Yonex MUSE 98 Tennis Racquet Review

The MUSE 98 is the control end of Yonex's comfort line, and maybe the most arm-friendly player's frame on the market. A soft, plush 98 in a quiet, matte pearl silver that trades free power for a connected, forgiving response, for a player who supplies their own pace.

A new kind of Yonex

Yonex is known for the VCORE, the EZONE, and the Percept. The MUSE is a different brief, comfort and forgiveness first, a premium answer to frames like the Wilson Clash and the Head Boom. The 98 is the version tuned for a player who wants to shape the ball, without the punishing stiffness that usually comes with a control frame.

It is built on Yonex's Synchro Frame, which links three technologies. The ISOMETRIC head shape adds about 7 percent to the sweet spot, the Uniform Impact Grommet spreads string movement across the bed so off-center hits behave more like clean ones, and the Energy Flow Shaft, a slim concave shaft with Servo Filter material, balances flex and power while filtering out the shock that aggravates a sore arm. The beam is thin through the throat for feel and thicker in the hoop for stability.

On the 98, the result is what Yonex calls forgiving control. A smaller head and a little more mass make it tighter and more direct than the 100, but it keeps the soft, dampened response that defines the line. Where a Pure Aero 98 pushes the ball with explosive energy, the MUSE 98 cradles it, giving you a beat longer to feel the shot.

How it plays

The 98 is the surprise of the pair. It looks modern and open, but it plays like a control racquet, and a very soft one. It rewards a player who takes a full cut and supplies their own pace.

Control that surprises you

For an open-patterned frame, it is remarkably controlled, more so than a VCORE 98 or a Percept 97, both of which feel crisper and more powerful next to it. You have to swing to make it go, but if your stroke production is consistent and you can take a big cut, it gives back pinpoint accuracy. It does not hand you free depth; it lets you place it.

Sam, Tennis Express playtester, on the MUSE 98

Comfort without the harshness

This may be the most comfortable frame on the market. The flexible shaft and Servo Filter soak up vibration, and the thicker hoop keeps it stable up top, so an advanced player who is nervy about the elbow or wrist can compete without paying for it later. Plush is the word that keeps coming up, and it earns it.

Stable and easy to move around

Despite the comfort focus, it holds up when the ball gets heavy. One tester chose the 98 for exactly that, finding it stable on big shots and when running the court, and easy to handle through grip changes, volleys, and drop shots. The vibration dampening makes it a lovely frame at the net, absorbing pace so you can place a drop shot precisely, which matters most late in a match when you are tired.

Spencer, Tennis Express playtester, on the MUSE 98

98 or 100?

The 98 is the control choice, heavier and more precise, for a player who makes their own pace. If you want an easier, lighter, more forgiving frame with free depth, the MUSE 100 is the friendlier one. And if you are cross-shopping control 98s, the Blade 98 gives you more feedback and the Pure Aero 98 more explosive spin, while the MUSE is the plush, forgiving option of the three.

Who should buy it

The MUSE 98 is for intermediate to advanced players who want command over the ball and serious arm comfort in one frame. It rewards a consistent, full swing and a player who creates their own power, and the flexible construction lets someone with a tender elbow or wrist keep competing. If you take a real cut at the ball and value a soft, connected feel, this is a rare combination.

If you want easy, free power, or you are still grooving your strokes, the MUSE 100 is a better start. And if you want a crisper, more powerful control racquet, a VCORE or Percept fits. For the most comfortable high-performance 98 on the wall, though, the MUSE is in a class of its own.