Completely dumbstruck by Yonex VCORE 89!

[Herve]

I got very intrigued about the new Yonex VCore 89 and decided to pull the trigger and get one. I had read some glowing reviews and was wondering if the frame was over-hyped. Not so.

I finally got to play with it last night, and what a revelation! Just to put things in perspective, I played with the PS85 for a long time, before switching to Yonex (RD7, RDX500, RDS002T, RDiS100) in recent years.

To paraphrase someone else on this forum, if there ever was a Nobel prize for racket design, whoever at Yonex designed that frame should receive it.

It's the closest thing to a modern iteration of the PS85 I have ever played with. The Wilson PS6.1 does not even come close.

It does not feel like an 89 at all. The sweet spot is huge. I actually shank balls more with my RDiS. The weight distribution is amazing, feels like the PS85 with teh weight somewhere in the top of the throat.

Topspin generation is unreal. I could take deep cuts at the ball (1HBH, Semi-western FH) and find amazing angles which I've never been able to generate with my RDiS. You can actually SEE the ball rotate faster as it leaves teh racket.

Plowthrough is humongous. Once that racket head flies, there's no stopping it, the momentum is huge. Word of warning: get your timing right or you'll start spraying.

The feel is crisp, yet plush. Much more arm-friendly than the RDiS, which gave me frequent TE. (String setup similar: Bab Pro Hurrican Mains 55, Excel Crosses 55)

The touch is great on drop shots and volleys.

This stick seems to have it all. It's a great player's racket with few or the ordinarily associated drawbacks.

last but not least, the build quality is second to none (made in Japan).

Somewhere in Japan, there's an unsung hero, a great racket designer who came up with something realy out of the ordinary and spectacularly good. This guy is my new hero.

[Bartelby]

Is it hard to serve with after a while given that it's a huge chunk of racquet?

[Herve]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

Is it hard to serve with after a while given that it's a huge chunk of racquet?

Not really, it feels very manoeuverable and headlight despite the static & swing weight. I have a classic serve motion where I raise my racket high above my head for flat serves and then thwack the ball down with plenty of wrist motion.

I didn't feel like that different from my leaded-up RDiS.

Hope this helps.

[syke]

it is the new goat racquet. Other than Federer playing it during his off season. Which other pro is endorsing it?

[filphil]

I've talked to TW about their trade in program and got a good price on my donnay. I'm strongly considering picking this racket up as the replacement. In the meanwhile I'll be playing with my Prince pro series 90.

[mad dog1]

i play w/ the PS85 and the VCore 89 Tour swings like a log in comparison. while the feel is amazing, you've got to be Paul Bunyan to get it around. it feels every bit of it's 335 swing weight and possibly more. the sweetspot is indeed huge for a mid, but it's not much help if you're consistently late on contact.

[Bartelby]

So what was your setup on the rdis 93 and how does it differ from the 89?

Originally Posted by Herve

Not really, it feels very manoeuverable and headlight despite the static & swing weight. I have a classic serve motion where I raise my racket high above my head for flat serves and then thwack the ball down with plenty of wrist motion.

I didn't feel like that different from my leaded-up RDiS.

Hope this helps.

[Herve]

Originally Posted by mad dog1

i play w/ the PS85 and the VCore 89 Tour swings like a log in comparison. while the feel is amazing, you've got to be Paul Bunyan to get it around. it feels every bit of it's 335 swing weight and possibly more. the sweetspot is indeed huge for a mid, but it's not much help if you're consistently late on contact.

It didn't feel that different (i leaded up my PS85, so that could explain that).

I'm by no means bulky and yet i could not feel any fatigue from wielding the 89 last night. Just let the racquet do all the hard work.

I will agree with you , though and confirm what I mentioned in my original post: your timing must be impeccable, otherwise you start spraying.
Get your timing right, put enough topspin on the ball, and it's guaranteed to land within the lines with amazing accuracy.

[Herve]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

So what was your setup on the rdis 93 and how does it differ from the 89?

I'm using the RDiS 100MP (98 SQI), leaded up +12g with a hybrid setup Babolat Hurricane 16 (M) + Babolat Excel Pro 16 (X) at 55Lbs.

I think the total weight for the RDiS is 352, compared to the 89 335g, so the 89 actually felt more nimble and manoeuverable, although this has a lot to do with the weight distribution which is very different.

Best way to put it: if you're old enough (like me) to remember the days when you started playing with a mono/ wooden racket with the weight seemingly coming from where the shaft meets the racket head, you will get a similar sensation from the 89. But then again, it's a matter of perception and is subjective.

[Dgdavid]

Originally Posted by Herve

Get your timing right, put enough topspin on the ball, and it's guaranteed to land within the lines with amazing accuracy.

The need to do that every time is (to me anyway) the definition of a demanding racket. I get my timing right a lot but the tale of the ball fuzz on my strings shows I stray around the stringbed during a match. Would love the 89 but this is the type of comment that scares me off for how I know I play (hit a lot of flat shots too).

[roundiesee]

The VCORE 97 is quite good too; I had a very brief hit with it for about 15 min and was quite impressed; will try to get a demo of the VCORE 89 and post some thoughts.

[Muse]

Can you compare the 89 to the RD-7 quickly? I'd appreciate it greatly

[Herve]

There's no comparison, really. If memory serves me well, the RD-7 did not have a 10th of the spin potential and explosive power the 89 possesses.

Balance is very different too, the RD-7 felt a lot more muted, whereas the 89 is very much alive and sends plenty of feedback.

Not sure if that helps. if i was to compare the 89 to a more recent Yonex player's frame , the RD ti 80 (also with a core filling), the 89 produces a lot more power for the same level of effort (both require long, full strokes).

The RD Ti feels dull and seriously underpowered and nowhere near as nimble and manoeuverable.

[Herve]

Originally Posted by Dgdavid

The need to do that every time is (to me anyway) the definition of a demanding racket. I get my timing right a lot but the tale of the ball fuzz on my strings shows I stray around the stringbed during a match. Would love the 89 but this is the type of comment that scares me off for how I know I play (hit a lot of flat shots too).

I did not mean to deter you with that comment about timing. In actual fact, the 1st time i played with the 89, my partner thought i was playing so much better (he did not notice i had a new stick).

I did not have to change anything or adapt to dial in to the frame, it came very naturally.

Now, remember I said i was shanking balls and spraying a lot more with my RDiS100MP. Yes, there were a few times when i got my timing wrong (bad footwork being the culprit) and I sent the ball flying, but these occurences were few and far between compared to my performance with the RDiS.

If you have the ability to demo, please do so and i'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised, it's not as demanding as it seems. It's just that when you fail with that stick , you will fail in spectacular fashion!

[Boricua]

Originally Posted by mad dog1

i play w/ the PS85 and the VCore 89 Tour swings like a log in comparison. while the feel is amazing, you've got to be Paul Bunyan to get it around. it feels every bit of it's 335 swing weight and possibly more. the sweetspot is indeed huge for a mid, but it's not much help if you're consistently late on contact.

Good to know. I need all the speed I can get in my not so classic swing strokes. Seems like a great racket for people who hit with more traditional strokes who like to drive their shots.

[syke]

You people are making me go nuts! Should I go for the 89 or 97? My only worry is the head size, going from a 100 to 89 seems rather extreme.

[javierjavier]

Originally Posted by roundiesee

The VCORE 97 is quite good too; I had a very brief hit with it for about 15 min and was quite impressed; will try to get a demo of the VCORE 89 and post some thoughts.

i prefer it over the 89- that extra bit of real estate makes a huge difference for me. while there's definitely a quality of play unique to mids that I enjoy, I realize my level of play is just better with a mp.

it's definitely a big boy stick even compared to the 89, and unfortunately think most will find it out of their comfort zone. a real shame since it's such a sweet stick.

[javierjavier]

Originally Posted by Boricua

Good to know. I need all the speed I can get in my not so classic swing strokes. Seems like a great racket for people who hit with more traditional strokes who like to drive their shots.

the 89 is extremely maneuverable imo and with the way it's weighted comes around nicely. besides rhs is more a function of the player vs racquet anyway. that said, if you're game is played mostly on the bl then think you'd be better off with something larger than a mid anyway.

[Muse]

Originally Posted by Herve

There's no comparison, really. If memory serves me well, the RD-7 did not have a 10th of the spin potential and explosive power the 89 possesses.

I doubt your memory serves your very well in this instance. RD-7 is one of the best spin racquets of all time

[LanEvo]

Originally Posted by Muse

I doubt your memory serves your very well in this instance. RD-7 is one of the best spin racquets of all time

I think Babolat is.