Yonex VCore 98 305g vs. Tecnifibre Tfight 300

[fpsanti]

Hi all,

I currently play with a Head Youtek Extreme Pro and I am tempted to switch racquets. I am currently demoing the 2 racquets in the title.

Since my Head weight is 315g and SW about 320g I started testing the TF 315g.
Then I switched to the other 2 in the past title and added some lead tape to match the SW.
I strung all of them with Lux Alu Power @24kg with same grips to reduce the variables of the equation.
Coming from old Head pallets I like more the TF grips. But I could convert the Yonex or simply get used to it with the time.

Yonex VCore 98
Baseline: good
Volleys: good
Serves: easy, consistent, precise, but not so much power
Returns: good
Power: ok, but not so much
Control: very good
Maneuverability: very good
Stability: very good
Comfort: very good
Feeling: dampened, do not feel connected to the ball
Topspin: ok, but not as much as i expected
Slice: very good

Tecnifibre Tfight
Baseline: ok
Volleys: ok
Serves: not consistent, a lot of power
Returns: good
Power: a lot of power
Control: good
Maneuverability: good
Stability: very good
Comfort: very good
Feeling: direct, feel connected to the ball
Topspin: very good
Slice: very good

Overall, I feel a little better with Yonex in my hand. I move myself and the racquet quite easily. The feeling and connection with the ball is better with the TF, but I can get used to it.
With Yonex I have less topspin from the baseline and less power on the serve.
Both racquets feel solid and with a better maneuverability than my Head. Maybe because of the smaller head size and beam? The TF feels heavier and more robust, perhaps because of the frame material and beam, but the specs are the same and at the end I played well with both and won points.
Shall I customize further the Yonex so that the balance is closer to TF (lead tape on Yonex a little higher 11-1 o'clock?)? Or vice versa (lead band on TF a bit lower 9-3 clock)?
Or shall I use more powerful and spin friendly strings on the Yonex, or more control oriented string on the TF?
Somehow I like them both and cannot decide.

Thank you for any feedback or recommendation.

Francesco

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[dr. godmode]

Have you talked to your hitting partner about it? Does s/he feel like the T-Fight is that much more spin friendly and powerful than the VCore? If so then I lean T-Fight. If not, I lean VCore since you seem more confident with it.

Try adding a little more lead on the VCore and see how it goes.

 

[TforTommy]

+1 VCORE, love the thin beam, cuts through the air nicely and I find when I am in a tough position i can get the racquet a little quicker through the zone

As a wilson 6.1 and prostaff user I think the spin potential on the vcores are amazing. Try stringing at 48 and see what you think. I also added a little lead at 12 under the bumper on my 98, gives a little nice extra juice. about 3-4 grams

I feel like you get overall much more all around possibilities when playing with the 98. I'd go with that one

 

[fpsanti]

Have you talked to your hitting partner about it? Does s/he feel like the T-Fight is that much more spin friendly and powerful than the VCore? If so then I lean T-Fight. If not, I lean VCore since you seem more confident with it.

Try adding a little more lead on the VCore and see how it goes.

my hitting partner said the 'delicate' shots were better with Yonex, serve was way more powerful with TF. Spin seemed pretty much the same to him.
With Yonex I struggled to lift up low balls.

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[fpsanti]

+1 VCORE, love the thin beam, cuts through the air nicely and I find when I am in a tough position i can get the racquet a little quicker through the zone

As a wilson 6.1 and prostaff user I think the spin potential on the vcores are amazing. Try stringing at 48 and see what you think. I also added a little lead at 12 under the bumper on my 98, gives a little nice extra juice. about 3-4 grams

I feel like you get overall much more all around possibilities when playing with the 98. I'd go with that one

You could not say it better. Yonex cuts the air like a hot knife with butter. That's what I loved about it. But the raw power of TF was also giving me some 32 teeth smile on serve, especially when acing or when body serving.

Will try adding some tape at 12 on the Yonex.

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[TforTommy]

You could not say it better. Yonex cuts the air like a hot knife with butter. That's what I loved about it. But the raw power of TF was also giving me some 32 teeth smile on serve, especially when acing or when body serving.

Will try adding some tape at 12 on the Yonex.

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Hahahah, agree. Did you find any stiffness or uncomfort? I really regret swapping the yonex synthetic grip for a leather, feels like a rock

 

[fpsanti]

Hahahah, agree. Did you find any stiffness or uncomfort? I really regret swapping the yonex synthetic grip for a leather, feels like a rock

no stiffness or discomfort with the current setup.

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[fpsanti]

So, my stringer and "consultant" advised me to string the Yonex 1kg lower because it has somewhat a denser string pattern although still 16x19.

 

[fpsanti]

Quick update and some new questions.

I played again with the Yonex and TF 300 with lead tape and TF 315.
The TFs play the same and got same feelings and results as the first time. Idem for Yonex.
I still feel I need to increase the tension on the TF or lower it on the Yonex.
Currently it's Alu Power at 24kg on all 3.

Questions:
1) If I go for the TF, should I buy the 300g and beef up the specs to mimic the 315g or just buy the 315g? Either way I plan to buy 2 or 3 racquets for tournaments.
2) I currently play with Head Youtek Extreme Pro which has the old very rectangular pallet shape in size 5 with Babolat skin feel and gamma supreme. The racquets I am testing are size 3 with stock grip and 2 OG. The 2nd OG is wrapped with a lot of overlap in the lower handle to increase thickness. It feels very close to my grip size 5. Can I safely buy the size 4 and add a grip? Size 5 is not offered neither by Yonex nor by TF.
3) The Yonex pallet shape is much more rounded than Head or TF and I am not used to it. Shall I give it more time to get used to it or simply give up?

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[n8dawg6]

the yonex is a better frame

 

[n8dawg6]

the grip is the main downside to the yonex, just kinda weird until you get used to it

 

[fpsanti]

the yonex is a better frame

in what way is it better? stability, aero, feeling,...

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[TforTommy]

You’ll get used to the yonex grip shape. You can also change to leather grip if you so chose although for me it was abit more uncomfortable. Personally after some playing the grip shape really grew on me a lot. You’ll find that it’s more forgiving, larger sweet spot thanks to its isometric headshape and thin beam allows the stick to come through the air quicker incase you’ve got an off centre shot. I tried playing with the vcore at a low 45 with volkl cyclone and I typically hit with 52 pounds. It was really great, got amazing spin and quality control on yonex is some of the best. You’re absolutely going to get more out of the yonexes.

If you want a larger grip size just go to the biggest one they can, and add a thick leather replacement grip and then add 2 more overgrips, you’ll add some nice weight but still get that comfort back with the 2 overgrips

The vcore is great to customise too, for me personally. Stick with the yonex, you’ll get much more bang for your buck. It’s the small things that you’ll find out you can do with the yonex after you really play with it a lot that’ll be nicer. Vcore 98 was also great fun for slapping flat winners and my backhand slice, something I don’t get with my Wilson’s

 

[kailash]

Somehow I like them both and cannot decide.

Which one are you winning more points/matches with? I would go with it.
If winning equally, then with whichever you feel more connected to the ball!

 

[fpsanti]

Which one are you winning more points/matches with? I would go with it.
If winning equally, then with whichever you feel more connected to the ball!

I won with both. With Yonex I have more winners, with TF more aces.

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[kailash]

I won with both. With Yonex I have more winners, with TF more aces.

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Your call now!
I would go with TF, more aces, just get over with the point sooner

 

[TforTommy]

You'll eventually adjust with the yonex and serve. I've been a wilson head and tried other frames but only other brands frame i'd ever switch to is yonex. Go yonex !

 

[fpsanti]

I just added 1g at 12 on the Yonex (already had lead tape at 3 and 9) and it became a different animal. I started serving big, placing balls deep with lot of spin.
Then I switched back to the TF and it felt like a toy. Don't get me wrong, TF is still a nice racquet but the tuning on the Yonex changed the game.
I'll go for the Yonex.

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[TforTommy]

My man, that's so awesome. Yonex/frames with thin beams + isometric headshape with larger sweetspot + low string tension = beast

 

[MilanA]

How about adding the Prince Beast 98 to the mix? Anyone played the Vcore98 and the Beast 98? How do they compare?

 

[fpsanti]

How about adding the Prince Beast 98 to the mix? Anyone played the Vcore98 and the Beast 98? How do they compare?

very hard to find Prince racquets here where I live.

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[Crocodile]

I'd go with the Yonex for better comfort and feel. The Tecnifibre should be better with all its foam filed XTC fight range but still too stiff feeling for me unless you go the 315 LTD which is the best frame they make right now. Sure miss the old 325 and 320 Samurai range they made a while ago, they were decent.

 

[fpsanti]

So, I bought 2x Yonex Vcore 98.
Added lead tape at 3,9,12 o'clock plus silicon in the handle.
Final specs are: static weight 346g, swing weight 329g, balance 32 cm.
Just played a tournament and lost in the final. My best result so far. Happy of the choice.
I played with Yonex PTD at 24kg. Will try PT Strike soon.

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[blai212]

do u have the black vcore 98 galaxy or the flame red version? I demo’d the red version a while back and felt indifferent about it and just recently traded for the vcore 98 galaxy absolutely fell in love with it...compared to my ezone 98, it was just way softer, more powerful, more flexy feel...i feel like the matte black rubbery paint finish makes the racquet play softer/smoother. Last year I was playing with the all black RF97 which has a similar paintjob and I had several people tell me that my black RF97 played softer than their red/black original RF97 version. Does anybody else feel this way or is it just in my head??? I know this to be the case with strings...for some strings, the black color plays more muted, deadened, softer feel while the brighter colors like yellow play more lively/crisp. The coloring definitely affects the way the strings play so why wouldnt the paintjob on these racquets? Whatever the case, i LOVE the vcore 98 galaxy... go yonex!
B


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[fpsanti]

do u have the black vcore 98 galaxy or the flame red version? I demo’d the red version a while back and felt indifferent about it and just recently traded for the vcore 98 galaxy absolutely fell in love with it...compared to my ezone 98, it was just way softer, more powerful, more flexy feel...i feel like the matte black rubbery paint finish makes the racquet play softer/smoother. Last year I was playing with the all black RF97 which has a similar paintjob and I had several people tell me that my black RF97 played softer than their red/black original RF97 version. Does anybody else feel this way or is it just in my head??? I know this to be the case with strings...for some strings, the black color plays more muted, deadened, softer feel while the brighter colors like yellow play more lively/crisp. The coloring definitely affects the way the strings play so why wouldnt the paintjob on these racquets? Whatever the case, i LOVE the vcore 98 galaxy... go yonex!
B


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demoed red, bought black [emoji1665]

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[blai212]

do they play differently???


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[fpsanti]

do they play differently???


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cannot tell the difference between the two frame colors. but feel the difference between same strings, different colors.

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