Racquet recommendation - Yonex - 4.5

[Mbzfinal]

Hello Everyone,
I'm would like to have some advice from persons that use/used to play with Yonex racquets in order to help me choose my next racquet.
After a year following a ulnar nerve surgery, coming back to tennis and playing with a prokennex for 9 months (That i quiet like), i would like to change the prokennex Black Ace 300 to the brand that i always wanted to test (YONEX).
Also i do love to play with the Prokennex Black Ace but i feel that i do not have any power and like a missing some stability either on my forehands or on my volley. Also, i do find that i'm usually touching the frame when hitting and i dont understand why.
i'm a 4.5 player, with Flat double handed back hand et a forehand not really flat but with a decent amount of spin. I do play lot with slices and love to volley (My main shot is my volley).
When i check on Tenniswarehouse Website, i do not see a real difference between the Ezone 100 and Vcore 100, or between the Ezone 98 and Vcore 98. I saw also that there was this new Percept that seems to be similar to the old Vcore Pro.
Accordingly, could you please help me by giving your experiences and how would you recommend between one and another.
Why should i should the Ezone 100 instead of the 98 and why not the Percept which seems pretty confortable?
I think i'm missing some power on my shots as i tend to strike the ball late (My main issue is this). I probably need some maneuvrability and stability on my volleys.
I play mainly with head Lynx Yellow 1.25 with 20 kg tension.

Thank youfor your time and help

 

[Soundbyte]

Honestly you probably should just try the 5G/7G from Prokennex. They're only $130 and have been around for decades.

 

[stapletonj]

The ezone has a somewhat denser string pattern and therefore gives a little more control. The vcore has a more open pattern and therefore gives a little more spin

The 100s tend to be a little "thicker" than the 98s overall and therefore the 98s have a little less power, but a little more maneuverability.

Young strong players who have no problem whatsoever generating pace and spin will like the ezones better than the vcores and the 98s better than the 100s.

Older, weaker, players (who have more guile, skill, ability to place the ball, and are also generally better looking and smarter) will prefer the vcores and 100s.

 

[jimmy8]

vcore 98 is the winner for your wants and needs. Comfort, power, maneuverable, spin, stability. Demo it first.

 

[optic yellow]

Just demo VCore 98 and VCore 100 and go with whichever your heart speaks to. I use 100 (still thanks @graycrait) and slice a lot and absolutely love it. Very maneuverable, very true feeling with launch angle, supremely comfortable.

 

[AmericanTwist]

Percept 97 is 5 points stiffer (more powerful) than your black ace. I would normally say add some weight to your stick for more power but you say you hit late a lot. Thus, I also question your level. UTR 4.5 not NTRP 4.5?

Else I would say try more lively and powerful string or lower the tension. You should try all these things and demo frames 56-62ra. But try other things I mentioned first before trying other frames. Once you do that you will be on a long journey!

Tu es francais?

 

[Mbzfinal]

Percept 97 is 5 points stiffer (more powerful) than your black ace. I would normally say add some weight to your stick for more power but you say you hit late a lot. Thus, I also question your level. UTR 4.5 not NTRP 4.5?

Else I would say try more lively and powerful string or lower the tension. You should try all these things and demo frames 56-62ra. But try other things I mentioned first before trying other frames. Once you do that you will be on a long journey!

Tu es francais?

Thank you for your feedback. Îm living in France but I’m not french .
In terms of ranking, i’m UTR 6/6.5 - USA ranking 4.5 - french Ranking 15-3-15/4.

Hiting late is mainly caused by the fact that i try to give lot of top spin and thus usually do not take the ball on the rise (i know it what i should do). Something i‘m lot working on at the moment.

I used to play with the Pure Drive 2021 then the last Pure Aero 2023 300g before having my tennis Elbow + my ulnar nerve issue in November 2022. Then i switched to the prokennex.
Since i understood that it was mainly relatee to my technique and the fact that i was stringing 54 lbs, while now îm playing soft poly and stringing 40 lbs.
Some i’m wondering if my game sill not be better by going to a more ‘normal racquet like the Vcore or the Ezone.

I see if i can find some Vcores and Ezone to test before buying for sure and then will buy one by January. The purpose is mainly to have some feebacks from current players and then i will check.

The ezone has a somewhat denser string pattern and therefore gives a little more control. The vcore has a more open pattern and therefore gives a little more spin

The 100s tend to be a little "thicker" than the 98s overall and therefore the 98s have a little less power, but a little more maneuverability.

Young strong players who have no problem whatsoever generating pace and spin will like the ezones better than the vcores and the 98s better than the 100s.

Older, weaker, players (who have more guile, skill, ability to place the ball, and are also generally better looking and smarter) will prefer the vcores and 100s.

Thank you for your feeback
I’m 30 years old but i do not consider my self as strong. I’m just scared to go for the 98 and have issues with the fact that the frame is 98 instead of 100 as i usually do hit with the racquet frame in volleys and top spins.

 

[Yurifi]

Thank you for your feedback. Îm living in France but I’m not french .
In terms of ranking, i’m UTR 6/6.5 - USA ranking 4.5 - french Ranking 15-3-15/4.

Hiting late is mainly caused by the fact that i try to give lot of top spin and thus usually do not take the ball on the rise (i know it what i should do). Something i‘m lot working on at the moment.

I used to play with the Pure Drive 2021 then the last Pure Aero 2023 300g before having my tennis Elbow + my ulnar nerve issue in November 2022. Then i switched to the prokennex.
Since i understood that it was mainly relatee to my technique and the fact that i was stringing 54 lbs, while now îm playing soft poly and stringing 40 lbs.
Some i’m wondering if my game sill not be better by going to a more ‘normal racquet like the Vcore or the Ezone.

I see if i can find some Vcores and Ezone to test before buying for sure and then will buy one by January. The purpose is mainly to have some feebacks from current players and then i will check.


Thank you for your feeback
I’m 30 years old but i do not consider my self as strong. I’m just scared to go for the 98 and have issues with the fact that the frame is 98 instead of 100 as i usually do hit with the racquet frame in volleys and top spins.

about the 98 vs 100 ... it's such a small difference, that if you would hit the frame with 98, you would with 100, too, for sure.

this summer i did some extensive demoing and demoed a lot of Yonexes, too. Ezone 98 vs. Ezone 100 - two completely different racquets ... 98 has lot more control, and not so much power, as 100 has vice versa, both have nice, crisp feel.

VCore 98 vs. VCore 100 - didn't like any of them and switched after a few hits, as they felt really stiff and disconnected, but more powerful (to me) than both Ezones.

VCore Pro 97 310 and VCore Pro 100 - VCP97 is amazing racquet, with a lot of control, but you really have to smack the ball. I played some wonderful tennis with it, but had to swing so fast and strongly that I was dead after 20 minutes of playing. VCP100 - very similar to Ezone 98, but better feel and could play lower balls with it. ended up with VCP100L as I also had some elbow problems and was able to play on same level as with VCP100, but didn't want to put any extra strains on my elbow (broken twice in past 10 years).