TennisHound
Legend
The pj makes them look burnt at the top, ha
Tennis Warehouse: Yonex VCORE 95, 98, 100 2021 Playtest
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
Slowtwitcher
Legend
Probably because of the bad lighting in my pics
The racquet looks great in person. I'll take a few more pictures later.
dreamtennis
New User
I wasn't selected for the TW playtest, but a friend has demos of all three 2021 VCores and let me restring the 95, so I was able to use it with both Poly Tour Rev @46 lbs (unsure if this a was one-piece or two-piece job) and then restrung with Solinco Hyper-G Soft 17 @48/48 lbs. I hit with the 95 for about an hour total between 3 different days. I did record one of my practices with it, but I'm not sure if self-posting one's own videos is against the rules.
I'm a 5.0 lefty all-court player with a one-handed backhand, though I've been hitting mostly groundstrokes the past couple weeks due to a minor knee injury.
Current racquet is a Yonex VCore Pro 97HD with a leather grip strung with Hyper-G Soft 16L @48/48 lbs (348g). I've been using the VCPHD since its release, and I did seriously consider the 2019 VCore 95 2019 (modified with a leather grip and 3g each at 3&9 to 336g), but the harsher feel (due to lack of VDM) and small sweetspot ultimately prevented me from adopting it.
Tried with two different weight setups: 2g each at 3&9 and 4g each at 3&9, preferred the heavier setup though it needs to be counterbalanced in the handle with either a leather grip or additional weight.
Groundstrokes: Precision and shotmaking potential are the 95's forte, and I felt I could hit all my shots in all the spots. The 16x20 pattern gives me more vertical height and margin for error while maintaining a high level of control, significantly improving my percentages on aggressive down-the-line and inside-in forehand shots over the highest parts of the net. It's a dream for the 1HBH because it swings easily while holding excellent stability and plow-through - great for taking balls on the rise, redirecting pace, and mastering that jumping one-hander too! I wasn't able to slice as consistently or effectively, but still very impressed here.
Volleys: Volleys were reasonably stable and fairly solid but not exceptional. I want more mass in the racquet to give it a heavier, more stable punch. I struggled at net with the 2019 version with which I wasn't able to volley with confidence, and the 2021 is an improvement so I'm cautiously optimistic about how the 2021 will perform at net with some modifications.
Serves: Only hit a few practice serves but the racquet felt nice and whippy. My slice serve felt smooth and moved aggressively and likewise for my kick serve. Didn't attempt hard first serves due to injury.
Serve returns: didn't hit any
Notes on various aspects:
Power/Control: This is very much a controlled shotmaking racquet that doesn't give free power, but I was able to consistently hit heavy shots and smoothly transition into firing sharp winners. I recommend using a lively, spin-friendly but not powerful string to complement it.
Top Spin/Slice: Topspin generation was excellent thanks to how fast it swings and though slice was underwhelming, I expect adding mass will improve this significantly. The 95 is better suited for players for prefer to hit topspin strokes over slice.
Comfort: Compared to the previous version, the sweetspot on the new 2021 VCore felt noticeably larger, and the mishits were far less punishing. I've probably gone soft after playing with the VCPHD for over a year (with gut/poly for most of that too!), so the comfort level of the 2021 VCore felt adequate rather than exceptional. Still, I don't expect to have any arm discomfort should I choose to switch.
Feel: I felt quite connected to the ball, a bit more so than with the VCPHD, maybe due to the more open string pattern. Placement felt very direct and helped me carve short angles. I can also catch incoming balls with it, which I still can't reliably do with the VCPHD if that means something.
Maneuverability: I have always been impressed by the VCore 95's combination of high maneuverability and solid swingweight, and the 2021 version did not disappoint. It feels great in the hand and feels even better to swing it. Very smooth, and the maneuverability helps make adjustments to find the slightly smaller sweetspot.
Stability: Stability through impact is good and probably sufficient for most players, but against heavy hitters requires weight at 3&9 to truly shine. I recommend at least 2g at each.
Consistency: This is my biggest concern with adopting the VCore 95 - can I still hit as consistently with the smaller sweetspot that requires more racquet head speed/acceleration. How badly will this hurt me on slightly-off-days? From watching my own practices, I am noticeably more consistent with the 2021 VCore but it could be honeymoon effect, and I haven't played a practice set with it.
Offense/Defense: The 95 excels at offense, really shining when taking the ball early and on the rise. It complements heavy hitting, aggressive placement, and an attacking game. It has the swingweight and stability to defend in a pinch, but I found it more effective to attempt an aggressive counterattack over hitting defensive shots when possible.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
The 2021 VCore 95 has improved upon its predecessor in every way, and I expect all 3 VCore versions to be popular if people can overlook the underwhelming previous version. I can't wait for the release so I can throw on a leather grip, experiment with weight setups, and really put the 2021 VCore 95 through its paces.
I'm a 5.0 lefty all-court player with a one-handed backhand, though I've been hitting mostly groundstrokes the past couple weeks due to a minor knee injury.
Current racquet is a Yonex VCore Pro 97HD with a leather grip strung with Hyper-G Soft 16L @48/48 lbs (348g). I've been using the VCPHD since its release, and I did seriously consider the 2019 VCore 95 2019 (modified with a leather grip and 3g each at 3&9 to 336g), but the harsher feel (due to lack of VDM) and small sweetspot ultimately prevented me from adopting it.
Tried with two different weight setups: 2g each at 3&9 and 4g each at 3&9, preferred the heavier setup though it needs to be counterbalanced in the handle with either a leather grip or additional weight.
Groundstrokes: Precision and shotmaking potential are the 95's forte, and I felt I could hit all my shots in all the spots. The 16x20 pattern gives me more vertical height and margin for error while maintaining a high level of control, significantly improving my percentages on aggressive down-the-line and inside-in forehand shots over the highest parts of the net. It's a dream for the 1HBH because it swings easily while holding excellent stability and plow-through - great for taking balls on the rise, redirecting pace, and mastering that jumping one-hander too! I wasn't able to slice as consistently or effectively, but still very impressed here.
Volleys: Volleys were reasonably stable and fairly solid but not exceptional. I want more mass in the racquet to give it a heavier, more stable punch. I struggled at net with the 2019 version with which I wasn't able to volley with confidence, and the 2021 is an improvement so I'm cautiously optimistic about how the 2021 will perform at net with some modifications.
Serves: Only hit a few practice serves but the racquet felt nice and whippy. My slice serve felt smooth and moved aggressively and likewise for my kick serve. Didn't attempt hard first serves due to injury.
Serve returns: didn't hit any
Notes on various aspects:
Power/Control: This is very much a controlled shotmaking racquet that doesn't give free power, but I was able to consistently hit heavy shots and smoothly transition into firing sharp winners. I recommend using a lively, spin-friendly but not powerful string to complement it.
Top Spin/Slice: Topspin generation was excellent thanks to how fast it swings and though slice was underwhelming, I expect adding mass will improve this significantly. The 95 is better suited for players for prefer to hit topspin strokes over slice.
Comfort: Compared to the previous version, the sweetspot on the new 2021 VCore felt noticeably larger, and the mishits were far less punishing. I've probably gone soft after playing with the VCPHD for over a year (with gut/poly for most of that too!), so the comfort level of the 2021 VCore felt adequate rather than exceptional. Still, I don't expect to have any arm discomfort should I choose to switch.
Feel: I felt quite connected to the ball, a bit more so than with the VCPHD, maybe due to the more open string pattern. Placement felt very direct and helped me carve short angles. I can also catch incoming balls with it, which I still can't reliably do with the VCPHD if that means something.
Maneuverability: I have always been impressed by the VCore 95's combination of high maneuverability and solid swingweight, and the 2021 version did not disappoint. It feels great in the hand and feels even better to swing it. Very smooth, and the maneuverability helps make adjustments to find the slightly smaller sweetspot.
Stability: Stability through impact is good and probably sufficient for most players, but against heavy hitters requires weight at 3&9 to truly shine. I recommend at least 2g at each.
Consistency: This is my biggest concern with adopting the VCore 95 - can I still hit as consistently with the smaller sweetspot that requires more racquet head speed/acceleration. How badly will this hurt me on slightly-off-days? From watching my own practices, I am noticeably more consistent with the 2021 VCore but it could be honeymoon effect, and I haven't played a practice set with it.
Offense/Defense: The 95 excels at offense, really shining when taking the ball early and on the rise. It complements heavy hitting, aggressive placement, and an attacking game. It has the swingweight and stability to defend in a pinch, but I found it more effective to attempt an aggressive counterattack over hitting defensive shots when possible.
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
The 2021 VCore 95 has improved upon its predecessor in every way, and I expect all 3 VCore versions to be popular if people can overlook the underwhelming previous version. I can't wait for the release so I can throw on a leather grip, experiment with weight setups, and really put the 2021 VCore 95 through its paces.
jangotango
Semi-Pro
I'll post up some photos in a bit but...
Unfortunately, while the VDM is a huge upgrade, the paint is still the same. Very fragile, I have a chip at 2 and basically a scrape along the top of the racquet. I hope there is not a crack at 2!
Unfortunately, while the VDM is a huge upgrade, the paint is still the same. Very fragile, I have a chip at 2 and basically a scrape along the top of the racquet. I hope there is not a crack at 2!
Is this prior to playing?
Slowtwitcher
Legend
First impressions on VCORE 100.
Specs (w/overgrip+string vibration dampener):
Static weight: 325g
Balance: 32.6cm
Swingweight: 315 kg cm2
Strings: Polytour REV @ 48lbs
Over the weekend got to play with the racquet twice, about 2h of social doubles on Saturday and 45min of baseline hitting on Sunday. This is a really easy racquet to play with, it's got easy power and pretty maneuverable.
It's really good in defensive situations and quick volleys, which made it fun to play doubles with. From the baseline, it comes through as having a lot of power, which means you need to put a lot of spin on the ball to get control. I was on the PTREV playtest as well, and the strings offer a lot of control, but on this frame I could have used a little more spin to get the ball to land. It was definitely harder to control the ball when hitting more flat/on the rise.
The more I played with it, the more this racquet felt like the Pure Drive (2017) I was playing with earlier in the year. Came home and thought about comparing specs:
Spec comparison says that this is a more muted, slightly less stiff version of the PD and that's basically how it plays. I'm planning to hit a bit more with it before I write the complete review, for sure I didn't adapt to the racquet sufficiently to write a fair review.
Specs (w/overgrip+string vibration dampener):
Static weight: 325g
Balance: 32.6cm
Swingweight: 315 kg cm2
Strings: Polytour REV @ 48lbs
Over the weekend got to play with the racquet twice, about 2h of social doubles on Saturday and 45min of baseline hitting on Sunday. This is a really easy racquet to play with, it's got easy power and pretty maneuverable.
It's really good in defensive situations and quick volleys, which made it fun to play doubles with. From the baseline, it comes through as having a lot of power, which means you need to put a lot of spin on the ball to get control. I was on the PTREV playtest as well, and the strings offer a lot of control, but on this frame I could have used a little more spin to get the ball to land. It was definitely harder to control the ball when hitting more flat/on the rise.
The more I played with it, the more this racquet felt like the Pure Drive (2017) I was playing with earlier in the year. Came home and thought about comparing specs:
Spec comparison says that this is a more muted, slightly less stiff version of the PD and that's basically how it plays. I'm planning to hit a bit more with it before I write the complete review, for sure I didn't adapt to the racquet sufficiently to write a fair review.
PhxRacket
Hall of Fame
It looks like you compare a PD to a Blade...
Slowtwitcher
Legend
Yeah I uploaded the wrong screenshot. It's corrected now.
jangotango
Semi-Pro
No, after playing maybe 6 hours with it, but I don't remember dragging it or dinging it around on court. I usually don't when I play. The chips must have come from it falling down from a table in between the tennis courts at my club.
McLovin
Legend
Maybe I missed something in an earlier post, but that's the 2018 VCORE you're comparing, not the 2021 version.First impressions on VCORE 100.
Specs (w/overgrip+string vibration dampener):
Static weight: 325g
Balance: 32.6cm
Swingweight: 315 kg cm2
Strings: Polytour REV @ 48lbs
Over the weekend got to play with the racquet twice, about 2h of social doubles on Saturday and 45min of baseline hitting on Sunday. This is a really easy racquet to play with, it's got easy power and pretty maneuverable.
It's really good in defensive situations and quick volleys, which made it fun to play doubles with. From the baseline, it comes through as having a lot of power, which means you need to put a lot of spin on the ball to get control. I was on the PTREV playtest as well, and the strings offer a lot of control, but on this frame I could have used a little more spin to get the ball to land. It was definitely harder to control the ball when hitting more flat/on the rise.
The more I played with it, the more this racquet felt like the Pure Drive (2017) I was playing with earlier in the year. Came home and thought about comparing specs:
Spec comparison says that this is a more muted, slightly less stiff version of the PD and that's basically how it plays. I'm planning to hit a bit more with it before I write the complete review, for sure I didn't adapt to the racquet sufficiently to write a fair review.
Slowtwitcher
Legend
I posted that because the specs for the 2021 version are not that different:
Yonex VCORE 100 (300g) Rackets | Tennis Warehouse Europe
www.tenniswarehouse-europe.com
MixedMaster
Semi-Pro
Just received an update.....my Demo Racquet will be in tomorrow afternoon....Excited!!!
2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
Like that 66 ra on the 100. Definitely a move in the right direction.I posted that because the specs for the 2021 version are not that different:
Yonex VCORE 100 (300g) Rackets | Tennis Warehouse Europe
I think they’re different enough that it isn’t a fair comparison. The beam isn’t even the same on then newest versionI posted that because the specs for the 2021 version are not that different:
Yonex VCORE 100 (300g) Rackets | Tennis Warehouse Europe
Slowtwitcher
Legend
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That’s the red version of the last iteration, so exact same stick as galaxy black. The new one has a 24/25/22 beam and more swingweight.I disagree.
EDIT: Here's the comparison:
| Oval: | 100 in² / 645 cm² |
| Length: | 27in / 68.5cm |
| Weight: | 320g / 11.3oz |
| Unstrung Weight: | 300g / 10.6oz |
| Balance: | 33.02cm / 4 pts HL |
| Unstrung Balance: | 32cm / 7 pts HL |
| Swingweight: | 324 |
| Rigidity: | 66 |
| Frame thickness: | 24mm / 25mm / 22mm |
| Material: | HM Graphite / 2G-Namd |
| Colors: | Red |
| Grip: | Yonex Synthetic |
| String pattern: | 16 Vert / 19 Horiz Jump: 8T, 8H |
| Voltage: | 20-27kg / 45-60lb |
Slowtwitcher
Legend
I stand corrected. Still pretty much the same values for weight/balance/swingweight but the stiffness is significantly lower (closer to the PA).
Yeah I missed the most important part. 66 isn’t too bad!
TennisHound
Legend
So a wider beam than the PD, but less stiff.
Papa Mango
Professional
If its the new PolyTour Rev then start at 48-50 on the 95. For the 98 or 100 52/53 would be good IMHO.
n8dawg6
Legend
ive got the hunnert. thinking its gonna be too baggy below 50
Papa Mango
Professional
Assuming that is hundred. If yes, then yes low 50s would be good on it i think.
Slowtwitcher
Legend
I strung REV on my Gravity Pro at 50lbs and thought it lacked power. Then I strung REV at 50lbs on this VCore100 and it's got not enough control... I'm confused
That’s the one I’m interested in. Looking forward to your review.
MixedMaster
Semi-Pro
I received my 100 this afternoon. Strung it up with the 16G REV that came with it at 48 mains and 44 crosses. Put a Yonex tacky overgrip on it and 2 rubber bands below the bottom cross string. I know people talk about the quality control that Yonex has and I believe it. Weighed the racquet and it weighed the same as my two other V-Core 100's. I have to say that I was really surprised. No variance at all. Going to hit tomorrow morning and I'm sure this racquet will continue to amaze me.
CosmosMpower
Hall of Fame
I played a few sets of doubles and a set of singles with the 95 and wanted to share a few initial thoughts compared to the last gen Vcore 95. Will play with it a lot more in the next few weeks before I write my formal review.
So far the biggest differences from last year and 2021 are with maneuverability and feel. The 2021 new frame feels a bit more maneuverable and easy to whip through the shot if you are late. Return of serve was really good, volleys and touch shots will require some adjustment.
The new frame also feels more crisp at contact and is less muted with a little bit more power maybe 10% more but not a huge difference. You still have to have a pretty fast swing to get good results as there's no free power even with a thin poly at low 40's tension.
Here’s some footage of a few games I played with a friend who plays with the 2020 Ezone 98+. Ignore the awful form as I am an average 4.0 weekend hack with bad foot work. I’m in the white shirt. More to come later.
So far the biggest differences from last year and 2021 are with maneuverability and feel. The 2021 new frame feels a bit more maneuverable and easy to whip through the shot if you are late. Return of serve was really good, volleys and touch shots will require some adjustment.
The new frame also feels more crisp at contact and is less muted with a little bit more power maybe 10% more but not a huge difference. You still have to have a pretty fast swing to get good results as there's no free power even with a thin poly at low 40's tension.
Here’s some footage of a few games I played with a friend who plays with the 2020 Ezone 98+. Ignore the awful form as I am an average 4.0 weekend hack with bad foot work. I’m in the white shirt. More to come later.
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Bhagi Katbamna
Legend
Good thing I wasn't selected. I wouldn't have been able to test it. Work has been crazy.
McLovin
Legend
Only got 1 set in as I’m still finishing up my Poly Tour REV play test and played the first two sets w/ that, but initial reaction is promising. Even though they widened the beam a bit, it basically plays like the old VCORE, but more muted.
I’ll get more detailed hitting this weekend when me & my doubles partner do a little drilling. I wrenched my back on Sunday, and aggravated it again today, but so long as I don’t serve, I can hit.
I’ll get more detailed hitting this weekend when me & my doubles partner do a little drilling. I wrenched my back on Sunday, and aggravated it again today, but so long as I don’t serve, I can hit.
MixedMaster
Semi-Pro
I managed to play a couple of hours yesterday with the Vcore 100. I noted a couple of differences between my older Vcore sticks and this one. For me, the new stick is a little more powerful. There wasn't a huge difference but some. Volley's seemed a little more crisp and I felt like I had more accuracy. Going to play again on Sunday and will see how these observations hold out. So far I am happily impressed.
dreamtennis
New User
Since it seems ok to post our videos, here are mine from hitting with the new 95:
JGads
G.O.A.T.
Seems like the new Radical was also in that mix, swung by He-Man. Thoughts on all the frames aside from the video? Also: that's not NTC in New York, is it? Impressive facility.
dreamtennis
New User
I liked the 98 and 100 VCores as well, but they didn't have the control and superb feel on my 1hbh that I loved about the 95. My friend prefers the 100 though plays well with all 3. I found the new Radical to be too light and too powerful and though I was able to adjust a bit over time, I could tell the racquet isn't for me. I hit with a Speed too (new PJ, same specs) and it felt good on the forehand but very weird/disconnected on my backhand. I've found Head racquets in general are not well-suited for one-handers so I rarely bother hitting with them at all.
edit: I'm in NorCal, this is in the SF Bay Area.
edit: I'm in NorCal, this is in the SF Bay Area.
jangotango
Semi-Pro
I might add 2g at 12 or 2+2 at 3&9 to the 98. It swings SUPER fast, really nice on slices, but just lacks the stability and oomph of my Six.One. OHBH isn't the greatest with the 98, forehands are pretty good. Serves are fun.
The Tec RS295 and 300 so far are better offerings.
The Tec RS295 and 300 so far are better offerings.
topspn
G.O.A.T.
You mean the MP which I agree is to light in stock form and some stability is needed. However I played it at 340g and it improved a lot. Also the Rad Pro really is nice with stability, control/power balance that is excellent. Nice hitting by the way on your vids
MixedMaster
Semi-Pro
Didn't get to play Sunday as the courts were frozen! I did play today! Still liking the racket but, I'm not crazy about the 16g REV. Going to cut out the REV and try some 17g shaped string. If I have a set of 18g shaped someplace I'm going to try that.
datsveryinterestin
Professional
January 15
galahad
Rookie
Thanks Brittany - did the demo program go down from 4 max racquets to 3?? I wanted to demo the Exone 100, the Ezone 98 Tour, the new Vcore 98 and the new vcore 100...
but sadly...cannot..sob - I thought at one point you were letting folks demo 4 frames
dreamtennis
New User
Thanks! Those sound like some good customizations I would be curious to hit with. The Head racquet naming scheme and combinations confuse me too much to keep them straight
CosmosMpower
Hall of Fame
Another quick update on the Vcore 95 after a few more sets of singles and doubles.
Once the hyper G 1.15 lost some tension and dropped into the 38 pound range (from 45 starting) I started to get some more power out of the frame especially on serves. Still has a more crisp/connected feel than last years and good ball pocketing and spin. The frame still requires a fairly sizeable cut at the ball, I'd say it gives you what you put into it as far as results with spin and power. I'm still loving the maneuverability when I'm late or at the net, it's easy to whip into position.
Here's some more daytime footage playing against my buddy with his new RF 97 V13. I'm in the red shirt.
Once the hyper G 1.15 lost some tension and dropped into the 38 pound range (from 45 starting) I started to get some more power out of the frame especially on serves. Still has a more crisp/connected feel than last years and good ball pocketing and spin. The frame still requires a fairly sizeable cut at the ball, I'd say it gives you what you put into it as far as results with spin and power. I'm still loving the maneuverability when I'm late or at the net, it's easy to whip into position.
Here's some more daytime footage playing against my buddy with his new RF 97 V13. I'm in the red shirt.
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McLovin
Legend
Is there any word on (a) if there will be '+' versions of these frames, and (b) if so, when they'll be released? I seem to remember the '+' versions of the EZONE line were 2-3 months behind the regular length versions.
Additionally, logged some doubles playing time w/ the 98 yesterday. I'm really liking the feel of the new frame. The VDM is a great addition to a frame who's previous versions turned a few away due to their harsher feel. I know it was an adjustment for me, switching the 2018 VCORE 98 + after years of Fischer frames, but the pluses (more spin, controllable power, increased stability) were worth the tradeoff.
So far, the 98 seems like a better feeling version of the 2018 line. I'm heading to Naples next week and hope to log some singles play on the clay down there.
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