Yonex EZONE 98 (Reviewed)
Yonex EZONE 98 is famous among hard hitters. I mean it when I say it is recognized. I have tried many racquets from Yonex and other brands to see the output of power. I wasn’t much satisfied with all of them.
Yonex EZONE 98 also had its reservations; however, to keep on par with an aggressive player is not an easy feat. At first, I was reluctant to do a playtest with Yonex EZONE 98 because the shape of a few other racquets from Yonex wasn’t to my liking.
But when I tried this one, I changed my mind. I found it very easy to handle and highly spin-friendly. Yonex EZONE 98 does not lose the natural feel even when playing aggressively with a lot of power.
Before doing a playtest of EZONE 98, let me tell you a little about the composition and technologies.
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Technologies
Following are the few signatures and modified technologies that Yonex has used to develop EZONE 98.
- 2G NAMD TM Speed
- Shaft Design
- Aero shape design
- Isometric
- Vibration Dampening mesh
- Liner Tech
2G NAMD TM Speed
The “2G NAMD speed” was used to maintain comfort while improving performance. 2G NAMD speed helps increase the ball speed and gives the player a natural feel.
Shaft Design
I must say Yonex did a lot of thinking and hard work in the construction of EZONE 98. When playing with full power, one often faces off-center shots. It requires a lot of work and experience to tackle such shots while reducing the unwanted torque.
Hence the Shaft Desing was added in Yonex EZONE 98. The curved design reduces the unwanted torque and allows the player to play freely with added power.
Aero Shape Design
Like I said before when I held this racquet and faced some shots, it felt fantastic and gave a very natural feel. To generate such a natural feel, Yonex used the Aero Shape design. It brings out the best looks and comfortable feel.
Isometric:
It is one of the signature technologies of Yonex. Unlike other racquets, Yonex EZONE 98 has the signature square head. It increases the sweet spot and allows the player to have maximum speed and control without sacrificing balance and power.
Vibration Dampening Mesh
The aggressive player has one contestant problem with every racquet they have. The vibrations… always put the player off his game. Returning powerful shots would require power, but there are always vibrations that provide discomfort to players.
Yonex used the Dampening technology in the racquet handle to see if there were any vibrations left or not. It affects the comfortability of Yonex. Thus reducing the vibrations was the best option.
Liner Tech
To play aggressively, you need power. Yonex used the liner tech in EXONE 98’s development. The straight hole grommets provide the energy required for accurate shots.
It is one of the fundamental technologies used in Yonex’s every model.
Suggested: Tennis Racquet for Beginners
Overall Positives and Negatives of Yonex EZONE 98
Positives:
- High maneuverability
- Spin friendly
- Comfort and control
- Extremely stable on groundstrokes and returns
- Easily available
- Allows larger sweet spot
- Smooth with vibrations
Negatives:
- Not recommended for beginners
- Some players may find it not so good at volleys
- For some players, it may show an imbalance in returns and volleys
Specifications
| Brand | Yonex |
| Head Size | 98 sq. in |
| Length | 27 in |
| Weight | 305 g |
| Composition | HM GRAPHITE / 2G-Namd™ SPEED / VDM |
| String Pattern | 16*19 |
| Balance | 315 mm |
Read: Wilson Clash 100L
Conclusion:
For me, I would score this racquet 8.5 out of 10. It is highly maneuverable and spin-friendly. It is best suited for aggressive baseliners. I would recommend it for the aggressive professionals and intermediate players.
This racquet can take care of the players who want to have power at its peak with control and precision. Some may find it less playable than the previous versions of Yonex EZONE 98.
However, it is their perspective depends on their play style and physique. Overall, it is good for you if you are an aggressive player.
So, above mentioned was all about Yonex EZONE 98. I hope it helps you with what you are looking for. If you have any queries, then please ask in the comment section.