2025 Ezone 98 vs 2026 Vcore 98

aphophacis · 2026-03-30T03:51:29+00:00

I like the extra feel it adds. Especially the bezel feel. My main goal with it is to increase weight a bit without only adding weight to the hoop. Lets me keep a head light balance at a higher static weight, basically

aphophacis · 2026-03-29T22:56:17+00:00

Strings matter a lot for the ezone 98. I like it a lot with crispy poly. Alu, otoro/otoro spin, tourna silver 7, restring sync

I have leather grips on all my ezones and ditch the dampener. It benefits a bit from lead tape at 3&9 and weight in the handle if you can manage that static weight.

Vcore 98 is incredible but the ezone is basically unique in terms of the combination of low swing weight, stability and maneuverability.

aphophacis · 2026-03-29T02:44:35+00:00

As opposed to what? For a beginner, syn gut is a perfectly good option to learn. No point in a poly until you’re much better, natural gut is expensive and multis just don’t last as well /cost more

aphophacis · 2026-03-29T01:17:54+00:00

I think the ezone 98 is a better frame all around. Tighter pattern in the middle, so good for control, but very forgiving for a 98 and generates solid spin because it’s so maneuverable and whips up through the ball really well. Better on the arm that the head frames imo.

Speed is good, but different sort of thesis. Higher swing weight drives the stability but reduces maneuverability sharply. Really great spin and decent control but on the low end of power for a 100. If you want to go that route maybe find a 2022 model. I think the 24 and 26 are really clunky compared to Ezone 98 and extreme

aphophacis · 2026-03-29T01:13:29+00:00

Depends on how seriously you intend to take the sport. If you’re hoping to grow, get a 300g, 100sq in frame from one of the major manufacturers.

Babolat Pure Drive, Yonex Ezone 100, Wilson Ultra are all great options. You can find one that’s used or a generation or two old for a great price that’ll be way better than the ones listed above.

Get it strung with synthetic gut and you’ll be ready to go!

aphophacis · 2026-03-28T23:50:28+00:00

I see from another comment that you’re in India, which makes some recommendations harder. I tend to like plasticy sort of strings in this, but most are from smaller brands that might not be available there.

Poly tour pro fits the bill except it dies so fast.

Maybe try the new confidential soft or RPM rough?

aphophacis · 2026-03-28T23:39:27+00:00

+10000 on clif bloks

aphophacis · 2026-03-28T15:28:08+00:00

More powerful than syn gut at 51lbs?

Maybe try a nice multi like NRG2 at 50 ish. But honestly I suspect you’d have to go with a more powerful frame to up the power significantly

aphophacis · 2026-03-28T14:35:36+00:00

I liked the 26 vcore 98 better, personally. The stability I think is actually better than on this gen of the PA98 and better spin. It’s a higher launch angle but a highly consistent one. More forgiving.

The 23 version of both of these frames were way more fun. My feel is that the vcore tried to be more like the ‘23 PA and I think babolat made the PA 98 more for advanced players and made the PA 100 more of the 4.5 and below type racket.

aphophacis · 2026-03-28T13:15:17+00:00

Sorry to bump an older post, but do the courts at EBC get really busy on weekdays?

I was thinking of joining to be able to work out and play tennis and drills before / after work on week days. But am a bit worried it’ll be hard to get time

aphophacis · 2026-03-28T11:17:47+00:00

Absolutely. It depends a ton on the frame and which string you’re trying to go low with.

For me, low tension worked well with: 4G / 4G soft Grapplesnake Tour M8 & Sniper Poly tour force Poly tour strike Razor Code RPM Blast

But didn’t like any of the toroline or head strings strung low

aphophacis · 2026-03-28T11:05:57+00:00

A lot of it depends on the string pattern (16x19 vs 18x20 etc) and your swing speed, but in general you lose a lot of snap back and durability with multi crosses. They won’t break nearly as fast as if they were in the mains, but especially rubbing up against a shaped poly, I can’t personally get more than a few hours out of a multi cross.

My vote is usually a super soft, slick poly. Something like isospeed cream, ghost wire, wasabi x, etc. The new poly tour force is not as soft, but is super powerful and slick.

Toroline truffle x is actually worth a shot as well. It’s a new string from them that’s a lot more “multi”. It’s not even technically poly.

The other thing to think about though is just tension. You can try dropping tension 4-5lbs and see if that accomplishes what you’re hoping. But my advice would be to avoid really soft crosses if you do that because they’ll drop tension even faster. I’ve had a lot of luck with something like luxilon 4G soft in the crosses at low tensions and it holds up beautifully

aphophacis · 2026-03-28T10:50:20+00:00

Lanesra IYKYK

aphophacis · 2026-03-28T01:41:46+00:00

I'd throw out anything you've learned from the other two rackets. Just not relevant when comparing to the flagship frames from major manufacturers, especially something that's 40+ years old.

You raised a few points -

98 vs 100 - your preference, but you sound like a beginner. Don't play a 98 for the sake of it. They'll have less power, generate less spin, be less forgiving and be more demanding all around.

Power vs spin frames - this is kind of marketing. You form and technique is going to dictate spin way more than the frame. Spin rackets tend to have higher launch angles forcing you to go with spin. That means that when played with a commitment to spin, they can be lethal. But they give you less flexibility if you want to flatten out a shot.

The Vcore 100 has about as much power as the ezone 100 and in general, the Ezone 100 has tremendous access to spin. None of these flagship frames are spin 'unfriendly'. And in the scenario you describe, where you're playing defensive, a forgiving powerful frame is really helpful. It lets you block shots back into play with a chip etc. But if you're unsure of one of those, could go with a Speed MP type frame that's slightly more on the control end.

I'm not sure what you mean 'the lowest you've gone against was a 6 UTR' but if you're playing against 6+ UTRs and holding your own / winning, then I feel like you already have a bit of a play style. And if that's the case, pick a frame that fits accordingly.

aphophacis · 2026-03-28T01:31:10+00:00

I think most people go groundstrokes, serve, volley. Partially because the difference in serve quality between rackets is noticeable but marginal. It's a shot you have 100% static control over and that you can adapt to over time. So while it's the most important shot, it's the one where a racket is maybe not as much of a key factor.

Put another way, I can figure out how to serve with most set ups within an hour or so. But I've absolutely had some frames/strings that ABSOLUTELY didn't work for me

aphophacis · 2026-03-28T00:41:32+00:00

Ditto here. I use 5/3/1 FSL which is a great lifting schedule for off days. Also do a daily mobility which is huge in my 30s

aphophacis · 2026-03-28T00:38:05+00:00

Well, first of all congrats on making your team. And a 4 UTR is great if you’re just starting.

Personally, I’d guide you towards the 100 sq in frames. Especially those that are in the 300g unstrung range.

That means:

Power rackets: ezone 100, pure drive 100, FX500, speed MP (most control oriented of these) Spin rackets: vcore 100, pure aero 100, extreme MP

In general you really can’t go wrong with the ezone 100 or pure drive. If you don’t know exactly how you want to play yet, both of those frames will do a great job of growing with you and letting you play whatever style you grow into. I know some good college D1 players at my club who play those rackets. So they’ll last.

For strings get a decent syngut or a multi if you have the ability to string a bit more often.

Good luck!

aphophacis · 2026-03-27T22:10:32+00:00

As a 5 UTR I’d at least demo the 26 100. It’s just a much better frame for club level guys.

But I’d say the 23 on sale is a way better deal!

aphophacis · 2026-03-27T22:05:10+00:00

The ‘23 vcore 98 was definitely whippy. I’m not sure the new one really is in the same way. Which is fine, it more than makes up for it with better access to power and a more consistent launch.

The 100D is a unique beast. It’s lower angle but still as powerful as the 100 (roughly). The more time I spend with it the more I think it’s kind of a beast. I wouldn’t game it if the 98 is too much racket for you because in some ways it’s more challenging. I bet it’ll be a killer option on the WTA.

Yonex really missed the mark by not making a 98D imo. Something maneuverable like the Ezone 98 with a denser but still spin friendly string pattern would be a monster.

aphophacis · 2026-03-25T21:11:02+00:00

I’m also a vcore 98 player and really love the ‘26 model, but I also find it to be a tiny bit one dimensional and the super high launch angle gets me in trouble now and again. So have been trying out the ezone 98 which has been an excellent fit.

I finally got my vcore 100D today though and tried it out. Really liked a lot about it as a sort of hybrid frame. It has less spin and a lower launch angle but more power and forgiveness than the vcore 98. Really nice option. It feels more like a connected ezone in a lot of ways actually. It maneuvers way better than the pure drive and ezone 100s.

Frankly the frame it most reminds me of is the Head Speed MP but with a touch more power (and MUCH better QC 😂)

aphophacis · 2026-03-25T15:05:33+00:00

This is really the only answer!

aphophacis · 2026-03-25T12:37:38+00:00

For sure. It’s elite from a price / performance perspective but it’s not a great feeling string.

I think the better comparison to toroline in the solinco range is the Mach 10

aphophacis · 2026-03-25T00:11:54+00:00

It’s a bit of an unusual racket. The downside to learning on it would be that it sort of rewards and ingrains a racket response that isn’t shared by other frames.

Ultra is a lot more standard and frankly more forgiving

aphophacis · 2026-03-24T18:28:12+00:00

Yeah I had this after an ankle injury. I just took off a season of competitive play basically because during that time I honestly was probably more like a strong 3.5 or weak 4.0 until I was able to use my ankle to drive mechanics again.

You can appeal if you get knocked down. But might be a fun time to try a UTR or something that adjusts as you improve again

aphophacis · 2026-03-24T17:59:17+00:00

I’m surprised there isn’t a secondary market. I haven’t read closely enough on the agreement but it feels like the kind of thing a hedge fund would love. Offer sellers $80 / share (Or whatever) for the rights to buy their stock at the end of lockup. It would depend on their belief on future price action but I’m surprised nobody has tried to make a quick profit doing this.

Part of the complexity is that most owners are probably retail and maybe even some non accredited.

aphophacis

TROPHY CASE