@Romix - First, I'll profile the VCT89, then important info I've found here and elsewhere about you, then get to recommendations.
In addition to the above specs, sweet spot is 17" (huge for an 89" head size), strung twist weight is a fairly low/maneuverable 13.3, handle Hz vibration is 140, and TWU-listed SW was 331 (vs 335 on RacquetFinder).
For those who might need a bit more clueing in, here the original TW review:
www.tennis-warehouse.com
Overall, we're dealing with Yonex's last great mid – a 330g all-court 89" player's "scalpel" that's just about as playable as one could expect an 89 to be in the modern game. Very maneuverable (89" + 20.5mm beam + 11pt unstrung balance + fairly low 13.3tw strung), very precise (16x20 with 8-throat mains in 89"), and stock 330+sw strung offers good plow-through-based power in stock form. And the layup of just micro core + X-fullerene also gave it a solid, direct, connected feel, with pretty much zero muting – something that is sorely lacking in most of today's frames.
Pertinent info on Romix:
- Really like the combo of 16x20 + 8 throat mains + 89"
- Specs his VCT89's around 365g, so ~20g more static weight added after strings (I would guess most in/around the handle?)
- String/tension: Black Zone @ 44/40 in the VCT89; needed 60-ish to find adequate control with an EZ98, so definitely a flatter hitter
- Has progressed away from larger-headed, thicker-beamed, higher-powered frames (Hyper Hammer > EZ100 > EZ98)
- Also has the VCore Pro 97HD and enjoys that as well, but finds the 97" 18x20 too low in launch angle
- Tried the VCP 97D, but felt it had a little too much hoop weight
- On his 1HBH, he drives it 95% of the time, only hits slice maybe 5% of the time
So I think first off, I can see how one might latch onto the 16x20 pattern as a key spec, but you need to also consider cell sizing of the pattern. Example: as
@thenewbig3 said, I'm fairly certain you won't get along with the Elevate, as the 16x20 mains and crosses are
super open over the entire face, and when making purely flatter contact, that much open-ness can/will lead to over/under launching with even just the slightest bit of face angle variation. Frames with patterns that open are really best used by those with newer-school technique, ie. a SW or more Western forehand, who use spin and resulting shot curvature as a good portion of control/precision.
Overall, I think you'd be best served by sticking closer to what you're are used to: boxier-beamed 95-100" player/pleener frames, 305-320g unstrung static weight, centrally-dense 16-main patterns (be they with 19 or 20 crosses), 17"+ sweet spot, stock strung SW of low-mid 320's to 330-ish (so you don't have to go monkeying with too much lead, if any), stock strung twist weight of <= mid 14's (for enough maneuverability on your 1HBH). Finding all of that together can be a bit tough, but here are all of the options that I think would fit the bill (alphabetical by brand/model):
Sub-100's:
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Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19 with leather grip + butt cap weight - Probably going to feel more meat-mallet -ish than you might ideally like, but still worth a try, just to check it off if nothing else.
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Head Boom Pro - Similarly isometric, more forgiveness than either the Radical or Prestige. The most "hot" string bed with the least amount of precision and feel, though, so a good outward-bounds test in those areas.
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Head Radical Pro - Sweet spot might feel a bit small relative to hoop size, and beam might feel a bit too elliptical/variable, but a very composed "do it all" stick nonetheless.
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Head Prestige Tour - Probably Head's best purely-flatter-hitter's attacking stick, and comes with the amount of swing weight you're used to. Add a leather grip to go 2-3pts more head light, and good to go.
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Prince ATS Tour 95 or 98 - The 95 will feel more like home, but the 98 may offer a better level of forgiveness while still being precise enough. Worth trying both.
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Wilson Blade 98 16x19 with leather grip + butt cap weight - The Blade will probably be a love it or hate it experience, but you probably should at least try it.
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Wilson Blade Pro 16x19 with leather + butt cap weight - Harder to get moving than the regular Blade, but even more solid and WAY better feel. With a head-light-enough balance, it might work.
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Wilson Pro Staff 97 v14 - Could very much be the frame you're looking for, more so than the Blade if you truly are a more all-court attacker.
If you don't mind a bit more customization, you could also consider:
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Babolat Strike 97, with moderate hoop lead, possible handle weight as well.
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Dunlop CX 200 Tour 16x19, with handle + hoop weight.
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Tecnifibre TF40 305 16x19, with handle weight, maybe some hoop weight.
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Tecnifibre TF40 315 16x19, with hoop weight.
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Wilson Ultra Pro v4 16x19, with handle + multi-area hoop weight.
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Yonex Percept 97, with handle and hoop weight.
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Yonex VCore 95, with handle and hoop weight.
100's (not sure if you need to go
this forgiving, but if so, here's what I think you should look at):
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Head Gravity MP, customized up - I'm on the fence with the GMP, being potentially a bit too anemic/uncontrolled for what you're looking for, even with a 16x20. But possibly worth a try.
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Head Gravity Pro and/or Tour, with handle weight - There are various proponents of either options, versus each other. Probably worth trying at least the Pro, just to rule it out if nothing else.
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ProKennex Ki Q+ 5 Pro - Quite a heavy-hitting stick, with a nice sized sweet spot simply from the sheer level of hoop mass. Maybe more hoop mass than you want, though (ala the 97D experience).
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WIlson Blade 100, with leather grip - Not quite as maneuverable/quick as the 98, but much more forgiving and more free bailout power. Has to be in the mix.
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Wilson Pro Staff X - Could feel more kludgy and high in twist weight than you want, but absolutely worth trying, even so.
Some 18-main sticks that could be worth a try:
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Prince ATS Tour 100P - Like the WhiteOut, it lifts and spins more like a 16-main stick than an 18-main. Good blend of precision, forgiveness and low-medium power for an all-court game.
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Solinco WhiteOut 18x20 - Like an even more controlled Tour 100P with even higher predictability from the constant-width 21.7mm beam. Could certainly be worth a try.
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2025 Tecnifibre TFight 305 - Rumored to be lighter in swing weight and possibly more head-light in balance than the current ISO 305. With handle weight added, it could be optimal.
Racquets I left out and why:
- All spin/power tweeners - Think it's fairly obvious as to why, ie. you've consciously moved away from them already.
- Angell - Beautiful sticks for sure, but I'd look to try some more easily-accessible mainstream options first, then perhaps revisit Angell if you still can't find anything.
- Babolat Aero 98 - Despite the attacking nature and ability to flatten out with it, it won't do either as well together as a more pure flatter-hitter's attacking frame.
- Babolat Strike 100 16x20 - Many/most upper-spec ones will be too high in recoil weight and low in MGR/i for true all-court effectiveness. And the under-spec ones too anemic for how low their MGR/i still is. Just not the right fit, IMHO. (BTW, this comes from experience, of having been on the play test with an over-spec sample, and having also bought a slightly under-spec retail version)
- Nordicdots Model 99 - Don't think it will maneuver freely enough for what you're used to, nor will the string pattern be consistent enough.
- Wilson RF series - I just don't see the frame being enough of a bump up in overall forgiveness to make it worth the adjustments you'd probably need to make to ensure it plays well enough for you.
- Yonex EZone 98 / Tour - Despite the more centrally dense pattern and flatter-ish compatibility, it's really best operated by those who hit with more swipe and/or close the racquet face more on contact.
- Yonex Percept 97D - If you thought the VCP 97D had too much hoop weight, I'm not sure the P97D will be enough of a difference. Besides, even the improved 18x20 (from the 97HD) may still not give you enough lift.
- Yonex VCore 98 / Tour - Not enough control from the string bed for purely-flatter eastern hitters, not even from the VCT
- Tecnifibre TFights - The 98/16x19's (300 and 315) will be too centrally open, 300 too anemic in stock and finicky overall, 315 too clubby. 305 too cumbersome a stock weighting.
All things considered, I think one of the sub-100's is probably what you'll end up landing on, but I also think you shouldn't arbitrarily exclude frames with 16x19 patterns. As I said before, with the right drill density, one of them could very much be controlled enough for what you're looking for. Still, if you absolutely had to stick with a 16x20, then I think the
Babolat Strike 97 with some light-moderate customization would probably be your best bet, as I think you'll find it to have a more consistent string bed and consistent response than the VCore 95, while still also being maneuverable and whippy enough.
Hope some of that helps! Any questions, feel free.