Yonex V Core 98D, what a nice surprise!

pepka said:

No flex but comfortable. A little dampend feel, stable at impact. Yours seems pretty heavy at 335g.

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I have an extra overgrip on it because it's a 3/8 and I usually use a 1/2.
I guess that is adding about 5 g's, so without it would be 330. Is that more like it should be?

Pepka could u add a little more about your experience with it? Also, how does it compare to the London?

^ TW review and description are spot on. If you play with lot of spin (from brushing up the ball, u may want to look elsewhere). Hitting thru is what it's all about with this stick. I could see myself using it as my main stick but im done experimenting with racquets... for some time at least ;-) Don't know about the weight thing (lools like your string setup might be a bit heavier, hence the 330g).

pepka said:

^ TW review and description are spot on. If you play with lot of spin (from brushing up the ball, u may want to look elsewhere). Hitting thru is what it's all about with this stick. I could see myself using it as my main stick but im done experimenting with racquets... for some time at least ;-) Don't know about the weight thing (lools like your string setup might be a bit heavier, hence the 330g).

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I do "hit through" the ball moreso than brushing up.

I am not sure though how a racquet could be made more for "hitting through" than "brushing up" the ball??? Seems like marketing mumbo jumbo to me

pepka said:

^ TW review and description are spot on. If you play with lot of spin (from brushing up the ball, u may want to look elsewhere). Hitting thru is what it's all about with this stick. I could see myself using it as my main stick but im done experimenting with racquets... for some time at least ;-) Don't know about the weight thing (lools like your string setup might be a bit heavier, hence the 330g).

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It's not TW's review, it has nothing to do with them and it's actually easy to say that.
First Yonex didn't design that racket for spinners, so Yonex is spot on with their recommendation.
Second if you are looking for spin, it's already proven that 16x19 and 16x18 will be better for, so it is no brainer to stay away from closed plattern rackets.
But you can hit spin balls, but you are not gonna get the main benefits of the racket.
I have played with the 95D and found it to be a great control racket for those who don't use much spin kicking like a mule and it is a very forgiving racket and comfortable. If you are an aggressive player that goes for the line shots and like to just flat it out and go for it that's the racket.
95D or 98D would be a racket for guys like Soderling, Simon, respectively.

JackB1 said:

I do "hit through" the ball moreso than brushing up.

I am not sure though how a racquet could be made more for "hitting through" than "brushing up" the ball??? Seems like marketing mumbo jumbo to me

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it's true. lefty's review was spot on...

if you drive through the ball the lateral flex of the racquet will give you a comfortable hit... but if your a brusher, the vcore's torsional stiffness will give you a harsh response on off-center hits....

JackB1 said:

Hey parasailing. We seem to try the same kind of racquets a lot

Are u playing your stock so far? Does the swingweight feel "substantial" or do u think it will need some lead tape? Does it feel stable?
How is the feel at impact? Is it more firm and stiff or more soft and flexy or something in between? You said it was a bit crisper than the Rad MP, which is a pretty flexy frame. Can u feel some flex and give with the frame at impact or does it stay firm?

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A racketholic that can't stop trying out new racquets when they come out :twisted:. The Yonex was stock and came with cheap strings so I can imagine it playing better once I get a demo or purchase a used one and string it up with better strings. It just feels solid especially if you are a flat hitter. If you put massive topspin, it might not be the racquet for you.

It was solid without being stiff on the shoulder and in the past, I never really like Yonex racquets so I was surprised when I got the results I did hitting with it. I will try to get the V95 to demo as well to see how it compares and then I will try to pick up a use one of whichever plays better to add to me collection.

Tried the 98D today.

At first I didn't like how it felt, but it grew on me. I can see now how this racquet works better for flatter hitting than loopy topspin. It just does.

This racquet has many nice attributes. Beautiful paint job.
Decent power without being too much. Easy to use and pretty forgiving. Reminds me of the RDiS 300. Contact is pretty firm feeling and I was a little disappointed that the frame has no flex to it. It wasn't overly stiff, but definitely felt a little on the stiff side for me. I have to see if there will be any arm or elbow soreness after playing with it some more.
That is my only concern. Otherwise, this is a great choice for 3.5-4.5 players....especially if you drive the ball more than spin it.

JackB1 said:

Tried the 98D today.

At first I didn't like how it felt, but it grew on me. I can see now how this racquet works better for flatter hitting than loopy topspin. It just does.

This racquet has many nice attributes. Beautiful paint job.
Decent power without being too much. Easy to use and pretty forgiving. Reminds me of the RDiS 300. Contact is pretty firm feeling and I was a little disappointed that the frame has no flex to it. It wasn't overly stiff, but definitely felt a little on the stiff side for me. I have to see if there will be any arm or elbow soreness after playing with it some more.
That is my only concern. Otherwise, this is a great choice for 3.5-4.5 players....especially if you drive the ball more than spin it.

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It takes a little getting use to but this racquet is great for driving the ball. Topspin just doesn't work well with this racquet so if you have long smooth classic strokes, this it the racquet for you. It really not stiff but not flexy either so if you use to having a racquet that have good flex, this is not for you. I find using this racquet, I hit much flatter but if I go with the Pure Storm Tour GT, I get more spin.

parasailing said:

It takes a little getting use to but this racquet is great for driving the ball. Topspin just doesn't work well with this racquet so if you have long smooth classic strokes, this it the racquet for you. It really not stiff but not flexy either so if you use to having a racquet that have good flex, this is not for you. I find using this racquet, I hit much flatter but if I go with the Pure Storm Tour GT, I get more spin.

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Parasailing......have u tried the London?

JackB1 said:

Parasailing......have u tried the London?

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No I haven't had a chance to demo the racquet. I still going through selling some of my other racquets so I can pick up the Yonex 98D and the Organix 10 325 but I will put that on my list of racquets to try out. That should end my racquet thirst hopefully .

zumzool said:

it's true. lefty's review was spot on...

if you drive through the ball the lateral flex of the racquet will give you a comfortable hit... but if your a brusher, the vcore's torsional stiffness will give you a harsh response on off-center hits....

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Hey Zum....how do u compare the 98D to the London? They have very similar specs. How do they compare in power, feel, stiffness and sweetspot? I am trying both right now and I seem to play better with the 98D, but I like the feel of the flexy London better. Why can't I have both???!!!

JackB1 said:

Hey Zum....how do u compare the 98D to the London? They have very similar specs. How do they compare in power, feel, stiffness and sweetspot? I am trying both right now and I seem to play better with the 98D, but I like the feel of the flexy London better. Why can't I have both???!!!

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Wont the X10 be a midpoint between the VCORE and the London? Just guessing.

Boricua said:

Wont the X10 be a midpoint between the VCORE and the London? Just guessing.

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The X10 295 I hitted with to me feels a bit stiffer than the Pure Storm Tour GT which has a higher stiffness index when you look at the specs but you still have to try out the racquet just to be sure.

Boricua said:

Wont the X10 be a midpoint between the VCORE and the London? Just guessing.

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If u mean the X10-295, then it's in the same league. The X10-325 is above my level (3.5-4.0). I tried the X10-295 briefly and didn't care for it too much.

JackB1 said:

Hey Zum....how do u compare the 98D to the London? They have very similar specs. How do they compare in power, feel, stiffness and sweetspot? I am trying both right now and I seem to play better with the 98D, but I like the feel of the flexy London better. Why can't I have both???!!!

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I've only played with the 95d... I'm tempted to try the 98 because I think the larger sweetspot would be beneficial but I have a feeling it's gonna be too light and a little stiffer than I'd like....

In general, I think the Vcores and the London are two entirely different racquets though. I found the power levels to be similar but the London has more feel. I think both produce a different kinda of ball as the London has more topspin and can be more loopy while the vcores hit a more penetrating ball....

Played a league singles match last night with my new VCore 98D and it performed very well. Not once did the racquet "get in the way". It just let me play as I wanted to and I that's all u can ask. Great power and you can swing away as hard as you like. A moderate long old school swing gives you a nice flat deep ball, where a faster loopy swing gives you a dipping topspin shot. Serves were great...either a hard flat one or a spinny topspin or kick. Very manuevarable racquet as well and I am playing it stock. It won't get pushed around at my level (3.5-4.0) and the lighter swingweight helps when out of position. Volleys were also great and were easy to punch with good pace. Only negative was that I am still adjusting a little to the Yonex headshape and the sweetspot isn't overly large, but adequate and provides good accuracy when u hit it. The racquet has a 65 stiffness and it feels about right...not flexy but not too stiff...just comfortably firm. No lingering arm or elbow pain after playing.

Really a great stick that should work well for 3.5-5.0 players. I also added my own "flare" to the buttcap and that made a huge difference for me in the way it felt in my hands. I built up the flar under the grip with some rolled up hockey tape and it feels great now. I dont like that flat Yonex buttcap.

Anyone who uses this stick can relate to my situation with the racquet?
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=387913

mrmo1115 said:

Anyone who uses this stick can relate to my situation with the racquet?
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=387913

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just replace it and be done with it.

the Yonex stock grips are horrible anyway

^ I don't think I'll get into replacing it.. there aren't that many other replacement grips out there that really are pushing me to do it. Just wanted to ask though if you felt any sort of grooves when you added that Yonex OG to the V Core?

mrmo1115 said:

^ I don't think I'll get into replacing it.. there aren't that many other replacement grips out there that really are pushing me to do it. Just wanted to ask though if you felt any sort of grooves when you added that Yonex OG to the V Core?

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Yonex super grap is the best over grip out there, there is no competition for it.

Yonex also has some new grips coming out soon, it's already on YONEX USA, at least the pictures are there.

I always use an over grip because it is the right size for me, however if you like to play only with cushion grip you may try to buy the Boris Becker grip, i thought it was really good, if you live in a humid area and hot you just may try to use over grip.

have any of you tried a full bed of synthetic gut in yours v core 98d?