Yonex is famend for producing high-quality tennis rackets used extensively by skilled and leisure gamers alike, and the EZONE sequence has been a preferred selection for these looking for an ideal mix of energy, management, and luxury on the courtroom.
As a Yonex fan (I play with the VCORE 100), I used to be excited to get my arms on the most recent EZONE 100 racket, which promised to ship important updates in comparison with its predecessors.
On this overview, I’ll have a look at the most recent iteration of the EZONE 100, launched in 2022, and discover its options, efficiency, and general suitability for various taking part in kinds. I’ll analyse its design, weight, all-around playability, and different key components that may impression your recreation.
Whether or not you’re an skilled participant seeking to improve your racket or a tennis fanatic seeking a dependable and highly effective racket, this overview will offer you helpful insights into the Yonex EZONE 100 (2022) and aid you decide if it’s the best match to your recreation.
So, let’s dive in and uncover how this racket carried out on the courtroom.
EZONE 100 Cosmetics
GET THE YONEX EZONE 100
The Yonex EZONE 100 has all the time been identified for its modern and fashionable cosmetics; the 2022 model is not any exception.
The racket shows a daring, dynamic design incorporating a hanging blue and darkish blue color scheme. The graphic sample is clear and minimalist, that are Yonex’s trademark traits, giving the racket a streamlined {and professional} look.
The cosmetics mirror the racket’s high-performance capabilities and Yonex’s dedication to high-quality manufacturing.
Total, the Yonex EZONE 100 boasts a slick and attention-grabbing beauty design that appears nice in direct daylight or underneath the lights.
Options of the Yonex EZONE 100 (2022)
Isometric Head Form
Yonex developed the isometric form over 30 years in the past, and it’s designed in order that the intersection of the primary and cross strings within the square-shaped head generates a extra outstanding candy spot, growing it by 7% (as per Yonex’s testing) in comparison with standard spherical frames. This implies higher management with out sacrificing energy, providing you with the very best of each worlds.
Liner Tech
Liner Tech makes use of straight-hole grommets to elongate the strings, optimising energy and luxury.Â
O.P.S. (Oval Pressed Shaft)
Our Oval Pressed Shaft (O.P.S.) was first utilized by Yonex in 1969 with their T-7000 aluminium racket; the O.P.S. is designed to present you extra spin, management, and really feel. The flexing shaft at impression will increase dwell time and minimises vibrations, offering a singular and enhanced taking part in expertise.
Vibration Dampening Mesh (VDM)
Yonex’s Vibration Dampening Mesh (VDM) know-how was initially used of their snowboards, however it’s now included into a number of rackets of their lineup, together with the EZONE. VDM is a stretchy mesh materials wrapped across the grip that filters out undesirable vibrations, bettering contact and precision.Â
Shockless Grommets
Shockless Grommets are built-in on the facet and backside of the body to minimise muscle fatigue and supply a comfortable really feel at impression.
2G-Namd Pace
Excessive-modulus graphite fibres sure with a carbon nanotube (C.N.T.) construction cut back vitality loss, enabling fast snapback.
Shaft Design
The EZONE’s new shaft design is all about stability and energy. With a thicker shaft construction and convex design, undesirable racquet torque on off-centred pictures is minimised, leading to added energy and stability.
So loads of fancy names and technical-sounding stuff; how does it play?
Specs and Setup
I playtested the EZONE with Dunlop Black Widow strung at 21.5 kg mains/ 21 kg crosses. It had a strung weight of 316.4g when strung.
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Yonex EZONE 100 2022
My Yonex EZONE 100 2022
Head Measurement
100in / 645.16cm
100in / 645.16cm
Size
27in / 68.58 cm
27in / 68.58 cm
Unstrung Weight
10.6oz / 300g
10.6oz / 301.3g
Strung Weight
11.2oz / 318g
11.2 / 316.4gÂ
Unstrung Stability
320mm
319mm
Swingweight
317
~
Stiffness
67
~
Beam Width
23.8 mm / 26.5 mm / 22.5 mm
23.8 mm / 26.5 mm / 22.5 mm
Composition
2G-NAMD SPEED / HM Graphite
2G-NAMD SPEED / HM Graphite
Racket Colours
Darkish blue/ mild blueÂ
Darkish blue/ mild blue
Grip Kind
Yonex Artificial
Yonex Artificial
String Sample
16 Mains / 19 Crosses
16 Mains / 19 Crosses
String Rigidity
20.5-27 kg
21.5 kg mains/ 21 kg crosses
Playtest
First Impressions
It didn’t take lengthy to understand that Yonex EZONE 100 may ship a powerful efficiency on the courtroom. As talked about above, I instantly seen that the racket supplied a bigger candy spot and extra vitality switch, translating to quicker and extra correct pictures.
The Yonex EZONE 100 jogged my memory of the VCORE 100 concerning manoeuvrability. This racket felt very straightforward to maneuver by means of the air, due to its comparatively light-weight.Â
Furthermore, I used to be instantly impressed by its stability. Though one would possibly suppose that light-weight rackets unavoidably shake towards heavy pictures, the Yonex EZONE 100 felt agency and dependable even underneath strain.Â
Groundstrokes
Relating to groundstrokes, the Yonex EZONE 100 is an distinctive racket that may aid you generate loads of energy and spin.Â
The Yonex EZONE 100 notably influenced my forehand, permitting me to hit with higher topspin and depth.
The added energy and spin meant I may push my opponents again and create extra alternatives to assault the web. The racket additionally supplied wonderful management and really feel, which helped me hit with higher accuracy and consistency.
Because of the racket’s stable development and steady really feel, I may generate loads of spin and tempo on my backhand.
The Yonex EZONE 100 balanced energy and management, permitting me to hit confidently and constantly. The racket felt snug in my hand and had a pleasant weight and stability, making it straightforward to manoeuvre and management.
Volleys
In terms of volleys, the Yonex EZONE 100 2022 performs properly. Though the racket just isn’t particularly made for the serve-and-volley sort of gamers, the extra outstanding candy spot makes it a lot simpler to hit correct volleys, even on off-centre pictures.
The racket has a dampening mesh within the deal with which appears to cut back vibration and supply a steady really feel, which is especially necessary for gamers when they’re up on the internet.
The EZONE 100 2022 can also be light-weight, which allowed me to manoeuvre it simply and shortly on the internet.
Nonetheless, I didn’t get pleasure from an excessive amount of how the versatile shaft influenced my really feel on volleys. I might give it a shy thumbs up within the volleying space. I felt the ball escape from the strings a little bit too early for me to position my volley precisely. However, choosing the right strings and pressure may assist counteract this attribute.Â
ServeÂ
Throughout matches, I rely loads on my serve to present me the lead of the purpose. For that reason, I paid further consideration to how EZONE 100 carried out on this space. I have to say that I used to be not upset!
The racket’s design, know-how, and playability created a powerful serving expertise. I hit highly effective and correct serves utilising all types of spins. The open string sample additionally allowed me to hit with elevated spin potential, which gave me added management over my serves.
ReturnÂ
On the return, I used to be instantly impressed by the racket’s aerodynamic design and steady body, which helped me shortly get into place and simply hit correct returns.
Total, the Yonex EZONE 100 has been distinctive when returning huge serves. Moreover, the racket supplied a snug really feel and absorbed shock. This attribute could possibly be a bonus for the high-level participant since it could possibly assist stop discomfort or harm throughout lengthy matches.Â
EZONE 100 2020 vs EZONE 100 2022
The Yonex EZONE 100 2020 and 2022 variations are fairly related. The 2022 model has Yonex’s 2G NAMD SPEED which is a layup change within the shaft, and the newer mannequin feels a bit extra strong and steady towards heavier incoming balls.
EZONE 98 vs EZONE 100
The Yonex EZONE 98 and 100 are additionally very related, however the 100 offers extra forgiveness and is barely simpler to play with, particularly over longer matches the place fatigue can set in.
With the 100, you get extra vitality return to the ball, so extra energy for a similar effort, and the twist weight is greater, so off-centre hits don’t destabilise the racket as a lot in comparison with the 98.
The EZONE 100 can be a greater racket for many leisure gamers.
Who’s This Racket For?
For my part, the Yonex EZONE 100 racket is a wonderful choice for intermediate to advanced-level tennis gamers who’re in search of a strong and dependable racket. I consider huge flat hitters would profit probably the most from taking part in with this racket because it permits gamers to switch loads of energy with out an excessive amount of effort.Â
Nonetheless, I might not recommend the EZONE 100 (300g) to superior male gamers who may discover the lighter weight a difficulty when making an attempt to counteract the heavy spins typical of ATP-level tennis. In the event you selected it, you would want to customize it with weight, much like how Casper Ruud’s EZONE 100+ is customised to cope with heavier balls.
Last Ideas
I need to conclude by saying that the Yonex EZONE 100 is undoubtedly a high-performance racket. Despite the fact that it could not be my first decide, given my recreation model, I nonetheless felt snug taking part in with it throughout observe and pleasant matches.
Yonex did an excellent job delivering such a gentle and highly effective racket with out including a loopy quantity of weight. I can see how higher-level ITF and WTA gamers may decide up the Yonex EZONE 100 and play exceptionally properly.
Professionals
EnergyÂ
ManoeuvrabilityÂ
Steadiness
Cons
Extreme flexibility on volleys.
Lowered really feel on contact pictures.
Excessive price – the EZONE 100 is a high-end racket that’s dearer than different choices available on the market.
Have you ever tried the Yonex EZONE 100? Let me know within the feedback.
Energy – 9
Management – 7
Manoeuvrability – 8
Stability – 9
Consolation – 9
Contact/Really feel – 6
Serves – 9
Groundstrokes – 8
Slice – 7
Volleys – 6
Returns – 8
7.8
SOLID
The EZONE 100 is an distinctive racket for intermediate to superior gamers because of its highly effective efficiency, exact management, and flexibility to swimsuit a number of taking part in kinds.