Description
About the Brand
Yonex is a Japanese sporting goods manufacturer famous for exceptional manufacturing quality. Established in 1946, they manufactured their first badminton racquet in 1957 and their first tennis racquet in 1968. In the years since their founding, Yonex has developed a reputation for unparalleled innovation and quality. Their reputation has been further enhanced by a sponsorship program that features some of the top players and teams in the world. They are also highly visible as sponsors for some of the world’s top tennis and badminton tournaments.
While most manufacturers focus on sponsoring celebrity athletes and developing high intensity marketing campaigns to convince consumers to purchase new products, Yonex has tended to focus more on innovation and improvement through research and development. In fact their patented isometric racquet shape, first released in 1980, is still considered to be one of the most important and lasting innovations in tennis and badminton. This innovative racquet shape still figures heavily in virtually all Yonex racquet designs.
About the Series
The Ezone series of tennis racquets is all about generating comfortable power. Aimed primarily at recreational tennis players who are not professional athletes, the Ezone series has an enhanced sweet spot for additional power and enhanced anti-vibration features for additional comfort.
This current version of the EZONE series features the largest sweet spot in the series’ history. By widening the racquet at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions and varying the angles of the aero-shaped frame, there is a plush, more comfortable feel at impact, even on off-centered shots.
Also focusing on comfort, the EZONE has M40X* — a high strength, high elastic graphite in the throat — to improve frame stability and flex. It also features Vibration Dampening Mesh (VDM) in the handle to filter out unwanted vibrations.
Planned Obsolescence
“Planned obsolescence, or built-in obsolescence, in industrial design and economics is a policy of planning or designing a product with an artificially limited useful life, so that it becomes obsolete (i.e., unfashionable, or no longer functional) after a certain period of time. The rationale behind this strategy is to generate long-term sales volume by reducing the time between repeat purchases (referred to as “shortening the replacement cycle”).” [Wikipedia]
Virtually all racquet brands these days have a plan to make new racquets obsolete long before they even come out. Since planned obsolescence is built into racquets, we believe that customers have a right to know when the racquet that they are buying is expected to become obsolete.
Some brands plan to make their new racquets obsolete less than two years after they are released. Racquet Network considers this irresponsible. While we cannot force the racquet sports industry to do away with planned obsolescence, we can refuse to offer brands with the shortest cycles. For example, Racquet Network does not sell some very major brands precisely because they make new racquets obsolete in two years or less.
Yonex is currently on a 30-month cycle. A new racquet launches. About six months later a second colour comes out. Six months after that a third colour may come out. Then after 30 months, the current generation is replaced by a new generation and the old racquets are considered (by Yonex) to be obsolete.
In this case, the sixth generation of Ezone series tennis racquets was released during the 2020 Australian Open. If Yonex follows their usual marketing cycle, a seventh generation of this series will be released in mid-2022. Between these dates customers can expect one to three new colorways to be released. It is important to understand that these are not new racquets; they are simply new colors intended to provoke customers into buying something new.
Manufacturer’s Description
Ezone 98L is for all-around players looking to penetrate the court with added power and comfort.
Our Description
The Ezone 98L is in our singles tennis category. Therefore we expect that most players who purchase it will be using it primarily for singles and rarely (if ever) for doubles. There are two versions of the Ezone 98. This version is for strong, athletic adults players. For smaller players, such as ladies or juniors, there is also a light version called the Ezone 90 L (the L is for light).
Who Would use this Racquet?
This racquet is in our singles tennis category. So we presume it would be used primarily for singles and infrequently (if at all) for doubles tennis. Singles players have to hit the ball long distances more often than doubles players. Therefore singles racquets tend of have smaller heads and heavier frames than all purpose racquets or doubles racquets.
Racquet Demo Program
TRY IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT
Racquet Network’s pro shop has more than 100 demo racquets on hand. Our demo program gives players a month to try a variety of racquets and then choose the one that is right for them. Book an EXPRESS SERVICE APPOINTMENT to inquire in-person for details.
Help Choosing Tennis Racquets
Need help choosing a tennis racquet? Come into our store and talk to our friendly and knowledgeable staff. If you can’t do that, try our RACQUET SELECTOR.
How to String this Racquet
This racquet is in our singles tennis category. Therefore how you choose to string it will depend on a variety of factors including how you play, how hard you hit, how much spin you want to generate and how often you break strings. Please visit a racquet stringing expert in-store for advice about how to string this racquet to best suit your game.
Specifications for this Racquet
Head Size: 100 sq. in.
Weight: 285g / 10.1oz
Grip Size: 0-4
Length: 27.0 in.
Width Range: 23.5mm / 26.0mm / 22.0mm
Balance Point: 325mm
Material:
– VDM
– HM Graphite
– M40X
Rec. String: POLYTOUR PRO, POLYTOUR STRIKE, REXIS
Stringing Pattern: 16×19
Stringing Advice: 45-60 lbs.
Made in: Japan
Technology in this Racquet
New Isometric
Developed over 30 years ago, the ISOMETRIC design increases the sweet spot by 7%. Compared to a conventional round frame, a square-shaped ISOMETRIC racquet generates a larger sweet spot by optimizing intersecting main and cross strings.
Yonex has improved the ISOMETRIC technology further by expanding the four corners of the new EZONE for longer main and cross strings in the upper frame, resulting in the largest sweet spot in the EZONE series history.
Yonex Vibration Dampening Mesh (VDM)
For added touch and precision
A stretchy mesh material is wrapped around the graphite within the grip to filter unwanted vibrations.
Aero Shape
For a plush, comfortable feel
By varying the outer angle of the aero-shaped frame, the middle and upper hoop are plush, while the lower hoop is stable.
Shockless Grommet System
Shockless Grommets are integrated at the side and bottom of the frame to minimize muscle fatigue and provide a soft feel at impact to protect the wrist, forearm, and elbow by absorbing shock.
Oval Pressed Shaft
Increased spin and control
Shaft corners are rounded for an ideal flex at impact to increase dwell time for optimal spin and directional control.
TORAYCA® M40X*
Power with a more flexible frame
A strong, elastic graphite is added in the throat to improve frame stability and flex.
M40X Graphite (aka Super High Modulus Graphite) is stronger and more resilient than High Modulus Graphite
| Strength | Resilience | |
| M40X Graphite | 103 | 133 |
| H.M. Graphite | 100 | 100 |
*TORAYCA® is a next generation carbon fiber developed by Toray Industries, Inc.
Isometric Expansion
Enhanced Sweet Spot.
A new frame shape that is wider at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions creates the largest sweet spot in EZONE history.
Liner Tech
For improved power and comfort
Straight hole grommets elongate the strings to optimize power and comfort on off-center shots.
Super Cushion Grip
The Super Cushion Grip minimizes vibration. The cushioning performance of the grip helps protect the wrist, forearm and elbow against shock-induced injuries.
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Product Details
| Sport | |
|---|---|
| Stroke Style | |
| Player Type | Aggressive |
| Grade | Adult Performance |
| Grip Size | |
| Game Group | Singles Only |
| Frame Flex | |
| Frame Weight | LG (285g/10.1oz) |
| Length | |
| Balance | |
| Head Size | 98 sq in (632 sq cm) |
| Pattern | |
| Recommended Tension | 45-60 lbs (20-27 kg) |
| Brand | |
| Age Group | |
| Cover | Full cover |
| Format | Customized |
| Item Type | Ships from e-commerce division 3 |
| Warranty | 6 months |
