Racquet Review: Yonex EZONE 100

• Price: $279
• Head Size: 100 sq. in.
• Length: 27 in.
• Weight: 11.2 oz.
• Balance: 4 pts. HL
• Swingweight: 316
• RA Rating: 68
• Beam Width: 23.8 mm / 24.5 mm / 19.5 mm
• String Pattern: 16x19

What’s New

The top of the hoop of EZONE 100 is slightly wider and thicker. This increases the power and—according to internal testing—gives it the largest sweet spot in franchise history. Changes to the inner structure also increases the racquet’s flex at impact compared to the outgoing model for greater ball pocketing and longer dwell time. A completely new material, Minolon—a soft, smooth, net-like structure—has been added to throat. Combined with the VDM dampening mesh within the handle, it gives the frame an even cushier, more arm-friendly response.

What Works

If you’ve played with a recent edition of the EZONE 100 then it probably goes without saying that this latest edition is remarkably easy to use from the get-go. It’s baked into the EZONE line, and the 2025 model is no different. There’s a familiar feel to the outgoing model, but with a softer, more cushioned response thanks to the additional vibration dampening material.

There’s great ball-pocketing, spin and power, with crisp but comfortable feedback that doesn’t feel too muted. Depth is easy to come by from the baseline, but thanks to the maneuverability and good spin potential, angles off the court are always an available option.

At least since 2018, the EZONE 100 has been my most recommended racquet for almost any player of any level who says: I want to try something new, what do you suggest? Tester Comment

Compared to the previous EZONE 100, this one has been thickened in tip of the hoop and the throat, with the center of the frame left unchanged. The frame’s balance and swingweight remain virtually identical, but this adjustment manages to give it more stability and energy return. It also creates a slightly stiffer flex, however the addition of bagworm threads (yes, bagworms) in the throat makes it somehow feel plusher. The feedback is perhaps more muffled, but the tradeoff is less brassiness.

Yet the aspect that draws you into the racquet is its all-around performance. With big serves and forehands coin of the realm in modern tennis, the frame’s knack for producing both is attractive and addictive. It’s light and maneuverable but manages to be remarkably stable, so you can attack the ball with confidence. Even if more tempered baseline aggression is your style, ground strokes are practically cut and paste—finding desirable pace and placement is highly repeatable.

In regards to generating spin, it perhaps has a slightly lower launch angle than its predecessor, and doesn’t cut through the air quite as easily as some other 100s built for that purpose. Nonetheless, players who like to attack with a topspin-heavy game should have no issues with the frame. And the upshot is it’s surprisingly effective at flattening out rocket serves and ambitious put-aways into tighter spaces.

One of the unique and attractive characteristics of the EZONE 100 is it’s nearly ability agnostic. A developing player or intermediate coming back to the game can string it with a multifilament and take advantage of the frame’s expansive sweet spot and forgiving nature. A seasoned league player can use a polyester to up the control and spin for more judicious use of the racquet’s ready power.

It's also pretty adept at all-court play. The frame is quick and stable at net, capable of hitting just about any manner of volley. Those bagworms do temper the response, but not so much that the ball gets lost on the string bed. So drop volleys and touch shots are on the menu. You can absorb pace when needed, punch the ball deep, hit a soft angle, or put away anything that floats your way.

What Needs Work

Issues with the EZONE 100 are mostly quibbles. Your mileage may vary on aspects such as the new colorway and white stock grip, and the firmness of the layup could be objectionable to some with chronic arm pain. But taken within its genre of racquets, its limitations are minor and addressable.

Upper echelon players may need to add weight to have a bit more stability against hard-hit balls, especially at net. And the specs of the frame make it receptive to customization. Big hitters may also have to experiment with string type and tension to dial in their consistency. It’s not a wild racquet for most players, but can be streaky if you’re particularly aggressive.

On the other hand, they could also opt for the EZONE 98s which are heavier and more demanding, but could be better-suited to an advanced crowd willing to trade a smaller sweet spot for more stability and precision.

My opponent complained about the sound the EZONE 100 was making. I asked him what he was talking about, not noticing anything myself. He replied that it was the clicking the ball made when I hit the tape over and over again. He was not wrong. I hit a lot of lines. Tester Comment

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a user-friendly frame that delivers in just about every department, it’s tough to beat the new EZONE 100.