Yonex Ezone 98 2022 Review

Over 2022, Yonex started updating one in all their foremost racket strains – the Ezone. The weapon of selection for Nick Kyrgios, Naomi Osaka and Belinda Bencic, the Ezone is supposed to be an all-around racket for all talent ranges.

The Ezone is now in its seventh era, offering plush consolation and easy energy. It may be a well-liked selection for membership gamers on account of its versatility, suiting most taking part in types.

The New Ezone Rackets

GET THE EZONE 98 2022

From the Spring to the late Summer time of 2022, Yonex launched a brand new vary of Ezone rackets with mild, ultra-light and junior variants. The primary ones have been:

Latest developments within the development of the Ezone embrace 2G-Namd2 Pace graphite (carbon nanotubes within the throat of the racket), which give a softer really feel and elevated ball velocity.

A brand new Aero Form body offers extra flexibility, whereas a thicker beam maintains stability on contact.

Ezone Cosmetics

In contrast with the sixth era of Ezones, the seventh makes use of a darker pallet of blues as the first colors, with a touch of shimmering turquoise to provide it a classier look.

The lighter colors are lower with daring navy-blue strains because the turquoise fades in the direction of the underside of the body. Small particulars just like the fins on the base of the throat, and the angles across the body, portend to hurry and manoeuvrability, which we’ll get to later however give the racket a pointy, sword-like type.

I like the brilliant silver Yonex stamps that adorn the bottom of the body and the butt cap with the model’s signature inexperienced. Even the vibration-dampening mesh on the underside of the body seems glossy, with a gently opaque cowl that neatly covers the uncovered strings.

The body and throat have a matte really feel that’s good to carry when volleying or altering grip, with no probability of slipping.

Altogether, the racket appears luxurious and exact. The primary bodily distinction between Yonex rackets, on the whole, and different manufacturers, is their “Isometric” or oval-shaped frames which are supposed to extend the candy spot by as much as 7%.

Specs and Setup

 
Yonex EZONE 98 2022
My EZONE 98

Head Measurement
98 in / 632.26 cm
98 in / 632.26 cm

Size
27in / 68.58cm
27in / 68.58cm

Unstrung Weight
10.8oz / 305g
10.8oz / 306.4g

Strung Weight
11.4oz / 323g
11.4 oz / 324.2g

Steadiness
12.79in / 32.49cm / 6 pts HL
12.75in / 32.39cm / 6 pts HL

Swingweight
318
 

Stiffness
65
65

Beam Width
23.5mm / 24.5mm / 19.5mm
23.5mm / 24.5mm / 19.5mm

Composition
 2G-NAMD SPEED/HM Graphite
2G-NAMD SPEED/HM Graphite

Racket Colours
Blue
Blue

Grip Sort
Yonex Artificial
Yonex Artificial

String Sample
16 Mains / 19 Crosses
16 Mains / 19 Crosses

String Rigidity
45-60 kilos
45-60 kilos

As common, wonderful high quality management from Yonex right here, and when a racket comes out of their manufacturing unit in Japan, it’s invariable near the goal specs.

The place the Ezone 98 Matches Throughout the EZONE Vary

 
Ezone 98
Ezone 100
Ezone 105
Ezone 110
Ezone Tour
Ezone 98+
Ezone 100+

Head measurement
98 in2
100 in2
105 in2
110 in2
98 in2
98 in2
100 in2

Size
27 in
27 in
27 in
27.25 in
27 in
27.5 in
27.5

String sample
16 x 19
16 x 19
16 x 19
16 x 18
16 x 19
16 x 19
16 x 19

Unstrung weight
305 g
300 g
275 g
255 g
315 g
305 g
300 g

Steadiness
315 mm
320 mm
330 mm
335 mm
320 mm
325 mm
330 mm

The Ezone 98 racket for this playtest was strung with Yonex Poly Tour Rev, with a 1.30 mm gauge at 44 lbs.

First Impressions

Instantly noticeable was how plush and easy the racket felt from the 2G-Namd2 know-how and dampening mesh.

Rallying from the again of the courtroom was a dream, as my strokes have been met with apparently little or no resistance whereas I made contact with the ball. This small change made me much less drained as play went on since I used to be assured that I might not be drained from shot fatigue alone throughout prolonged exchanges.

The smoothness naturally inspired me to comply with via and make a whole stroke wherever attainable. Yonex’s extra distinguished candy spot from its Isometric body additionally boosted confidence. Even when I didn’t make a full swing, sufficient energy would come from the racket to maintain me on the level with out inflicting a shorter ball and making me weak to my opponent’s assaults.

A barely bigger head measurement than what I used to be used to (95 in2) meant that I misplaced some accuracy and initially discovered it difficult to intention for strains or take extra dangers. However as time went on and I acquired used to the racket, I used to be capable of make extra exact photographs. For many gamers, I wouldn’t suspect a 98 in2 would trigger a big distinction from what they’re used to when it comes to correct directional management and placement.

I notably appreciated the flared grip on the backside of the deal with. Extra usually today, at any time when I peruse tennis retailers and browse the gear, I discover new releases of rackets which have straight handles as a substitute of flared ones.

For me, the flared grip helps management, as I can really feel extra of which a part of the racket I’m holding onto and which bevel my knuckle is resting on. This not solely helps me slot into the correct grip for my meant shot but in addition supplies extra friction between my hand and the deal with for higher vitality switch.

I’ve discovered previously that straight handles can slip out of place simply, so the upkeep from Yonex of this kind of deal with eliminated any doubt from my thoughts that I may simply misfire the ball out of courtroom.

Full Ezone 98 Evaluate

Groundstrokes

The big candy spot once more offered dependable entry to energy in my groundstrokes. The oval body additionally provided a steady spring mattress, the place I felt snug sufficient to hit flatter photographs and topspin. On the forehand aspect particularly, the quantity of topspin generated was vital, partly due to the fins or notches on the base of the throat and the angled body.

Much like the Babolat Aero, these options assist scale back drag when swinging via the air, leading to extra unimaginable racket-head speeds, which in flip means extra topspin. Throughout most exchanges, I may generate a satisfying arc on the ball as a result of the racket was so manoeuvrable once I was on or simply behind the baseline and had enough time. But when I acquired a brief ball and had to make use of a shorter takeback, the oval form felt a bit of cumbersome as I attempted to get the ball over the online.

The entry to punchy, flat photographs was welcome on the backhand aspect, particularly when making an attempt a backhand down the road. Whereas I had misplaced a bit of accuracy, a topspin crosscourt backhand groundstroke was simple sufficient to intention, clearing the online’s top.

One space the place the Ezone excelled was slicing. The large body meant I had confidence in making sufficient contact with the ball to impart the required spin to maintain it low on my opponent’s aspect of the courtroom. The racket would produce a deep backhand slice even when I stretched to make the shot. The angles lower into the racket’s throat, made it much more evident the place I used to be holding it, and facilitated an environment friendly grip change.

As a result of racket being head-light and the little additional weight I used to be used to (+10 g), my wrist started to ache after 2 hours of play. To make sure, the consolation of the string mattress was nonetheless there, however I needed to restrict the facility with which I hit a bit of to keep away from additional discomfort.

Volleys

However, a lighter head gave me appreciable management over the racket when volleying, both punching the ball away for a winner or a Federer-like punch-slice volley that skidded to the floor on contact with the bottom.

As with the groundstrokes and slices, even when I didn’t make full contact, the racket’s candy spot was forgiving and provided the required energy to take care of dominance on the level. The texture was so easy that a part of me felt within the extra delicate volleys and moments across the web; I didn’t have sufficient suggestions for executing a drop-shot, for instance. It was actually doable, however the management I used to be used to was not there as a lot. A full volley was extra simple to drag off than a mild half volley within the forecourt.

Returns

On the return of serve, if I took a few steps behind the road and confronted common ball speeds, the racket glided via the air and made a satisfying “thud”.

Nevertheless, due to the lightness of the top, towards faster-serving opponents, my shorter takeback didn’t produce the identical end result, and block returns usually discovered themselves touchdown into the online.

I discovered a lot of my balls not making it over on the backhand aspect, particularly the place block returns are extra widespread, particularly with one-handed gamers. Both I must take a step again (giving extra time to my opponent) to make a extra leisurely return with topspin, or I must run across the ball and hit an inside-out forehand, which was not sustainable over time. My opponent would work out what I used to be doing and intention for broader and wider angles when serving into the advert courtroom.  

Serving

I can’t simply separate Kyrgios from his iconic Yonex racket when he’s serving, both getting used to bomb down unreturnable aces or as an outlet for anger by hitting it into the bottom.

Like his mixture of serving types, from flat, kick, slice and even reverse kick, the Yonex is a flexible instrument.

Not that I can but do a reverse kick, however hitting down the “T” was a pleasure with flat serves, whereas once more, the oval form was large sufficient to generate numerous spins when making an attempt a slice or kick serve.

Just like the Head Status MP L I reviewed this time final yr, the burden of the deal with whereas I used to be within the trophy place, helped me sense exactly the place the racket was when it was standing upright in my grasp and helped me angle the racket’s face to manage the place I wished the ball to land precisely.

Who is that this Racket For?

Whereas the racket does certainly have some versatility, it doesn’t outperform in each space. I might say the gamers who would get essentially the most out of the racket could be sorted by taking part in type greater than potential.

Any talent stage would profit from this racket – the graceful consolation and energy are welcomed by all, particularly if gamers undergo from or are vulnerable to wrist, arm and shoulder accidents from repetitive pressure.

Nevertheless, the racket fits gamers who prefer to hit from behind the road and don’t come too far ahead.

A measured groundstroke from another racket with time for a full swing would flip into a strong shot if executed by the Ezone.

Gamers who prefer to take the ball on the rise, come ahead and have moments of mild contact within the forecourt could really feel the racket is missing in some areas. However these parts are nonetheless not not possible to drag off.

Closing Ideas

I like the best way the Ezone 98 initially performs. The simple entry to energy and its a number of choices of topspin, flat and slice photographs encourage tactical variation and experimentation from the baseline, important for preserving matches fascinating and your opponent on their toes.

The perfect characteristic must be the consolation when hitting, because it feels so good to swing via the ball when you’ve gotten time. But when you must take a shorter swing or end up within the forecourt, the top’s large form could be difficult to manoeuvre.

The steady string mattress makes for dependable hitting, and the massive candy spot additionally makes half-contacted photographs end up good, with sufficient energy on the ball.

However, the pressure on my wrist in the direction of the tip of play and the dearth of contact concerning drop-shots made me surprise if the Ezone was the suitable racket for each state of affairs.

Professionals

Cons

Have you ever tried the EZONE 98 or different rackets within the EZONE line? Let me know what you suppose within the feedback.