Yonex EZone GT Driver Review

My earliest memories of Yonex in the golf industry were watching a young, swashbuckling, left-handed American by the name of Phil Mickelson in the mid-nineties. Back then, the brand stood as a symbol of innovation and high-tech components and was pitched very much at the premium end of the market.

I have been sent the new Yonex EZone GT driver for testing, and with an RRP of £529, this is in line with the premium end of the best driver market, so I am keen to see if it can hold its own.

From a tech point of view, the EZone GT comes fully loaded. Firstly Yonex has added what it refers to as StrikeSpeed carbon. Essentially this is a graphite composite channel that sits behind the face to assist with the compressing and rebounding of the face in order to maximize ball speed. It certainly provides a striking visual and reminds me a little of the old Nike VR Pro driver from the sole.

Yonex has also created a new head structure with a ‘wall’ at the back of the head, in order to optimize weight distribution and increase stability. Finally, there is a vertical laser milled face which is designed to reduce the tilt of the spin axis and offer tighter down range dispersion.

In terms of the looks, I think Yonex has done an excellent job. The matt carbon crown is nicely contoured and coupled with the excellently proportioned and shaped head, it looks great in the playing position. A single dot adorns the crown to assist with lining the ball up centrally and that suited my eye well.

As I mentioned above, from the sole view, it does bear a striking resemblance to an older model from another company, but that doesn’t diminish the visual experience at all. This is one of the better drivers I have seen in 2024 from a shelf appeal standpoint. Well branded without being too in your face, plus a nice blend of finishes and colors to keep it vibrant, I would give top marks to Yonex with the overall aesthetic. The premium-looking and feeling headcover also deserves a mention too.

I tested the Yonex EZone GT driver at Saunton Golf Club using my FullSwing KIT launch monitor and TaylorMade TP5 golf balls and overall found the performance to be pretty good.

I enjoyed the feel and pitch of impact, not too loud or tinny but with enough vibration to give a sense of power providing a really nice balance. Mishits were noticeable from a feel perspective but weren’t punished too harshly in terms…