for the balance, could try and have TW find me a pair with more head light balance.

Ezone tour- hits slightly more spin than the vcores if I get it going, kind of beefy though, most spin on serves and especially kick serves. Could ask TW search for a more head light balance, adding a leather grip though seems like chasing with adding more weight.

I should probably go with an ezone I guess, most popular and closest to the Regna, but any comments welcome. I don't really play "bad" with any of them so I'm wishy washy.

Any ideas come to mind?

 

[ulunxtns]

I'd go with a regular Ezone 98.

But honestly, none of them plays like a Regna. I'm saying this is not because I think Regna is better than others. In fact, I prefer regular Ezone 98 over Regna. My Regna has a much stiffer feel, uniform flex and a smaller sweetspot, Ezone you can feel the flex in the throat, but Regna doesn't. From the racquets I played recently, I would say Boom pro has the similar uniform flex feel similar to Regna but less stiff.

 

[Purestriker]

I am replacing my Regnas as they are getting a little old condition-wise and since I can't get matched pairs nor avoid buying auction and I'm not going to Japan, I'm going regular Yonex. I got the ones I am using now matched form Tennis Only (australian TW),

I narrowed it down to Vcore 98, Tour, Ezone 98, Tour.

Balance is somewhat important to me and I prefer the non-tour balance, but I like the results of the tours in a way.

Issue, I've gone to the finals of a tournament using an Ezone Tour demo, played well with the Vcore Tour, Ezone 98 and Vcore 98, I do fine with all of them.

All 4 seem really good, but here are some observations....

Vcore 98- I can see the extra spin a little bit, launch angle is nice but not really wow for me. Slightly more predictable than the Ezone 98

Ezone 98- serve booms, very easy 1 hander shots , sometimes it goes launchy, but not that often.

Vcore tour- seems like a just right mix except for the balance, could try and have TW find me a pair with more head light balance.

Ezone tour- hits slightly more spin than the vcores if I get it going, kind of beefy though, most spin on serves and especially kick serves. Could ask TW search for a more head light balance, adding a leather grip though seems like chasing with adding more weight.

I should probably go with an ezone I guess, most popular and closest to the Regna, but any comments welcome. I don't really play "bad" with any of them so I'm wishy washy.

Any ideas come to mind?

Go with the Ezone 98. The new ones should drop right before the AO and you could get a deal on the current version. I still have a bunch of DR98’s that I hit every now and then.

 

[denoted]

Are they getting little old, "condition-wise," though?

 

[Donmikan]

I am replacing my Regnas as they are getting a little old condition-wise and since I can't get matched pairs nor avoid buying auction and I'm not going to Japan, I'm going regular Yonex. I got the ones I am using now matched form Tennis Only (australian TW),

I narrowed it down to Vcore 98, Tour, Ezone 98, Tour.

Balance is somewhat important to me and I prefer the non-tour balance, but I like the results of the tours in a way.

Issue, I've gone to the finals of a tournament using an Ezone Tour demo, played well with the Vcore Tour, Ezone 98 and Vcore 98, I do fine with all of them.

All 4 seem really good, but here are some observations....

Vcore 98- I can see the extra spin a little bit, launch angle is nice but not really wow for me. Slightly more predictable than the Ezone 98

Ezone 98- serve booms, very easy 1 hander shots , sometimes it goes launchy, but not that often.

Vcore tour- seems like a just right mix except for the balance, could try and have TW find me a pair with more head light balance.

Ezone tour- hits slightly more spin than the vcores if I get it going, kind of beefy though, most spin on serves and especially kick serves. Could ask TW search for a more head light balance, adding a leather grip though seems like chasing with adding more weight.

I should probably go with an ezone I guess, most popular and closest to the Regna, but any comments welcome. I don't really play "bad" with any of them so I'm wishy washy.

Any ideas come to mind?

Grow some arm hairs and keep your regna

 

[optic yellow]

The amount of time you waste trying to figure out this answer would be better spent on buying the Regnas you actually want.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

The amount of time you waste trying to figure out this answer would be better spent on buying the Regnas you actually want.

I'm not sure I can trade the few minutes I've spent thinking about the answer for regnas, but let me know if there is a tennis shop selling regnas that accepts thoughts

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

Are they getting little old, "condition-wise," though?

Yes?

 

[optic yellow]

I'm not sure I can trade the few minutes I've spent thinking about the answer for regnas, but let me know if there is a tennis shop selling regnas that accepts thoughts

Well think of all the hours spent demo hitting with them. Unless you were already just doing that anyway.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

Well think of all the hours spent demo hitting with them. Unless you were already just doing that anyway.

I was having fun playing tennis, no big deal, wasn't a waste of time.

 

[dr. godmode]

I feel like VC95 has more Reg-factor than the other Yonies

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

I feel like VC95 has more Reg-factor than the other Yonies

I'm not smart enough to even google reg-factor and understand it as an adjective, help me!

I did use the '21 vc95 for a couple years , but I think I want slightly more powah

 

[optic yellow]

I was having fun playing tennis, no big deal, wasn't a waste of time.

Okay I accept this. Realistically you should always yearn for the Regnas but in the interim a matched set of standard premium Yonex frames holds a solid amount of resale value.

 

[dr. godmode]

I'm not smart enough to even google reg-factor and understand it as an adjective, help me!

I did use the '21 vc95 for a couple years , but I think I want slightly more powah

Reg-factor = Regna-ness, or, how much a racquet plays like a Regna. '23 95 is pretty powerful. I hit bigger with it than my Regna 98s.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

Reg-factor = Regna-ness, or, how much a racquet plays like a Regna. '23 95 is pretty powerful. I hit bigger with it than my Regna 98s.

Ohhhhh! Thanks, hahaha, I looked up Reg-factor and got all the "the regression to the mean" language and was so confused.

 

[Trip]

FYB - From among what you've shortlisted, probably the EZone 98. That said, having watched a good amount of video of you hitting, I think you should give the Percept 100 at least 50 hours on court, potentially a good portion those hours with a leather grip and 1-2g lead at 10 & 2.

 

[tele]

Go with the Ezone 98. The new ones should drop right before the AO and you could get a deal on the current version. I still have a bunch of DR98’s that I hit every now and then.

Are you certain a new one will debut in 2025?
I had assumed the black paInt update was supposed to give the current ezone a couple more years.

 

[ichaseballs]

if you like blue or black = ezone

if you like red or sand = vcore

 

[JFrijhoff]

If it's a balance thing like you say, try and get the Tour versions more head-light with some weight?
Dr. Godmode already suggested it, but the Vcore 95 may be a good option as well, since it's more headlight, but also has more weight than the 98, and it'll be very good for the one-hander.

 

[Purestriker]

Are you certain a new one will debut in 2025?
I had assumed the black paInt update was supposed to give the current ezone a couple more years.

Am I 100% certain? No, but that is what I have heard.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

if you like blue or black = ezone

if you like red or sand = vcore

That might actually be the decider lol , it's not like any of the 4 will ruin my tennis or make me a pro, I lean blue and sand though tough choice. I kind of call the sand one vanilla, it looks great in sunlight.

@JFrijhoff I might try the 95 again, I used older versions for a couple years, but didn't like the 23 when it came out, who knows.

 

[ichaseballs]

That might actually be the decider lol , it's not like any of the 4 will ruin my tennis or make me a pro, I lean blue and sand though tough choice. I kind of call the sand one vanilla, it looks great in sunlight.

@JFrijhoff I might try the 95 again, I used older versions for a couple years, but didn't like the 23 when it came out, who knows.

if you think you're going to add weight to the VC98, just skip the headache and go with the VC tour.
between the two tours... i thought the EZT was a bit too heavy to maneuver. dont know why but the VCT seems easier to swing than what you'd expect given the specs.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

if you think you're going to add weight to the VC98, just skip the headache and go with the VC tour.
between the two tours... i thought the EZT was a bit too heavy to maneuver. dont know why but the VCT seems easier to swing than what you'd expect given the specs.

I just don't tinker much so I will heed your advice, and I agree, the VCT is a racket I would never be able to guess the SW after playing it, if I didn't know it already.

 

[SirCraigoryy]

I am replacing my Regnas as they are getting a little old condition-wise and since I can't get matched pairs nor avoid buying auction and I'm not going to Japan, I'm going regular Yonex. I got the ones I am using now matched form Tennis Only (australian TW),

I narrowed it down to Vcore 98, Tour, Ezone 98, Tour.

Balance is somewhat important to me and I prefer the non-tour balance, but I like the results of the tours in a way.

Issue, I've gone to the finals of a tournament using an Ezone Tour demo, played well with the Vcore Tour, Ezone 98 and Vcore 98, I do fine with all of them.

All 4 seem really good, but here are some observations....

Vcore 98- I can see the extra spin a little bit, launch angle is nice but not really wow for me. Slightly more predictable than the Ezone 98

Ezone 98- serve booms, very easy 1 hander shots , sometimes it goes launchy, but not that often.

Vcore tour- seems like a just right mix except for the balance, could try and have TW find me a pair with more head light balance.

Ezone tour- hits slightly more spin than the vcores if I get it going, kind of beefy though, most spin on serves and especially kick serves. Could ask TW search for a more head light balance, adding a leather grip though seems like chasing with adding more weight.

I should probably go with an ezone I guess, most popular and closest to the Regna, but any comments welcome. I don't really play "bad" with any of them so I'm wishy washy.

Any ideas come to mind?

It all really depends on your preferences and how you play. I personally am not a fan of the Ezones. I find them to be launchy, a little too powerful for my liking, and I found the Ezone tour to be very clubby and sluggish. From your descriptions on what you've said I would recommend the VCORE tour with a leather grip or some tail weighting to get it up to the balance you want and call it a day. Sometimes simple problems require simple solutions and less is more.

Good luck!

 

[tele]

Am I 100% certain? No, but that is what I have heard.

It looks like you are correct.

Ezone 2025/8th gen

So seems the Ultra 100 V4 perhaps has a more predicable string pattern.....but seems both are indeed equally "swingable", i.e. due to the thick beam they seem to handle very similarly. I play really well with the Ezone 100 but I do have some challenges with my OHBH sometimes. Obviously is...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

I'll buy that new ezone for sure, just to demo it .

I'm waffling about the VC95, but did play last night with it, there is something among many things wrong with my technique where the VC95 seems like the perfect racket to hit a super spinny forehand shallow crosscourt that lands around the meeting of the service lie and the singles side line, just love that shot with this racket. It makes no sense though, any racket should be able to do that.

 

[SirCraigoryy]

I'll buy that new ezone for sure, just to demo it .

I'm waffling about the VC95, but did play last night with it, there is something among many things wrong with my technique where the VC95 seems like the perfect racket to hit a super spinny forehand shallow crosscourt that lands around the meeting of the service lie and the singles side line, just love that shot with this racket. It makes no sense though, any racket should be able to do that.

I think when looking at any racket you need to look at the package as a whole and not just one aspect or shot.

How often do you hit that short cross?
How important is that shot to your complete game?
How do the other shots in your game feel/how effective are they?
Did you notice any negatives or weaknesses in your game that weren't previously there that you can work around or adjust to?

Just a few things to think about. Good luck!

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

I think when looking at any racket you need to look at the package as a whole and not just one aspect or shot.

How often do you hit that short cross?
How important is that shot to your complete game?
How do the other shots in your game feel/how effective are they?
Did you notice any negatives or weaknesses in your game that weren't previously there that you can work around or adjust to?

Just a few things to think about. Good luck!

So true , definitely don't hit that cross shot enough to make it be a factor in deciding. Just a small observation because like the other 4, I had no issues with the VC95, last night, could hit all my shots.

 

[SinneGOAT]

I am replacing my Regnas as they are getting a little old condition-wise and since I can't get matched pairs nor avoid buying auction and I'm not going to Japan, I'm going regular Yonex. I got the ones I am using now matched form Tennis Only (australian TW),

I narrowed it down to Vcore 98, Tour, Ezone 98, Tour.

Balance is somewhat important to me and I prefer the non-tour balance, but I like the results of the tours in a way.

Issue, I've gone to the finals of a tournament using an Ezone Tour demo, played well with the Vcore Tour, Ezone 98 and Vcore 98, I do fine with all of them.

All 4 seem really good, but here are some observations....

Vcore 98- I can see the extra spin a little bit, launch angle is nice but not really wow for me. Slightly more predictable than the Ezone 98

Ezone 98- serve booms, very easy 1 hander shots , sometimes it goes launchy, but not that often.

Vcore tour- seems like a just right mix except for the balance, could try and have TW find me a pair with more head light balance.

Ezone tour- hits slightly more spin than the vcores if I get it going, kind of beefy though, most spin on serves and especially kick serves. Could ask TW search for a more head light balance, adding a leather grip though seems like chasing with adding more weight.

I should probably go with an ezone I guess, most popular and closest to the Regna, but any comments welcome. I don't really play "bad" with any of them so I'm wishy washy.

Any ideas come to mind?

I’d say best to go with the ezone 98 and weight it up if you feel it needs it as time progresses. With the tour you can’t go down in weight, but the standard 98 allows you to stay at 305 or add a little weight as you feel.

 

[optic yellow]

I'll buy that new ezone for sure, just to demo it .

I'm waffling about the VC95, but did play last night with it, there is something among many things wrong with my technique where the VC95 seems like the perfect racket to hit a super spinny forehand shallow crosscourt that lands around the meeting of the service lie and the singles side line, just love that shot with this racket. It makes no sense though, any racket should be able to do that.

This is one of the least defensible shots in any players' arsenal so.

 

[aaron_h27]

FYB - From among what you've shortlisted, probably the EZone 98. That said, having watched a good amount of video of you hitting, I think you should give the Percept 100 at least 50 hours on court, potentially a good portion those hours with a leather grip and 1-2g lead at 10 & 2.

He doesn't believe in modifying frames with lead tape unless somethings changed...

 

[JFrijhoff]

This is one of the least defensible shots in any players' arsenal so.

Absolutely, I still remember my coaching training and ingraining this with us 25 years back

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

EZone 98 it is , unlimited powah.

 

[Purestriker]

EZone 98 it is , unlimited powah.

You can get some of those nasty forehand angles with it as well. The spin on the serves are also really good.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

I got the matched results back for selecting to purchase 2 Ezone 98s. BUT the unstrung is 280 SW and 9 HL. I'm having 2nd thoughts about selecting those, for the gear heads, am I right?

 

[tele]

I got the matched results back for selecting to purchase 2 Ezone 98s. BUT the unstrung is 280 SW and 9 HL. I'm having 2nd thoughts about selecting those, for the gear heads, am I right?

2nd thoughts about the swingweight? weren't you the one saying low swingweight doesn't matter?

Regardless, I think any thing under 290−295 is too low, but I put multi in the mains. However, from what I have read, ezone 98s above 290 are a rarity. you can always add a few grams at 12.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

2nd thoughts about the swingweight? weren't you the one saying low swingweight doesn't matter?

Regardless, I think any thing under 290−295 is too low, but I put multi in the mains. However, from what I have read, ezone 98s above 290 are a rarity. you can always add a few grams at 12.

Haha yes, but if I am buying rackets I don't want to buy something "off" spec despite being matched. I think, but am unsure, it should be around 285 and 8 HL unstrung. I probably wouldn't notice if I wasn't told, but then again money is money, I'd like something closer to the intended specs, I think.

 

[Trip]

@FuzzyYellowBalls - Why not just simply buy them and have TW bring them up to spec with some lead or tungsten tape up in the isometric "corners" at 10 and 2? It's no admonishment or defeat to have a bit of lead on your frame. You haven't lost or won any arguments, or pride or ego by doing so. Just have them do it, get it done, and get back to playing tennis with a perfectly matched pair of EZ98's. Lead or no lead, no one is going to look at or think of you any differently. At least not me. I say have at it.

 

[thenewbig3]

I got the matched results back for selecting to purchase 2 Ezone 98s. BUT the unstrung is 280 SW and 9 HL. I'm having 2nd thoughts about selecting those, for the gear heads, am I right?

I bought 2 Aqua Night Ezone 98s primarily because they remind me of Regnas and are available in Grip #4
Both were only 306SSW Strung. I added 6.5g @ 12. Tour Bite 17 mains x Round Cross 17.
Im in love!

 

[Trip]

I bought 2 Aqua Night Ezone 98s primarily because they remind me of Regnas and are available in Grip #4
Both were only 306SSW Strung. I added 6.5g @ 12. Tour Bite 17 mains x Round Cross 17.
Im in love!

See? Not that big a deal. The forum and elsewhere is filled with peeps who've spec'd 'em up after the fact, and they play great. Again, I say, have at it!

 

[Purestriker]

I got the matched results back for selecting to purchase 2 Ezone 98s. BUT the unstrung is 280 SW and 9 HL. I'm having 2nd thoughts about selecting those, for the gear heads, am I right?

That’s about right. The strung swing weight (depending on strings) will be around 310 to 315. It’s meant for a modern swing. I threw some weight at 3 and 9. But it played fine in stock form.

 

[Purestriker]

I bought 2 Aqua Night Ezone 98s primarily because they remind me of Regnas and are available in Grip #4
Both were only 306SSW Strung. I added 6.5g @ 12. Tour Bite 17 mains x Round Cross 17.
Im in love!

I play with 16 gauge but the SW is fine for the modern style of tennis.

 

[Trip]

The alternative at ~310SW strung is you could simply forgo the lead and play a much-more-explosive string bed (with minimal to zero poly) — ie. a gut/synthetic hybrid, "ester"/syn hybrid, syn/syn hybrid or single synthetic, providing you with more percentage pop from the string bed, less so from extra bludgeoning force of the frame. That may just be a better fit for you anyways. And no shade meant by that; just trying to be practical and provide options.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

Gonna be tough, irrationally or not I'd like to buy them more perfect, based on searching old threads it seems 280 SW unstrung is on the low side. Hmmm

 

[esm]

Yonex unstrung spec variations.... what happened to their top notch QC? lol

(sorry, couldnt resist...)

 

[Trip]

Gonna be tough, irrationally or not I'd like to buy them more perfect, based on searching old threads it seems 280 SW unstrung is on the low side. Hmmm

If that's your taste/preference, then so be it. That said, if you'd consider it, I'd broaden your reach via T3nnis Point and/or T3nnis Express and see if either can source a pair closer to 290-ish SW unstrung.

 

[aaron_h27]

@FuzzyYellowBalls - Why not just simply buy them and have TW bring them up to spec with some lead or tungsten tape up in the isometric "corners" at 10 and 2? It's no admonishment or defeat to have a bit of lead on your frame. You haven't lost or won any arguments, or pride or ego by doing so. Just have them do it, get it done, and get back to playing tennis with a perfectly matched pair of EZ98's. Lead or no lead, no one is going to look at or think of you any differently. At least not me. I say have at it.

I know you weren't intending to be funny with this post, but I died laughing reading this.

 

[Trip]

I know you weren't intending to be funny with this post, but I died laughing reading this.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

I know you weren't intending to be funny with this post, but I died laughing reading this.

Definitely funny, but even more neurotic is my feeling that $600 plus on rackets should come closer to on spec. Maybe tainted by my previous experiences with yonex matching being 100% more accurate. We shall see.

 

[Torps]

Backing up my Regna with a vcore galaxy black w/ leather. The older models just feel more solid than current gen do. The transition between either is pretty seamless.