Yonex Ezone 98 Review

The Yonex Ezone 98 2025 is here. This is the 8th generation of Yonex’s bestselling line and here is our Yonex Ezone 98 review.

The Yonex Ezone racquets are for players looking for power. The 100 and the 100 plus, gives you loads of power, while the 98 is more maneuverable and controlled. The downside is, of course, that you don’t get as much power and forgiveness from the smaller head size.

You can check out the new line of Yonex Ezone racquets from our partners Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe (use the code TNERD10 for 10% off) and Tennis Only. If you purchase anything through these links, we get a small commission, which helps our work.

Release date: The Yonex Ezone will be available globally from January 10, 2025.

Yonex Ezone Video Review

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Tech

The Yonex Ezone 98 2025 comes with a slightly different mold. In short, it is wider and thicker at the top of the racquet for more stability and power. This is evident from the first strike of the ball. Where I needed to add weight to the previous generation, this one is solid even at a 320-strung swing weight, which is what our test racquet came in at with Solinco Tour Bite 1.25.

They have also updated the layup, with something called Minolon. This might sound a bit sci-fi, but Minolon means the material created by Minomushi bagworms. I would think of it as silk, for that silky smooth experience hitting experience.

This is perhaps not as evident as the extra power and stability, but you do feel like the racquet is a little less jarring on off-center hits and overall pockets the ball a little longer. It is not a “feel racquet” like the Percept or Prestige, but for a power frame, the sensation is pretty pleasant.

Specifications

The specs listed on the right are straight from Yonex.com. We will update this with the RA rating. The swing weight is 320 strung with 1.25 Tour Bite, so 290 unstrung.

Playability and performance

The Ezone 98 is for the aggressively minded intermediate to advanced player. You will have a nice balance of power and control and above-average stability for a 98 sq inch racquet.

Not everyone enjoys key elements of Yonex racquets, such as the Isometric head shape and the no-flare handle. But for most players, they can find something to like from the Ezone 98.

One benefit of the Ezone series is that they maintain a lower launch angle overall, which means that flat-hitting ball strikers can hit hard with more confidence. The strongest competitor to the Ezone 98 is the new Babolat Pure Drive 98, with a re-engineered beam and a 16/20 string pattern. The Pure Drive is a little firmer on impact but is less muted, while the Dunlop FX 500 Tour will have more lift on the ball.

A tough choice for players who enjoy the Yonex Ezone line is to choose between the 98 and the 100. Now with the added power of both racquets, I think the 98 will have a wider appeal and the 100 will be for players really wanting some extra pop on their serve and groundstrokes.

For players looking for a heavier racquet, the Yonex Ezone 98 Tour will be an interesting choice. And if you really want to maximise the power in a 98 sq inch racquet, you go for the Ezone 98 Plus.

But I would overall say that this is the most user-friendly Ezone 98 yet.

Video review to come!

Pros and cons

Summary

The Ezones is a solid upgrade from Yonex. They are more stable and more powerful without becoming harsh or losing identity. Changing the mold and layup without damaging what was good with the predecessor is not easy, but they have managed here. The VCORE 2023 was a far riskier update (although it has done really well overall), while this one feels more subtle, despite both a new mold and a new layup.

We are seeing more and more Yonex racquets everywhere and there is a reason for that. They innovate thoughtfully and come out with new molds and not just minor layup tweaks. I think this is worth applause. And definitely a Tennisnerd Approved stamp.