@@TennCom He was facing bigger hitters so going from a 90 to a 97 helped with a little more power and not framing balls as much. I don't think you'll be facing those players.
@@quinby123 So you just proved the case against your claim. To say that only elite level players can benefit from gear is misguided. As a measly 4.0, I can say that updating to modern racquets has drastically improved my experience of tennis after a 15 year break. For me, when the experience is better, I’m more motivated to play and improve. It’s like playing a quality guitar that is set up for a particular player. The instrument itself will not turn the player into a virtuoso, but it will likely motivate her/him to play more and improve because the experience is better. If that wasn’t the case, we’d all be playing with wood.
Thanks Beckett, great review. Love my Ezone100, fit the demographic perfectly I think. My 2 handed backhand instantly improved going from a Pure Strike 100 to the Ezone 100, conversely my forehand took some adjusting but dialled in now. Your explanation makes sense, my 2 strokes are quite different so finding a perfect racquet is hard, but forgiveness and higher net clearance in the 100 made an easy decision. If anyone is thinking about the Ezone, just get it, you won’t be disappointed, the hard part is 98 or 100 but follow Beckett’s advice and demo if you can. There’s so many Ezones at the club it’s easy to try somebody’s for some hits!
Coming back 2 years from now,it surely did not disappointed. However,on the contrary of your experience,I'm actually struggling for a bit on the backhand side more than the forehand side. I find it easy to generate spin on the forehand ,but my double-hander often lacks dept when I'm not forcing the ball enough. Weirdly enough,when I switch to a one-hander,it works better for me,but my double-hander works better with a Head racket😅
I am testing both the 100 and 98. I agree with what you said. My forehand is similar to yours. I am leaning towards the 98. I also have a one handed backhand. I need the manuvability of 98, especially on hitting on the run where I needed the topspin and racquet head speed. I just need to lower string tension compared to the 100 to gain power and tiny amount of weight at 3 and 9 o'clock to increase the sweet spot and stability.
For a single handed back hand the 98 works a treat, I moved to this frame from a Vcore 95, I know the 100 has more power but I got around that by using a gut hybrid, stability is not an issue I just added 1.5gs of lead tape to both 9 and 3 and countered it with 3gs of tungstan putty in the butt. The racquet is super stable now and still very fast in the air as I made sure I only increased the weight by 6gs which helps keep a high swing speed to create spin.
Good video. Just hit with my older model ezone 98 and was like oh, this is more whippier than my new ezone 100 despite being 305 unstrung. Didn’t know about the twisting aspect playing a role. It also felt good at net for volley and feels more stable there. May become my #1 again
I’d love for you to revisit my favorite racquet again the Ezone. I prefer 98 but 100 still great. Now that you’re on the easy to use racquet program nothing beats the EZ One
This is my new fav tennis channel. My game is just like you. I have a ezone dr100 and I want to get another ezone. I think I might just demo them for 1 set each. A 98l might be nice( for swingweight), definitely worth demoing.
Thanks so much for the support! I recommend switching as much as possible during your demo session. This will really help you feel the differences between the frames, which can be tough especially with muted Yonex sticks.
@@TennCom I like a plush feel. I would like to be able to volley without twisting the racquet and not feel any stiffness in the strings. Would like a good pop, not too high and too low. Also I play once or twice so tension maintenance is important to me. Also most importantly, I am very wristy in my forehand ( went a size lower in my grip too for that) and enjoy topspin forehand and kick serve.
You have a double handed bh. I find the 98 better for my single handed bh. Really struggle to do anything more than slice with the 100. Btw, the shot that I really couldn’t execute with the 98 was the bh volley. Needed stability. With the 100 it’s my fav. Shot.
Thanks for another great video! In my experience, the Ezone 98 is far too unforgiving for players beneath 4.5. The 100 just makes playing the game a whole lot easier, and would be a great choice for 90% of players. I went with the VCore 100 after trying both Ezones. I found it to be a bit crisper, and had easier access to spin.
I 100% agree with your assessment on the 100 vs the 98. The EZONE 100 is a truly great racquet. Tbh i haven't even hit with the VCore 100, so ill revisit it if i can upon your recommendation.
@@TennCom Please do review the VCore 100! I'd definitely love to hear your thoughts! If I was at your level, I'd play with the VCore 98, as it was amazing to serve with (better flats and kickers than with the VCore 100, oddly), felt great at net, and was extremely crisp when I hit the ball precisely on center. However, I made myself get the VCore 100 because I knew it was better for me. It was just more forgiving and helped me get more balls back in play. The first step in improving is knowing when to ask for help...
@@naokisonoda-hq This is my dilemma. I don't know which one to get as my first serious racket: Ezone 100 or Vcore 100. I am a beginner and I am in my 20s so I am learning fast. But I don't have enough playtime on court yet, so I don't know in which category I am: flathitter or spin oriented player.
@@TheRockyBalboa100 Unfortunately, there's no real way of knowing until you try the racquet out for an extended period of time. Even when demoing, it's difficult to really know what your long-term opinion of a racquet will be (even though you might quickly fall in love). I would say that if you're a beginner, go with the Ezone 100, because most players of any skill level will be able to appreciate that racquet. Also, don't be fooled into thinking that you can't hit spin with the Ezone 100, or play flatter with the VCore 100. It's possible to do either with both. Yes, the Ezone is suited for flatter hitters, but it's definitely capable of producing spin. This is where your mechanics and technique really are more important than the racquet. I find that I can produce a lot of spin with my Blade 18 x 20s, even though they're technically more suited for flatter ball strikers at the recreational level. If you have the opportunity to demo either, that's the ideal scenario. In my experience, I can tell within a few strokes what racquets feel good to me and which do not. I demoed the Ezone 100 a month ago pretty certain I would buy it, but tried the VCore on a whim. Turns out I ended up liking the VCore 100 because it felt slightly stiffer and crisper to me. Ironically, I demoed the VCore 100 last year after a 15+ year break from the game. It felt way too stiff for me then, so I ended up going with the Blade 98 18 x 20. Now, only 12 months later, the VCore feels crisp, and the Blade feels a bit mushy. The lesson there is that our perceptions constantly change, no matter how certain we feel about something at any given time. Whatever you end up trying, I don't think you'll be disappointed. As your game progresses and as you improve, you'll start to understand what kind of racquet will suit your game. You'll probably also find that your perception of certain racquets will change as your game changes. For now, just pick one and keep improving!
Very good review mate. Lots of details and valuable opinion, cheers 👏. It’s a pity they didn’t make a Tour 315g etc with the 100. I use the Pure Drive Tour in the 100 and wouldn’t mind trying out the equivalent in the Ezone if it existed
I'm a mix of both styles, kind of like you. Forehand relies on a lot of spin, with fast racket head speed. I need some power so that balls don't land too short, but I have sound technique (20 years playing) so I really don't need Pure Drive-like power. Backhand is one-handed, somewhere between flat and a tiny bit of spin. Biggest problem is I have lazy legs, so I often shank the ball especially on the backhand side. I play mostly from the baseline but when I get a short ball I don't hesitate going up to the net. What would you try?
I would go for the 100. I’ve been playing for 30+ years, and I’m admittedly not a precise ball striker, meaning that I hit slightly outside of the sweet spot more than I like. I tried both the 98 and 100, and felt that the 98 was unforgiving. If you hit outside of the sweet spot, the ball would die. In comparison, the 100 was much more forgiving and plush. Ultimately, I switched from my Blade 98 V7 18 x 20 to the VCore 100 because of the spin that I was able to generate from it. I’d say the Vcore 100 is a bit crisper feeling and gives me a bit more free spin, whereas the Ezone 100 is a bit more comfortable and provides a bit more drive to hit through the court. Both frames are nice, and If I had to play with an Ezone 100, I would not be disappointed. Another thing to note is that the VCore 100 is a bit slimmer in the middle of the hoop-the Ezone is a bit chunky.
I prefer to choose racquet that help my strengths, rather than hide my weaknesses. Sounds like your forehand is your main weapon, so I would choose the 98, assuming you think you can win more points with a strong forehand than you will lose with a weaker backhand. That said, I do completely agree with the analysis given the previous comment. I also think that the EZONE 100 is a "better" racquet, though I prefer the 98 for my game.
Good feedback. My issue is that I like a more buttery feel on impact, which I’m not sure these will give me. Hard to chose between plush feeling and playing better lol
Great stuff. I'm trying to settle on a stick. I've won matches recently with the Vcore 95, Regna 98 and Vcore Pro H. I'm a 1hBH lefty same body size as Monfils and Ivanisevic. The 95/98 vs. the H are almost identically the pros/cons you mention in the 98 vs. 100 when I play, except I don't often miss the sweetspot so off center hits aren't a huge factor. I create a wristy FH option with the "98 group", but not every FH is wristy, just when I go for dippers at volleyer's feet or extreme crosscourt angles. The H, after 12 hours of play one weekend, didn't cause fatigue or arm issues. What are your thoughts on the play with the heaviest racket theory? Fantastic twist weight videos, really good content. Thanks
I agree with the idea that you should hit with the highest swingweight you can handle. I also believe in buying racquets based on your strengths, so you can play the kind of tennis you want to play. Djokovic, Nadal and peak Fed all used racquets tailored to their strengths. Have you tried customizing the lighter frames to a compatible weight to the H?
@@TennCom Thank you for the reply, I have not tried customizing, I don't trust myself really and I like each racket stock of those 3, changing them might alter what I like about them. It's a tough choice, the 95 is great for 1 strength of mine the 1hbh, the H is great for my other strength, serve, the Regna 98 is the middle ground, lol. I'll probably settle on the H if I can get it spec'ed to something lower than 335ish SW, definitely lower than the extreme 343=45 ish SW tennis warehouse had on their initial test rackets.
Great video. Thanks for making it. I have an Ezone 98 Naomi Osaka LE (the white version) and I have severe elbow pain from it. Do you think moving to the 100 could help or make it worse? Would a move to the VCore make sense? Opposite to you, I love my backhand with my Ezone 98 and love my tennis level with it… but I can’t keep playing it with it. I’m 41 btw. Thanks
Thanks for watching! It's tough to say because elbow pain can be caused by a lot of different things. Sometimes stiffness is a big factor. If it is for you, I would not recommend going to the 100. Sometimes its from gripping the racquet too tightly, since the 98 is prone to twisting, the 100 would probably help. Sometimes the weight can be wrong and you end up over stressing your wrist lag.
Hey.. me too.. I just got the ezone 98 but my backhand became like shit and I thought that was just me. Maybe I should change to the ezone or vCore 100
@TennCom (Beckett) -- thank you so much for this review. Brilliant as usual. Question: I have 2022 EZONE 100 and I love it more than I expected. I am looking for a backup frame. I have option to get used 2022 EZONE 98 at a very good price or to go for another 100. I am ~ rising 3.5 and I play lots of USTA and flex league matches all the time. Would 98 with the same string setup, etc. be an OK backup frame for my main 100, or would you recommend just going for two 100s? Thanks in advance!
stick with two 100s if you care about improving your tennis, get the 98 if you like screwing around with different frames. Even though I'm a racketaholic, I always have 2 of the same frame as my "racquet of choice" just to help me find the light in case i have off days.
I own an Yonex Ezone 100 2022 and it is absoloutly incredible racket. The esse of use with comfort and feel and potential power drew me right in. I switched to this racket from Babolat Pure Drive 2021. Babolat was like a crazy menace never knew how the ball will go, whereas Ezone 100 is giving me enough control to bring the bombs just inside the court. Would not recommend to string this racket for power strings or low tension. I now play with Hyper G at 24/23 kgs. And would even consider get it a little bit higher at around 25-24.5 kgs. I used Tour Bite Soft on it once and it was super good. Any low power poly would work great with it. With power strings and low tension its too easy to over hit with it. Anyway it is great racket, especially for beginners wanting to play the big dick game with lots of agression. I am so happy with this racket I already got the second one to my tennis bag (like to play around with different strings). Last but not least, when I saw the video, it was like 2 am and I was going to watch it in the morning with coffee but I couldnt wait so long! Incredible montage and your personality absolute own any other yt channel. Bang.
Big Dick Aggression should be Yonex's next slogan for the EZONE line! Thanks for watching, really glad to have you join in the comments and sacrifice some sleep for us!
@@TennCom haha you are so right! I heard this term from one of the StarCraft 2 casters Nathanias as he goes BIG DICK MECH which is only mechanical units. It works for Tennis too ❤️
What would you recommend for an aggressive baseliner with a one handed backhand and modern technique (lots of wrist movement on FH)?!? Currently playing a Gravity Tour with some weight at 12 but the 18x20 really has a low launch angle and doesn't have the bite I would like to have.. ;)
My play style is similar to yours and I use a Gravity Tour spec’d up to 340g and 340 swingweight. Like you, I find that the launch angle from the 18x20 is a little low for my OHBH. Recently, my younger son moved from his Gravity MP to the Gravity Pro. This has allowed me to experiment with the Gravity MP spec’d to match my Tour, and the launch angle from the 16x20 is a lot easier on the backhand. The MP has a similar feel, but not quite as plush and solid as the Tour (even when matched for specs). However, the proof is in the match performance and if I get better results with the MP, will make the switch.
@@jerome_morrow Also thought about the MP, the 16x20 is a really nice string pattern but to make it stable you need to add at least 10 grams of weight and prob. a leather grip so it doesn't get too head heavy...
I think you'll really enjoy the Extreme Tour with at least 6g at 12 and maybe another 6g at 7 inch up the handle. This is the setup I use. It's less muted that the Gravity, but the swingspeed is so much faster even if the swingweights are the same. My buddy uses a stock Gravity, which comes in at 338 strung, and he absolutely loves my Extremes because of how fast the feel, even though the swingweights are 339 on mine.
You'd have to find out the specs of your 98 and the 100 to know for sure since the quality control on the frames leads to variance in all specs. I think a safe bet to start would be increasing the torsional stability with 1g at 3 and 9.
Thx for uploading just when I need it ,had a hard time picking between the two. I was actually picking between 3 rackets ( Ezone 98,100 , and Head Extreme Tour) I noticed that you stated both Ez 98 and Head Extreme Tour are top tier in your 98 Square inches tier list ,I feel like it would be a good idea if you try to cover the 100 tier list as well. As a flatter hitter ,especially on the BH side ,the 100 would definitely help me more.However I was wondering if the Extreme Tour was customized right , will it be better or comparable with the EZ 100?Since I was already using a Head racket for beginner(almost 9 years,Jesus) ,a little curious at how it will work out.
Customization is so personal that I can't say for sure that it will make it a better racquet for you, but I believe if you are diligent and deliberate with your customization that you'll be able to get more out of both the EZONE 98 and Extreme Tour. Adding weight at 3 and 9 to both 98's with give you more of that stability that you are loving from thee EZONE 100.
Beckett: Have you compared the VCore 100 to the VCore 98…. ? And which one would best fit a 4.0 old dude … singles player… one hander , some spin, lots of flat and touch shots? Ciao, John
Hi. Big fan of the channel. I'm currently torn between 98vs100. Firstly, is the RA something to be worried about as I have a sensitive elbow? Secondly, I've played with the Blade 98 (16x) V8 and I love the feel, plushness (low RA, better for my arm?) and most importantly, the plow I get with it but I just know it won't be for me as it'll be too demanding when the match gets heated. What would be the closest to the Blade v8, the 98 or 100? Or any other racket? Thanks in advance. Keep up the good work.
Hi thanks! I wouldn't be worried about RA for either of these racquets, or too much in general. There's a lot more to measuring the stiffness of a racquet than just RA, because RA doesn't describe where/how the racquet flexes, the dampening tech or the recoil weight (I'm working on a video explaining this). For example, the Extreme Tour has an RA of 65, but I think its less comfortable than the Aero VS at 70. I'd look at the Gravity line, maybe the Tour or MP, as well as the Clash 98, which has some love lately. You could also try stringing that Blade of yours with a multi-hybrid to liven it up.
From what I understand, he uses the DR100+ which has a lowered twistweight, lending itself more towards spin. Not everyone is going to have the same experience as me of course.
Yes. I will probably try the ezone 98. I use a lot of topspin and one handed backhand. Do you think a hybrid of poly tour spin in the mains and poly tour pro in the crosses be a good setup for the ezone 98? I have been using a extreme tour with hyper g.. I also tried signum pro firestorm and Weiss cannon Black5Edge.
Yeah that would be good, it’s the same string setup that Ruud uses. I personally would prefer something with more feedback, like Signum Pro Firestorm. I find Yonex strings kinda muted for the EZone 98
I find that firestorm has good feel for a poly. A bit lively maybe. Not sure if it’s a good string to generate topspin. Still knowing the string. How does it compare with the Rudd setup in terms of spin. Also, Rudd user blue poly tour spin and yellow poly tour pro. I suppose that is more lively than those strings in black color.
I’m going to compare the ezone 98 and the extreme tour. I am interested in the pure aero vs as I like the aero beam of the pure aero line. But I have a tender elbow and the stiffness of the pure Aeros are higher, I suppose the vs also if compared with the extreme tour and the ezone 98.
Great video, I've got a question, coming from Blade 104(2015), I'm an intermediate player and really want to use some Yonex racket. I am in my 20s and want to improve my game. Do you think I could transition from that Blade to Vcore Pro 97 or Ezone 98? And how much of a struggle it would be if any?
it depends on what you are trying to improve. If you want to start improving your racquet head speed and attacking play, I would suggest moving to the EZONE 98. The VCORE Pro 97 is a bit unforgiving, especially compared to a Blade 104.
I think switching to the Ezone 98 or VCore Pro would be an uncomfortable switch for you because both racquets are quite demanding and made for players 4.5 and up. In my experience, the Ezone 98 is unforgiving when you strike balls outside of the sweet spot, so you have to be quite a precise player to really benefit from that frame. Having demoed both the Ezone 98 and 100, I recommend trying the Ezone 100 and the VCore 100. I actually switched from a Blade 98 18 x 20 v7 to the VCore 100 because I wanted a racquet that was a bit more forgiving and could give me more spin. As a 4.0 player, frames like the Blade 98 (and Ezone 98, VCore Pro 98 and VCore 98) are amazing to play with when you’re practicing and hitting the ball really well. However, in match play, or when you’re not playing your best, I find that having a 100 square inch head with a bit more forgiveness is best. If you like the feel of a softer frame, try the VCore Pro 100. I found that to be very plush, but a bit low-powered and not so much free spin.
I tried to transition from SW104 may be 3 times.. but despite I can play with most 100 inch racquets, somehow result with sw104 is much better. I guess it will not be easy to find something better :)
@@naokisonoda-hq thanks for your detailed comment. I currently use a blade v8 16x19 and i really like the feel of the blade. does the ezone 98 have similar feel but a more powerful racket than the blade?
Hey Becket, I was wondering if you felt that the Ezone grip size is running much larger than other companies such as Wilson or Head. I am trying to decide if I should stick to my 3/8 size or take it down to a 1/4. Thanks.
Yeah most people feel that the grip size is higher but you’ll also notice the buttcap is much less pronounced. I would probably go down in size and they flare out the butt with tape. I don’t think you’ll be too disturbed if you stick with a 3 though.
Hello! What would you reccommend for big server and aggressive baseliner? I used to play with Babolat Pure Aero. The switched to Wilson Blade 98 16x19 v8 for couple months which i liked but didn't feel like my raqcuet. I've tried Babolat Pure Drive (hated it), Babolat Pure Strike 16x19 (was pretty decent), Head Radical MP (liked it), Head Boom MP (was decent), Head Prestige L (hated it), Wilson blade 18x19 v8 (was similar to my own blade, didn't really get which string pattern i like more) and Head Gravity Tour (was really good). Out of all the raquets i liked most Gravity, Radical and Strike (in this order). I also wanted to try yonex ezone and vcore but haven't had the chance. I like to hit big, do winners and serve big, generating power is not a problem. What you think? What should i try/buy next?
I think you'll prefer the VCORE 98 or 95. The EZONE 98 will probably feel too light for you and more unstable than you'd prefer. The 100 is great, plays similar to thee Pure Aero but with a much more controlled string bed and better feel.
was going back and forth between ezone 98 and 100 for too long so that I decided to switch to something else completely - boom pro, but now I am going back and forth between three racquets instead of just two. Most wins with the 100, most memorable and fun games with the 98, most painful losses with the boom. Would the current VCore 98 be a good candidate for something more powerful than 98 and more maneuverable than 100?
I'm a beginner and started with a Clash 100L, but now the racket is to light for me. I'm looking to get an Ezone and not sure if the 98 or 100. My shots are mostly flats (both FH and BH) but I'm learning how to play with more spin. My swing pattern is very slow and short as well. What do you think would be a better choice for me?
EZONE 100 for sure. It works great for slower swings and will be more forgiving in the short term while still offering you a lot of head room as you improve. If you were more naturally inclined to swing faster, the 98 might be better, but I think its good to follow what comes naturally so you can really find your own unique style!
@@TennCom I was able to get those as demos, and I'm inclined to end up getting the 98. The 98 gave me more control and I could feel where I was hitting the ball, in the other hand the 100, only gave me power, a lot of power, which is good, but I didn't have any feeling when hitting the balls and it was hard to keep the balls inside the lines. It could be harder in the beginning, but I believe that the 98 would be the best choice for me.
You mentioned that you feel more plow through with the 100 vs the 98, but the listed average specs show that they have the same swingweight. How would you rationalize that? Granted, the 100 is slightly more head-heavy in balance which might make one feel more clubby or less whippy.
I’m definitely not an expert, but the increased beam thickness of the 100 would make it feel more stable. Also, the significantly increased sweet spot would also make the 100 seem more stable because you don’t have to strike the ball perfectly on-center. I’ve tried both, and to me, the 98 is quite unforgiving and board-y, while the 100 extremely forgiving and plush.
I think its because of the high twistweight. Having the weight out at 3 and 9 creates increased feelings of plow through when the swingweights are the same.
Well done! Great break down and very helpful! Is there someone such as tennis warehouse university that would make the trist weight info available? I'm curious about the Head speed pro 2022
I’m looking at the e one 98 tour from i believe 2020. But the weight different between my current racquet (Vcore 100+) and the 98 tour is quite large. From 300 grams to 330. Will it make a huge difference. And will head size affect a lot?
closer to the 98. I havent added any weight further out than the strip that runs from 10 to 2, so the effect should bee minimal. That said, I don't have the tools to measure TW right now.
@@vanodne my BH isnt great with the Extreme either, the higher swingweight helps, but its definitely better with racquets like the Ezone 100 and Pure Aero
Hey there, manoeuvrability is about sw, not TW. Already discussed about it, the TW of cash 100 v1 is more than 15 and higher than the clash 100 pro. They are both manœuvrable but the 100 295g is one of the most manœuvrable tennis racquet and not very stable. You should mesure the sw of the ezone 98, like the vcore 98, it's said to be very higher than it actually is. No offense but I think You're wrong.
You cannot limit maneuverability to a single spec. There’s a lot more at play in the swing because it moves in many different directions across many different axes. Swingweight plays a huge part, but if swingweight are the same, there must be a explanation for differences in maneuverability. If it’s not twistweight, what do you think it is?
@@TennCom I'm pretty sure the sw of the ezone 98 is around 305-310. I remember hearing, with prince exo3 /03 technology, about vertical and horizontal sw. I stopped using vcore 100 cause it was to headlight, more than announced, no pace. Anyway, again a great review, Thank you. Did you try the vcp 100 ? Great one, very well balanced.
I’d go with the 100 all the way, unless you’re a 4.5 or above and are able to strike the ball in the sweet spot a majority of the time. Based on my demoing of the Ezones, the 98 is quite demanding and board-y, while the 100 is extremely forgiving and plush feeling.
I don't think there's a bit difference in comfort. Both are great, but I've never had any issues with wrist or elbow pain, so I'm much less sensitive than many players out there.
Hi! Any suggestion about the lighter version of 98 - 285 g for recreational player? I'm thinking to switch to Yonex from Babolat Pure Strike Team, I would like to try smaller head size for my one handed backhand. Babolat is also a stiff frame. I'm thinking also about Yonex Vcore Pro 97L - 290 grams. Any thoughts? Thanks for any advice ;)
I'm not really sure how you should proceed. I like stiff frames when you are going that light, as long as your arm can handle it. The problem with going light is that you lose a lot of power and spin potential. Staying with a stiffer frame ensures that the energy transfer on ball contact is as efficient as possible. Unless you have a shoulder issue that prevents you from using something heavier, I would recommend going to one of the faster swinging 98's like the Blade 98 or the EZONE 98.
@@TennCom First - thanks for the answer! My arm seems to be fine, 33 yo, 190 cm, 81 kg of weight, all my life doing diffrent's sports. I haven't thought about bouing a heavier racket, until now, because there is no racket on the market with a 98 inch head that weighs 300 grams, most of them heave 305 grams. I played with... the Head Extreme you recommended and it was a very good at the start of a training session. Good maneuverability, nice pop on the ball. At the end - my arm hurts a little bit, but it was only 1 treaning session, the frame was borrowed from my kolegue, I didn't cose strings for this racket at the day of practice, I've played about 2 hours. I've played also a Yonex Vcore 98, but I didn't feeld the ball, it was worse for me than with the Babolat. I didn't play with Wilson Blade or Ezone 98, but I can see, that both of them have swingweight under 320 according TW and balance of the racket is towards the handle. Mayby it's a good idea to play with heavier freame :) 98 head size better for OHBH than 100 inch?? P.S. Great channel, keep going!
@@bodzio2304 thanks! We are going hard lots more vids coming. The Head Radical MP is 300g and a very nice racquet. It’s not muted and you can feel what’s going on with the string bed. More power and forgiveness than the Extreme but still pretty fast through the air. Your arm probably hurt because the Extreme Tour is pretty uncomfortable all things considered
How does this ezones compare with the pure aero? I find the pure aero gives good spin but feels stiff and cheap. I’ve always used all poly with the pure aero, don’t know if a hybrid would change thiis. But as I say it feels cheap. Yonex feels solid it seems., like worth its price. The pure aero is great with the aero design but not more than that. What do you think?
Yeah the EZone has a much more solid graphite feel, whereas the Pure Aero has the Babolat muted-plasticky feel. Yonex racquets are pretty expensive, but in my experience the quality is outstanding, so the price is reasonable. Pure Aeros have actually gone up a lot in price locally for me, so I actually think they are pretty close to the same price now. You’ll get a little less power from the EZone and a little more control from the string bed as well
I can understand how some pros use the ezone line. But I can’t understand how some pros can play with the pure aero unless they are customized rackets that are very different from the ones sold to the public. Don’t mean to offend Babolat but their quality for me is questionable.
@@adriellepretre9047 theoretically, Babolat could pull models off the production line that are the highest of quality for their pro's, though I'm sure they have dedicated pro stock lines as well
I like the stability of the 100 at net. Makes me feel like i can volley anything. If you like to play sneaky doubles with lots of angles and you need lots of maneuverability, the 98 is probably better.
They are comparable in principle, but I don’t think that the Aero is a very good spin racquet because of the twistweight. Better for flat strokes. You can even see Alcaraz has a pretty linear forehand and he really strikes through the ball more than he brushes up. I prefer the Aero VS to the 2021 VC95 for the forgiveness.
Hi Beckett- I'm considering buying an old Ezone DR98 rather than going with any of the new Yonex racquets which just seem too dampened for my liking. Does this make sense or would you caution against it?
I don't have any experience with the DR98 sadly. I know they are very well regarded and my only caution would be finding one in good condition. So many people loved them, I think they all got used a LOT. Probably not many left in good condition and I'd expect to pay a premium with those. I would also make sure you can still find grommets for them. You don't want to be in a situation wear you are paying like $50 for grommets because they stopped making them. If you can't find any reasonably priced DR's in good condition, I would look into what Head is doing. I love the Extreme Tour and Radical MP. New Extremes will be released in only a matter of weeks. Much less muted than Yonex and Babolat.
@@TennCom Thanks for the advice! Surprisingly, I actually see a few new old stock for sale, reasonably priced. I was wondering about the feasibility of replacing grommets as well, but I found some super cheap on Tennis Warehouse! I watched your video(s) on the Extreme Tour, and demoed it a month ago. For some reason, I thought it was decent, but just couldn't get into it. Maybe it was because I didn't add weight to it, as it felt pretty light and difficult for me to control higher-powered shots. I was also considering Angell racquets since they've gotten such rave reviews and I can customize specs.
@@micah2237 yeah the ET needs weight for sure. If you can find good NOS, then yolo IMO. Worst case its a collectible racquet that you should be able to flip pretty easily.
Looking to switch from my blade 98 V8 16x19 into either the ezone 98 or 100. I find the blades to be demanding and my SW is probably around 328. Really torn between the 98 vs 100 Ezone.
@@TennCom Just got 2 matched specs. Unstrung SW came in at 290, and strung at 315. So far it feels a little light. I may want to bring it up to 320. Where should I add weight? 10 and 2? Don't think I need more power.
New ezones are supposidly like the DR..... MY dr100 is foam filled but my dr98 is not....next time you change strings can you check to see if foam filled??? My DR 98 N 100 are more round then issometric compared to my vcore n vcore pro.....are the new ezones rounder compared to other yonexs???
I got these as demos so I cannot check. One thing to note is that even if the handle has foam, that does not necessarily mean that the rest of the hoop is foam filled. It's definitely more round than some of Yonex's previous offerings.
Man, I just re-watched this video and find it interesting but confusing. I am a mechanical engineer, so I see everything you say through that lens (sorry!). It seems that higher TW (and same SW) only decreases "maneuverability" along the long axis of the racquet (i.e. the ability to spin the head around the axis of the handle). I can see why this would affect one's serve, as wrist snap with a continental grip is largely a twist of the grip. But for groundstrokes I don't see why you would even notice it (again, with SW being equal) as the forearm rotation that creates spin is in the same plane as the strings. What am I missing? Can you enlighten me? Love the topic, BTW. I have been trying to understand why higher level players prefer smaller heads when they are clearly less forgiving and control seems controllable with string choice/tension.
Thanks for the re-watch haha. I appreciate the thought. My suspicion is is that I feel it on my forehand due to a 90 degree rotation that occurs when the strings point down (towards the ground) as I swing towards the balls and then square up for impact and face towards the court. This is especially noticeable on extremely exaggerated "next gen" forehands that I tend to hit when the ball is quite low. This would be when the tip of the racquet faces towards the net, the strings face down and there's like a 270 degree loop that I have to perform to get the tip all the way around. You can see Nadal do the 90 degree rotation I am attempting to describe in this video ua-cam.com/users/shortsNSr6dfxhMUw I would guess that the decrease in maneuverability is likely more significant for users with more extreme grips. This is also probably why I don't notice decreases in maneuverability as much on my backhand, where my strings don't face the ground as much as my swing approaches the ball. With my backhand, the racquet remains much more square to the ball and I add spin with that vertical flick, where the movement is parallel to the string bed. Let me know if this makes sense or sounds like gibberish.
@@TennCom Sorry for the glacially slow reply. I understand your theory and it does make sense to a certain extent. There is a rotation along the long axis of the racquet as you (and Rafa) demonstrate. The thing that gives me pause is that the moment (rotational inertia) around that axis is quite small and the rotation motion is not super quick, even for Rafa. I have an alternative theory. I think the lack of maneuverability is due to swingweight *in the plane of the strings*. If you measure the linear distance from the handle to the wide edge of the racquet (3 and 9) you will see that it is longer than the distance to the center of the racquet. So, assuming a topspin-generating swing upwards in the plane of the strings, adding mass at 3 and 9 is going to increase the swingweight in that plane more than it does perpendicular to the strings (the way we usually measure swingweight). Since you have access to an RDC, what would you think of doing this experiment? Take one of your racquets that's been leaded-up at 12 and check the swingweight both the normal way and with the racquet sideways in the plane of the strings. Then remove the weight at 12 and add weight at 3 and 9 until you get the same swingweight as before and repeat the measurements. My hypothesis is that the 12 o'clock racquet will have about the same swingweight in both directions while the 3 and 9 racquet will have a higher transverse swingweight, hence neatly and measurably explaining the difference in maneuverability. Edit: BTW, this really explains why teardrop shapes like my Gravity Pro feel so sluggish (since 3 and 9, and the associated mass, are even further out from the handle than on an oval racquet).
Did he get back to you about this experiment? Some insightful stuff by you on the physics going on here. If i understand one of your points correctly, if I was adding lead to my racquet but wanted to have it affect my serve the least, i would put the lead at the tip of the racquet, instead of 3 and 9 as that would increase twistweight and make it harder to pronate when serving? @@vanodne
Hello, I have a huge topspin forehand and a slice backhand. I've been using a blade v7 18x20 for control but really want to try something newcand go with the ezone 100 eventhough everything points to the 98. Is the switch to larger and lighter doable or just stick to 98? Thank you!
I was going to get a pure drive but since i have a One-handed BH a more experienced player told me to switch to an Ezone 98, but i feel like 98 in is too small idk, is it less forgiving? since i'm a player who is not that experienced.
Yes its significantly less forgiving that the Pure Drive. The Pure Drive has more weight towards the edges of the frame so its more stable. The beam is also thicker and stiffer which adds to the forgiveness.
I’ve hit both, prefer my 2022 Ezone 98 by a wide margin. The 100 felt completely uncontrollable when under any pressure whatsoever. My 98 is like a rock even against the biggest hitters. Strung at 50lbs with full bed of 4G, 6” of lead at 3 and 9. Oops, major edit: the 100 I had was a Vcore 100 not an Ezone 100. I don’t know how different they are, but I didn’t play well with the Vcore at all.
its good for aggressive shots, it just gets pushed around a bit on flatter shots, especially if your racquet head speed isn't super high and the incoming ball speed is high.
Usually I see the 105's in the hands of senior players, sometimes 3.0s who aren't improving, sometimes 5.0s who are looking for extra forgiveness and high swing speeds with the lighter weight
Man excellent comparison, as always! Thanks for this cause I’m def switching to ezone, esp with the new black cosmetic getting released soon mid-January 2024. Question: you think it’s okay for a beginner to use the ezone 98 and not the 100? Power has never been an issue for me so far and I want the manoeuvrability and whippiness of a racket, that’s why I’m leaning more towards the 98. But I’ve heard people complaining about arm/wrist pain with the ezone 98 when they hit outside the sweet spot due to its relatively high stiffness. Just FYI I currently use the pro staff 97L but I don’t like this racket due to the small sweet spot and as a beginner I hit outside the sweet spot quite often.
The EZONE 98 has a tiny sweetspot. A lot of people say its this forgiving power racquet, but that's not my experience at all. The twistweight is unusually low on these, so there's nothing to support your off-centre shots unless you rip the ball. The lack of weight leads to more vibration as well. If you struggle with the 97L off-centre, I don't think the EZ98 will be much better. But I also don't think that's because of you level as much as I think it is about your preferences.
@@TennCom thank you for the insight. Hmm you might be right that it could just be my preference, I haven’t thought of that. Yeah I think I’ll go with the 100 for now. Can’t wait to get my hands on the new colour 😍
Nice comparison! Would the the 100 with a leather grip (so more HL) bring you closer to the whippiness of the 98 with the advantage of being more stable to start with.
I have never experienced a time where adding weight to the handle increases the maneuverability of a racquet. If it works for you with other frames, it should work here, but it doesn’t do anything for me. You still have all the weight in the head to deal with even if the balance point is lower.
As always, your reviews and advice are very interesting! I'm asking you a question that is related to the main topic: in addition to using racquets with a non-exaggerated twistweight in order to allow a greater range of motion to rotate the wrist, do you also do any specific training to improve the movement of the wrist on the forehand? I'm asking because my situation is similar to yours, but I consider my two-handed backhand to be my best weapon and therefore I don't want to give up on the ezone 100, my goal then becomes at this point to improve my forehand technique to be able to better handle the twistweight at 15.02
one drill i really like is just played in the service box (mini tennis). Don't take your forehand back past your right hip (if you are right handed) and throw your dominant hand forward into the ball. Keep your wrist relaxed so the tip of the racquet lags behind your hand. Your racquet face should naturally come around the hand in a relatively violent action. Expect the launch angle to be pretty high and kind of uncontrollable. The key to controlling the stroke within the short boxes is controlling the spin. As you are not taking the racquet back very far, you should be able to accelerate the racquet pretty quickly resulting in a lot of spin.
@@TennCom Confirmed, this is a great exercise that I do as well. I was talking more about specific training exercises, like pull-ups or rubber bands, but I'm always afraid of stiffening my wrist instead of loosening it up. Anyway, thanks...I continue to follow you closely
Thanks for this demo! Very logical analysis. I have tried Ezone 100 and speed pro, and l like both. I’m a 4.5 player, and most of the time, my forehand is flat but I can hit good topspin, my 2-hand backhand is very flat. I feel Ezone 100 is easier to swing, but I can hit more winners with more winners although it’s a bit heavy to swing. My current racquet is Wilson blade SW 102, I want to change it because it’s difficult to maneuver. Could you give me some advice to choose between Ezone 100 and speed pro?
I think the EZONE 100 is the way to go. At 4.5+, i think that the stock Speed Pro just cant stand up to heavy balls, especially if you play a match or two against a 5.0. Situations were you are at the end of your range, playing defense or playing someone better, the EZONE 100 is easy enough to play with that i think it will help you win a few more points
I see! I saw your video of the speed pro and I feel the same. Although the stung weight and swing weight of speed pro are higher than Ezone 100, I feel Ezone 100 is more stable than speed pro. It's because of the Auxetic or the frame structure?
Ive been looking for players comparing speed pro with the ezone... 2 hours on the phone and now I got one right here!! I use the 2022 Speed Pro. I like everything about it but it feels heavy in the long run especially I play doubles most of the time and feel sluggish after couple of volleys. I was looking for lighter racket but doesnt want to go with the Speed MP, I feel disconnected with that racket. So I was thinking of trying Ezone, but I dont know if I should go with 98, 100, or will I be sacrificing anything by losing more than gaining anything from it.
@@Jakub_G_Tennis I think 330SW is actually pretty manageable for a lot of players at 4.0+ so long as you are conscious with your footwork. In my case, switching to a heavier racquet actually made my game a lot better and helped me move into playing 5.0/Open level tournaments in my region (previously was playing 4.0/4.5)
I am new to tennis and I have tried a few of the rackets to test which suits me. I came across 'yonex graphlex ti lite' as old as from 1990. I felt that racket best suited my playing style. The firmness. stability, power. I loved it. Then when I decided to buy I could not find that in market now. I am now confused that whic current yonex racket is similar or same as that. Please helo me with this because I don't want to buy racket which does not give me that confidence.
If your swing is fundamentally sound, rackets don't matter.
How do you explain Federer’s resurgence in 2014 following the switch to a 97?
@@TennCom He was facing bigger hitters so going from a 90 to a 97 helped with a little more power and not framing balls as much. I don't think you'll be facing those players.
@@quinby123 So you just proved the case against your claim. To say that only elite level players can benefit from gear is misguided.
As a measly 4.0, I can say that updating to modern racquets has drastically improved my experience of tennis after a 15 year break. For me, when the experience is better, I’m more motivated to play and improve.
It’s like playing a quality guitar that is set up for a particular player. The instrument itself will not turn the player into a virtuoso, but it will likely motivate her/him to play more and improve because the experience is better.
If that wasn’t the case, we’d all be playing with wood.
raquet DOES matter.
@@user-be5qg7mr1s yea keep blaming your racket.
i got both 、question solved😂
Genius hahaha
Bro same 😂
Which one is you go to racket 98 or 100 🤔
Thanks Beckett, great review. Love my Ezone100, fit the demographic perfectly I think. My 2 handed backhand instantly improved going from a Pure Strike 100 to the Ezone 100, conversely my forehand took some adjusting but dialled in now. Your explanation makes sense, my 2 strokes are quite different so finding a perfect racquet is hard, but forgiveness and higher net clearance in the 100 made an easy decision. If anyone is thinking about the Ezone, just get it, you won’t be disappointed, the hard part is 98 or 100 but follow Beckett’s advice and demo if you can. There’s so many Ezones at the club it’s easy to try somebody’s for some hits!
Coming back 2 years from now,it surely did not disappointed.
However,on the contrary of your experience,I'm actually struggling for a bit on the backhand side more than the forehand side. I find it easy to generate spin on the forehand ,but my double-hander often lacks dept when I'm not forcing the ball enough.
Weirdly enough,when I switch to a one-hander,it works better for me,but my double-hander works better with a Head racket😅
Such a good review and comparison, using your own stroke mechanism to demonstrate the pros and cons of the racket .... brilliant.
Great Review.. looking forward to the WTA Serves Tier list..
I am testing both the 100 and 98. I agree with what you said. My forehand is similar to yours. I am leaning towards the 98. I also have a one handed backhand. I need the manuvability of 98, especially on hitting on the run where I needed the topspin and racquet head speed. I just need to lower string tension compared to the 100 to gain power and tiny amount of weight at 3 and 9 o'clock to increase the sweet spot and stability.
For a single handed back hand the 98 works a treat, I moved to this frame from a Vcore 95, I know the 100 has more power but I got around that by using a gut hybrid, stability is not an issue I just added 1.5gs of lead tape to both 9 and 3 and countered it with 3gs of tungstan putty in the butt. The racquet is super stable now and still very fast in the air as I made sure I only increased the weight by 6gs which helps keep a high swing speed to create spin.
tbh that sounds like an ATP setup... should we expect you to be playing in the US Open?
Nice setup
Love your analysis on these.
Great analysis
When you say twist weight, I found the 98 better for flat serves to the advantage court because I can rotate it more easily.
Great comparison, thanks.
Good video. Just hit with my older model ezone 98 and was like oh, this is more whippier than my new ezone 100 despite being 305 unstrung. Didn’t know about the twisting aspect playing a role. It also felt good at net for volley and feels more stable there. May become my #1 again
I’d love for you to revisit my favorite racquet again the Ezone. I prefer 98 but 100 still great. Now that you’re on the easy to use racquet program nothing beats the EZ One
ive revisited the new ones when they launch in jan...
@tell them to make a run of the old yellow/black style or whatever it was that they used to do a few generations back. Thanks!
Would love to see a Blade 100 v7 review
Very detailed and informative review. Thank you Sir!
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent review. Some of what you said is so important, and doesn't really get articulated elsewhere for various reasons.
Thanks Dave!
This is my new fav tennis channel. My game is just like you. I have a ezone dr100 and I want to get another ezone. I think I might just demo them for 1 set each. A 98l might be nice( for swingweight), definitely worth demoing.
Thanks so much for the support! I recommend switching as much as possible during your demo session. This will really help you feel the differences between the frames, which can be tough especially with muted Yonex sticks.
@@TennCom I see. Great advice
THANKS so MUCH.
@TennCom which strings do you recommend for this yonex ezone series? I have played with the hyper g and rpm blast so far.
@@sydsood8459 what do you like in a string?
@@TennCom I like a plush feel. I would like to be able to volley without twisting the racquet and not feel any stiffness in the strings. Would like a good pop, not too high and too low. Also I play once or twice so tension maintenance is important to me. Also most importantly, I am very wristy in my forehand ( went a size lower in my grip too for that) and enjoy topspin forehand and kick serve.
You have a double handed bh. I find the 98 better for my single handed bh.
Really struggle to do anything more than slice with the 100.
Btw, the shot that I really couldn’t execute with the 98 was the bh volley. Needed stability. With the 100 it’s my fav. Shot.
highly reasonable take
Thanks for another great video! In my experience, the Ezone 98 is far too unforgiving for players beneath 4.5. The 100 just makes playing the game a whole lot easier, and would be a great choice for 90% of players.
I went with the VCore 100 after trying both Ezones. I found it to be a bit crisper, and had easier access to spin.
I 100% agree with your assessment on the 100 vs the 98. The EZONE 100 is a truly great racquet. Tbh i haven't even hit with the VCore 100, so ill revisit it if i can upon your recommendation.
@@TennCom Please do review the VCore 100! I'd definitely love to hear your thoughts! If I was at your level, I'd play with the VCore 98, as it was amazing to serve with (better flats and kickers than with the VCore 100, oddly), felt great at net, and was extremely crisp when I hit the ball precisely on center.
However, I made myself get the VCore 100 because I knew it was better for me. It was just more forgiving and helped me get more balls back in play. The first step in improving is knowing when to ask for help...
@@naokisonoda-hq This is my dilemma. I don't know which one to get as my first serious racket: Ezone 100 or Vcore 100. I am a beginner and I am in my 20s so I am learning fast. But I don't have enough playtime on court yet, so I don't know in which category I am: flathitter or spin oriented player.
@@TheRockyBalboa100 Unfortunately, there's no real way of knowing until you try the racquet out for an extended period of time. Even when demoing, it's difficult to really know what your long-term opinion of a racquet will be (even though you might quickly fall in love).
I would say that if you're a beginner, go with the Ezone 100, because most players of any skill level will be able to appreciate that racquet.
Also, don't be fooled into thinking that you can't hit spin with the Ezone 100, or play flatter with the VCore 100. It's possible to do either with both. Yes, the Ezone is suited for flatter hitters, but it's definitely capable of producing spin. This is where your mechanics and technique really are more important than the racquet. I find that I can produce a lot of spin with my Blade 18 x 20s, even though they're technically more suited for flatter ball strikers at the recreational level.
If you have the opportunity to demo either, that's the ideal scenario. In my experience, I can tell within a few strokes what racquets feel good to me and which do not.
I demoed the Ezone 100 a month ago pretty certain I would buy it, but tried the VCore on a whim. Turns out I ended up liking the VCore 100 because it felt slightly stiffer and crisper to me.
Ironically, I demoed the VCore 100 last year after a 15+ year break from the game. It felt way too stiff for me then, so I ended up going with the Blade 98 18 x 20. Now, only 12 months later, the VCore feels crisp, and the Blade feels a bit mushy. The lesson there is that our perceptions constantly change, no matter how certain we feel about something at any given time.
Whatever you end up trying, I don't think you'll be disappointed. As your game progresses and as you improve, you'll start to understand what kind of racquet will suit your game. You'll probably also find that your perception of certain racquets will change as your game changes. For now, just pick one and keep improving!
@@naokisonoda-hq Thank you! I just showed your comment to my wife. We both think that you couldn't have explained it any better. Pure on point.
Very good review mate. Lots of details and valuable opinion, cheers 👏. It’s a pity they didn’t make a Tour 315g etc with the 100. I use the Pure Drive Tour in the 100 and wouldn’t mind trying out the equivalent in the Ezone if it existed
Thanks Baz! That is too bad, but I am glad Yonex still makes the extra length options
Thanks. I'll go for the 100.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
I'm a mix of both styles, kind of like you. Forehand relies on a lot of spin, with fast racket head speed. I need some power so that balls don't land too short, but I have sound technique (20 years playing) so I really don't need Pure Drive-like power. Backhand is one-handed, somewhere between flat and a tiny bit of spin. Biggest problem is I have lazy legs, so I often shank the ball especially on the backhand side. I play mostly from the baseline but when I get a short ball I don't hesitate going up to the net. What would you try?
I would go for the 100. I’ve been playing for 30+ years, and I’m admittedly not a precise ball striker, meaning that I hit slightly outside of the sweet spot more than I like.
I tried both the 98 and 100, and felt that the 98 was unforgiving. If you hit outside of the sweet spot, the ball would die.
In comparison, the 100 was much more forgiving and plush. Ultimately, I switched from my Blade 98 V7 18 x 20 to the VCore 100 because of the spin that I was able to generate from it.
I’d say the Vcore 100 is a bit crisper feeling and gives me a bit more free spin, whereas the Ezone 100 is a bit more comfortable and provides a bit more drive to hit through the court. Both frames are nice, and If I had to play with an Ezone 100, I would not be disappointed.
Another thing to note is that the VCore 100 is a bit slimmer in the middle of the hoop-the Ezone is a bit chunky.
I prefer to choose racquet that help my strengths, rather than hide my weaknesses. Sounds like your forehand is your main weapon, so I would choose the 98, assuming you think you can win more points with a strong forehand than you will lose with a weaker backhand.
That said, I do completely agree with the analysis given the previous comment. I also think that the EZONE 100 is a "better" racquet, though I prefer the 98 for my game.
Good feedback. My issue is that I like a more buttery feel on impact, which I’m not sure these will give me. Hard to chose between plush feeling and playing better lol
@@brunis_m If you want plush, I would definitely give that to the Ezone 100.
The EZone is plush for what it is, but I think even the Gravity line has a more buttery experience.
Have you hit with the 2022 Head Speed MP? It would be interesting to compare the new Ezones to the new MP…🎾
not yet, i havent been able to find one easily local to me
Great stuff. I'm trying to settle on a stick. I've won matches recently with the Vcore 95, Regna 98 and Vcore Pro H. I'm a 1hBH lefty same body size as Monfils and Ivanisevic. The 95/98 vs. the H are almost identically the pros/cons you mention in the 98 vs. 100 when I play, except I don't often miss the sweetspot so off center hits aren't a huge factor. I create a wristy FH option with the "98 group", but not every FH is wristy, just when I go for dippers at volleyer's feet or extreme crosscourt angles. The H, after 12 hours of play one weekend, didn't cause fatigue or arm issues. What are your thoughts on the play with the heaviest racket theory? Fantastic twist weight videos, really good content. Thanks
I agree with the idea that you should hit with the highest swingweight you can handle. I also believe in buying racquets based on your strengths, so you can play the kind of tennis you want to play. Djokovic, Nadal and peak Fed all used racquets tailored to their strengths. Have you tried customizing the lighter frames to a compatible weight to the H?
@@TennCom Thank you for the reply, I have not tried customizing, I don't trust myself really and I like each racket stock of those 3, changing them might alter what I like about them. It's a tough choice, the 95 is great for 1 strength of mine the 1hbh, the H is great for my other strength, serve, the Regna 98 is the middle ground, lol. I'll probably settle on the H if I can get it spec'ed to something lower than 335ish SW, definitely lower than the extreme 343=45 ish SW tennis warehouse had on their initial test rackets.
Great video. Thanks for making it.
I have an Ezone 98 Naomi Osaka LE (the white version) and I have severe elbow pain from it. Do you think moving to the 100 could help or make it worse? Would a move to the VCore make sense?
Opposite to you, I love my backhand with my Ezone 98 and love my tennis level with it… but I can’t keep playing it with it. I’m 41 btw. Thanks
Thanks for watching!
It's tough to say because elbow pain can be caused by a lot of different things. Sometimes stiffness is a big factor. If it is for you, I would not recommend going to the 100. Sometimes its from gripping the racquet too tightly, since the 98 is prone to twisting, the 100 would probably help. Sometimes the weight can be wrong and you end up over stressing your wrist lag.
What strings setup do you use and how much?
Hey.. me too.. I just got the ezone 98 but my backhand became like shit and I thought that was just me. Maybe I should change to the ezone or vCore 100
@TennCom (Beckett) -- thank you so much for this review. Brilliant as usual.
Question: I have 2022 EZONE 100 and I love it more than I expected. I am looking for a backup frame. I have option to get used 2022 EZONE 98 at a very good price or to go for another 100. I am ~ rising 3.5 and I play lots of USTA and flex league matches all the time. Would 98 with the same string setup, etc. be an OK backup frame for my main 100, or would you recommend just going for two 100s? Thanks in advance!
stick with two 100s if you care about improving your tennis, get the 98 if you like screwing around with different frames. Even though I'm a racketaholic, I always have 2 of the same frame as my "racquet of choice" just to help me find the light in case i have off days.
I own an Yonex Ezone 100 2022 and it is absoloutly incredible racket. The esse of use with comfort and feel and potential power drew me right in.
I switched to this racket from Babolat Pure Drive 2021. Babolat was like a crazy menace never knew how the ball will go, whereas Ezone 100 is giving me enough control to bring the bombs just inside the court.
Would not recommend to string this racket for power strings or low tension. I now play with Hyper G at 24/23 kgs. And would even consider get it a little bit higher at around
25-24.5 kgs. I used Tour Bite Soft on it once and it was super good. Any low power poly would work great with it. With power strings and low tension its too easy to over hit with it.
Anyway it is great racket, especially for beginners wanting to play the big dick game with lots of agression.
I am so happy with this racket I already got the second one to my tennis bag (like to play around with different strings).
Last but not least, when I saw the video, it was like 2 am and I was going to watch it in the morning with coffee but I couldnt wait so long! Incredible montage and your personality absolute own any other yt channel. Bang.
Big Dick Aggression should be Yonex's next slogan for the EZONE line! Thanks for watching, really glad to have you join in the comments and sacrifice some sleep for us!
@@TennCom haha you are so right!
I heard this term from one of the StarCraft 2 casters Nathanias as he goes BIG DICK MECH which is only mechanical units. It works for Tennis too ❤️
What would you recommend for an aggressive baseliner with a one handed backhand and modern technique (lots of wrist movement on FH)?!? Currently playing a Gravity Tour with some weight at 12 but the 18x20 really has a low launch angle and doesn't have the bite I would like to have.. ;)
My play style is similar to yours and I use a Gravity Tour spec’d up to 340g and 340 swingweight. Like you, I find that the launch angle from the 18x20 is a little low for my OHBH. Recently, my younger son moved from his Gravity MP to the Gravity Pro. This has allowed me to experiment with the Gravity MP spec’d to match my Tour, and the launch angle from the 16x20 is a lot easier on the backhand.
The MP has a similar feel, but not quite as plush and solid as the Tour (even when matched for specs). However, the proof is in the match performance and if I get better results with the MP, will make the switch.
@@jerome_morrow Also thought about the MP, the 16x20 is a really nice string pattern but to make it stable you need to add at least 10 grams of weight and prob. a leather grip so it doesn't get too head heavy...
I think you'll really enjoy the Extreme Tour with at least 6g at 12 and maybe another 6g at 7 inch up the handle. This is the setup I use. It's less muted that the Gravity, but the swingspeed is so much faster even if the swingweights are the same. My buddy uses a stock Gravity, which comes in at 338 strung, and he absolutely loves my Extremes because of how fast the feel, even though the swingweights are 339 on mine.
@@TennCom Need to try it out, but I want to maintain a generous sweetspot with great feel.. ;)
@@hybrid11theory75 Extreme Tour 100%
Hey Beckett. I have the Ezone 98 but tested the 100 recently and really liked it! How can I cuustomize my 98 to get closer to the 100 (e.g. balance)?
You'd have to find out the specs of your 98 and the 100 to know for sure since the quality control on the frames leads to variance in all specs. I think a safe bet to start would be increasing the torsional stability with 1g at 3 and 9.
Ever test any 16x20 diadem elevate products ? Curious to see how those would stack up against bigger brands
Not yet sadly. Very hard to come by in Canada
damn that bald baby from the matrix got older, time flies
Thx for uploading just when I need it ,had a hard time picking between the two.
I was actually picking between 3 rackets ( Ezone 98,100 , and Head Extreme Tour)
I noticed that you stated both Ez 98 and Head Extreme Tour are top tier in your 98 Square inches tier list ,I feel like it would be a good idea if you try to cover the 100 tier list as well.
As a flatter hitter ,especially on the BH side ,the 100 would definitely help me
more.However I was wondering if the Extreme Tour was customized right ,
will it be better or comparable with the EZ 100?Since I was already using a
Head racket for beginner(almost 9 years,Jesus) ,a little curious at how it will work out.
Customization is so personal that I can't say for sure that it will make it a better racquet for you, but I believe if you are diligent and deliberate with your customization that you'll be able to get more out of both the EZONE 98 and Extreme Tour. Adding weight at 3 and 9 to both 98's with give you more of that stability that you are loving from thee EZONE 100.
@@TennCom Thanks for replying ,I will look more into the customization .
Beckett: Have you compared the VCore 100 to the VCore 98…. ? And which one would best fit a 4.0 old dude … singles player… one hander , some spin, lots of flat and touch shots? Ciao, John
yeah I made a video on it (I think you've watched it) and probably the 98
Hi. Big fan of the channel. I'm currently torn between 98vs100. Firstly, is the RA something to be worried about as I have a sensitive elbow? Secondly, I've played with the Blade 98 (16x) V8 and I love the feel, plushness (low RA, better for my arm?) and most importantly, the plow I get with it but I just know it won't be for me as it'll be too demanding when the match gets heated. What would be the closest to the Blade v8, the 98 or 100? Or any other racket? Thanks in advance. Keep up the good work.
Hi thanks! I wouldn't be worried about RA for either of these racquets, or too much in general. There's a lot more to measuring the stiffness of a racquet than just RA, because RA doesn't describe where/how the racquet flexes, the dampening tech or the recoil weight (I'm working on a video explaining this). For example, the Extreme Tour has an RA of 65, but I think its less comfortable than the Aero VS at 70. I'd look at the Gravity line, maybe the Tour or MP, as well as the Clash 98, which has some love lately. You could also try stringing that Blade of yours with a multi-hybrid to liven it up.
Casper Rudd uses the 100 but hits with a lot of topspin. How is this then? I used the 100 and can develop good topspin. Will use the 98 and compare.
From what I understand, he uses the DR100+ which has a lowered twistweight, lending itself more towards spin. Not everyone is going to have the same experience as me of course.
Yes. I will probably try the ezone 98. I use a lot of topspin and one handed backhand. Do you think a hybrid of poly tour spin in the mains and poly tour pro in the crosses be a good setup for the ezone 98? I have been using a extreme tour with hyper g.. I also tried signum pro firestorm and Weiss cannon Black5Edge.
Yeah that would be good, it’s the same string setup that Ruud uses. I personally would prefer something with more feedback, like Signum Pro Firestorm. I find Yonex strings kinda muted for the EZone 98
I find that firestorm has good feel for a poly. A bit lively maybe. Not sure if it’s a good string to generate topspin. Still knowing the string. How does it compare with the Rudd setup in terms of spin. Also, Rudd user blue poly tour spin and yellow poly tour pro. I suppose that is more lively than those strings in black color.
I’m going to compare the ezone 98 and the extreme tour. I am interested in the pure aero vs as I like the aero beam of the pure aero line. But I have a tender elbow and the stiffness of the pure Aeros are higher, I suppose the vs also if compared with the extreme tour and the ezone 98.
Great video, I've got a question, coming from Blade 104(2015), I'm an intermediate player and really want to use some Yonex racket. I am in my 20s and want to improve my game. Do you think I could transition from that Blade to Vcore Pro 97 or Ezone 98? And how much of a struggle it would be if any?
And also I have a one- handed backhand
it depends on what you are trying to improve. If you want to start improving your racquet head speed and attacking play, I would suggest moving to the EZONE 98. The VCORE Pro 97 is a bit unforgiving, especially compared to a Blade 104.
I think switching to the Ezone 98 or VCore Pro would be an uncomfortable switch for you because both racquets are quite demanding and made for players 4.5 and up.
In my experience, the Ezone 98 is unforgiving when you strike balls outside of the sweet spot, so you have to be quite a precise player to really benefit from that frame.
Having demoed both the Ezone 98 and 100, I recommend trying the Ezone 100 and the VCore 100.
I actually switched from a Blade 98 18 x 20 v7 to the VCore 100 because I wanted a racquet that was a bit more forgiving and could give me more spin.
As a 4.0 player, frames like the Blade 98 (and Ezone 98, VCore Pro 98 and VCore 98) are amazing to play with when you’re practicing and hitting the ball really well. However, in match play, or when you’re not playing your best, I find that having a 100 square inch head with a bit more forgiveness is best.
If you like the feel of a softer frame, try the VCore Pro 100. I found that to be very plush, but a bit low-powered and not so much free spin.
I tried to transition from SW104 may be 3 times.. but despite I can play with most 100 inch racquets, somehow result with sw104 is much better. I guess it will not be easy to find something better :)
@@naokisonoda-hq thanks for your detailed comment. I currently use a blade v8 16x19 and i really like the feel of the blade. does the ezone 98 have similar feel but a more powerful racket than the blade?
Hey Becket, I was wondering if you felt that the Ezone grip size is running much larger than other companies such as Wilson or Head. I am trying to decide if I should stick to my 3/8 size or take it down to a 1/4. Thanks.
Yeah most people feel that the grip size is higher but you’ll also notice the buttcap is much less pronounced. I would probably go down in size and they flare out the butt with tape. I don’t think you’ll be too disturbed if you stick with a 3 though.
I like 100! Do you want to test my Yonex EZONE feel 2022? I think you should have very good feeling.
Hello!
What would you reccommend for big server and aggressive baseliner? I used to play with Babolat Pure Aero. The switched to Wilson Blade 98 16x19 v8 for couple months which i liked but didn't feel like my raqcuet. I've tried Babolat Pure Drive (hated it), Babolat Pure Strike 16x19 (was pretty decent), Head Radical MP (liked it), Head Boom MP (was decent), Head Prestige L (hated it), Wilson blade 18x19 v8 (was similar to my own blade, didn't really get which string pattern i like more) and Head Gravity Tour (was really good). Out of all the raquets i liked most Gravity, Radical and Strike (in this order). I also wanted to try yonex ezone and vcore but haven't had the chance. I like to hit big, do winners and serve big, generating power is not a problem. What you think? What should i try/buy next?
I think you'll prefer the VCORE 98 or 95. The EZONE 98 will probably feel too light for you and more unstable than you'd prefer. The 100 is great, plays similar to thee Pure Aero but with a much more controlled string bed and better feel.
@@TennCom and any different raquet than yonex what would you think?
Pure Aero VS. Also maybe TF 40, but I haven’t tried it yet
@@TennCom appreciate it! Right now think i will try yonex. And if not for me will go with Radical or Gravity. What you think about those two?
@@siimmansberg7289 i think the Radical MP could be customized into a pretty cool frame, but if you want to go stock, i recommend Gravity Pro
Good video and similar to my own experience. Doesn’t the fact that the ezone 100 has a slightly more open string pattern add to the spin potential?
no i don't think the tightness of the pattern has a huge effect on spin tbh. I talked about it more in depth in my vido on what factors influence spin
was going back and forth between ezone 98 and 100 for too long so that I decided to switch to something else completely - boom pro, but now I am going back and forth between three racquets instead of just two. Most wins with the 100, most memorable and fun games with the 98, most painful losses with the boom. Would the current VCore 98 be a good candidate for something more powerful than 98 and more maneuverable than 100?
I would choose 100 for Ezone since it is for the power. If I want control I would choose Blade 98.
I'm a beginner and started with a Clash 100L, but now the racket is to light for me. I'm looking to get an Ezone and not sure if the 98 or 100. My shots are mostly flats (both FH and BH) but I'm learning how to play with more spin. My swing pattern is very slow and short as well. What do you think would be a better choice for me?
EZONE 100 for sure. It works great for slower swings and will be more forgiving in the short term while still offering you a lot of head room as you improve. If you were more naturally inclined to swing faster, the 98 might be better, but I think its good to follow what comes naturally so you can really find your own unique style!
@@TennCom thank you! 🙂
@@TennCom I was able to get those as demos, and I'm inclined to end up getting the 98. The 98 gave me more control and I could feel where I was hitting the ball, in the other hand the 100, only gave me power, a lot of power, which is good, but I didn't have any feeling when hitting the balls and it was hard to keep the balls inside the lines. It could be harder in the beginning, but I believe that the 98 would be the best choice for me.
Hi, previous ezone 98 was really arm killer for me. What about the new one? Thank you
probably wont be much better sadly
You mentioned that you feel more plow through with the 100 vs the 98, but the listed average specs show that they have the same swingweight. How would you rationalize that? Granted, the 100 is slightly more head-heavy in balance which might make one feel more clubby or less whippy.
The 100 has more stability and power but a bit less control and comfort/forgiveness.... as simple as that ;)
I’m definitely not an expert, but the increased beam thickness of the 100 would make it feel more stable. Also, the significantly increased sweet spot would also make the 100 seem more stable because you don’t have to strike the ball perfectly on-center.
I’ve tried both, and to me, the 98 is quite unforgiving and board-y, while the 100 extremely forgiving and plush.
I think its because of the high twistweight. Having the weight out at 3 and 9 creates increased feelings of plow through when the swingweights are the same.
Well done! Great break down and very helpful! Is there someone such as tennis warehouse university that would make the trist weight info available? I'm curious about the Head speed pro 2022
twu.tennis-warehouse.com/cgi-bin/twistweight.cgi
Hi Beckett, how do you think of ezone 100 plus and ezone 98 plus? Worth to try?
We cant get those in Canada, but i think they are worth it based on the reviews ive seen. Yonex seems to do a great job with extra length
Hello sir,
We need your opinion on the vcore 100 ✌✌
I've got a piece on it where I compare to the VC98
Regarding the twist weight, if I add total 10g at 3&9 for The 98 then will it be more stable than the 100? Thank you very much
10g is a lot it should feel significantly more stable.
I’m looking at the e one 98 tour from i believe 2020. But the weight different between my current racquet (Vcore 100+) and the 98 tour is quite large. From 300 grams to 330. Will it make a huge difference. And will head size affect a lot?
Thank you so much 🎉
What do you think about adding weight to a Ezone 100 to make it feel more like the Ezone Tour?
I fully support this project. I imagine you'd end up with with an absolute weapon with a beefed up EZ100
So what twist weight does your Extreme Tour have (weighted up)? Isn't it closer to the EZ98 than the 100?
closer to the 98. I havent added any weight further out than the strip that runs from 10 to 2, so the effect should bee minimal. That said, I don't have the tools to measure TW right now.
@@TennCom Just wondering because you said your BH was terrible with the 98.
@@vanodne my BH isnt great with the Extreme either, the higher swingweight helps, but its definitely better with racquets like the Ezone 100 and Pure Aero
@@TennCom So you are a believer in playing to your strengths rather than helping your weaknesses. Fair enough!
Yeah 100%
For those of you with 98 and 100, do you bring both to matches?
Thanks for the video and your time. Is there any way I could provide Spanish transcriptions for it?
Hey there, manoeuvrability is about sw, not TW.
Already discussed about it, the TW of cash 100 v1 is more than 15 and higher than the clash 100 pro. They are both manœuvrable but the 100 295g is one of the most manœuvrable tennis racquet and not very stable.
You should mesure the sw of the ezone 98, like the vcore 98, it's said to be very higher than it actually is.
No offense but I think You're wrong.
You cannot limit maneuverability to a single spec. There’s a lot more at play in the swing because it moves in many different directions across many different axes. Swingweight plays a huge part, but if swingweight are the same, there must be a explanation for differences in maneuverability. If it’s not twistweight, what do you think it is?
@@TennCom I'm pretty sure the sw of the ezone 98 is around 305-310.
I remember hearing, with prince exo3 /03 technology, about vertical and horizontal sw.
I stopped using vcore 100 cause it was to headlight, more than announced, no pace.
Anyway, again a great review, Thank you.
Did you try the vcp 100 ? Great one, very well balanced.
Hi, 98 or 100 for doubles(in stock form)? One handed backhand. Is there a significant difference in terms of arm comfort?
I’d go with the 100 all the way, unless you’re a 4.5 or above and are able to strike the ball in the sweet spot a majority of the time.
Based on my demoing of the Ezones, the 98 is quite demanding and board-y, while the 100 is extremely forgiving and plush feeling.
I don't think there's a bit difference in comfort. Both are great, but I've never had any issues with wrist or elbow pain, so I'm much less sensitive than many players out there.
@@TennCom and what about my first question(98 or 100 for doubles)?
@@boyansirakov8653 100 all the way
Good review
ty very much thanks for watching!
wonderful, thanks.
Hi! Any suggestion about the lighter version of 98 - 285 g for recreational player? I'm thinking to switch to Yonex from Babolat Pure Strike Team, I would like to try smaller head size for my one handed backhand. Babolat is also a stiff frame. I'm thinking also about Yonex Vcore Pro 97L - 290 grams. Any thoughts? Thanks for any advice ;)
I'm not really sure how you should proceed. I like stiff frames when you are going that light, as long as your arm can handle it. The problem with going light is that you lose a lot of power and spin potential. Staying with a stiffer frame ensures that the energy transfer on ball contact is as efficient as possible. Unless you have a shoulder issue that prevents you from using something heavier, I would recommend going to one of the faster swinging 98's like the Blade 98 or the EZONE 98.
@@TennCom First - thanks for the answer! My arm seems to be fine, 33 yo, 190 cm, 81 kg of weight, all my life doing diffrent's sports. I haven't thought about bouing a heavier racket, until now, because there is no racket on the market with a 98 inch head that weighs 300 grams, most of them heave 305 grams. I played with... the Head Extreme you recommended and it was a very good at the start of a training session. Good maneuverability, nice pop on the ball. At the end - my arm hurts a little bit, but it was only 1 treaning session, the frame was borrowed from my kolegue, I didn't cose strings for this racket at the day of practice, I've played about 2 hours. I've played also a Yonex Vcore 98, but I didn't feeld the ball, it was worse for me than with the Babolat.
I didn't play with Wilson Blade or Ezone 98, but I can see, that both of them have swingweight under 320 according TW and balance of the racket is towards the handle. Mayby it's a good idea to play with heavier freame :) 98 head size better for OHBH than 100 inch??
P.S. Great channel, keep going!
@@bodzio2304 thanks! We are going hard lots more vids coming.
The Head Radical MP is 300g and a very nice racquet. It’s not muted and you can feel what’s going on with the string bed. More power and forgiveness than the Extreme but still pretty fast through the air. Your arm probably hurt because the Extreme Tour is pretty uncomfortable all things considered
@@TennCom tommorow I will order Yonex Ezone 98, thanks once more for your recommendation ;)
How does this ezones compare with the pure aero? I find the pure aero gives good spin but feels stiff and cheap. I’ve always used all poly with the pure aero, don’t know if a hybrid would change thiis. But as I say it feels cheap. Yonex feels solid it seems., like worth its price. The pure aero is great with the aero design but not more than that. What do you think?
Yeah the EZone has a much more solid graphite feel, whereas the Pure Aero has the Babolat muted-plasticky feel. Yonex racquets are pretty expensive, but in my experience the quality is outstanding, so the price is reasonable. Pure Aeros have actually gone up a lot in price locally for me, so I actually think they are pretty close to the same price now. You’ll get a little less power from the EZone and a little more control from the string bed as well
I can understand how some pros use the ezone line. But I can’t understand how some pros can play with the pure aero unless they are customized rackets that are very different from the ones sold to the public. Don’t mean to offend Babolat but their quality for me is questionable.
@@TennCom l
@@adriellepretre9047 theoretically, Babolat could pull models off the production line that are the highest of quality for their pro's, though I'm sure they have dedicated pro stock lines as well
Does ezone tour have more power on serve or ezone 100?
Which do you recommend for playing doubles with? Since i go up net a lot it sounds like the 100 is better for me?
I like the stability of the 100 at net. Makes me feel like i can volley anything. If you like to play sneaky doubles with lots of angles and you need lots of maneuverability, the 98 is probably better.
Would you say the Vcore 95 and the Pure Aero VS are both comparable?
They are comparable in principle, but I don’t think that the Aero is a very good spin racquet because of the twistweight. Better for flat strokes. You can even see Alcaraz has a pretty linear forehand and he really strikes through the ball more than he brushes up. I prefer the Aero VS to the 2021 VC95 for the forgiveness.
What racquet is closest to dr 98
Which would be better for a beginner?
100
Hi Beckett- I'm considering buying an old Ezone DR98 rather than going with any of the new Yonex racquets which just seem too dampened for my liking. Does this make sense or would you caution against it?
I don't have any experience with the DR98 sadly. I know they are very well regarded and my only caution would be finding one in good condition. So many people loved them, I think they all got used a LOT. Probably not many left in good condition and I'd expect to pay a premium with those. I would also make sure you can still find grommets for them. You don't want to be in a situation wear you are paying like $50 for grommets because they stopped making them.
If you can't find any reasonably priced DR's in good condition, I would look into what Head is doing. I love the Extreme Tour and Radical MP. New Extremes will be released in only a matter of weeks. Much less muted than Yonex and Babolat.
@@TennCom Thanks for the advice! Surprisingly, I actually see a few new old stock for sale, reasonably priced. I was wondering about the feasibility of replacing grommets as well, but I found some super cheap on Tennis Warehouse!
I watched your video(s) on the Extreme Tour, and demoed it a month ago. For some reason, I thought it was decent, but just couldn't get into it. Maybe it was because I didn't add weight to it, as it felt pretty light and difficult for me to control higher-powered shots.
I was also considering Angell racquets since they've gotten such rave reviews and I can customize specs.
@@micah2237 yeah the ET needs weight for sure. If you can find good NOS, then yolo IMO. Worst case its a collectible racquet that you should be able to flip pretty easily.
Looking to switch from my blade 98 V8 16x19 into either the ezone 98 or 100. I find the blades to be demanding and my SW is probably around 328. Really torn between the 98 vs 100 Ezone.
Would you be planning to customize the EZONEs as well? 328SW seems quite high for the V8's
@@TennCom Just got 2 matched specs. Unstrung SW came in at 290, and strung at 315. So far it feels a little light. I may want to bring it up to 320. Where should I add weight? 10 and 2? Don't think I need more power.
I hit flat from both sides and I have a 1hb.Which one do you consider the best fit for me,98 or 100?Thanks!
100
New ezones are supposidly like the DR..... MY dr100 is foam filled but my dr98 is not....next time you change strings can you check to see if foam filled??? My DR 98 N 100 are more round then issometric compared to my vcore n vcore pro.....are the new ezones rounder compared to other yonexs???
I got these as demos so I cannot check. One thing to note is that even if the handle has foam, that does not necessarily mean that the rest of the hoop is foam filled. It's definitely more round than some of Yonex's previous offerings.
@@TennCom the hoop was filled on my dr100....not hande
Man, I just re-watched this video and find it interesting but confusing. I am a mechanical engineer, so I see everything you say through that lens (sorry!). It seems that higher TW (and same SW) only decreases "maneuverability" along the long axis of the racquet (i.e. the ability to spin the head around the axis of the handle). I can see why this would affect one's serve, as wrist snap with a continental grip is largely a twist of the grip. But for groundstrokes I don't see why you would even notice it (again, with SW being equal) as the forearm rotation that creates spin is in the same plane as the strings. What am I missing? Can you enlighten me? Love the topic, BTW. I have been trying to understand why higher level players prefer smaller heads when they are clearly less forgiving and control seems controllable with string choice/tension.
Thanks for the re-watch haha. I appreciate the thought. My suspicion is is that I feel it on my forehand due to a 90 degree rotation that occurs when the strings point down (towards the ground) as I swing towards the balls and then square up for impact and face towards the court. This is especially noticeable on extremely exaggerated "next gen" forehands that I tend to hit when the ball is quite low. This would be when the tip of the racquet faces towards the net, the strings face down and there's like a 270 degree loop that I have to perform to get the tip all the way around. You can see Nadal do the 90 degree rotation I am attempting to describe in this video ua-cam.com/users/shortsNSr6dfxhMUw
I would guess that the decrease in maneuverability is likely more significant for users with more extreme grips.
This is also probably why I don't notice decreases in maneuverability as much on my backhand, where my strings don't face the ground as much as my swing approaches the ball. With my backhand, the racquet remains much more square to the ball and I add spin with that vertical flick, where the movement is parallel to the string bed.
Let me know if this makes sense or sounds like gibberish.
@@TennCom Sorry for the glacially slow reply. I understand your theory and it does make sense to a certain extent. There is a rotation along the long axis of the racquet as you (and Rafa) demonstrate. The thing that gives me pause is that the moment (rotational inertia) around that axis is quite small and the rotation motion is not super quick, even for Rafa.
I have an alternative theory. I think the lack of maneuverability is due to swingweight *in the plane of the strings*. If you measure the linear distance from the handle to the wide edge of the racquet (3 and 9) you will see that it is longer than the distance to the center of the racquet. So, assuming a topspin-generating swing upwards in the plane of the strings, adding mass at 3 and 9 is going to increase the swingweight in that plane more than it does perpendicular to the strings (the way we usually measure swingweight).
Since you have access to an RDC, what would you think of doing this experiment? Take one of your racquets that's been leaded-up at 12 and check the swingweight both the normal way and with the racquet sideways in the plane of the strings. Then remove the weight at 12 and add weight at 3 and 9 until you get the same swingweight as before and repeat the measurements. My hypothesis is that the 12 o'clock racquet will have about the same swingweight in both directions while the 3 and 9 racquet will have a higher transverse swingweight, hence neatly and measurably explaining the difference in maneuverability.
Edit: BTW, this really explains why teardrop shapes like my Gravity Pro feel so sluggish (since 3 and 9, and the associated mass, are even further out from the handle than on an oval racquet).
@@vanodne swingweight in the plane of strings *is* the twist weight btw.
@@Meechael No, twist weight is rotational inertia around the main axis (i.e. along the handle).
Did he get back to you about this experiment? Some insightful stuff by you on the physics going on here. If i understand one of your points correctly, if I was adding lead to my racquet but wanted to have it affect my serve the least, i would put the lead at the tip of the racquet, instead of 3 and 9 as that would increase twistweight and make it harder to pronate when serving? @@vanodne
best racquets in stock form?
Hello, I have a huge topspin forehand and a slice backhand. I've been using a blade v7 18x20 for control but really want to try something newcand go with the ezone 100 eventhough everything points to the 98. Is the switch to larger and lighter doable or just stick to 98? Thank you!
I mean I really like the EZone 100, hard to say if you’ll play better with it, but it sounds like the whole point is to experiment so I say go for it
@@TennCom Awesome, thank you for the encouragement!
I was going to get a pure drive but since i have a One-handed BH a more experienced player told me to switch to an Ezone 98, but i feel like 98 in is too small idk, is it less forgiving? since i'm a player who is not that experienced.
Yes its significantly less forgiving that the Pure Drive. The Pure Drive has more weight towards the edges of the frame so its more stable. The beam is also thicker and stiffer which adds to the forgiveness.
98 is better... More manoeuvrability, control and feeling.. 100 is too powerfull and seems heavier
It’s literally not
I’ve hit both, prefer my 2022 Ezone 98 by a wide margin. The 100 felt completely uncontrollable when under any pressure whatsoever. My 98 is like a rock even against the biggest hitters. Strung at 50lbs with full bed of 4G, 6” of lead at 3 and 9.
Oops, major edit: the 100 I had was a Vcore 100 not an Ezone 100. I don’t know how different they are, but I didn’t play well with the Vcore at all.
Which is better for 1 hbh?
Hi,
How would you compare Ezone 100 vs Speed MP?
Speed has a more connected feel and feels plusher/more comfy, but imo had worse spin, power and stability.
@@TennCom thanks for the answer. I want to buy one of the 2, which would you recommend for a beginner to Intermediate player looking to evolve?
EZone 100 all the way
great video! I wonder does the ezone 98 favour more driven and aggressive shots? or even flatter shots
its good for aggressive shots, it just gets pushed around a bit on flatter shots, especially if your racquet head speed isn't super high and the incoming ball speed is high.
@@TennCom so ideally need to add some lead, gotcha
@@chanlegend absolutely
Have Vcore 98 and Ezone 100….the 100 is more forgiving…it is such a small number 98->100, but if I don’t nail the ball in that sweet spot…ouch.
So who is the player that would benefit from the 105?
Usually I see the 105's in the hands of senior players, sometimes 3.0s who aren't improving, sometimes 5.0s who are looking for extra forgiveness and high swing speeds with the lighter weight
@@TennCom at first I was like ewww but then I realized I am a senior
@@rda3000 so is my dad and he insists on using whatever i use haha
How about the ezone 100 2020 version VS 2022 version
I don't have enough experience with the 2020 Ezone 100 to comment. I remember liking it, but i only used it during an extremely casual 30 minute hit.
ezone or vcore? :)
Ezone
Man excellent comparison, as always! Thanks for this cause I’m def switching to ezone, esp with the new black cosmetic getting released soon mid-January 2024. Question: you think it’s okay for a beginner to use the ezone 98 and not the 100? Power has never been an issue for me so far and I want the manoeuvrability and whippiness of a racket, that’s why I’m leaning more towards the 98. But I’ve heard people complaining about arm/wrist pain with the ezone 98 when they hit outside the sweet spot due to its relatively high stiffness. Just FYI I currently use the pro staff 97L but I don’t like this racket due to the small sweet spot and as a beginner I hit outside the sweet spot quite often.
The EZONE 98 has a tiny sweetspot. A lot of people say its this forgiving power racquet, but that's not my experience at all. The twistweight is unusually low on these, so there's nothing to support your off-centre shots unless you rip the ball. The lack of weight leads to more vibration as well. If you struggle with the 97L off-centre, I don't think the EZ98 will be much better. But I also don't think that's because of you level as much as I think it is about your preferences.
@@TennCom thank you for the insight. Hmm you might be right that it could just be my preference, I haven’t thought of that. Yeah I think I’ll go with the 100 for now. Can’t wait to get my hands on the new colour 😍
Nice comparison! Would the the 100 with a leather grip (so more HL) bring you closer to the whippiness of the 98 with the advantage of being more stable to start with.
I have never experienced a time where adding weight to the handle increases the maneuverability of a racquet. If it works for you with other frames, it should work here, but it doesn’t do anything for me. You still have all the weight in the head to deal with even if the balance point is lower.
As always, your reviews and advice are very interesting! I'm asking you a question that is related to the main topic: in addition to using racquets with a non-exaggerated twistweight in order to allow a greater range of motion to rotate the wrist, do you also do any specific training to improve the movement of the wrist on the forehand? I'm asking because my situation is similar to yours, but I consider my two-handed backhand to be my best weapon and therefore I don't want to give up on the ezone 100, my goal then becomes at this point to improve my forehand technique to be able to better handle the twistweight at 15.02
one drill i really like is just played in the service box (mini tennis). Don't take your forehand back past your right hip (if you are right handed) and throw your dominant hand forward into the ball. Keep your wrist relaxed so the tip of the racquet lags behind your hand. Your racquet face should naturally come around the hand in a relatively violent action. Expect the launch angle to be pretty high and kind of uncontrollable. The key to controlling the stroke within the short boxes is controlling the spin. As you are not taking the racquet back very far, you should be able to accelerate the racquet pretty quickly resulting in a lot of spin.
@@TennCom Confirmed, this is a great exercise that I do as well. I was talking more about specific training exercises, like pull-ups or rubber bands, but I'm always afraid of stiffening my wrist instead of loosening it up. Anyway, thanks...I continue to follow you closely
@@andreacozzo7331 as you may be able to tell… I do not exercise hahahaha
Thanks for this demo! Very logical analysis. I have tried Ezone 100 and speed pro, and l like both. I’m a 4.5 player, and most of the time, my forehand is flat but I can hit good topspin, my 2-hand backhand is very flat. I feel Ezone 100 is easier to swing, but I can hit more winners with more winners although it’s a bit heavy to swing. My current racquet is Wilson blade SW 102, I want to change it because it’s difficult to maneuver. Could you give me some advice to choose between Ezone 100 and speed pro?
I think the EZONE 100 is the way to go. At 4.5+, i think that the stock Speed Pro just cant stand up to heavy balls, especially if you play a match or two against a 5.0. Situations were you are at the end of your range, playing defense or playing someone better, the EZONE 100 is easy enough to play with that i think it will help you win a few more points
Thanks for your answers!! By the way, what do you mean the stock of speed pro?
Stock aka without any weight added (lead tape)
I see! I saw your video of the speed pro and I feel the same. Although the stung weight and swing weight of speed pro are higher than Ezone 100, I feel Ezone 100 is more stable than speed pro. It's because of the Auxetic or the frame structure?
Ive been looking for players comparing speed pro with the ezone... 2 hours on the phone and now I got one right here!!
I use the 2022 Speed Pro. I like everything about it but it feels heavy in the long run especially I play doubles most of the time and feel sluggish after couple of volleys. I was looking for lighter racket but doesnt want to go with the Speed MP, I feel disconnected with that racket. So I was thinking of trying Ezone, but I dont know if I should go with 98, 100, or will I be sacrificing anything by losing more than gaining anything from it.
Speed MP review soon?
Not until summer unfortunately
What about the Ezone 98 tour? 330, big swingweight
New ones not in Canada yet
With 330g plus string plus overgrip and all your shots are late... its just a bad choice. Unless you are Wawrinka. But even then you are injured.
@@Jakub_G_Tennis I think 330SW is actually pretty manageable for a lot of players at 4.0+ so long as you are conscious with your footwork. In my case, switching to a heavier racquet actually made my game a lot better and helped me move into playing 5.0/Open level tournaments in my region (previously was playing 4.0/4.5)
@@Jakub_G_Tennis I meant 330 gr its the swingweight, not the overall weight
@@GuilleSKS ok that makes sense I was scared for a moment😅😁
woahhhhhh MacSpadden Park
I need a 99 😂
I am new to tennis and I have tried a few of the rackets to test which suits me. I came across 'yonex graphlex ti lite' as old as from 1990. I felt that racket best suited my playing style. The firmness. stability, power. I loved it. Then when I decided to buy I could not find that in market now. I am now confused that whic current yonex racket is similar or same as that. Please helo me with this because I don't want to buy racket which does not give me that confidence.
I would recommend researching the specs of that racquet and figuring out what kind of string is in it
Hate to be that guy but your head is the most magnificent head I've ever seen !
Answer: Get 98 Tour
Clash 98 V2
due to too much waiving of two hands while talking, its a big distraction and disturbing
Damn, these comments are brutal. No wonder everyone is switching to Pickleball 😂
i already have ezone 100, and want to test 98, what u think?
might as well give it a try as a free demo right?
@@TennCom already buy it, AMAZING raquet, so diff to ezone100, a lot of control and nice swing, 100% happy