Best Yonex Racquet for Me

"Because it’s so whippy, I can generate lots of topspin and hit some pretty sharp angles. I was always connected to the ball when hitting flat or with slice, and I felt like I could control the depth of the ball very well."

-Troy, TW Playtester

The EZONE 98 is one of the most popular racquets on tour and recreationally for good reason. This jack-of-all-trades not only does everything well, but it excels at spin and power without compromising on feel due to its denser string spacing. Compared to other 305-gram, 98 square-inch, 16x19 frames, the EZONE 98 features an expanded sweetspot in the upper hoop for increased forgiveness in addition to a larger spin window. Furthermore, if you make contact more often in the upper hoop, YONEX's Isometric beam shape on any of their racquets will likely be a welcome boost to your connection to the ball. The latest version of this modern classic is a little softer compared to its predecessor, with many drawing the comparison back to the legendary DR 98 of old. For fans of a predictable experience that's loaded with spin and power, the EZONE 98 is one of the most impressive options out there.

"Having played with different generations of the EZONE 100 for the last 12 years, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from this update, and I was not disappointed. I had controllable power from the baseline, so I could swing freely at my shots with confidence."

-Brittany, TW Playtester

The EZONE 100 is an in-house favorite of ours, and its blend of feel and power make it an excellent option for baseline grinders. Make no mistake though, this racquet has excellent all-court versatility. Differentiating it from other 300-gram, 16x19, 100 square-inch frames is of course YONEX's signature Isometric hoop shape, which is expanded horizontally to increase the sweetspot and spin window.

"I found good directional control, and I could pull the trigger up the line when attacking and looking to win points."

-Michelle, TW Playtester

The EZONE 98 Tour is a rarer, heavier spec modern frame, with enough mass for traditionalists and enough tech for the contemporary swing styles. The racquet's 315-gram weight is mixed with a 98 square-inch head size and 16x19 string pattern, and when strung averages out to 335 for its swingweight and around 4 points headlight, making it quite the hammer to swing. When utilized correctly, the EZONE 98 Tour proved more than capable of blowing opponents off the baseline, as well as absorbing pace from incoming strikes. Stability and plow-through were the name of the game, and our team loved playing attacking tennis with this frame.

For those who like to go the extra mile both figuratively and literally, YONEX offers its two main flagships in extended-length options in the EZONE 98+ and the EZONE 100+. The name of the game here is leverage, as now the racquet's length can be converted into more pace thanks to the longer lever. The tradeoff is primarily maneuverability, as the additional length inherently boosts swingweight but also asks more of its wielder in general due to the extra mass away from your body. But the potential upsides of extended length frames can't be denied, such as their additional reach when on the run playing defense. Even just that extra half-inch can go a very long way when you're just trying to get a touch on a tough shot, with shots that would've been framed before now turning into potentially more string-on-ball contact. But perhaps the most easily identifiable boost is how an extended-length racquet performs on serve. The extra reach/leverage makes the downward angle of the serve more feasible, which can help add some sought after pace when starting off a point. If you're a longtime fan of frames in the standard 'tweener spec range but are looking for just a little extra juice, consider trying the EZONE 98+ or EZONE 100+ for something truly special.

"It was more power than I was expecting, especially with it being a 98-square-inch head size, and I really liked that for my aggressive game style. Thanks to the higher-than-average launch angle, it was easy to get my groundstrokes deep in the court, and there was still enough control to keep them in the court."

-Brittany, TW Playtester

While the VCORE line has always been first and foremost a spin-oriented experience, the eighth generation of the VCORE seems to emphasize power more so than some of its predecessors. A thicker beam is the leading contributor to this newfound power access, but the iconic VCORE feel remains, in part enhanced by a now flatter throat profile for a more traditonal yoke feel. The VCORE 98 is perhaps the most well-rounded option within the family, offering a tad more power in a 98 square-inch, 305-gram, and 16x19 package. This frame surprised our team with how much pop it's working with, and they enjoyed the racquet for the versatility afforded to them, not to mention the plentiful spin on tap whenever needed.

"I found the update to offer even more depth and height than the 2023 iteration. Still, I drilled well with this racquet and found lots of easy depth and power."

-Tiffani, TW Playtester

We knew that the VCORE 100 was going to be a powerful experience. What we didn't expect was just how powerful it would really be. This frame proved to be an asbolute rocket launcher from the baseline, giving our testers ample pace at their disposal whenever they may have wanted it. The classic 100 square-inch hoop, 300-gram weight, and 16x19 string pattern proved accessible, spin-friendly, and again, powerful to a degree much more than anticipated. Surprising too was the frame's stability in stock form. Our team also all noted high levels of success on serves, making this a good choice for competitive players looking for a boost in all areas.

"Power levels are amazing on the baseline, but at the same time, it’s that controllable power that I love, where I’m able to pick very precise targets and trust my racquet. Stability is top-notch; I think this is one of the most stable racquets I have hit in a while."

-Zsofi, TW Playtester

The VCORE 98 Tour offers a spin-forward experience in a heavier package, which is an increasingly rarer combo since frames like the Pure Aero Tour and Rafa Origin have bene discontinued. Most "Tour" or "Pro" models these days are in the 305-gram range typically, so to see a 315-gram stock option is a welcome change of pace for old-school players who want a heavier frame. Add in the VCORE's signature spin capabilities and you've got a frame that can whip up some seriously heavy shots from baseline to baseline. If you want old-school weight with modern spin access, this VCORE 98 Tour is perhaps the best choice for you.

"This update felt great off either wing, and I loved how quick through the air the smaller hoop was, letting me easily increase racquet head speed. Spin was super accessible, and slices landed deep, with lots of action on the ball."

-Oak, TW Playtester

The VCORE 95 is one of the last remaining 95 square inch options in the modern market. While this frame certainly is control-oriented, the 310 gram stock weight helps give the racquet some more mass-based power. The 16x20 string pattern makes the experience a little more precise, but there is still good spin to be found with this frame. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the VCORE 95 for our testers was how quick through the air this racquet swung. If comparitively smaller head sizes are your forte, the VCORE 95 may be your saving grace.

"There was some power, but it was balanced out with a little more control (similar to my EZONE 100). As I expected, there was some nice spin potential that I utilized on shorter, angled groundstrokes to mix it up against my opponents."

-Brittany, TW Playtester

As a newcomer to the VCORE family, the VCORE 100D adds a little more control to a very lively silo, in addition to some extra mass for increased stability. This frame pairs the increasingly popular 16x20 string pattern with a 100 square-inch head size and a 305-gram unstrung weight. Across our entire testing team, the extra control was very much appreciated, and the racquet's inherent spin/power combination still let our hitters whip up heavy groundstrokes from the baseline. Though the racquet isn't as accessible as some of its siblings due to a slightly more demanding swingweight, our team had a comparitively better time with the VCORE 100D compared to other members of this eighth generation VCORE family (with one of our testers even switching to this frame).

A fair amount of VCORE users on tour actually use an extended variant of their endorsed frames, such as both Brandon Nakashima and Joao Fonseca. Extra length always means more reach and power at the tradeoff of some maneuverability. But oftentimes this decreased maneuverability compared to their standard length counterparts means an uptick in stability, which was definitely the case for our team with the VCORE 98+ and especially so with the VCORE 100+. When timed correctly, the extra length can be converted into more power due to the additional leverage. This extra pop off the frame is most notable on serves typically, but can certainly be experienced on any shot.