Did Yonex Get Me at Espresso?
I fell for the colour first, but could the Yonex EZONE 100L make me fall for the racket too?
Sometimes, all it takes is a pretty colour to make you fall in love with a tennis racket. That’s exactly what happened to me at the National Bank Open in Montreal.
I was checking out the Tennis Giant pop-up shop at the tournament when I spotted the brand-new Yonex EZONE in Espresso Brown amongst all the other rackets. I wasn’t actually looking for this particular colour, and I didn’t even know about the new Espresso Brown colorway before I saw it in person. But the moment I saw it, it immediately caught my attention and I loved it. As a beauty influencer who loves beauty and fashion, I couldn’t help but think that this would make the perfect tennis racket for fall. And now that it’s September and we’re officially transitioning into the fall season, that Espresso-coloured Yonex is looking particularly attractive right about now. I also later noticed that ATP player Casper Ruud had debuted the new frame at the National Bank Open, which made my discovery of the racket even more exciting. But before I committed to buying a new racket based purely on its colour (because, let’s be honest, I was very tempted!), I decided to rent the Yonex EZONE 100L and put it to the test.
Trying the Yonex EZONE 100L
I rented the Yonex EZONE 100L from Rackets & Runners in Vancouver. After looking around, it seems that racquet rentals aren’t very common in the Greater Vancouver area, so I was really happy to discover this option. The EZONE 100L has an unstrung weight of 285g, compared with 300g for the standard EZONE 100. Since my current Babolat racket weighs 275g unstrung, I felt the lighter version would be a better starting point for me. Moving straight to a 300g racquet would be a 25g increase, while the 285g model was a more manageable step up from what I’m used to.
For $4.00 plus tax, or just $4.20 total, I rented the EZONE 100L for three days from the Rackets & Runners store in Vancouver. That’s an incredibly affordable way to test out a new racquet before potentially spending hundreds of dollars on a new one. And this is exactly why I think trying a racquet before buying it is so important. Two rackets may have similar specifications on paper, but they can feel completely different when you actually play with them. Weight, balance, stability and overall feel can all make a difference depending on the player and their style of play.
How Did It Feel?
First up was a weight test. My brother and I had a few rallies, and I could immediately tell that the Yonex was heavier than my current racket. But surprisingly, the extra weight didn’t feel bad at all. What I noticed most was the stability. I could feel the added stability, especially on my forehand. The racket felt more solid when making contact with the ball, and I really liked that feeling. I then took it to my tennis lesson the next day to hit some serves. Again, it performed well, and I felt that the extra weight was well distributed throughout the frame. The Yonex EZONE is also known for its generous sweet spot, and I can see why this model has become so popular among recreational adult tennis players.
How Does It Compare to My Babolat?
While testing the Yonex EZONE 100L, I noticed quite a few differences compared to my current racket, the Babolat Evo Aero Gen 2. Both are lightweight and beginner- to recreational-player-friendly rackets, but they have a slightly different feel. My Babolat is more focused on easy spin and forgiveness, while the Yonex offers more power and a solid, stable feel. I could feel the difference almost immediately. With my Babolat, I find it easier to generate spin, while the Yonex felt more solid and powerful, especially on my forehand. The EZONE 100L is also 10g heavier than my 275g Babolat, but once I got used to the extra weight, I actually enjoyed the added stability. It was interesting to experience how differently two lightweight rackets can feel, even with just a 10g difference in weight.
Would I Rent It Again?
Although the racket was fun to try and had many characteristics that suited my playing style, I do wish the rental period were longer. Personally, I think two weeks would give me a much better opportunity to get used to the racket and decide whether it’s right for me. After all, it takes some time for your body and swing to adapt to a new racket. Three days gives you a first impression, but it may not be enough time to get a true sense of whether a racket is right for you. So, those three days are now up, and I’ve returned the Yonex EZONE 100L. Which leaves me with one very important question: Do I buy the Yonex EZONE in that gorgeous Espresso Brown colour? Hmm… decisions, decisions.
What are your thoughts on the new Espresso Brown colour for the Yonex EZONE? Love it? Hate it? Or are you, like me, completely tempted by it?