Yonex Ezone 98 2022 Review

Over 2022, Yonex started updating certainly one of their important racket traces – the Ezone. The weapon of alternative for Nick Kyrgios, Naomi Osaka and Belinda Bencic, the Ezone is supposed to be an all-around racket for all ability ranges.

The Ezone is now in its seventh technology, offering plush consolation and easy energy. It may be a well-liked alternative for membership gamers on account of its versatility, suiting most enjoying 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 gentle, ultra-light and junior variants. The principle ones had been:

Latest developments within the development of the Ezone embody 2G-Namd² Velocity 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 6^th technology of Ezones, the 7^th makes use of a darker pallet of blues as the first colors, with a touch of shimmering turquoise to present it a classier look.

The lighter colors are minimize with daring navy-blue traces 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 fashion.

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 smooth, 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 to be like luxurious and exact. The principle bodily distinction between Yonex rackets, generally, and different manufacturers, is their “Isometric” or oval-shaped frames which might be supposed to extend the candy spot by as much as 7%.

Specs and Setup

As regular, 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 Suits Inside the EZONE Vary

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 clean the racket felt from the 2G-Namd² know-how and dampening mesh.

Rallying from the again of the court docket was a dream, as my strokes had 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 by and make an entire stroke wherever attainable. Yonex’s extra outstanding 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 susceptible 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 goal for traces or take extra dangers. However as time went on and I bought used to the racket, I used to be in a position to make extra exact pictures. For many gamers, I wouldn’t suspect a 98 in² would trigger a big distinction from what they’re used to by way of correct directional management and placement.

I notably appreciated the flared grip on the backside of the deal with. Extra usually lately, at any time when I peruse tennis retailers and browse the gear, I discover new releases of rackets which have straight handles as an alternative 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 right grip for my meant shot but in addition gives extra friction between my hand and the deal with for higher power switch.

I’ve discovered prior to now that straight handles can slip out of place simply, so the upkeep from Yonex of this sort of deal with eliminated any doubt from my thoughts that I may simply misfire the ball out of court docket.

Full Ezone 98 Evaluation

Groundstrokes

The big candy spot once more supplied 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 pictures and topspin. On the forehand facet particularly, the quantity of topspin generated was important, partly due to the fins or notches on the base of the throat and the angled body.

Just like the Babolat Aero, these options assist cut back drag when swinging by the air, leading to extra unbelievable 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 adequate time. But when I acquired a brief ball and had to make use of a shorter takeback, the oval form felt a little bit cumbersome as I attempted to get the ball over the online.

The entry to punchy, flat pictures was welcome on the backhand facet, particularly when trying a backhand down the road. Whereas I had misplaced a little bit accuracy, a topspin crosscourt backhand groundstroke was simple sufficient to goal, clearing the online’s top.

One space the place the Ezone excelled was slicing. The vast 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 facet of the court docket. The racket would produce a deep backhand slice even when I stretched to make the shot. The angles minimize 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 further weight I used to be used to (+10 g), my wrist started to ache after 2 hours of play. To make certain, the consolation of the string mattress was nonetheless there, however I needed to restrict the ability with which I hit a little bit 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 clean 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 definitely doable, however the management I used to be used to was not there as a lot. A full volley was extra easy to tug 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 by the air and made a satisfying “thud”.

Nonetheless, due to the lightness of the top, in opposition to 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 lots of my balls not making it over on the backhand facet, 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 goal for broader and wider angles when serving into the advert court docket.  

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 vast sufficient to generate plenty of spins when trying a slice or kick serve.

Just like the Head Prestige MP L I reviewed this time final 12 months, the load 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 regulate the place I needed 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 probably the most out of the racket can be sorted by enjoying fashion greater than means.

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

Nonetheless, 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 robust shot if executed by the Ezone.

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

Closing Ideas

I like the best way the Ezone 98 initially performs. The straightforward entry to energy and its a number of choices of topspin, flat and slice pictures encourage tactical variation and experimentation from the baseline, important for conserving matches attention-grabbing and your opponent on their toes.

The very best characteristic needs to be the consolation when hitting, because it feels so good to swing by the ball when you’ve gotten time. But when it’s a must to take a shorter swing or end up within the forecourt, the top’s vast form will be difficult to manoeuvre.

The steady string mattress makes for dependable hitting, and the big candy spot additionally makes half-contacted pictures prove 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 relating to drop-shots made me marvel if the Ezone was the best 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.