Thanks Mark , same experience 3 weeks ago for me. Went from Blade v8 to new Ezone 98, definitely more pop and spin -- But after the first weekend, serious wrist pain in TFCC ligaments (pinky side, particularly during pronation and ulnar deviation). Finished playing and got in my car, so much wrist pain that I couldn't buckle my seatbelt -- And a bonus injury old tennis elbow creeping back! Had to get a wrist brace (wrist widget). Thought maybe it was the full poly I strung at 53 lbs (Isospeed baseline control) so changed up to hybrid natural gut and poly at 48, definitely softer but damage was already done, still in wrist brace. Ezone hits great but definitely unforgiving on my joints, vibration dampener did nothing but mute the racket, cushiony overgrip did not fix it, looser strings did not fix it. Playing recreationally 30 years, first time ever wrist issues.
I did the Exact same injury. Play with a Pure Strike 16x19 tho. Playing with full bed of Luxilon Alu power rough at 58lbs. (i'm 5 foot 9, 145lbs). Play 3-5 times a week. High 4.0 level singles and doubles. Had sharp pain in wrist, Pinky side. from an inside out forehand drill. Had pain anytime i came in contact with the ball. Got checked out, was told Tendonitis. After a few days I tried playing again. I could hit every shot without pain EXCEPT my topspin forehand groundstroke. So i took this as a period of time to work on my two handed backhand that I have ran around for 10 years. Took a month of No forehands, playing with gut or multi, and increasing the size of my grip to now be pain free. I have heard similar stories with others and the pure strike and injuries. I will say tho...injuring my wrist is the best thing that has happened to backhand. My game has increased dramatically now having the confidence of a backhand weapon. (First time wrist injury in 10 years of playing)
lol fully poly 53 pounds iso speed no wonder you got injured, you had to learn the hard way I guess, you guys use tension way too high with stiff strings.
I switched from a Blade V8 18x20 to this with a little bit of lead. It just does everything a racquet like a Blade can do but easier access to spin and power. I’m sorry, but the thing about the racquet hurting you and people shouldn’t buy it, probably the worst advice I’ve ever seen you give. It has to be a personal thing because I have horrible shoulder issues and this thing is super plush and soft, especially with the mesh dampening. It’s not a high stiffness rating either. Crazy you could hit with a Babolat PA VS which is insanely high stiffness but this one hurt your hand/wrist. You could be having pain from constantly switching racquets, strings, tensions, etc. I’m a 5.5-6.0 level player with shoulder issues but ever since I switched, I’ve found my shoulder issues going away. The Blade V8 was much harsher than the E Zone 2022 IMO. I’ve hit with just about every racquet on the market in the last 7 years (plus racquets from back in the day) and this one deserves high praise. Highly recommend people to give it a try. You never know how a racquet will feel until you hit with it. Take everyone’s opinions, including mine, with a grain of salt. All equipment feels different from person to person. You be the judge!
This is like the best comment Iv ever seen. Yeah you are right. When you switch gears even as little as overgrip, you are exposing yourself to injury . Mark can be little bit opinionated despite of his good intention.
@@ST-ek6lf I know! I couldn’t believe how amazing you can say a racquet is either then say don’t buy it because it gave one person discomfort lol you can’t expect to switch gear constantly and then blame body pain on one racquet in particular. Especially when it’s a VERY highly regarded racquet. Even pros are switching to it. He was way too opinionated and harsh about this stick. About any equipment in general TBH.
@@Mewborne89 It's because he tries to get views by being edgy and 'honest' so he has to find certain faults of a racquet and exaggerate them, though sure i don't doubt he had arm issues with this frame, but that's his review style in general, but there are many factors that he does not consider and will claim almost gospel on his opinion and experience
I own ezone 100 and tested both. For god sake don't listen to this random guy. It's a very unique series you must demo it. They definitely fit just the particular players. They definitely not on the comfort side. They both have features and disadvantages that are quite unique from other retail racquets. I think vcore is more easier to pick up if you are choosing from these two
@@kwantis1 Not beeing able to differentiate between a highly personal experience and a general construction issue is not a good sign for a reviewer. Really makes me question his other reviews.
I feel like technique and general health/strength matter the most when it comes to pain from most rackets. I find it hard to believe this racket is THAT bad.
Part of the reason it’s good to have a single reviewer do many things is you get a feel for that person’s style. Mark hits very similar to myself and many others with that game style at that level. As such, if with Mark’s technique and fitness it still hurts, then I take his word for it.
Have had this racquet since January and haven't experienced any arm pain/wrist pain so far! To me it feels quite plush and comfortable, and not harsh and stiff like some other racquets I've tried.
@@MarkSansait and I think that's the issue with the ezone line...the dampening tech is quite effective in masking the feeling of vibration, but not the effects.
Nope, i completely disagree. Got this racket, added one gram of lead on each side (3 & 9) . I have had cronic tennis elbow which disappeared, my one handed back works like magic, serves and other shots are great. Strung with poly tour pro 16 at 52. You probably need to tinker with strings/tension.
Wow What r u talking about ? One sample is automatic truth ? And you recommend not buying the racket ? I personally don’t like yonex for grip shape but this video has gone too far.
I had some 2021 ezone 98 tours that would cause discomfort in my elbow and wrist from time to time. I switched to the 22 ezone 98 and all of that discomfort went away.
Hi Mark, i ve been using this racket for a few monthes and it solved my wrist and elbow issues, particularly as i was coming from a pretty stiff racket (babolat pure strike 98 2017). Till this day, its the plushest racket with excellent power ratio i ve ever used. Suspecting a defect in some batches as mine works flawlessly except on counterpunching miss-timed OH BH. Now those hurt a lot.
I have noticed that the volleys are quite powerful, and that at higher tensions with strings a little bit of pain in the elbow (both tennis and golfers elbow), especially when pronating. The wrist issue for sure. No real hand or mid arm pain
Thanks for the PSA Mark. However, I'm still going to demo it at least. I find that some racquets that are praised for comfort have caused me issues in the past. It can depend on the individual's technique, form and capabilities I suppose. Side question: Do you adjust your gripsize when choosing Yonex racquets? I've heard they run rather large, but is this true?
Mark, you are totally correct. I tested this racket for a week and my wrist suffered a lot. I currently use the DR 98 and I don't have the same problem. thank you for helping the tennis community and congratulations on your work
I am stunned at what you say. Two years ago, playing with Wilsons, I was off tennis for 5 months with tennis elbow due to playing more than usual. My physio specifically prescribed I should get a Yonex Ezone 108 as the best racket for tennis elbow. Beautiful racket and never had tennis elbow since.
Always appreciate your honesty and unbiased feedback, BUT I have two of these (in addition to my Vcore 95's) and I haven't experienced any type of pain or discomfort after hitting with either one. Take those cheap strings out and restring Poly Tour Pro like it was meant to be strung. ;-)
I just demoed Yonex Ezone 98 2022 Aqua Night Black version with the Wilson Revolve Twist polyester strings at 51 lbs. I have demoed probably around 30 different rackets and this one was the best racket I have ever played with. I have played one single’s match for one hour and a few hours later I had a tremendous pain in my wrist where if I tried to move my thumb, the pain would travel a few inches up my arm. I have never experienced this type of pain with any racket (non Yonex) that I have ever demoed or played with. The problem might be with the dampening technology that Yonex uses as I also owned Yonex Vcore 98 2023 model and after two months of playing twice a week, I experienced a wrist pain granted nowhere near the one I have experienced with the Ezone, but still a pain that I had finish my match with a different racket (not Yonex brand). So there is something to what Mark has reported.
Love this stick, used to play with a pro-staff and with age came some pain in my forearm . Changed to Yonex 98 2022 and notice more comfort and balance, with expected less control than pro-staff . But the most improvement was on my one-handed backhand, that become more easy to deliver power. At least for me, this racket is a must-have.
I have the 2020 Ezone 98 Tour and the first month of hitting I thought maybe I'm getting discomfort from the racquet... but my stubborn self kept playing with it because I love it so much and whatever discomfort I had went away never to comeback. Dunno if it was the racquet or not, and if it was maybe my body just got used to it. I say you should definitely demo the racquets for sure because other peoples experiences will not be your own. My Ezone Tour is an extension of my hand now but I would never have tried it if I had listened to everyone's complaints
I have never had a problem with the tour causing pain, and everyone and their mother said it did. The tour is an enigma for me. It’s a little slow, fairly demanding with the balance. It’s not a racket you can pick up and after a month off and play great with, you need to be in your best shape. It forces you to hit with good Footwork and weight transfer. Once you get dialed in with it though it inspires a ton of confidence.
I wanted to like the tour but I couldn’t move my arm the next day after serving/hitting with it the first time. I got more used to it but kept getting the nastiest shoulder pain
A low level 3.5 player here. I switched from vcore 98 to this racquet because of the paint job lol. It gives me a lot more control but a lot less power. It gave me pain as you described in the beginning. I switched from natural gut(main 52lbs)/alu power rough 16L/(48 lbs) to full natural gut @ 52 lbs (I find it more economical this way since I do not mind tension drop and do not break strings until about 40-50 hours of play time). I traded off some spin for many other control benefits. The biggest benefit was my return of serve, it is an unbelievable improvement.
Don't know about the 2022 version but I play the 2021 Ezone 98. This stick comes from the factory at 9 points head light, which seemed crazy to me for serious play. I took it that it was so head light that Yonex intended buyers to customize the racquet, which I did. Lead at 3 and 9 and in the hoop. The result is a great players racquet and certainly no wrist/arm/shoulder pain. Give the lead a try Mark and let us know what you think. And keep up your aggressive reviews of equipment. there is too much blah blah on RUclips tennis channels.
This is strange. I had a wrist/forearm injury. I bought one second hand while recovering these injuries and they still slowly disappeared as I continued my rehab. I play often and hit fairly hard. It could be some other issues. Sorry for your pain and surgery!
Hi Mark! Thanks for making this video. Made me realize that not all are comfortable with this racket. I agree with the pros, but sorry to disagree on some of the cons. I've been using this racket for 3 months now, but I feel no pain or discomfort while using it. In fact, this racket really helped elevate my game to the next level. Hmmm maybe you can try to lower the tension? Im using Yonex polytour pro on the strings, strung at 48 pounds. Maybe you can try this setup if it will reduce the pain. Cheers! Awesome content as always!
I would try a different one. Your racquet must be defective. I've never heard of the arm pain issue, and I actually switched to it because it is so plush. Several other racquets I demoed at the same time were actually the ones causing jarring pain into my arm. But not this one. I've played with it several days in a row. I played 8 hours with it in one day, lot's of balls. Clinic, private lesson, match, followed by hitting session. I can't imagine any other racquet allowing me to play so much in one day and cause no discomfort. I even had tour bite 16 in it to boot.
I have heard multiple reviews about the ezones causing some pain in different areas of the upper body. My dad had some shoulder problems after using it a bit, but maybe it could have been because he was using a lighter and softer racket. Anyways, if you're interested in the racket you should definitely demo it, because everybody is different (like a lot of other comments say)
@@MarkSansait yeah true, but I definitely can see your point on this racket not being suited for many players, even karue from my tennis hq was talking about the pain he got from the ezones. Keep up the content though Mark
the problem with the demo is, often you don't develop pain in the week you have the frame, I mean - how many hours can you play in that week - but for sure, it must be demo'd
It doesn't make sense that a racquet with a stiffness rating of 65 could cause arm/wrist pains. A friend of mine suffered from bad tennis elbow. He went to a arm/shoulder specialist doctor. He was told to switch to this racquet, believe it or not. I played with the 2020 version strung with full poly at 42#. It's been three years, no arm problems whatsoever.
Do not buy this racket because it did not work for me, say Sansait. I have played this racket without any probs. Sansait must have spaghetti wrists...man up Mark. My sis plays this racket, my dude
I agree, it is one of only two racquets that have ever killed my arm (the other being the old prince vortex) and I play test allot of racquets. The pure drive causes no arm pain at all but Ezone kills it? How does that work? I even put a full bed of gut in it and it still hurt.
I appreciate the video but honestly, you don’t say this racket hurt my arm AND avoid it at all costs. Everyone knows just because a racket hurts one person doesn’t mean it will hurt everyone. I played it for a month using PTP 16g around 52 lb and had zero arm issues. No pain at all. So, should I avoid it at all costs? I prefer the VCore 98 because I like that thinner hoop and slightly more positive feel. But that EZone98 is not a bad racket at all, and anyone who tries it might want to demo s few string setups if they have any pain.
I recently switched from the 100 to the 98 - and i would say its 10% less Power 10% more control , 10 % more Feeling, 10% better spin, 10% smaler Sweetspot Arm Pain is often a combination of String and Racket. I tend to go a little lower with the string weight, as for now i cant confirm the arm Pain issue. For 2h Backhander, maybe femal players, i would say go for the 100, that supports you a little more For the Intermediate > Advanced Players I woudl recommend the 98. Im Still tinking of trying the percept also...
Demo'd , played doubles and no problems. Bought used and just had clinics session with different strokes and no arm, or hand issues. Will keep this video in mind when playing with 22 ezone . thanks
Try adding a leather grip and weight at 3&9, maybe even a dampener. Increased stability and weight generally absorb shock better. From what the other comments are saying you actually might have an underlying condition in your wrist, if you can use a babolat pure aero vs with no issues then the ezones shouldn’t be a problem at all. Interested to hear on what you have to say about the Solinco Whiteout 98 305 if that’s not on your demo list yet.
I switched to the 2022 Ezone in January and started to get arm pain after a couple of weeks having never had it before. It got worse and worse so i changed strings to a multi and still had issues. I've sold the frame now and gone back to the 2018 Ezone which seems fine. I'm amazed a frame can have this much impact on your arm, it's not the case for everyone but for me it was really bad.
If you were talking about the EZone 98 Tour, yes, that racquet is pretty much universal in causing arm issues from what I’ve seen/heard. The 2022 EZone 98?!? You’re out of your damn mind 😎 Excellent maneuverability and zero arm issues. I’m sorry you experienced issues, but it’s an incredible frame in my opinion. So much so that I’m actually writing a RUclips comment 🙃
I hope they do listen to you and gather up all the ezone 2022s. I'll be in charge of the burning. ;). I found this racquet to be much more comfortable than the 2020 version or the AI. I may be switching to it from my tf40 because it's by far the most maneuverable racquet from the baseline that I've ever played with.
I was surprised that he found it cumbersome since I agree that it was super maneurable and even had to add a little lead to 3 and 9 to give it a little more plow through.
@@steveschaeffer5999 I kinda have some ideas though, when I switched from the ezone 2020 to some other racquets with higher static weights, like the radical pro (which mark used for a while)I got used to a different weight distributions. Ezones are weird, with a head light but polarized weight distribution. When I first demoed the 2021, it was a big adjustment, and I felt it wasn't "easy" or quick swinging at all. Once I got readjusted, it became easy swinging. I bet if mark picked up his old ezones, he might feel the same sluggishness from the baseline. Mark's not a newbie who doesn't know how to swing a racquet, but this type of nuanced introspective analysis with some experimentation is hard to come by in the tennis review space.
Weird, I’ve been playing with the 2020 yonex 100 for a year and a half. Had some wrist issues recently due to bad string selection and had to quit full poly. Demoed the 2022 Ezone 98 with a full bed of poly at 53lbs and am shocked at how great my wrist is feeling right now. I thought I’d be out for a whole week or more.
i had this racket on demo while getting my gravity pro strung, all of my shots transferred over well, if not a little better, but i had to tape up my hands before hitting after the second day because that was the only way i could find other than hard drugs to stop violent hand pains
I’ve been using this racquet for a few weeks now and I have to say I can’t agree with you on your cons. This racquet fits my play style perfectly, and the pains I’ve had using it haven’t been any different from other racquets I’ve used in the past.
I have long term ongoing hand injury and I own and play with Ezone 22. I have never felt any problem more then I have usually. I had to switch from blade 98 16/19 v8 to Ezone and Gravity just because Blade were too demanding for my arm injury (I cannot swing hard now and need more free power)
Loved the feel of 2021 ezone 100 when I demoed it so I bought one. Been playing tennis off and on for over 30 years. Never experienced any discomfort but about 5 months in with ezone developed wrist and elbow pain. Switched to blade 98 16x19 and no issues - although less power. And I tried every kind of string and tension. Even bought gut and still had issues. Liked vcore line as well but can’t go back to Yonex.
I wish I could see your review before buying the ezone 98. I also suffer from wrist pain but I'm ok with other rackets. It's so strange! I saw many comments about wrist pain...Not only you but also a lot of other tennis players.
I bought the 98 with high hopes. It felt very maneuverable and the feel on the dropshot was superb. But for some reason my two handed back is awful with this raquet. I also don't feel like there is enough penetration of the ball even with right technique. No elbow pain though but I think Im going back to the pure drive which gives me better plow through, better slice, better serve overall.
@@charlieb3497 its a personal choice. I felt like I lost key matches last year because of it. MY technique is good according to 2 coaches. So I'm blaming the racquet. It does have nice paintjob
I didn't find the Ezone 98 painful to play with, but I did find it quite unforgiving and board-like. I attributed the stiff feel to the strings being old on the demo, so I demoed it from another store and had the same experience. Personally, I had a much better experience with the Ezone 100, VCore 98, and VCore100. The Ezone 98 was the black sheep, probably because I'm a 4.0. I think the Ezone 98 might be better suited for 4.5 and higher players (which is probably why Mark found it a nice racquet to play with). One thing that I found spot on about Mark's review is the lack of maneuverability. I too have a one-handed backhand, and I felt like I could never get it around in time. The VCore 98 was much better in that regard. So I'd say that if you want more of a player's stick, you might like the EZone 98 and the VCore 98. If you want more of a forgiving experience, go with the Ezone 100 (controlled + plush) or VCore 100 (power + spin + a bit more crisp feeling).
I tried the EZONE AQUA 2024 98 racket, no pain after 5 hours of playing throughout 2 days, not even after doing only serves for 35 minutes. What are you talking about?
What I don’t quite understand is how many pros are switching to this yet there are some people that have really bad arm/wrist issues that have never had the issue before. I want to like this racket but damn it hurts
Haven't had any type of pain with mine. Maybe it's some sort of combination of string/tension/racquet. I have mine with Hyper-G 17g @ 54lbs (Mains) and Velocity MLT 16g @ 52lbs (Crosses). Although I think the problem lies in the racquet's compatibility with Mark. He said the racquet is difficult to swing, yet many people find it quite fast and easy to swing and maneuver. Maybe Mark got one with the swingweight over spec?
I have had this racquet for two months now (play 3/wk 4.5 doubles). I am using full black knight 18g @ 53 lbs. I have had to break it in for an hour or so first to get rid of the initial harshness. With a hybrid of black knight and ghostwire i have experienced absolutely no pain from the start. This is a great serving racquet IMO as I am able to hit flat, kick and slice with good directionality. It has also made my two handed backhand more consistent. When demoing various racquets and switching frames frequently my elbow usually starts to bother me. IMO this racquet is more plush than the 2021 vcore 98 I was previously using.
Well after 10 days of hitting this racket i can tell that: 1) i didint noticed any pain and discomfort other to my previous set of rackets VcoresPro 310. Even if i strung Ezones at 26 kilos - 2 kilos more than Vcores I have long history of arm/elbow issues since playing as a kid and in juniors and after that from other sports But this racket imo isn't any bad for arm/elbow or wrist 2) Maneuverability of this racket isn't bad at all. Imo its opposite. Same from the baseline as at the net 3) Overally its a very good racket in many aeras. The blend of control/power/spin potential give makes it a proposition for descent modern all court player Only weak point of this frame may be too muted fell for some players
Had mine for a month or so now (2024 version - apparently no difference besides facelift) and I find it great. No pains out of the normal stuff but i'm no spring chicken any more. Maybe your just getting older also hehe :) I came from a Babalat PureStrike which has similar specs to the ezone 98. Build quality and finish way better than the Pure Strike and the wilson RF97 signature I had.
Hi Mark- never forgot this review but have you tried the Ezone 100? I’m experiencing wrist pain after a few test outings. Also I’m trying the vcore pro 100 as I’m hoping the reduced stiffness will help…any thoughts on the vcore pro 100?
Pain from tennis is not because of tennis racquets unless you are playing with a very heavy one. Improper technique will hurt you. Bad take on this racquet and a horrible exaggeration. You probably have an existing injury.
WOW! So funny, everyone was saying the EZone was the one to get for 2022 and panned the Vcore 98. I demoed both and found the Vcore to be better for me. I do think the Ezone is a bit light. Could use some lead IMHO.
Just demoed a few of the new Vcore and Ezone range and the Ezone Tour stood out. Felt comfortable in the arm too. The extra weight in the Tour I felt is what was lacking in the previous Yonex Vcore and Ezone 98 racquets for my liking. Could add some lead tape to the Ezone 98 to try and get a similar feeling but the Tour has a slightly lower stiffness rating to consider. String selection and tensions make a lot of difference to what feels comfortable or stiff on the arm.
Hi. I have also switched to this racquet from a Vcore 95 (2021) & Prince Tour O3 100 and I have been playing since 2007. You were right abt the wrist pain. At first I thought it was due to the extra weight I added to it (tape at 3&9, leather grip, weight in the butt cap). The more I play, the more I think it might come from the tighter string pattern at the sweet spot. I personally use a multi/poly setup.
Went from Head Prestige to Ezone 98 2022. It's like walking with bare feet on grass. Also tried the Ezone 100 2022. That is also a very comfortable stick. For my one-hand backhand, the 98 is better. Absolutely disagree with "burning them all". A lot of players on ATP and WTA use Yonex rackets too. In my opinion, currently, the best racket producer company on the market is Yonex. Also, have to mention Made In JAPAN!!! Well done Yonex.
Been playing with Ezone 98 2022 for about 4 - 5 months, however had 2 g lead at 3 and 9 position from the start. The elbow issues started happening when I removed the lead strips and also changed strings to Volkl Cyclone. Ended up with a tennis elbow. Not sure whether it was due to removing the lead or the strings. Tension was around 50 lbs. Currently playing with lead again, but I think you are right - the racket seems to be a bit slow, it lags a bit. Balance seems a bit strange. I wouldn't say it's like a "hammer" feeling but I can feel that the head feels a bit heavy (even with lead removed). Off-center hits are definitely not nice and I think volleys seem to be hard to control sometimes.
no Volkl Cyclone strings please - it literally killed my elbow in every racket I played. but it is so damn good with spin and control that it is hard to find alternative
I have had absolutely no pain playing with this racquet. In fact it's been a breeze. I would absolutely recommend it for all the pros outlined in this review. The arm pain is completely inexistent for me, in fact I swing much more relaxed with this than any other racquet I've ver used.
Had arm issues in the past but with this racquet it is not the case, this is subjective and people shouldn't avoid the racquet based this.. For me it has been the best racquet so far and I've always used the Ezone.
Love my ezone 98 7th gen. Been playing with it for 1.5 years. Waiting for them to come out with gen 8 so I can buy 2 more gen 7 on discount. Don't want to play with any other racquet.
It takes a week or so to adjust to this racket. Once done, it's a breeze. I will recommend this to anyone blindfolded, that's how much i am in love with this racket. There are various factors for discomfort- stiffness of racquet,stiffness of chosen string, overall swing weight, type of overgrip,playstyle and the way one finishes his/her stroke, effectively how mature the playing technique is.
It looks like you strung this in a hybrid with RPM Blast 17 and NXT 16. Is that correct? I watched the video with CC subtitles on and couldn't find any spot where you are talking about your string choice or tension.
Nikola Aracic from Intuitive Tennis has great advice in one of his videos which is don't put too much, if any faith in what recreational players have to say about tennis rackets in their reviews. This racket may not be good for Mark but that doesn't say anything about how it will work for others.
To clarify, I don't think the racket is bad, I like how it plays and I played well with it -- It's just there's maybe something about how the vibration transmits to the arm, Yonex say there's vibration dampening technology built in, but apparently they skipped a batch or something cuz seriously this racket jacked my wrist and old tennis elbow suddenly came back, and I never had wrist issues ever. But in all fairness, my technique is not the greatest, technique maybe has something to do with it, but I use the same bad technique with other rackets and never had wrist issues. Not wanting to dissuade anyone from trying the racket, it's such a personal preference thing, everyone's encouraged to try it first... Just my experience was very similar to Mark's as he described in the video, which I thought was weird but true
I have 2 previous versions of Ezone 98, love them but eventually got into issues with tennis elbow. I thought it was because of this racket. Switched to Babolat Pure Drive and also got same issues. Last resort was my old Head Radical MP and issues went away. And why? Yonex and Babolat are 305g unstrung, Head Radical MP is 285g. Huge difference. If you get into any issues, it's the weight of racket which is too much for your style of play. Switch to lighter racket , you be pain free and enjoy tennis again! :) And btw there is YONEX EZONE 98L which is 285g if you would want to stick with trusty Ezone 98.
I have it and absolutely zero arm issues. Aero and Tenfibre TF40 ruined my arm and I switched to this and it was way better. String with Adrenaline at 51lbs
Great, candid review! I've been looking for a racquet suited for a 4.0 serve & volleyer that also provides great feel from the baseline (I like to dropshot) with minimal wrist/elbow impact. It doesn't seem like this racquet is the answer, but I'll take any recommendations you have. Great channel - just subscribed!
hmmm. I've been playing with this racket for 4 months with poly strings at 52lb and haven't had any arm pains. I play about 3-4 times a week for 1-2 hours each. Just my 2 cents. I alternate between the ezone 98 and vcore 95. I love the vcore 95 but against tougher opponents generally opt for the 98. Easier power when returning tough shots, especially for the backhand, and just easier to play than the Vcore. Also, I love serving on the Ezone, especially flat serves.
I know Mark has been getting a little backlash after what he said, nothing he can't handle lol. But my tennis HQ on a video last year said he switched from Ezone to VCore for that exact reason, he said the vibrations were causing issues. I think when you know your gear you are more sensitive to changes and notice these things before there are major issues. Thanks for the video would love to see a VCore one next lol. cheers.
I just got to demo the Ezone 2022 & 2022. I don't know the strings that tennis warehouse put on them but I would say that the 2022 is much softer than the 2020 version. In my opinion the 2022 it may be too easy to swing and it could hurt the wrist. I'm going to put some weight on the head to increase swing weight. Have you try doing that? Also, I would suggest to try the Vcore pro 97 and 97H. The 97h is heavy but if you are able to move it, it's a beast for control.
I had crazy shoulder pain with the 2020 Ezone 98 Tour (esp when serving), and also didn't like the muted feel, so I've generally avoided Yonex since. Although I do think everyone has to try them out to see for themselves.
Did you test the Pure Strke v3? The actual One? Its preaty similar but it's stiffer. It's the raket i've been useing for a year, changing string bc i like to test diferent options, an yeah, first month with it sometimes i get pain at my elbow but now with some wheight at 9:15 and 3:15 it feels much better and i didn't get any type of pain
I´ve been wondering why my elbow hurts so much...so here´s the answer...the racquet!...shame I haven´t seen your video before, but now I´m going to fix it, thank you Mark
Cool video Mark!, so sorry for your pain on the ezone. I have this same 2022 model and experienced no pain at all, different case with the 2020 tour version which produced a lot of elbow and wrist pain after playing.
@@estebanjait For me not at all. It feels really comfortable. The 2022 has a little more power than the tour but obviouly felt less plushy, which i fixed by adding some led. So in my case the 2022 has same weight, is more comfortable and has more power.
i do agree with Mark to some extent, this racket is really not suitable for stiff strings like confidential or tourbite. You need a softer string that still has good control.
Interesting. The VDM tech is boasted to really help avoid this. How do you find the VCORE 98 / 95 in comparison? Similar RA on paper but seems to have a really different feel. Do you find it better for the discomfort? And generally in your view?
I switched from a Pure strike 98n gen to this racket just to avoid pain and keep with the same control. I am loving the racket and i didnt have any pain at all.
Funny how you're allowed to make sweeping generalizations about Babolat frames being arm killers but as soon as you do the same for Yonex it's just a personal experience or the wrong string setup or some lingering health issue. Just goes to show how little the tennis community actually knows about its own stuff and how so much is "knowledge" based on reputation and narrative. Seems like no one actually has first hand experience with the stuff they're talking about. The only frame that has ever given me any arm pain was the v7 blade and the 2020 ezone, but somehow those experiences must be invalid because the internet told me so.
I found it awesome with volley, and depth control during warm up, and softer on the elbow. However, it's horrible for one handed backhand compared to VCore 95. I feel I am always late, even when I am on point, it just doesn't have the plow through like the VCore 95. I was smoking the down the line backhand with the VCore 95, but was off by 3-5 feet when I try to add power with the Ezone 98.
Thanks Mark , same experience 3 weeks ago for me. Went from Blade v8 to new Ezone 98, definitely more pop and spin -- But after the first weekend, serious wrist pain in TFCC ligaments (pinky side, particularly during pronation and ulnar deviation). Finished playing and got in my car, so much wrist pain that I couldn't buckle my seatbelt -- And a bonus injury old tennis elbow creeping back! Had to get a wrist brace (wrist widget). Thought maybe it was the full poly I strung at 53 lbs (Isospeed baseline control) so changed up to hybrid natural gut and poly at 48, definitely softer but damage was already done, still in wrist brace. Ezone hits great but definitely unforgiving on my joints, vibration dampener did nothing but mute the racket, cushiony overgrip did not fix it, looser strings did not fix it. Playing recreationally 30 years, first time ever wrist issues.
Honestly I think we are in similar boats, but the pain is in the middle and interior (thumb side).
I did the Exact same injury. Play with a Pure Strike 16x19 tho. Playing with full bed of Luxilon Alu power rough at 58lbs. (i'm 5 foot 9, 145lbs). Play 3-5 times a week. High 4.0 level singles and doubles. Had sharp pain in wrist, Pinky side. from an inside out forehand drill. Had pain anytime i came in contact with the ball. Got checked out, was told Tendonitis. After a few days I tried playing again. I could hit every shot without pain EXCEPT my topspin forehand groundstroke. So i took this as a period of time to work on my two handed backhand that I have ran around for 10 years. Took a month of No forehands, playing with gut or multi, and increasing the size of my grip to now be pain free. I have heard similar stories with others and the pure strike and injuries. I will say tho...injuring my wrist is the best thing that has happened to backhand. My game has increased dramatically now having the confidence of a backhand weapon. (First time wrist injury in 10 years of playing)
@@MarkSansait Isn't this the issue with the Ezone, historically, is that the stiffness is masked for a while and then it creeps up on your arm.
lol fully poly 53 pounds iso speed no wonder you got injured, you had to learn the hard way I guess, you guys use tension way too high with stiff strings.
@@fuzziepandas I'm sure you enjoyed how it played, but you need to address that tension first...58lbs with a Lux string is intense.
I switched from a Blade V8 18x20 to this with a little bit of lead. It just does everything a racquet like a Blade can do but easier access to spin and power. I’m sorry, but the thing about the racquet hurting you and people shouldn’t buy it, probably the worst advice I’ve ever seen you give. It has to be a personal thing because I have horrible shoulder issues and this thing is super plush and soft, especially with the mesh dampening. It’s not a high stiffness rating either. Crazy you could hit with a Babolat PA VS which is insanely high stiffness but this one hurt your hand/wrist. You could be having pain from constantly switching racquets, strings, tensions, etc. I’m a 5.5-6.0 level player with shoulder issues but ever since I switched, I’ve found my shoulder issues going away. The Blade V8 was much harsher than the E Zone 2022 IMO. I’ve hit with just about every racquet on the market in the last 7 years (plus racquets from back in the day) and this one deserves high praise. Highly recommend people to give it a try. You never know how a racquet will feel until you hit with it. Take everyone’s opinions, including mine, with a grain of salt. All equipment feels different from person to person. You be the judge!
This is like the best comment Iv ever seen.
Yeah you are right. When you switch gears even as little as overgrip, you are exposing yourself to injury .
Mark can be little bit opinionated despite of his good intention.
@@ST-ek6lf I know! I couldn’t believe how amazing you can say a racquet is either then say don’t buy it because it gave one person discomfort lol you can’t expect to switch gear constantly and then blame body pain on one racquet in particular. Especially when it’s a VERY highly regarded racquet. Even pros are switching to it. He was way too opinionated and harsh about this stick. About any equipment in general TBH.
@@Mewborne89 It's because he tries to get views by being edgy and 'honest' so he has to find certain faults of a racquet and exaggerate them, though sure i don't doubt he had arm issues with this frame, but that's his review style in general, but there are many factors that he does not consider and will claim almost gospel on his opinion and experience
@@jackiet9141 I 100 percent agree.
I own ezone 100 and tested both. For god sake don't listen to this random guy. It's a very unique series you must demo it. They definitely fit just the particular players. They definitely not on the comfort side. They both have features and disadvantages that are quite unique from other retail racquets. I think vcore is more easier to pick up if you are choosing from these two
just because your arm hurts with the racket, doesn't mean it is bad for everyone... be careful with these kind of generalizations
Thank you. Exactly my thoughts. DON'T LISTEN TO THIS REVIEWER! IT MIGHT BE BAD FOR YOUR GAME!
literally, like every other review praises this racket as one of the best and this guy is telling us not to buy it bc his arm hurt…
@@kwantis1 Not beeing able to differentiate between a highly personal experience and a general construction issue is not a good sign for a reviewer. Really makes me question his other reviews.
@@kwantis1 not really, a few others have also mentioned the arm pain
Huh I actually think it's rather comfortable. Maybe people string too high.
I feel like technique and general health/strength matter the most when it comes to pain from most rackets. I find it hard to believe this racket is THAT bad.
Exactly.
Part of the reason it’s good to have a single reviewer do many things is you get a feel for that person’s style. Mark hits very similar to myself and many others with that game style at that level. As such, if with Mark’s technique and fitness it still hurts, then I take his word for it.
@@Eliott-K mark just tries to do some hot takes and say crazy things to get more clicks and become RUclips relevant.
It's hard but it's true
@@user-zf3ue4nr5g did you demo it too? What strings and tension did you use?
Have had this racquet since January and haven't experienced any arm pain/wrist pain so far! To me it feels quite plush and comfortable, and not harsh and stiff like some other racquets I've tried.
I seriously thought it was a VERY plush racket...
Except for my necessary hand surgery after this racket.
@@MarkSansait and I think that's the issue with the ezone line...the dampening tech is quite effective in masking the feeling of vibration, but not the effects.
Nope, i completely disagree. Got this racket, added one gram of lead on each side (3 & 9) . I have had cronic tennis elbow which disappeared, my one handed back works like magic, serves and other shots are great. Strung with poly tour pro 16 at 52. You probably need to tinker with strings/tension.
1) glad you disagree
2) glad you no longer have chronic pain
Thanks for your comment did you modify it anyway else like the handle?
@@ThatManFromOuterSpace just a standard overgrip and that’s it
@@wildmanauh gotcha
Wow
What r u talking about ?
One sample is automatic truth ? And you recommend not buying the racket ?
I personally don’t like yonex for grip shape but this video has gone too far.
I had some 2021 ezone 98 tours that would cause discomfort in my elbow and wrist from time to time. I switched to the 22 ezone 98 and all of that discomfort went away.
Hi Mark, i ve been using this racket for a few monthes and it solved my wrist and elbow issues, particularly as i was coming from a pretty stiff racket (babolat pure strike 98 2017).
Till this day, its the plushest racket with excellent power ratio i ve ever used. Suspecting a defect in some batches as mine works flawlessly except on counterpunching miss-timed OH BH. Now those hurt a lot.
Yes. I feel elbow pain after hotting with this racket. I play with aero2023 also and have no problem
I have noticed that the volleys are quite powerful, and that at higher tensions with strings a little bit of pain in the elbow (both tennis and golfers elbow), especially when pronating. The wrist issue for sure. No real hand or mid arm pain
Thanks for the PSA Mark. However, I'm still going to demo it at least.
I find that some racquets that are praised for comfort have caused me issues in the past.
It can depend on the individual's technique, form and capabilities I suppose.
Side question: Do you adjust your gripsize when choosing Yonex racquets?
I've heard they run rather large, but is this true?
Yes I hit Vcore 95 (2021) and their grip size 3 feels like a Head grip size 4.
I do L2 if at all possible.
Let me know how the EZone 98 hits my friend!
@@MarkSansait small hands, smollPP
@@K4R3N facsts
Mark, you are totally correct. I tested this racket for a week and my wrist suffered a lot. I currently use the DR 98 and I don't have the same problem. thank you for helping the tennis community and congratulations on your work
I am stunned at what you say. Two years ago, playing with Wilsons, I was off tennis for 5 months with tennis elbow due to playing more than usual. My physio specifically prescribed I should get a Yonex Ezone 108 as the best racket for tennis elbow. Beautiful racket and never had tennis elbow since.
Always appreciate your honesty and unbiased feedback, BUT I have two of these (in addition to my Vcore 95's) and I haven't experienced any type of pain or discomfort after hitting with either one. Take those cheap strings out and restring Poly Tour Pro like it was meant to be strung. ;-)
You’d think he would hit with that combo after giving Polytour pro the best review
@@mattpowell8435 If i had infinite money yes. But Yonex PTP is god awful expensive.
@@MarkSansait I can get you reels of ptp for $180 Canadian if you’re interested 🤷🏻♂️
I just demoed Yonex Ezone 98 2022 Aqua Night Black version with the Wilson Revolve Twist polyester strings at 51 lbs. I have demoed probably around 30 different rackets and this one was the best racket I have ever played with. I have played one single’s match for one hour and a few hours later I had a tremendous pain in my wrist where if I tried to move my thumb, the pain would travel a few inches up my arm. I have never experienced this type of pain with any racket (non Yonex) that I have ever demoed or played with. The problem might be with the dampening technology that Yonex uses as I also owned Yonex Vcore 98 2023 model and after two months of playing twice a week, I experienced a wrist pain granted nowhere near the one I have experienced with the Ezone, but still a pain that I had finish my match with a different racket (not Yonex brand). So there is something to what Mark has reported.
Love this stick, used to play with a pro-staff and with age came some pain in my forearm . Changed to Yonex 98 2022 and notice more comfort and balance, with expected less control than pro-staff . But the most improvement was on my one-handed backhand, that become more easy to deliver power. At least for me, this racket is a must-have.
I have the 2020 Ezone 98 Tour and the first month of hitting I thought maybe I'm getting discomfort from the racquet... but my stubborn self kept playing with it because I love it so much and whatever discomfort I had went away never to comeback. Dunno if it was the racquet or not, and if it was maybe my body just got used to it. I say you should definitely demo the racquets for sure because other peoples experiences will not be your own. My Ezone Tour is an extension of my hand now but I would never have tried it if I had listened to everyone's complaints
Glad you found something!
I have never had a problem with the tour causing pain, and everyone and their mother said it did. The tour is an enigma for me. It’s a little slow, fairly demanding with the balance. It’s not a racket you can pick up and after a month off and play great with, you need to be in your best shape. It forces you to hit with good Footwork and weight transfer.
Once you get dialed in with it though it inspires a ton of confidence.
I wanted to like the tour but I couldn’t move my arm the next day after serving/hitting with it the first time. I got more used to it but kept getting the nastiest shoulder pain
A low level 3.5 player here. I switched from vcore 98 to this racquet because of the paint job lol. It gives me a lot more control but a lot less power. It gave me pain as you described in the beginning. I switched from natural gut(main 52lbs)/alu power rough 16L/(48 lbs) to full natural gut @ 52 lbs (I find it more economical this way since I do not mind tension drop and do not break strings until about 40-50 hours of play time). I traded off some spin for many other control benefits. The biggest benefit was my return of serve, it is an unbelievable improvement.
Don't know about the 2022 version but I play the 2021 Ezone 98. This stick comes from the factory at 9 points head light, which seemed crazy to me for serious play. I took it that it was so head light that Yonex intended buyers to customize the racquet, which I did. Lead at 3 and 9 and in the hoop. The result is a great players racquet and certainly no wrist/arm/shoulder pain. Give the lead a try Mark and let us know what you think. And keep up your aggressive reviews of equipment. there is too much blah blah on RUclips tennis channels.
This is strange. I had a wrist/forearm injury. I bought one second hand while recovering these injuries and they still slowly disappeared as I continued my rehab. I play often and hit fairly hard. It could be some other issues. Sorry for your pain and surgery!
Hi Mark! Thanks for making this video. Made me realize that not all are comfortable with this racket.
I agree with the pros, but sorry to disagree on some of the cons.
I've been using this racket for 3 months now, but I feel no pain or discomfort while using it. In fact, this racket really helped elevate my game to the next level.
Hmmm maybe you can try to lower the tension?
Im using Yonex polytour pro on the strings, strung at 48 pounds. Maybe you can try this setup if it will reduce the pain.
Cheers! Awesome content as always!
Glad you found a tool that elevated your game dude!
I currently have the 100 version and love it. I’ve had elbow pain with other rackets but none from this racket.
Yeah got the 100 also and loving it. Zero discomfort issues.
Glad you dont have no elbow pain!
strange. I found this racket very comfortable.
Good to hear. Hopefully it stays that way.
I would try a different one. Your racquet must be defective. I've never heard of the arm pain issue, and I actually switched to it because it is so plush. Several other racquets I demoed at the same time were actually the ones causing jarring pain into my arm. But not this one. I've played with it several days in a row. I played 8 hours with it in one day, lot's of balls. Clinic, private lesson, match, followed by hitting session. I can't imagine any other racquet allowing me to play so much in one day and cause no discomfort. I even had tour bite 16 in it to boot.
After this video I did try a different Ezone 98 (2022), still the same issue :(.
@@MarkSansait Wow crazy! I guess it really shows how personal these things are.
I have heard multiple reviews about the ezones causing some pain in different areas of the upper body. My dad had some shoulder problems after using it a bit, but maybe it could have been because he was using a lighter and softer racket. Anyways, if you're interested in the racket you should definitely demo it, because everybody is different (like a lot of other comments say)
If possible I definitely ask people to demo it if possible, thats why I did add that inforgraphic on dont buy but demo.
@@MarkSansait yeah true, but I definitely can see your point on this racket not being suited for many players, even karue from my tennis hq was talking about the pain he got from the ezones. Keep up the content though Mark
the problem with the demo is, often you don't develop pain in the week you have the frame, I mean - how many hours can you play in that week - but for sure, it must be demo'd
I bought the 100. I do have some pain in my hand after a long match. Thanks for your review!
It doesn't make sense that a racquet with a stiffness rating of 65 could cause arm/wrist pains. A friend of mine suffered from bad tennis elbow. He went to a arm/shoulder specialist doctor. He was told to switch to this racquet, believe it or not. I played with the 2020 version strung with full poly at 42#. It's been three years, no arm problems whatsoever.
Do not buy this racket because it did not work for me, say Sansait. I have played this racket without any probs. Sansait must have spaghetti wrists...man up Mark. My sis plays this racket, my dude
mom's spaghetti?!
@@MarkSansait if she makes muscleless meek stuff, then yes
Lmfao raped
Racket reviews are so personal. Always should be taken with a grain of salt. Thanks Mark for always putting out great content.
Thanks Ed! Reviews are always somewhat personal.
I agree, it is one of only two racquets that have ever killed my arm (the other being the old prince vortex) and I play test allot of racquets. The pure drive causes no arm pain at all but Ezone kills it? How does that work? I even put a full bed of gut in it and it still hurt.
No idea how it works.
My demo originally had a hybrid in it and it still killed my arm :(
I appreciate the video but honestly, you don’t say this racket hurt my arm AND avoid it at all costs. Everyone knows just because a racket hurts one person doesn’t mean it will hurt everyone. I played it for a month using PTP 16g around 52 lb and had zero arm issues. No pain at all. So, should I avoid it at all costs? I prefer the VCore 98 because I like that thinner hoop and slightly more positive feel. But that EZone98 is not a bad racket at all, and anyone who tries it might want to demo s few string setups if they have any pain.
I recently switched from the 100 to the 98 - and i would say its 10% less Power 10% more control , 10 % more Feeling, 10% better spin, 10% smaler Sweetspot
Arm Pain is often a combination of String and Racket. I tend to go a little lower with the string weight, as for now i cant confirm the arm Pain issue.
For 2h Backhander, maybe femal players, i would say go for the 100, that supports you a little more
For the Intermediate > Advanced Players I woudl recommend the 98.
Im Still tinking of trying the percept also...
Demo'd , played doubles and no problems. Bought used and just had clinics session with different strokes and no arm, or hand issues. Will keep this video in mind when playing with 22 ezone . thanks
Try adding a leather grip and weight at 3&9, maybe even a dampener. Increased stability and weight generally absorb shock better. From what the other comments are saying you actually might have an underlying condition in your wrist, if you can use a babolat pure aero vs with no issues then the ezones shouldn’t be a problem at all. Interested to hear on what you have to say about the Solinco Whiteout 98 305 if that’s not on your demo list yet.
Def trying to demo the Solinco Whiteout 98.
I switched to the 2022 Ezone in January and started to get arm pain after a couple of weeks having never had it before. It got worse and worse so i changed strings to a multi and still had issues. I've sold the frame now and gone back to the 2018 Ezone which seems fine. I'm amazed a frame can have this much impact on your arm, it's not the case for everyone but for me it was really bad.
If you were talking about the EZone 98 Tour, yes, that racquet is pretty much universal in causing arm issues from what I’ve seen/heard. The 2022 EZone 98?!? You’re out of your damn mind 😎 Excellent maneuverability and zero arm issues. I’m sorry you experienced issues, but it’s an incredible frame in my opinion. So much so that I’m actually writing a RUclips comment 🙃
I hope they do listen to you and gather up all the ezone 2022s. I'll be in charge of the burning. ;). I found this racquet to be much more comfortable than the 2020 version or the AI. I may be switching to it from my tf40 because it's by far the most maneuverable racquet from the baseline that I've ever played with.
I was surprised that he found it cumbersome since I agree that it was super maneurable and even had to add a little lead to 3 and 9 to give it a little more plow through.
@@steveschaeffer5999 I kinda have some ideas though, when I switched from the ezone 2020 to some other racquets with higher static weights, like the radical pro (which mark used for a while)I got used to a different weight distributions. Ezones are weird, with a head light but polarized weight distribution. When I first demoed the 2021, it was a big adjustment, and I felt it wasn't "easy" or quick swinging at all. Once I got readjusted, it became easy swinging. I bet if mark picked up his old ezones, he might feel the same sluggishness from the baseline. Mark's not a newbie who doesn't know how to swing a racquet, but this type of nuanced introspective analysis with some experimentation is hard to come by in the tennis review space.
Weird, I’ve been playing with the 2020 yonex 100 for a year and a half. Had some wrist issues recently due to bad string selection and had to quit full poly. Demoed the 2022 Ezone 98 with a full bed of poly at 53lbs and am shocked at how great my wrist is feeling right now. I thought I’d be out for a whole week or more.
string lower i went high like 60 and nope so down to 45 better might even go a bit lower ezone 100
Yes please, compare the 3 let me feel good about keeping the 2020 versions 😂
i had this racket on demo while getting my gravity pro strung, all of my shots transferred over well, if not a little better, but i had to tape up my hands before hitting after the second day because that was the only way i could find other than hard drugs to stop violent hand pains
hard drugs are the better option here
I’ve been using this racquet for a few weeks now and I have to say I can’t agree with you on your cons. This racquet fits my play style perfectly, and the pains I’ve had using it haven’t been any different from other racquets I’ve used in the past.
I have long term ongoing hand injury and I own and play with Ezone 22. I have never felt any problem more then I have usually. I had to switch from blade 98 16/19 v8 to Ezone and Gravity just because Blade were too demanding for my arm injury (I cannot swing hard now and need more free power)
Is this a joke?
Would love to see the comparison between the Dr vs 2020 (I use) and 2022
Same for me a lot of pain on my wrist and thumb. I have a Percept 97 and no pain at all
Loved the feel of 2021 ezone 100 when I demoed it so I bought one. Been playing tennis off and on for over 30 years. Never experienced any discomfort but about 5 months in with ezone developed wrist and elbow pain. Switched to blade 98 16x19 and no issues - although less power. And I tried every kind of string and tension. Even bought gut and still had issues. Liked vcore line as well but can’t go back to Yonex.
Glad you dont have pain anymore.
I wish I could see your review before buying the ezone 98. I also suffer from wrist pain but I'm ok with other rackets. It's so strange! I saw many comments about wrist pain...Not only you but also a lot of other tennis players.
I bought the 98 with high hopes. It felt very maneuverable and the feel on the dropshot was superb. But for some reason my two handed back is awful with this raquet. I also don't feel like there is enough penetration of the ball even with right technique. No elbow pain though but I think Im going back to the pure drive which gives me better plow through, better slice, better serve overall.
As much as I like to hate on Babolat, I do think Pure Drive is a solid stick.
Any suggestions on something comparable in the 100 sq in range? Ultra? Clash? Head speed pro mp
I am using a pure drive and was thinking of switching to ezone 98 2022 😳
@@charlieb3497 its a personal choice. I felt like I lost key matches last year because of it. MY technique is good according to 2 coaches. So I'm blaming the racquet. It does have nice paintjob
I didn't find the Ezone 98 painful to play with, but I did find it quite unforgiving and board-like. I attributed the stiff feel to the strings being old on the demo, so I demoed it from another store and had the same experience.
Personally, I had a much better experience with the Ezone 100, VCore 98, and VCore100. The Ezone 98 was the black sheep, probably because I'm a 4.0. I think the Ezone 98 might be better suited for 4.5 and higher players (which is probably why Mark found it a nice racquet to play with).
One thing that I found spot on about Mark's review is the lack of maneuverability. I too have a one-handed backhand, and I felt like I could never get it around in time. The VCore 98 was much better in that regard.
So I'd say that if you want more of a player's stick, you might like the EZone 98 and the VCore 98. If you want more of a forgiving experience, go with the Ezone 100 (controlled + plush) or VCore 100 (power + spin + a bit more crisp feeling).
I tried the EZONE AQUA 2024 98 racket, no pain after 5 hours of playing throughout 2 days, not even after doing only serves for 35 minutes. What are you talking about?
What I don’t quite understand is how many pros are switching to this yet there are some people that have really bad arm/wrist issues that have never had the issue before. I want to like this racket but damn it hurts
Haven't had any type of pain with mine. Maybe it's some sort of combination of string/tension/racquet. I have mine with Hyper-G 17g @ 54lbs (Mains) and Velocity MLT 16g @ 52lbs (Crosses).
Although I think the problem lies in the racquet's compatibility with Mark. He said the racquet is difficult to swing, yet many people find it quite fast and easy to swing and maneuver. Maybe Mark got one with the swingweight over spec?
I have had this racquet for two months now (play 3/wk 4.5 doubles). I am using full black knight 18g @ 53 lbs. I have had to break it in for an hour or so first to get rid of the initial harshness. With a hybrid of black knight and ghostwire i have experienced absolutely no pain from the start. This is a great serving racquet IMO as I am able to hit flat, kick and slice with good directionality. It has also made my two handed backhand more consistent. When demoing various racquets and switching frames frequently my elbow usually starts to bother me. IMO this racquet is more plush than the 2021 vcore 98 I was previously using.
Well after 10 days of hitting this racket i can tell that:
1) i didint noticed any pain and discomfort other to my previous set of rackets VcoresPro 310.
Even if i strung Ezones at 26 kilos - 2 kilos more than Vcores
I have long history of arm/elbow issues since playing as a kid and in juniors and after that from other sports
But this racket imo isn't any bad for arm/elbow or wrist
2) Maneuverability of this racket isn't bad at all. Imo its opposite. Same from the baseline as at the net
3) Overally its a very good racket in many aeras. The blend of control/power/spin potential give makes it a proposition for descent modern all court player
Only weak point of this frame may be too muted fell for some players
Had mine for a month or so now (2024 version - apparently no difference besides facelift) and I find it great. No pains out of the normal stuff but i'm no spring chicken any more. Maybe your just getting older also hehe :) I came from a Babalat PureStrike which has similar specs to the ezone 98. Build quality and finish way better than the Pure Strike and the wilson RF97 signature I had.
Hi Mark- never forgot this review but have you tried the Ezone 100? I’m experiencing wrist pain after a few test outings. Also I’m trying the vcore pro 100 as I’m hoping the reduced stiffness will help…any thoughts on the vcore pro 100?
Pain from tennis is not because of tennis racquets unless you are playing with a very heavy one. Improper technique will hurt you. Bad take on this racquet and a horrible exaggeration. You probably have an existing injury.
Totally !
Please compare all three e-zones mark. It’ll be “nice” and some “happy hitting” :-)
WOW! So funny, everyone was saying the EZone was the one to get for 2022 and panned the Vcore 98. I demoed both and found the Vcore to be better for me. I do think the Ezone is a bit light. Could use some lead IMHO.
Just demoed a few of the new Vcore and Ezone range and the Ezone Tour stood out. Felt comfortable in the arm too. The extra weight in the Tour I felt is what was lacking in the previous Yonex Vcore and Ezone 98 racquets for my liking. Could add some lead tape to the Ezone 98 to try and get a similar feeling but the Tour has a slightly lower stiffness rating to consider. String selection and tensions make a lot of difference to what feels comfortable or stiff on the arm.
Hi. I have also switched to this racquet from a Vcore 95 (2021) & Prince Tour O3 100 and I have been playing since 2007. You were right abt the wrist pain. At first I thought it was due to the extra weight I added to it (tape at 3&9, leather grip, weight in the butt cap). The more I play, the more I think it might come from the tighter string pattern at the sweet spot. I personally use a multi/poly setup.
I demoed this racquet for a day. I personally didn’t have any pain but each person is different.
Went from Head Prestige to Ezone 98 2022. It's like walking with bare feet on grass. Also tried the Ezone 100 2022. That is also a very comfortable stick. For my one-hand backhand, the 98 is better. Absolutely disagree with "burning them all". A lot of players on ATP and WTA use Yonex rackets too. In my opinion, currently, the best racket producer company on the market is Yonex. Also, have to mention Made In JAPAN!!! Well done Yonex.
Been playing with Ezone 98 2022 for about 4 - 5 months, however had 2 g lead at 3 and 9 position from the start. The elbow issues started happening when I removed the lead strips and also changed strings to Volkl Cyclone. Ended up with a tennis elbow. Not sure whether it was due to removing the lead or the strings. Tension was around 50 lbs. Currently playing with lead again, but I think you are right - the racket seems to be a bit slow, it lags a bit. Balance seems a bit strange. I wouldn't say it's like a "hammer" feeling but I can feel that the head feels a bit heavy (even with lead removed). Off-center hits are definitely not nice and I think volleys seem to be hard to control sometimes.
no Volkl Cyclone strings please - it literally killed my elbow in every racket I played. but it is so damn good with spin and control that it is hard to find alternative
I have had absolutely no pain playing with this racquet. In fact it's been a breeze. I would absolutely recommend it for all the pros outlined in this review. The arm pain is completely inexistent for me, in fact I swing much more relaxed with this than any other racquet I've ver used.
Mark, have you tried the 100 and do you feel the same compared to the 98? I am excited to try the new Vcore 98!
Had arm issues in the past but with this racquet it is not the case, this is subjective and people shouldn't avoid the racquet based this.. For me it has been the best racquet so far and I've always used the Ezone.
Same hand pain you had with the radical pro or more severe?
yes. agree with you.. I also feel the wrist pain too
Do you have arm issues with 2020 Ezone 98?
Nope arm is fine. But I feel like I needed to amputate my wrist and hand though. Otherwise this is a perfectly comfortable racket
@@MarkSansait I am trying out the 2020 Ezone 98. Thanks.
Love my ezone 98 7th gen. Been playing with it for 1.5 years. Waiting for them to come out with gen 8 so I can buy 2 more gen 7 on discount. Don't want to play with any other racquet.
It takes a week or so to adjust to this racket. Once done, it's a breeze. I will recommend this to anyone blindfolded, that's how much i am in love with this racket. There are various factors for discomfort- stiffness of racquet,stiffness of chosen string, overall swing weight, type of overgrip,playstyle and the way one finishes his/her stroke, effectively how mature the playing technique is.
It looks like you strung this in a hybrid with RPM Blast 17 and NXT 16. Is that correct? I watched the video with CC subtitles on and couldn't find any spot where you are talking about your string choice or tension.
What’s what the demo racquet came with. I cut it out and put Tier 1 Black Knight 16g @ 50lbs
@@MarkSansait Weird. At 45# PTP it's one of the most comfortable racquets I've played. Not a Clash, but very comfortable.
Idk I used to have bad tennis elbow for nearly a year and I use the Ezone 98 tour and I don’t seem to have any arm injuries with it
Nikola Aracic from Intuitive Tennis has great advice in one of his videos which is don't put too much, if any faith in what recreational players have to say about tennis rackets in their reviews. This racket may not be good for Mark but that doesn't say anything about how it will work for others.
To clarify, I don't think the racket is bad, I like how it plays and I played well with it -- It's just there's maybe something about how the vibration transmits to the arm, Yonex say there's vibration dampening technology built in, but apparently they skipped a batch or something cuz seriously this racket jacked my wrist and old tennis elbow suddenly came back, and I never had wrist issues ever. But in all fairness, my technique is not the greatest, technique maybe has something to do with it, but I use the same bad technique with other rackets and never had wrist issues. Not wanting to dissuade anyone from trying the racket, it's such a personal preference thing, everyone's encouraged to try it first... Just my experience was very similar to Mark's as he described in the video, which I thought was weird but true
I have 2 previous versions of Ezone 98, love them but eventually got into issues with tennis elbow. I thought it was because of this racket. Switched to Babolat Pure Drive and also got same issues. Last resort was my old Head Radical MP and issues went away. And why? Yonex and Babolat are 305g unstrung, Head Radical MP is 285g. Huge difference. If you get into any issues, it's the weight of racket which is too much for your style of play. Switch to lighter racket , you be pain free and enjoy tennis again! :) And btw there is YONEX EZONE 98L which is 285g if you would want to stick with trusty Ezone 98.
I have it and absolutely zero arm issues. Aero and Tenfibre TF40 ruined my arm and I switched to this and it was way better. String with Adrenaline at 51lbs
Great, candid review! I've been looking for a racquet suited for a 4.0 serve & volleyer that also provides great feel from the baseline (I like to dropshot) with minimal wrist/elbow impact. It doesn't seem like this racquet is the answer, but I'll take any recommendations you have. Great channel - just subscribed!
i have a 6th gen 100. no issues. i had issues with tennis elbow using a babolat pure aero (2019) already ordered and had strung a 98..time will tell
hmmm. I've been playing with this racket for 4 months with poly strings at 52lb and haven't had any arm pains. I play about 3-4 times a week for 1-2 hours each. Just my 2 cents. I alternate between the ezone 98 and vcore 95. I love the vcore 95 but against tougher opponents generally opt for the 98. Easier power when returning tough shots, especially for the backhand, and just easier to play than the Vcore. Also, I love serving on the Ezone, especially flat serves.
I know Mark has been getting a little backlash after what he said, nothing he can't handle lol. But my tennis HQ on a video last year said he switched from Ezone to VCore for that exact reason, he said the vibrations were causing issues. I think when you know your gear you are more sensitive to changes and notice these things before there are major issues.
Thanks for the video would love to see a VCore one next lol. cheers.
Hi Mark. I was wondering if you tried the Ezone 98 Tour 2020, to compare with this 2022 model? Thanks.
I just got to demo the Ezone 2022 & 2022. I don't know the strings that tennis warehouse put on them but I would say that the 2022 is much softer than the 2020 version. In my opinion the 2022 it may be too easy to swing and it could hurt the wrist. I'm going to put some weight on the head to increase swing weight. Have you try doing that? Also, I would suggest to try the Vcore pro 97 and 97H. The 97h is heavy but if you are able to move it, it's a beast for control.
I had crazy shoulder pain with the 2020 Ezone 98 Tour (esp when serving), and also didn't like the muted feel, so I've generally avoided Yonex since. Although I do think everyone has to try them out to see for themselves.
Thats why I said demo haha.
I had the same should pain on that racket and have never experienced any arm pain with rackets before
I had the same should pain on that racket and have never experienced any arm pain with rackets before
Did you test the Pure Strke v3? The actual One? Its preaty similar but it's stiffer. It's the raket i've been useing for a year, changing string bc i like to test diferent options, an yeah, first month with it sometimes i get pain at my elbow but now with some wheight at 9:15 and 3:15 it feels much better and i didn't get any type of pain
Been a long time since our Forest View days! Loving your videos, Mark!
SRI!
@@MarkSansait definitely dusted off my rackets after watching your videos. We ought get a hit in if you are every back near Mount Prospect again :)
I´ve been wondering why my elbow hurts so much...so here´s the answer...the racquet!...shame I haven´t seen your video before, but now I´m going to fix it, thank you Mark
Cool video Mark!, so sorry for your pain on the ezone. I have this same 2022 model and experienced no pain at all, different case with the 2020 tour version which produced a lot of elbow and wrist pain after playing.
what have you felt were the main differences between the 2022 and 2020 ezone 98 tour ? Ive heard the 2022 is a bit stiffer than the 2020 actually
@@estebanjait For me not at all. It feels really comfortable. The 2022 has a little more power than the tour but obviouly felt less plushy, which i fixed by adding some led. So in my case the 2022 has same weight, is more comfortable and has more power.
I found a cheap 2018 version locally. How does it compare to this 2022?
I made a video comparing the 3 ezones
Completely agree with you that this is not arm friendly. I demo'd this one and the Head Extreme and Radical lines and far prefer the Head frames.
i do agree with Mark to some extent, this racket is really not suitable for stiff strings like confidential or tourbite. You need a softer string that still has good control.
Interesting. The VDM tech is boasted to really help avoid this. How do you find the VCORE 98 / 95 in comparison? Similar RA on paper but seems to have a really different feel. Do you find it better for the discomfort? And generally in your view?
I switched from a Pure strike 98n gen to this racket just to avoid pain and keep with the same control. I am loving the racket and i didnt have any pain at all.
Funny how you're allowed to make sweeping generalizations about Babolat frames being arm killers but as soon as you do the same for Yonex it's just a personal experience or the wrong string setup or some lingering health issue. Just goes to show how little the tennis community actually knows about its own stuff and how so much is "knowledge" based on reputation and narrative. Seems like no one actually has first hand experience with the stuff they're talking about. The only frame that has ever given me any arm pain was the v7 blade and the 2020 ezone, but somehow those experiences must be invalid because the internet told me so.
Honestly that’s weird because the blade v7 (18/20) is one of the most arm friendly rackets I have used.
Everybody is different I guess.
@@MarkSansait yep, that's why I tried it
Literally have played this racket for over a year. Never a problem, Always, poly 42#-45#. Love the power and spin, volleys are incredible!
I just bought the VCore 95 2021 instead. it's about as perfect a racket as u can get..... :-)
I found it awesome with volley, and depth control during warm up, and softer on the elbow. However, it's horrible for one handed backhand compared to VCore 95. I feel I am always late, even when I am on point, it just doesn't have the plow through like the VCore 95. I was smoking the down the line backhand with the VCore 95, but was off by 3-5 feet when I try to add power with the Ezone 98.