The new Yonex EZONE 2017 series is out! Mike tested the Yonex EZONE 100 , a frame with an enormous punch, generous sweetspot, stable playing feel and good comfort.
Tested racket:
Brand: Yonex Model: EZONE 100 Head size: 100 sq/inch Weight: 300 gr Balance: 32.0 cm Stringing pattern: 16/19 Length: 27 inch RA: 68 Stringing: Diadem Elite XT 17 at 23/22 kg
Test scores Yonex EZONE 100:
Power: 9 Control: 7.5 Spin: 8.5 Arm friendliness: 8 Agility: 7.5 Touch: 7.5
The Yonex EZONE 100 is now available in our webshop!
Tester:
Name: Mike Playing strength: 4/4 Type of player: somewhat classic player, flat groundstrokes, generates little spin himself. Had shoulder problems until recently. Racket history player: Head Ti Fire, Babolat Pure Drive, Prince EXO3 Rebel Team, Wilson Steam 100 BLX2, Head Graphene Radical MP and the Prince Textreme Warrior 107. Recently also the Babolat Pure Strike 16/19 2017 in use.Technology Yonex EZONE 100:
- Enhanced Isometric sweetspot: Yonex's well-known Isometric blade shape normally already provides an enlarged sweetspot. This Enhanced Isometric sweetspot opens up the sweetspot even more, especially at the top of the blade
- HYPER-MG: By using the ultra-stiff Hyper Modulus Graphite, the snapback of the racket head after ball impact is lightning fast. This ensures more power and comfort, even on off-center hits
- Micro Offset Layout: special tubings ensure a straighter alignment of the length and cross strings for more power. This also ensures less shock load and therefore more comfort
- Quake Shut Gel Air in the grip provides extra vibration damping
Baseline:
Previously I also tested the Yonex EZONE DR 100 , the predecessor of this EZONE 100. What immediately struck me is that the well-known Isometric blade shape seems even more angular in this new EZONE 100. This gives the racket a fairly large sweet spot, especially higher up on the blade. This was quickly noticeable from the baseline. It was relatively easy to put a good dose of power and spin into my groundstrokes. In that respect, the Diadem Elite XT 17 stringing was a fine match with this racket. This string is fractionally stiffer than average, which provides a direct playing feel and extra control. I found the Yonex EZONE 100 to give a very stable playing feel from the baseline. In addition to solid power, the racket also performs well under pressure, with the frame hardly or not at all twisting. The EZONE 100 does not immediately punish you with off-center hits. However, I did find the ball feel/connection with the DR 100 a bit better.
Service:
In terms of ease of service - and power, in my opinion, a good improvement compared to DR 100. This EZONE 100 serves a bit more powerfully and therefore gives a bit more free service power. For me, it is very pleasant to be able to relieve the shoulder a bit more. I also found the grip on the ball for kick and slice services strong.
Just:
The Yonex EZONE 100 is a monster from the baseline. At the net the racket is not as agile as my Prince Textreme Warrior 107 with its lower 31.0 balance (unstrung). In the beginning I had some trouble with the fast work at the net. At the end of this playtest the volleys were also satisfactory. The racket has a lot of 'body' and feels very solid to put away hard balls.Power/control:
This racket offers a truckload of power, see above! I also found the control to be very good. The racket feels very stable at ball impact. It is also very easy to play with rotation (spin/slice) with this racket: this also benefited the margin in my strokes. This EZONE 100 is a real power frame, yet the racket also feels very steady and much less hollow at ball impact than comparable frames from other brands in this genre.
Comfort/arm friendliness:
Comfort is always important to me, given my shoulder problems from the (recent) past. The extra service power compared to the DR 100 already worked to my advantage in that respect. The generous, forgiving sweet spot is also very nice: you are not immediately punished for balls that you do not hit completely nicely in the middle of the blade. The racket also has Quake Shut Gel Air in the grip. You do not really notice this when playing, but it does contribute to an extra bit of vibration dampening. All in all, I was certainly satisfied with the comfort of the Yonex EZONE 100.