2022 Yonex EZONE 98
My excitement for the 2022 EZONE 98 peaked when Denis Shapovalov shocked the world, ok the tennis world, or the tennis-nerd world, when he switch to it. Given the Yonex has a history of requiring their players to use current racquets (once they commit to a frame, they can get it painted to the new model, but no “pro-stocks”), as well as comprehensive reporting, I fully believe the Denis is using an off the shelf EZONE 98 now. There’s no way it’s stock, but it’s gotta be the actual racquet.
Shapo rips a forehand. ATP, 2022.
Potential Energy: Balanced
A stand out feature for the last generation EZONE was how easy it was to use. This was a pretty direct response to the player-oriented DR98 and the unforgiving 2018 model. The 2020 swung very quickly due to a low swingweight, and the 2022 delivers on the same promise, given it’s friendly 318 swingweight. That said, this means that advanced players will likely not enjoy this frame in stock form. Power levels are familiar, and very close to the Extreme Tour and Blade 98 that were previously tested on the channel.
When playing big hitters, I really struggled to hit a heavy ball. My shots just weren’t penetrating the court the way I need to be competitive. I sometimes criticize companies from offering swingweight that are too low, but I think it’s the correct move for this racquet given the presence of the VCORE 98, and the promise of the incoming EZONEE Tour and 98+.
In general, with a big swing, I was still able hit winners, delivering adequate pace and plenty of spin to keep my balls in line.
Potential Energy: 113
Similar Performers:
Head Extreme Tour: 112
Babolat Pure Strike 100: 113
Head Radical MP: 115
Yonex EZONE 98 2020: 115
Stringbed Performance: Balanced Round 2
The stringbed on the EZONEE 98 is a real. It’s a very nicely balanced 16x19 that feels tighter in the sweet spot and more open towards the extremities of the bed. The allows for a lower launch angle on centre that encourages you to swing big when you centre the ball. When I was ripping up the back of the ball for topspin, or knifing around the side of it for an aggressive slice, I felt I could always trust the stringbed.
On off-centre shots, the stringbed offers a slightly higher launch angle, offering another layer of forgiveness on mishits and shanks. This really helps you recsue the ball, letting you put lots of height over the net, buying you extra time to recover.
Our demo was strung at 52lbs with Poly Tour Pro 1.25mm in the yellow colour.
Stringbed Performance: 100
Similar Performers:
Head Radical Pro: 96
Head Extreme Tour: 97
Yonex EZONE 98 2020: 102
Yonex VCORE 98: 110
Weight Distribution: More Stability Please
While the EZONE 98 is very maneuverable, it’s plagued by poor stability. If you don’t take a full, dedicated swing, the racquet will punish you. I found the 2020 version of the EZONE to be less forgiving on off-centre shots than the previous version. While it’s less of an issue on my forehand, where racquet-head speed isn’t an issue, I did struggle on my backhand, where my swing is slower and more abbreviated.
This leads me to believe that this racquet would suit one-handers quite nicely, perhaps a suggestion to why Shapo is finding success with it.
I honestly haven’t struggled off my backhand more than with any other racquets. We are currently testing the Pure Aero VS, which doesn’t exhibit this issue, I didn’t have a problem with the Blade 98, or the afore mentioned 2020 EZONE 98. While I am certain that this could be addressed with lead tape, I don’t think that one of the most popular frames on the planet should be subject to customization. This racquet, more than any other, should be subject to it’s performance in stock form.
Weight Distribution: 106
Similar Performers:
Head Extreme Tour: 104
Head Gravity MP: 107
Head Radical MP: 108
2020 Yonex EZONE 98: 112
Acknowledgments:
Thank you to K8 Strings for providing the demo. The customer service at this store is magnificent, and the quality of the stringjobs are among the best I have ever experienced.
Demo strung with Yonex PolyTour Pro 1.25mm at 52lbs.
