Yonex EZONE DR 98 Racquet Review
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- Опубликовано: 5 окт 2015
- bit.ly/YonDR98
The EZONE DR 98 updates the EZONE Ai 98. Like its predecessor, this stick is perfect for intermediate and advanced players who want a user-friendly player's racquet with controllable power and great feel. New to this update is Nanometric DR, a highly resilient carbon designed to help the frame snap back and transfer more energy to the ball. At 11.5 ounces, the EZONE DR 98 feels speedy, yet it also manages to play with above average stability for a sub 12 ounce racquet. Thanks in part to its Isometric head shape, this racquet feels decidedly more forgiving on off-center hits than the majority of its peers. It also comes with strategically enlarged grommet holes, a feature that further reduces the shock and vibration of off-center impact. On groundies the EZONE DR 98 feels comfortably firm and very accurate. There's also plenty of spin to be had thanks to the grippy 16x19 string pattern and easy acceleration. Our playtesters were particularly impressed by the stability against higher levels of pace. At net the combination of speed, stability and precision is a recipe for confident volleying. There's also plenty of power to be had on servers for those able to maximize stroke speed. Yonex has made some impressive updates to one of their most user-friendly player's racquets. Intermediate and advanced players looking for a near perfect combination of speed, stability, spin and precision should add this to their demo list. 
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To this day, still the EZone everyone wants back again.
To this day
Great, great review, Andy! The racquet plays exactly as you all described in the video, and I'm a big fan of you all now! Keep them coming!
Aaaarghhh!!!! I just bought a couple of Ai 98s from Troy at TW!!!
SHoudl have waited for this update!
+Nicool333 I've heard the DRs aren't that much different, I wouldn't worry about it. The Ai's are still great. How are you liking them?
@@aisthpaoitht wanted to respond to this 3 year old comment. Still have these (ai version) and still Loving them!
Nicool333 if you want to sell them, let me know :)
Hi, do you think the ai98 is a better deal than the dr98 still? Have a chance to grab a pair of brand new ai98s for 200 bucks.
Andy hits a wicked drop shot at 4:10!! Nice!!
Man, Marco's backhand is beautiful!
@ James Walker,
The DR 98 will offer more control and feel but not as much power and spin as your APD.
Andy, TW
Hey TW,
I have 310g version of this racquet and I'm about to string it with volkl cyclone 17, what tension do you recommend?
Thanks
Hey Andy can you tell me when will the model of the ezone will come and what is the difference between ezone dr line and xt radical line
@ SuperSnorkelDuck,
We have not heard plans yet from Yonex regarding an update to that line. The DR line will be plusher feeling with more control while the Graphene XT Radicals are stiffer and more powerful.
Andy, TW
@ Zach Pointer,
That's really a matter of personal preference. Hopefully after adding enough weight you'll find a setup that works best for you.
Andy, TW
HEY Andy how the dr 98 l compare to duel g 97 alpha
The DR will have a slightly stiffer, crisper feel with more power and spin while the Duel G will be softer/plusher and more controllable. Andy, TW
Tall guy in the green shirt has a solid game
Love this review, just brought one. Now have to wait for it in the letterbox!
@ Sundar Amirtanandha,
I liked this racquet for kick serves and found it to swing quickly through the air. Chris and Marco have single handed backhands and they both really liked the racquet too.
Andy, TW
Yes this racket definitely assists on kick serves,. and and it's swing-speed through the air belies its beam thickness. Thanks for the heads up on this one Andy
Michelle is my one of my favs. POWAH! I will always have be a fan of Andy and Chris though....that's like a given.
Hey Andy/TW,
Thanks for another great review, awesome stats and the fact that different players give their two cents is pretty darn good! One big question remains for me tho.. How would you compare this racket to the ProStaff 97, which I'm also considering? I'm concerned that the PS97 is, as stated on the TW website, has a too erratic stringbed. Cheers!
+Ali4sz ,
I found there to be more power in the Pro Staff 97 but a far less predictable response. I thought the DR 98 was more forgiving, more controllable and more comfortable, and we preferred it overall.
Andy, TW
Hey Andy, good job on the review - looking forward to demo'ing one of these and probably the DR 100 when they reach the EU.
Therefore very interested to know whether you have an ETA for when the Ezone DR 100 review might go up?
+Plus 44 ,
We will have the DR 100 review available in about a month.
Andy, TW
this racquect is better than the head graphene xt speed mp a?
Hi guys!
Can you review the new Yonex Ezone DR 100? I was about to buy the Ezone Ai 100, but after I saw the DR series coming to the stores, I decided to wait for your review & comparison with the Ai model.
Best regards from Brazil!
Thanks for the review. When do you think the written review will be posted to the TW website.
Hi TW!
I use a grip 4 3/8 in my Babolat Pure Strike Team. I've heard that Yonex grips run bigger, should i buy a grip 4 1/4 in the DR 98? Cheers!
Made the switch to this racquet from the Pure Drive & Juice 100 that I was using and couldn't be happier! This racquet really is like a scalpel and rewards full, free flowing swinging!
Theodor Dinu Hi, I am using a Pure Drive 2015 and I would like to make the transition to the Dr 98 too. What is your experience until now? (My problem is the stiffness)
Hi! Depends on your stringing choice as well. I used the Pure Drive with a Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour string at about 26 kg, that's 57 lbs. Not exactly the most arm friendly setup. Also I used to have about 10 lbs of lead at 3 and 9 o'clock on the Pure Drive. My setup on my DR 98 so far is no lead, strung at 60 lbs with a Solinco Tour Bite Rough 1.25mm. The hitting is very rewarding, I have to say after hitting with a more flexible tennis racquet, I would never switch back to stiff racquets such as the Pure Drive. And it's not because of risk of tennis elbow or something like that, but the feel and feedback you get from a more flexible racquet is very rewarding. Quite low-powered, so you should definitely think full, fast swing. Again, it depends of your style of play, what you want to achieve and what are your goals. If you've never hit with a more flexible racquet, I really suggest you give the DR 98 a demo. It's a little more demanding than the Pure Drive, but when you hit a clean, crisp, powerful shot, you definitely feels like it's more you that did the job, rather than the racquet.
which string you recommend me in DR 98? And the tension too?
which is better wilson pro staff 97 LS or this Ezone DR 98(285 g)
Love your content keep it up
Unfortunately I just purchased my third ai98 so won't be rushing out to buy this just yet. The only issue with the ai98 was the flutter for off center hits high in the hoop as Andy mentioned. Hopefully they addressed that issue with this update because otherwise it appear unchanged from the ai98 except for the paint job
I noticed a few playtesters using the pure drive as a comparison in their review - for those of you considering this racket don't get misled. In my view, this is a lower power racquet that offers more control and feel. You need to swing to keep ball deep in court.
Hey Andy, I currently switch between a stock RF97 Autograph strung at 57 lbs with RPM Blast and a weighted up Pure Drive Tour strung at 56 lbs with 4G (all purchased from TW, you guys are the best!). I love the easy power of the PDT and my topspin ground strokes are definitely better with that racket. But I mostly play doubles, and I find myself using the RF97 much more frequently for it's better play at net and directional control on all shots. On volleys and put-aways I feel like I have no idea where the ball is going with the PDT, but with the RF97 I can confidently aim for the lines and know exactly where the ball is going. Ideally I would love the precision of the RF97 with a little more easy power from the baseline like the PDT. Do you think the DR 98 would be a good "best of both worlds" option for me? Any other rackets you would recommend? My only concern with the DR 98 is its low flex rating, as I clearly prefer stiff rackets with stiff polys. I would look at the DR 100 because it has a stiffer frame, but I would have to add a lot of lead to get it to the weight and balance I want and even then I'm not sure if it would a noticeable improvement from my PDT. I would demo them both, but you guys only offer them strung with multi, so I'm worried that it wouldn't really be a good indication of how they would play in my preferred setup. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!
+David Soares ,
I would try both the DR 98 and 100. You'll probably end up needing to add weight to both of them, but they both will offer a good blend of power and control. The 100 could end up being your best option, but like you said you'll end up adding quite a bit of weight to it. Demo them both and see which one feels best in your hands.
Andy, TW
THX I bought the Ezone Dr 98 and I LOVVVEE IT! THX ANDY
Did you ever try the Ezone ai 98? if so how does it feel comepare to the DR?
nah i never did i was kinda like marco or i forgot his name, i was with a pure drive then blade and now ezone. ITS GREAT. I BROKE one :( but i got another one so yeah
Hi, I saw the new blue PJ of DR98 and I saw some post regarding about paint quality of yellow versions that it comes off easily compared to other brands, can you tell me if it has the same problem with the blue version? Thanks
Would Luxilon ALU Power 1.25 fit better to this racquet or to Volkl Organix V1 Pro ?
First of all, I'd like to say that I love your work. I'm a big fan of Tennis Warehouse. I would REALLY like your help. Well, I live in a small city in Brazil, and it doesn't have a place that I can demo any raquet, specially the newer models. I've been playing for a while with an APD 2013, but I'm struggling to keep the ball in the court when I take big swings and I don't feel conected to the ball. I tested my teacher's racquet, a Youtek Ig Prestige S with lead tape on 3 and 9 (don't know how much), and I felt so more control, stability and comfort (a lot more). I was able to hit it even harder, because I had the confidence to swing faster and keep it in; put the ball exactly where I wanted to. As I haven't played with many racquets in my life (and don't have the opportunity), I honestly don't know how to tell if a racquet has a crisp, muted or dampened feel, or its stiffness level, and don't know what plow through is. I feel that I can play decently, but I can't really translate what I want and like in a racquet in numbers and words. Could you guys tell me how the racquets I told you guys about are described? And define what these terms mean? It would help me a lot.
At last, I'm gonna buy a new racquet soon, but don't know which one. At this moment, my choices are the new Project One7 16x19 and the DR98, but I'm not really sure. Could you guys compare them? And give me some other good options based on what I told you. I know it is tough as I didn't give much information, but I'd be really thankful.
Thanks!!!!
Forgot to mention. I tested the Graphene Speed MP too of a friend of mine, but I thought my teacher's racquet outclassed it in everything, although I liked it better than the APD I've got. And please, any question that you guys want to make to help you understand more what I want/need, thus giving me better advice, please do. I'm gonna answer as soon as possible.
Hi Andy. I'm roughly a 4.0 - 4.5 player and I've been playing with ytex quadro twist in my yonex ezone dr 98 at 54 lbs. Sometimes it feels stiff and doesn't give me quite enough power. I was thinking about doing a black window in the mains and hyper g for cross. Do you think this will give me more power, spin, and control? Is there another softer poly you would recommend in my mains? Thanks
@ Ricky Her,
I don't think that hybrid is going to give you the feel you're looking for. I would just lower the tension of your strings a bit, which would give you more power and a softer, less stiff feel. Try it at 50 lbs and see what you think.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse thank you!
What's a good hybrid setup with ytex quadro twist in the mains for this racquet?
Hi Andy,
Im currently switching from the Wilson Prostaff 97 to the DR 98. Would this racquet give me the power and spin I need to fit my game.
Hey Andy and team, Great video as always but disappointed that you didn't mention what string and tension you were using in your DR98, as you normally do with your other reviews. Would you mind letting us know, if you remember (I know the review was from a while back). Many thanks.
@ The Chairman,
We had it strung with Volkl Cyclone right around 52 lbs.
Andy, TW
Thanks Andy. Much appreciated.
PS. Just as a side note and for the sake of our elbows, it would be helpful if you also mention in your reviews what "gauge" strings you use as well as the tension, given that the bed-stiffness will be higher with a thinner gauge at the same tension. Many Thanks.
@ The Chairman,
Thanks for the feedback. We will keep that in mind for future videos.
Andy, TW
Hi Andy, would you please tell me when will the TW reviews of EZONE DR 98 (performance evaluation in scores) come on the website? Cant wait for it !
+林錦鵬 ,
The written review is going through editing and will be available in 2-3 weeks.
Andy, TW
Hi tw,
In terms of power and spin, how does this compare to an APD? I'm interested in this racquet because of its low stiffness compared to the APD. However, I'm unsure about the swing weight and am afraid that it may be too big of a difference to 316. What do you think?
+Rodney Ly ,
This racquet won't be as powerful and spin-friendly as the APD, but it is definitely more comfortable and offers better control and feel. I don't think you will find that the swingweight will be an issue.
Andy, TW
whats the main differences between this and the yonex ezone Dr 100 and which type of player do they suit?
I am 16 currently use blade 1820 want slightly more power with traditional feel how does this and the instinct mp compare or what else fits my preferences
Hello TW team! Nice review.
How do you compare this racquet with the Prince Textreme Tour 100p and which do you prefer in overall performance?
Thanks!
Power, and control levels are pretty similar, but maybe slightly more control from the Tour 100P. The DR98 is more spin friendly, and the Tour 100P offers a bit bigger sweets-spot. The Tour 100P also yields a slightly lower launch angle, which is pretty common for 18x20 patterns. We might give the slight edge to the DR98, but both are very good racquets. The DR98 is not being produced anymore, so that makes it a bit more difficult to buy one. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Thank you very much for the useful information!
Andy, I have a question that I really want an answer to. I am like Troy in the way that I LOVE it when my racket feels heavy. The only problem is I get used to the weight and it feels too light and I don't get my desired heavy feel. I keep adding lead tape but I just keep getting used to it. Will I eventually find a weight that always feels heavy? I play great with a heavy feel and bad when it feels light. (my racket is at 11.4oz)
I demoed the Yonex ezone 100+ and I didn't like it. I'm not sure if it was because the extended length or what. Is there much difference in these two racquets?
Which one should you recommend between yonex vcore si 98 or yonex dr 98.....
Hello, Andy! Great review! I would like to ask you for a comparison between this DR98 and the 2015 Wilson Blade 98 18x20. I'm especially interested in hearing your thoughts about the differences in maneuvrability, power and ease of spin and depth generation. My previous racquet was a leather gripped Blade 98 and I generally played excellent with it but I always had a slight difficulty whipping it around and achieving max swing speed. Could this Yonex be just what the doctor ordered?
+Volen S. ,
The DR 98 will be more powerful and more spin-friendly than the Blade. Maneuverability will be pretty similar between the two. The Yonex is a little more head light though so you may find it a bit "whipper" than your current frame.
Andy, TW
Hi Andy please respond should try this racquet or the blade 98 racquet I have been hitting a lot with Wilson racquets but I want to try something new.
Marco hits a heavy backhand man. Must feel like returning a bowling ball.
with these racquets out now. will the previous model be cheaper now
Hey Andy, I'm currently using the Babolat Aero Pro Drive 2013 and I'm just wondering how you think my current racket compares to the Yonex DR 98?
Thankyou very much 🔝
Hello TW!
How does this racket compare to the Prince Textreme Warrior 100?
Is it difficult to switch from the Warrior to the Dr98?
Thanks!
@Christos Cholevas,
The DR98 is more flexible, has more control, and stability. The Warrior 100 is more powerful, and a bit easier to maneuver. The Warrior 100 is closer to the DR 100 in overall performance.
Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Thank you!
Andy as a single handed backhand player I find the thicker racquets dont swing that well how does this swing? ALSO how was the racquet for kick serves?
New Ezone series on August??? Lime green colour?
I recently got a bit angry and may have smashed my six one 95s. How will this compare?
Hi Andy,
Thank you for your review. I was wondering if you do any modification to your racquet (lead tape) ? If so any recommendation how to on this DR98? Thank you.
@ Yuya Suzuki,
I do add weight to my racquets. I have them at 12.3 ounces strung, 10 points head light with a swingweight around 333. Customization is really a matter of personal preference though, so I'd suggest playing around with adding different amounts of weight at different locations on the racquet to see what setup works best for you.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thank you for your response Andy. Much appreciated.
What strings do you recommend with this raquet?
How does the Yonex EZONE Dr 98 compare to the Head Graphene XT Radical Pro?
@asianfromouterspace,
This DR 98 has a more flexible feel, which lends itself to better arm comfort. The XT Radical Pro has a firmer feel to it, and a bit more power overall. The spin potential is pretty similar between the two racquets.
Troy, TW
Is this racket string sensitive, should I keep in mind if that ?
what do you like better the ezone 98 or the pro staff 97
Hi, what do you think of this racket compared to the babolat aeropro drive ? and do you recommend this racket if I am looking for a less stiff racket with more feel ?
@ figo santana,
The DR 98 will be more comfortable and control-oriented than the AeroPro Drive, making this a great racquet for what you're looking for.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thanks Andy,
hi guys...great review as usual. i'm actually using a yonex ezone ai 98; would it be crazy to get the dr 98 and use the ai as backup racquet?
thanks in advance!
+Massimo Caneri ,
Not at all. It's an easy transition between the two.
Andy, TW
I took a look at the Similar Racquet tool in TWU. It lists the DR 98 to be the most similar to the Textreme 100P - same weight, flex, power %, sweet zone size. Very similar in other aspects as well. What would you say is the biggest difference on court?
+Tim Jones ,
The racquets do perform pretty similarly. The 100P may have a little bit more power and slightly more forgiveness due to its larger head size, but all the all they do play pretty similarly on court. Beyond that, we really liked both of them in our playtests! I recommend taking them both out on court yourself and seeing what differences you may find when they are in your hands.
Andy, TW
What string would you recommend for it? +Tennis Warehouse
This racket seems quite similar to the Pure Strike 16x19. Andy have you or anyone else hit both of these that can compare them?
+Joseph Diehl ,
We found the Yonex to feel more solid/stable and possessed a bit more control and feel. The Pure Strike is more powerful, but we prefer the Yonex of the two.
Andy, TW
Hi Andy. Like you, my current racquet is the Ezone Ai 98 (310gr). Awesome. I find manouverability with forehand circling could be a little better, though. I'm thinking about switching to ezone dr lite (285 gr).Would I see any improvement or would I just regret it in terms of power and precision?
Thnx a lot
+foxtail ,
You will notice a drop in power and stability but will certainly get easier maneuverability out of that lighter frame. It will definitely not be quite as solid and stable as your current frame though. I'd suggest checking out the EZONE DR 100 instead, as that will be easier to swing but still maintain that solid, stable feel.
Andy, TW
Hi, switching from my Wilson Kblade tour 93. Looking for a quick whipping replacement with similar weight. This stick looks nice but seems a bit lighter. First of all, do you think or the Burn 95 is a better transition? The head size of 95 sounds more similar but the beam width doesn't look as appealing as this yonex. Secondly where would you add the weight to this one if I wanted a similar feel? Thanks TW!
@ Patrick Park,
The Burn 95 isn't necessarily "quick whipping", so based on what you're looking for I'd suggest checking out this DR 98 along with the Yonex VCORE SV 95.
Andy, TW
When is the extended version coming out? Saw it in Tennis Mag.
@ Humpday391,
We are expecting it sometime next month.
Andy, TW
contemplating between this and PS 97, speed XT pro, textreme tour 100P. Any advice?
Hello! Just see the comment, maybe it's too late but i m gonna answer to you😀. I own a Textreme Tour 100p for 2 years or so and it's great. I switched to it from DR98 and never regret it.
Hi. I just strung my dr98 with solinco hyper-g 17 at 50/48lbs, but i found it was too hard on contact, which hurts, and the racquet had so much pop that the ball flies. May i ask some recommendations on the string set-up?
@Wai,
Typically in this situation I would recommend you to drop the tension of the string. Somewhere around 47/45 pounds would likely help to make the string-bed feel more comfortable. From my experience with this string, I typically like to string it in the 40-45 pound range, depending on the racquet, as I find it to be a firm feeling string. As far as you finding the ball to fly long, well that may require you to add some additional topspin to your shots. If you go with a softer string set-up, such as a hybrid, full set of multifilament or synthetic gut, you will likely get even more power. Another thought, is that maybe you need to go with a lower powered racquet, something like the Yonex VCORE Pro 97, or Volkl V-Sense 10 Tour, both of which are very nice playing, control oriented racquets.
Troy, TW
I plan on getting another Ezone Dr 98 but what are some other racquets like this that you all recommend nowadays to someone who enjoys the feel, power and control of this racquet?
@KJ B,
We really enjoy the Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19, Yonex VCORE 98, Dunlop Srixon CX 200, Tecnifibre ATP TFight 305 XTC, and Prince Textreme Tour 100 (310). Some people who like the EZONE DR 98, did not like the udpdated EZONE 98, but I think it plays very well with some added weight to it. I like the EZONE 98+ (extended length) even more than the standard version, but the higher swingweight, and extended length is not for everyone. Troy, TW
Andy you've mentioned before that you like using Hyper G and Cyclone on your dr 98 . Could you tell us your favorite gauge for those strings , along with the tension of your choice ?
@ ArcaneGuardianZ,
I like 17 gauge and have been stringing around 48-50 lbs.
Andy, TW
Is there any difference between this version and the new blue one?
@ Sean Lee,
It's just a cosmetic change - there is no change to the racquet design itself.
Andy, TW
Niet! .... hello from the beautiful suburbs of Summerlin- Las Vegas, NV...I have been extremely happy with the Blue .w/ black EZONE. DR 98” 310.g ... I had my coach and best stick man I’ve ever met ....Scott Schneider ... is only coaching and teaching Tennis Pro .. so lucky me..he has a cadre of tennis operatives .. Players ... one is the just turning 17 years old Nevada Girls State Champ - 2 years running .. as a freshman and Sophomore... she plays with OUR. YONEX EZONE DR 98” . Blue ...I was previously hitting with Wilson Burn 99” Original...and the YONEX took me about two weeks of match play & practice to reel in the Blue Bad Boy of Tennis Nick Kyrios . Is why I switched to the Blue ... ... ever in . Vegas. 702.767.0072 .. have a small contingency of great peeps who are absolutely chill with the competition and Mark and I ... the OG members have been very selective with the way we let players enjoy the sport with hipsters and business people and experienced Doubles is the darn preferred set up . .. do to the uncontrollable growth ... Again see you soon
hi TW guys, how would you compare the DR98 to the Wilson Blade 98?
+Sjoerd van Loon ,
It depends on which version of the Blade 98 you're referring to, but in general the DR 98 has a slightly crisper, more solid feel and offers more of a blend of power and control.
Andy, TW
pls make a video on yonex dr 98 lite in this week tennis warehouse pls
Hello TW! Which string do you recommend for control and comfort? I' ve tried Babolat RPM Blast at 23 kg (Greek here) and felt quite stiff, without decent control and forgiveness.
If you want great all-around performance (control, power, spin, comfort, feel) I highly recommend a natural gut hybrid, such as Wilson Champion's Choice or Babolat Hybrid Pro Hurriane Tour + VS for a premium. For a more budget friendly option, I recommend Volkl V-Fuse, or Klip X-Plosive Hybrids. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Thank you very much!
Hey Tennis Warehouse I'm offensive baseliner with conservative grips on both wings would the Yonex Ezone DR 98 with Solinco Hyper-G 16 string strung up around 50-55 lbs work well with my style of play?
@ Big Sean747,
It sounds like it would work well for your game, but it's impossible to say without trying it because it depends on so many different factors, most notably your own personal preference. Give it a demo and see how it feels in your hands.
Andy, TW
but if I use heavy racquet like dr 98 my wrist pains so dr 98 lite is good
Andy I demoed this racquet and loved it on all of my shots and am going to buy it. Do you have a string type/weight I should use if I want spin and control? Should I add weight to it?
Try it in stock form with Volkl Cyclone at 50 lbs. See what you think!
Andy, TW
how would this racquet compare to the Head Graphene XT Speed Pro?
+Sebastian Ninkumvongs ,
This racquet will offer a softer/plusher feel with better control and finesse, while the Speed Pro offers more forgiving, slightly more power and spin.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse cheers mate
You don't have the range for the strings tension on your website. I'm thinking of volkl cyclone 17 at 51lbs for main and NRG2 54lbs for the crosses?
+A. Rami ,
That'll work great! Try it and see what you think.
Andy, TW
someone help me!! this racket or the vcore dual g? i cant decide
Since this racquet is now off the market, which other models play the same as the ezone dr 98? I’ve tried the vcore 98 and liked it but just wondering if there are any others with the same hitting playability as the dr version.
The VCORE Pro 97 310g offers a bit more control, and more feel compared to the DR98. I would also consider the Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19, and Wilson Blade 98 16x19 v7. Troy, TW
Who is your favorite professional player?
Hi Andy, what string and tension do you recommend for this racket? I'm about to buying one and want it ready to go. Thanks?
+nopuede ,
It depends on your stroke style and personal preference. If you have shorter, slower strokes and don't break strings often, you may enjoy a nice multifilament like Tecnifibre NRG2 at 55 lbs for more power, comfort and feel. If you have longer, faster strokes and can generate much of your own power, you may like a nice polyester like Yonex Poly Tour Pro at 52 lbs for more control, spin and durability.
Andy, TW
+Tennis Warehouse thanks for the advice, I appreciate it very much! Keep the good work
Hello TW,
I ordered 2 DR 98 Blue Grip 3, but the strange thing is at the end of the buttcap where the size is found, i see "2" but on the plastic over the Grip and on the racket itself it says 4 3/8, i slightly removed the one on the racket and underneath it i found 4 1/4, could you please help me out understand is it 3 or 2?
@ samer hanna,
That is strange. I'd suggest contacting our customer service department and they can help you sort this issue out and make sure you get the correct grip size. You can also send pictures via email (info@tennis-warehouse.com) so that we can see it and help determine what you have.
Andy, TW
Would you recommend this to somehow who really likes a pure drive?
@ Tanner Farnsworth,
The DR 98 will have less power and spin than a Pure Drive but will give you more control and feel. If that's what you're looking for then I'd absolutely recommend it to you!
Andy, TW
Looking for a modern replacement for my Vcore 98D. Should this be fairly similar? There's too much difference between my Vcore 98D and Head GrapheneXT Instinct MP; whenever I break a string on my 98D it feels like I've pulled out a hammer with the Instinct MP and takes several games to dial back my swing, and then I lose that whip on the ball...
@ John Lu,
Yes, this DR 98 would feel more similar to your 98D than an Instinct. Give it a try and see what you think.
Andy, TW
Hi! Andy! THX for providing the review again! I have used rdis 100 mid (strung with yonex poly tour pro 125 @ 46 lbs) for about 3 years, and currently seeking a racket to make my game easier. Will dr 98 offer similar control, feel but more power and spin than rdis 100 mid?
+YunSheng Huang ,
Exactly! Give it a try and see what you think!
Andy, TW
Hello TW,
Does adding a leather Grip to the DR 98 improves its stability and plow significantly?
@samer hanna,
Will it improve it significantly, no. But it will improve the plow and stability a bit. Adding actual weight (lead or tungsten) will make a bigger difference.
Michelle, TW
I just broke in my AI 98. Doh!!!! I gotta give this DR a try. Thanks TW.
Have you given the DR a try if so how does it feel compare to your AI? I also use the AI :)
How was it?
Hello,
how is it that you compare this racket to the Wilson Blade 98 so much? Do the different balances not make the rackets feel very differently?
The balance of this racquet makes it feel a bit more maneuverable, but the overall power, and control levels of the racquets are similar. The spin potential is pretty similar between this and the Blade 98 16x19, but the 18x20 will give more control. Troy, TW
OK thanks Andy so should I strung it with rpm blast with tension 52 lbs I want spin control and power
Sounds great! Try it and see what you think.
Andy, TW
What's a good string set up. I have a 18g hyper g and 18th confidential. What's a good tension for this racquet. Thanks
We like both of those strings, and in this racquet we would typically string somewhere between 50 to 54 pounds, depending on the playtester. Troy, TW
Hey Andy,
Will Tennis Warehouse ever have demo's of these rackets?
+Hau Bui ,
Yes. We are working on getting our demo stock all strung up, so they should be available soon!
Andy, TW
I feel like I've asked so many questions but I'll ask another one haha. So as I stated I currently play with a VCore 95D; what are the biggest differences you all see between the VCore line and the EZone line? I demoed an EZone years ago before I bought the VCore 95D and I wasn't too much of a fan of it because the racket head was very wide, at least too wide for my taste. Thanks again!
+James Bracey ,
They just offer different "feels" that appeal to different players. It's a little hard to describe, so I'd really recommend demo'ing them and perceiving the difference for yourself. In my opinion, the EZONEs feel a tad bit softer and offer a little more control whereas the VCOREs are stiffer/crisper feeling with a bit more pop and spin.
Andy, TW
Andy, got any tips for sliding on hard courts?
hey Andy, out here, most of the courts are clay, is there anything you could suggest? I am currently rocking a 99s and a pure strike tour, and I wonder if the big plow through has a downside on clay where hitting flat is not always the best(good players seem to be all about spin and a big whip). I'm thinking of trying this one out, anything else you could suggest?
@ Romain Lussier,
I would say that your court surface is pretty independent of your racquet choice. I'd go with whatever your personal preference dictates. If you want to generate spin, maneuverability is important but also plowthrough which helps you get more power and spin on the ball too.
Andy, TW
Which string would you recommend for this racquet? I'm planning on stringing it with RPM Blast or Alu Power, but i'm not too sure
+Eric Kim ,
Both of those strings would work great in this racquet. Give them a try and see what you think.
Andy, TW
Hi TW,
I can't decide between this and the Wilson 97RF. How do they compare in terms of power, feel, comfort, and control? Also, which do you prefer?
Thanks in advance.
+a121k212 ,
The DR 98 will offer better control and a plusher, more comfortable feel while the RF97 will have more power and a crisper feel. Overall, we preferred the DR 98.
Andy, TW
Andy I am very mad on you :)
Last year before summer I bought 2 pieces Tour F97 310 and I thought that was my best decision. I was very satisfied with power, control, spin... And then I read your review about DR98, your praise, your suggestion to other players and this week I decide to try DR98. I love it on first. What a soft feel, touch, spin...
And now I don't know what to do. Sold my 2 pieces Tour F97 and buy 2 new DR98 or stay with Tour F97. Damn it. What to do???
+TheXkofix ,
Well see, that's why you have to be sure to watch all our reviews before you purchase! Ultimately though, you have to go with what feels best in your hands. Try both racquets with the same string setup and see which one works the best for you. Hopefully you'll find it in your heart to not be mad at me anymore and forgive me :-)
Andy, TW
Its finally out! I couldn't hear Marco clearly, did he find it under powered?
1)How does this compare to the Wilson pro staff 97?
2) did you like the black code 4s with this stick? And what tension did you guys use?
+Justin Seah ,
Marco didn't find it under-powered. We thought the DR 98 was softer/plusher than the Pro Staff 97 and had better control and feel. We liked Black Code 4S in it, and we strung it at 51 lbs.
Andy, TW
+Tennis Warehouse Thanks for always being prompt in the replies.Truly appreciate it
How do you compare the DR 98 to its slightly larger sibling, the DR 100? I am having a hard time finding the 98 to playtest, but the 100 was fantastic.
+wilsoch ,
The 100 will be slightly more powerful, forgiving, spin-friendly and maneuverable while the 98 will offer a bit more control, feel and stability.
Andy, TW