You’ve seen the bright blue frame on TV. Most people assume every pro with a blue Yonex is swinging the standard EZONE 98. They aren't. While the 305g version is basically the "Goldilocks" of the tennis world—hitting that sweet spot of power and playability—there’s a heavier, meaner sibling lurking in the catalog.
The Yonex EZONE 98 Tour is a bit of an anomaly.
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In an era where everyone is trying to make rackets lighter and faster, Yonex went the other way. They took a frame already known for being "easy" power and added a chunk of graphite. It’s heavy. It’s demanding. Honestly, for about 90% of club players, it’s probably too much racket. But for that tiny sliver of the population who can actually generate their own pace and finds the standard 98 a bit "flighty" at the net, the Tour is a revelation.
The Weight Problem Nobody Mentions
Let’s talk numbers, but not in a boring spreadsheet way. The Tour weighs 315 grams unstrung. Once you add strings, an overgrip, and maybe a dampener, you’re looking at a static weight north of 335g.
That matters.
If you’re late on a forehand with the standard EZONE, you can usually flick your wrist and bail yourself out. Try that with the Tour and your wrist will let you know about it the next morning. It has a beefy swingweight that sits right in that "pro player" territory. Why would you want that? Stability. Total, unshakeable stability. When a 100mph serve comes screaming at you, a lighter racket flinches. This one doesn't. It just plows through the ball.
It feels like swinging a lead pipe that somehow has the soul of a scalpel.
2G-Namd Speed and the "Yonex Feel"
Yonex uses this stuff called 2G-Namd Speed. It’s basically a fancy way of saying the graphite reacts faster under impact. In the EZONE line, this translates to a "plush" but powerful feel.
Usually, "powerful" means stiff. Stiff means your elbow hurts after two sets. But Yonex has mastered the art of the Isometric head shape. If you look at the top of the hoop, it’s squared off. That isn't just for looks; it makes the sweet spot feel massive. On the Tour version, that extra mass combined with the 2G-Namd tech creates a hitting experience that is incredibly dampened.
It’s quiet. You hit a winner and it just feels like a soft thwack.
The Reality of the 16x19 Pattern
Don't let the 16x19 string pattern fool you into thinking this is a "spin monster" like a Pure Aero. Because the head is 98 square inches and the beam is relatively thin (23.5mm / 24.5mm / 19.5mm), the launch angle is lower than you’d expect.
You have to work for your topspin.
If you flatten out your shots, you’ll love it. The ball stays low and penetrates the court. But if you’re a heavy topspin grinder who lives ten feet behind the baseline, you might find the EZONE 98 Tour a bit frustrating. It wants to go through the court, not over it. It’s a precision tool for people who like to take the ball on the rise and dictate play.
Why Customization is (Usually) Pointless Here
Most "gear heads" buy a racket and immediately start slapping lead tape on it. With the Tour, you really don't need to. Yonex already did the work for you. The balance is slightly more headlight than the standard model, which is necessary to keep that extra weight manageable.
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If you add more weight to the head of a 315g frame, you’re basically turning it into a hammer. Unless you have the forehand of Ben Shelton, just leave it alone. The stock specs are dialed in for a very specific type of aggressive baseliner.
Comparison: Tour vs. Standard 98
People always ask if they should "upgrade" to the Tour. It’s not an upgrade; it’s a side-step.
- The Standard 98 (305g): It’s fast. It’s whippy. It’s the racket for the modern game where everyone is running and gunning.
- The Tour (315g): It’s for the player who isn't running as much because they’re the one making the other person run.
The Tour has a noticeably higher "plow-through." In tennis nerd terms, that means the racket loses less energy when it hits the ball. You’ll feel it most on the backhand slice. A slice with the Tour stays dirty—skidding low and heavy. With the lighter 305g version, the slice tends to float a bit more if your technique isn't perfect.
The Vibration Dampening Mesh (VDM) Factor
Yonex puts this VDM stuff in the handle. It’s a stretchy mesh wrapped around the graphite to filter out vibrations.
Some purists hate it. They say it makes the racket feel "disconnected."
I disagree.
If you’re playing three times a week, your joints will thank you for the VDM. The EZONE 98 Tour is stiff enough to give you free points on serve, but the VDM keeps it from feeling like you're hitting with a piece of wood. It’s a refined, modern feel. It’s not "raw" like a Pro Staff, but it’s not "hollow" like a cheap recreational frame either.
Is Your Game Ready for This?
Let’s be brutally honest for a second. If you’re a 3.5 or a low 4.0 player, the Yonex EZONE 98 Tour is going to be a handicap. You’ll play great for thirty minutes, and then your arm will get tired. Once your swing speed slows down, this racket becomes a liability. You’ll start hitting short, and your opponents will eat you alive.
However, if you’re a 4.5+ or a competitive college player, the extra mass is your best friend. It handles pace better than almost anything in its class. It’s a "counter-puncher’s nightmare."
Tension Matters More Than You Think
Because this is a powerful frame, you can’t just throw a cheap synthetic gut in there at 50 lbs and expect to keep the ball in the court.
You need a polyester string.
Something like Yonex Poly Tour Pro or Poly Tour Strike works wonders here. If you string it too low, the EZONE 98 Tour becomes a rocket launcher. If you string it too high, you lose that "plush" feel that makes the EZONE line famous. Most high-level players find the sweet spot between 48 and 52 pounds.
Maintenance and Longevity
One thing Yonex doesn't get enough credit for is their quality control. If you buy two EZONE 98 Tours, they will actually weigh the same. That sounds like a low bar, but other major brands are notorious for having "matched" rackets that are actually 5 or 10 grams apart.
The paint job is also surprisingly durable. It’s a deep, multi-layered blue that doesn't chip the second it touches the court surface. It’s a premium product, and it feels like one.
Moving Forward With Your Game
If you're serious about switching to the Tour, don't just buy it based on a review.
- Demo it for a full week. Not just one hitting session. Play a match with it when you're tired. That’s when the 315g weight reveals its true colors.
- Check your swing path. This racket rewards long, fluid strokes. If you have "short" strokes, you won't be able to get the mass moving effectively.
- Evaluate your serve. The EZONE 98 Tour is an absolute monster on serve. If you find yourself winning more free points on your first serve but struggling to move the racket on the return, you have to decide if that trade-off is worth it.
The Yonex EZONE 98 Tour is a specialized tool. It’s for the player who wants the easy power of an EZONE but needs the heavy-duty stability of a player's frame. It’s a rare beast in the modern market, and for the right person, there is nothing else that feels quite like it.