2023 Yonex VCores

Flair328 said:
eMs1tnD.jpg



They've arrived, out for a hit with the VC 98 Tour.
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Where at? I can’t wait to grab one! I so hope they are coming to the US.
 
wilsonnoob said:
does anyone know if Yonex will discount the 2023 anytime soon? Want to pickup a 98/100 for extended playtesting ;)
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I think they usually discount right before the next version. seeing as it is still 2023, you might be out of luck, but I do not have any insider accesd.
 
jmacdaununder2 said:
Wow!! So they made them; wonder if they're available - or ever will be available - elsewhere?
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Pooschnikens said:
Hate to be the bearer of bad tidings but..

Per our Yonex rep, the + VCores are no more. Simply not selling well enough to keep in the stable.
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Maybe in the US

The 98+ and 100+ just dropped here in the UK alongside the Tour

 
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I had the opportunity to demo the Vcore 95 2023 for two days. String was Luxilon Adrenaline

I am 4,0, allcourt player with OHBH (more loopy), semi western FH (mostly flatter topspin shots)
My go to racket is the AET with 3g lead in the hoop and counterbalanced with weight in the handle. String: Solinco Confidential
Total weight 332g

Summary and comparison:
Positives:
The stability of the vcore 95 is very good. Not rock solid as for example the 360+ radical pro or RF97, but still very good and for most situations sufficent. Only at the net, I noticed a bit of instability in the hoop.
The racket is also very maneuverable and powerful. The feel of the racket is very soft and old school. It reminded me a bit of the youtek IG radical pro or 360+ Prestige rackets. The feel is much better than the 2021 version. It is also very similar to an Angel TC95. For me, the 2021 Version was very stiff, harsh and muted. It gave me pain in the hand.
Best shots were serve and forehand with the version 2023.

Cons and dislikes:
Unfortunately the main issue was control. For me, the string pattern is too open. I like rackets with a dense string pattern in the center, so that I can trust every shot.
With the VC95 I lost confidence, when I want to go for lines. The AET is much denser in the center, so that I can aim for smaller spots.
Also VC95 feels quite big and much to swing. I didn‘t like this bulkniss.
The 2021 version felt more compact.

Comparison with AET:
Power: VC95 > AET
Control: AET > VC95
Feel: AET > VC95
Maneuverability: AET > VC95
Stability: VC95 > AET (stock)
Spin: AET = VC95
 
Its a bit weird because on paper those specs are really tour-like and even some pros would probably pick something lighter. But when I was holding ezone tour it felt pretty fast actually…
Yonex must be doing something Cool with weight distribution
 
galapagos said:
Yap
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I was told by the West/Northwest rep that there were no plans for a 98+ VC V.7. That was back at the end of May/beg of June. Now certainly things could have changed since then but I would think it would be logistically near impossible to roll out a frame that was not initially scheduled to launch so quickly. I’ll have to touch bases with him and get the scoop
 
I asked my local shop in Northern California this week and they said no Vcore+ are coming too. Guess I'm just gonna have to get my stock internationally.
 
VS_Power said:
I asked my local shop in Northern California this week and they said no Vcore+ are coming too. Guess I'm just gonna have to get my stock internationally.
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It’s unfortunate but that’s what’s so. Extended length rackets on the whole simply don’t sell enough units to continue on with most, save for a few. I believe there may still be inventory available for the V.6 VCore 97+ if interested in that. I can certainly ask our NORCAL rep what’s left. What grip size do you need?
 
Pooschnikens said:
It’s unfortunate but that’s what’s so. Extended length rackets on the whole simply don’t sell enough units to continue on with most, save for a few. I believe there may still be inventory available for the V.6 VCore 97+ if interested in that. I can certainly ask our NORCAL rep what’s left. What grip size do you need?
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Where in NorCalyare you btw?
 
Pooschnikens said:
It’s unfortunate but that’s what’s so. Extended length rackets on the whole simply don’t sell enough units to continue on with most, save for a few. I believe there may still be inventory available for the V.6 VCore 97+ if interested in that. I can certainly ask our NORCAL rep what’s left. What grip size do you need?
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Pooschnikens said:
Where in NorCalyare you btw?
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Appreciate it! I'm a big fan of the 2023 gen 7s so it's either that or I'll order them internationally. I actually already have a 2023 98+ on the way from Asia, but I'm keeping watch in case I need a second. It was about 300 shipped total, not too bad at all. But until I have it and hit a few balls with it it's possible I'm getting scammed I'm located in Palo Alto.
 
Flair328 said:

Specification​

Weight315g
Balance320mm
String Pattern16×19
Racket Length27in
Headsize98sq in
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It's interesting that they increased the balance point by 0.5cm (on the VC98 Tour compared to VC98). The Ezone 98 tour has the balance point 1cm up compared to the Ezone 98.

Any idea why they increase the balance at all? It looks like both the light-weight (VC98L) and heavy (tour) versions of these rackets are all more head-heavy than the "standard" versions, which is pretty puzzling.
 
Because the carbon fibre hairpin has more material and mass, but they don't compensate in the handle

Stock Ezone Tour works for double handers and some one handers, but most one handers will need to add 5-10g to the handle. And some 2-3g at 12 too, to get it to 340sw. Only then is the frame nicely in balance, although it works OKish stock, with a bit too much mass at the throat

Vcore Tour is probably similarly made for futures and challengers players, a proper pro frame

305g Ezone and Vcore work just fine for the usual 16yo junior players, going to college etc - their aimed market - and can take added weight nicely too, but up to a limit
 
GodlessEndeavor said:
It's interesting that they increased the balance point by 0.5cm (on the VC98 Tour compared to VC98). The Ezone 98 tour has the balance point 1cm up compared to the Ezone 98.

Any idea why they increase the balance at all? It looks like both the light-weight (VC98L) and heavy (tour) versions of these rackets are all more head-heavy than the "standard" versions, which is pretty puzzling.
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Just my 2 centavos,

I suspect racket division think tanks have come to the conclusion that prior to the introduction of a “tour” model, 4-4.5, collegiate, satellite, pro level players were left to heavily modify standard frames. It’s a safe bet that if you took 15-20 modified rackets in this style of frames, a good majority have simply added weight to the head for added swing weight and stability. From that subset, I’d say fewer took the next step of counterbalancing the handle via leather grip swap or silicone or lead added to the handle. If this were so, this tour spec would essentially what most would mod it to, give it take. Both the Ezone and VCore are considered new school which would increase the likelihood that most who are looking at either frame are 2HBH players. The balance would not be as key of an issue in this instance.
Now old cats like yours truly would look to modify them differently. We would try to make them heavier as aforementioned. However, we would tend to at minimum maintain the balance or opt to make it a bit more HL for added maneuverability.
 
Now, onto the Vcore tour! SO much more solid in feel compared to its lighter 98 305g sibling. Didn’t feel hollowed out at all. Def has more meat on the bone and boy did it feel good! This VCore tour is its own entity & feels/plays nothing like the standard 98. felt more like a players frame yet still retained nearly all the Vcore attributes which threw me for a bit of a surprise! TBH, I was not expecting to be as wowed by this frame as I thought I would given my go-to is the ‘21 VCP 97H & 97D. All my attention has been focused on the upcoming Percept lineup. This changes my whole calculus!
Improved responsiveness on the BH whether slice or top/flat and virtually no dead spaces in the stringbed. Just a different animal altogether. This is how the VCore 95 should play & feel like imo! Just more solid, more stable, less hollow feeling.
Yonex has a sleeper on its hands I think. As more people try it who may be using the 305g or comparable, prepare to have an ear to ear grin on your face after you’ve hit with it!
 
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Pooschnikens said:
Now, onto the Vcore tour! SO much more solid in feel compared to its lighter 98 305g sibling. Didn’t feel hollowed out at all. Def has more meat on the bone and boy did it feel good! This VCore tour is its own entity & feels/plays nothing like the standard 98. felt more like a players frame yet still retained nearly all the Vcore attributes which threw me for a bit of a surprise! TBH, I was not expecting to be as wowed by this frame as I thought I would given my go-to is the ‘21 VCP 97H & 97D. All my attention has been focused on the upcoming Percept lineup. This changes my whole calculus!
Improved responsiveness on the BH whether slice or top/flat and virtually no dead spaces in the stringbed. Just a different animal altogether. This is how the VCore 95 should play & feel like imo! Just more solid, more stable, less hollow feeling.
Yonex has a sleeper on its hands I think. As more people try it who may be using the 305g or comparable, prepare to have an ear to ear grin on your face after you’ve hit with it!
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Don't need this kind of temptation!
 
Pooschnikens said:

About to playtest these two side by side along with the VCP 97D & Percept 97D.

Stay tuned..
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Forgot the comparison review:

Very much in line with its Ezone tour cousin. Rock solid and great stability upon contact with the ball. Both can feel a bit more demanding when compared to their respective 305g versions but never sensed that personally. Also, both feel as if it’s more predictable with less surprises, which I like. They def compel you to go after your shots so don’t expect a ton of free power. With the right string setup, both are absolute beasts!

**Both were strung up with Poly Tour Rev 1.25mm @ 54lbs with a 5% pre-stretch one right after the other.
 
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Pooschnikens said:
Now, onto the Vcore tour! SO much more solid in feel compared to its lighter 98 305g sibling. Didn’t feel hollowed out at all. Def has more meat on the bone and boy did it feel good! This VCore tour is its own entity & feels/plays nothing like the standard 98. felt more like a players frame yet still retained nearly all the Vcore attributes which threw me for a bit of a surprise! TBH, I was not expecting to be as wowed by this frame as I thought I would given my go-to is the ‘21 VCP 97H & 97D. All my attention has been focused on the upcoming Percept lineup. This changes my whole calculus!
Improved responsiveness on the BH whether slice or top/flat and virtually no dead spaces in the stringbed. Just a different animal altogether. This is how the VCore 95 should play & feel like imo! Just more solid, more stable, less hollow feeling.
Yonex has a sleeper on its hands I think. As more people try it who may be using the 305g or comparable, prepare to have an ear to ear grin on your face after you’ve hit with it!
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I saw the VCore 98 Tour static weight (315g), balance (320), and string pattern (16x19) listed above in this thread but any insights on what the beam width, RA, and swingweight might be?
 
Nice, thanks. Do you play more flat or higher trajectory, western forehand etc? One hander or two?

And why the prestretch on Rev? Quite a surprise..
 
Pooschnikens said:
Now, onto the Vcore tour! SO much more solid in feel compared to its lighter 98 305g sibling. Didn’t feel hollowed out at all. Def has more meat on the bone and boy did it feel good! This VCore tour is its own entity & feels/plays nothing like the standard 98. felt more like a players frame yet still retained nearly all the Vcore attributes which threw me for a bit of a surprise! TBH, I was not expecting to be as wowed by this frame as I thought I would given my go-to is the ‘21 VCP 97H & 97D. All my attention has been focused on the upcoming Percept lineup. This changes my whole calculus!
Improved responsiveness on the BH whether slice or top/flat and virtually no dead spaces in the stringbed. Just a different animal altogether. This is how the VCore 95 should play & feel like imo! Just more solid, more stable, less hollow feeling.
Yonex has a sleeper on its hands I think. As more people try it who may be using the 305g or comparable, prepare to have an ear to ear grin on your face after you’ve hit with it!
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Excellent initial review @Pooschnikens. Just curious, is that a 32cm strung balance? Or unstrung? If that's strung, then that would be a 31cm unstrung balance (just like the 97D) and as a one-hander, my fangs would be out for sure.

BPlain said:
any insights on what the beam width, RA, and swingweight might be?
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I would have to believe it's the same mold as the regular VCore 98, but with more graphite, possibly a hair more firm, and likely a bit more swing weight.

I would presume the VC98 Tour is what Tommy Paul has been wielding all along. Would love to find that out somehow...
 
Trip said:
Excellent initial review @Pooschnikens. Just curious, is that a 32cm strung balance? Or unstrung? If that's strung, then that would be a 31cm unstrung balance (just like the 97D) and as a one-hander, my fangs would be out for sure.


I would have to believe it's the same mold as the regular VCore 98, but with more graphite, possibly a hair more firm, and likely a bit more swing weight.

I would presume the VC98 Tour is what Tommy Paul has been wielding all along. Would love to find that out somehow...
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I’m pretty sure 32cm is the unstrung balance. I recall seeing that on pics that were posted before the release.
 
EggSalad said:
I’m pretty sure 32cm is the unstrung balance. I recall seeing that on pics that were posted before the release.
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Damn. Was hoping for 31.5cm at the most. Oh well. If they get the mass distribution right, it may be better than suspected, similar to how the Radical MP is better for a OHBH than one might suspect based on stock balance alone.
 
I have a friend who has a Briffidi S-1 swing weight device which, for a small compact unit, gets it done and is quite accurate. I’ll see about meeting up with him this evening and get some numbers.
Visually when you compare the 305g to the tour, they’re spot on so in terms of beam width they’re the same. As for RA, again I’ll reach out and see about obtains that figure.
 
Trip said:
Damn. Was hoping for 31.5cm at the most. Oh well. If they get the mass distribution right, it may be better than suspected, similar to how the Radical MP is better for a OHBH than one might suspect based on stock balance alone.
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I’m a 1HBH player and didn’t find the balance in stock form to be an issue. The racket came around quickly and even with that balance felt beefy yet nimble at the same time.

**disclaimer: I typically alternate between the VCP 97H, 97D, and V.7 VC 95. All have I Yonex leather grips + additional Supergrap, & dampener, and the 97D has an additional 4g of lead tape positioned at 10 &
97H only received a grip swap along with Supergrap and Yonex damper as well.
 
My guess is, strung with 1.25:

sw 330 or slightly below on average, flex same or a point higher than regular Vcore 98, same mould - same beam, unstrung weight 313g on average
 
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