Vcore 95 - backhand slice help!

pico

pico

Hall of Fame
Hi all. I shift before a Gravity Pro and a Vcore 95. I have about 2g of lead at 12 on my Vcore 95 and my Gravity Pro is stock. I hit a way nicer, penetrating backhand slice with my Gravity Pro but can't get that with my Vcore 95. What can I do with the Vcore 95 (in terms of customization) to help with this?
 
Which VC95 is this? 2018 or 2020? SW can help in some way when slicing, but it’s also down to technique. Could you upload a video of you slicing w/ both racquets?
 
David Le said:
Which VC95 is this? 2018 or 2020? SW can help in some way when slicing, but it’s also down to technique. Could you upload a video of you slicing w/ both racquets?
Click to expand...
It is not the newer ones (i.e. with the blue strip on the hoop) - I think I got it early last year - so 2018 then?
 
Even though the Gravity Pro has a tighter string bed, it's bigger with a softer flex giving you more dwell time. This extra time with the ball sitting on the string bed is allowing for more back spin on your slices. It's thinner profile might be a reason also as it'll slice through the air much faster.
Vcore 95 is much stiffer. A softer stringbed on the Vcore 95 might help. Nat gut / poly could give you what you're looking for.
 
phanamous said:
Even though the Gravity Pro has a tighter string bed, it's bigger with a softer flex giving you more dwell time. This extra time with the ball sitting on the string bed is allowing for more back spin on your slices. It's thinner profile might be a reason also as it'll slice through the air much faster.
Vcore 95 is much stiffer. A softer stringbed on the Vcore 95 might help. Nat gut / poly could give you what you're looking for.
Click to expand...

Just a note... this is the 2018 vcore 95 being compared to the Gravity Pro... so the stiffness in both is 62RA (although the flex profile could be different, which might make a difference to the feel and the way the two perform on the slice), and the frame thickness is 21mm Vs 20mm... which can be felt but should not be drastically different when it comes to frame thickness.

The larger head size of the GP would allow for more contact with the ball, but then the tigher pattern of the vcore 95 and the smaller head size should compensate allowing for more racquet head speed through the shot and possibly more maneuverability.

I think increasing the TW on the vcore by adding weight at 3 & 9 will allow for greater stability and more plow-through making the racquet come through the shot more and add zip to the slice.

Things also come down to personal shot mechanics and technical proficiency, which is something that can only be judged when one is seen executing the shot.
 
I'm surprised that their specs are so close as they totally don't feel anything close to one another. The Gravity Pro definitely feels a lot softer as it tends to flutters when contact is made at the top of the string bed. It was too soft so I bought the stiffer Gravity Tour and added weight to the butt to mimic the Pro somewhat. Even the stiffer Tour feels no where near as stiff as the Vcore 95 (2021 version).

The Gravity line definitely moves through the air with much more ease. Perhaps their polarized weighting might have something to do with that also.

Classic-TXP-IG MID said:
Just a note... this is the 2018 vcore 95 being compared to the Gravity Pro... so the stiffness in both is 62RA (although the flex profile could be different, which might make a difference to the feel and the way the two perform on the slice), and the frame thickness is 21mm Vs 20mm... which can be felt but should not be drastically different when it comes to frame thickness.

The larger head size of the GP would allow for more contact with the ball, but then the tigher pattern of the vcore 95 and the smaller head size should compensate allowing for more racquet head speed through the shot and possibly more maneuverability.

I think increasing the TW on the vcore by adding weight at 3 & 9 will allow for greater stability and more plow-through making the racquet come through the shot more and add zip to the slice.

Things also come down to personal shot mechanics and technical proficiency, which is something that can only be judged when one is seen executing the shot.
Click to expand...
 
phanamous said:
I'm surprised that their specs are so close as they totally don't feel anything close to one another. The Gravity Pro definitely feels a lot softer as it tends to flutters when contact is made at the top of the string bed. It was too soft so I bought the stiffer Gravity Tour and added weight to the butt to mimic the Pro somewhat. Even the stiffer Tour feels no where near as stiff as the Vcore 95 (2021 version).

The Gravity line definitely moves through the air with much more ease. Perhaps their polarized weighting might have something to do with that also.
Click to expand...

The 2018 version of the VCore 95 is softer (62RA) than the 2021 version (65RA).

I like the GP (but I've added weight to both the head and handle - static weight (strung + overgrips + rubberband dampener = 360g)... I'll see what the vcore 95 is like soon. I'm waiting for my stringing machine to arrive.
 
I have 2 Vcore 95s yesterday and I am pretty sure they are balanced differently. One feels more head heavy than the other. Anyways, I left the head heady one as stock and I noticed I was able to slice better with it than my other Vcore 95 which has lead on 3 and 9 and on 12. I will reassess though. It was my first time playing outside and everything felt off lol (I usually play indoors on a carpet like surface).
 
phanamous said:
Even though the Gravity Pro has a tighter string bed, it's bigger with a softer flex giving you more dwell time. This extra time with the ball sitting on the string bed is allowing for more back spin on your slices. It's thinner profile might be a reason also as it'll slice through the air much faster.
Vcore 95 is much stiffer. A softer stringbed on the Vcore 95 might help. Nat gut / poly could give you what you're looking for.
Click to expand...

I don't think the GPro has a tighter stringed. I played for quite a while with both the 2018 VCore 95 and the Gpro, and the latter felt more open (it's a 100 sq in after all).
 
The GPro and GTour have a similar 18x20 pattern with launch angles lower than the Vcore95 for me. It's my main complaint with my GTour wishing its string pattern was a tad more open.

smalahove said:
I don't think the GPro has a tighter stringed. I played for quite a while with both the 2018 VCore 95 and the Gpro, and the latter felt more open (it's a 100 sq in after all).
Click to expand...
 
phanamous said:
The GPro and GTour have a similar 18x20 pattern with launch angles lower than the Vcore95 for me. It's my main complaint with my GTour wishing its string pattern was a tad more open.
Click to expand...

Funny, because my experience is the opposite : -)

Launch angle: GTour >> GPro >> VCore 95

Prob due to string tension. I strung my Gravitys with Lynx at 44-46 lbs, and the VCore 95 I can't remember exactly, might have been a tad higher. I also added lead to it, the Gravitys were stock. The Gravitys have a wide 18x20 pattern compared to f.inst. the Speed Ltd (IG iirc) I owned a few years ago. That was a tight 18x20 pattern in a 100 sq in frame :-)
 
Was going to do that on my next string job for my GTour.
Lowering the cross tension (relative to the mains) helps to make the launch angle higher albeit more sporadic and not as consistent.

smalahove said:
Funny, because my experience is the opposite : -)

Launch angle: GTour >> GPro >> VCore 95

Prob due to string tension. I strung my Gravitys with Lynx at 44-46 lbs, and the VCore 95 I can't remember exactly, might have been a tad higher. I also added lead to it, the Gravitys were stock. The Gravitys have a wide 18x20 pattern compared to f.inst. the Speed Ltd (IG iirc) I owned a few years ago. That was a tight 18x20 pattern in a 100 sq in frame :)
Click to expand...
 
2018 VCORE 95,, I added lead at 3 and 9 (4 g total) improvement.. then added at 12 (2 g) better serves.. then added at 10 and 2 (4 g)... serving absolute bombs.. OHBH improvement, spin and heavy.

Strung with Yonex Poly Tour Pro 130 yellow at #53

Total of 10 g lead added in hoop,,, amazing, spins, slices, heavy, serves. (plus 5 g on the handle from overgrip)
 
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terminator97 said:
2018 VCORE 95,, I added lead at 3 and 9 (4 oz total) improvement.. then added at 12 (2 oz) better serves.. then added at 10 and 2 (4 oz)... serving absolute bombs.. OHBH improvement, spin and heavy.

Strung with Yonex Poly Tour Pro 130 yellow at #53

Total of 10 oz lead added in hoop,,, amazing, spins, slices, heavy, serves. (plus 5 g on the handle from overgrip)
Click to expand...
How much is 4 oz in grams?
 
I had my first hit with the Vcore 95. The slices and volleys are very weak. By far its biggest weakness. The sw is lower then I like so I will add lead at 10 and 2. Maybe that will help.
 
To OP: I've had the exact same problem. Backhand slice with my VC95's just isn't nearly as effective as with my other racquets. Which sucks because it's my main stick. I've had ups and downs with the backhand slice on this frame.

Recently, I've had it set up with around 2.5 - 3 grams total at 3&9 and to be precise 0.65g at 12. Less lead than I've had before with these racquets but I wanted to try out a few things.

This week I took off the little lead at 12 and put on strips at 12 from the aero fins at one side to the aero fins at the other side. (See pic) Kept the lead at 3&9 in place.
I played with it yesterday evening, just hitting as well as match play. It massively improved my slice, as well as other shots and factors. Where normally I had trouble to keep the balls low and penetrating, yesterday they were perfect. I'm going to keep trying this setup for a few weeks and see if it holds up.

https://imgur.com/a/5aKWiiF
 
RF_PRO_STAFF said:
To OP: I've had the exact same problem. Backhand slice with my VC95's just isn't nearly as effective as with my other racquets. Which sucks because it's my main stick. I've had ups and downs with the backhand slice on this frame.

Recently, I've had it set up with around 2.5 - 3 grams total at 3&9 and to be precise 0.65g at 12. Less lead than I've had before with these racquets but I wanted to try out a few things.

This week I took off the little lead at 12 and put on strips at 12 from the aero fins at one side to the aero fins at the other side. (See pic) Kept the lead at 3&9 in place.
I played with it yesterday evening, just hitting as well as match play. It massively improved my slice, as well as other shots and factors. Where normally I had trouble to keep the balls low and penetrating, yesterday they were perfect. I'm going to keep trying this setup for a few weeks and see if it holds up.

https://imgur.com/a/5aKWiiF
Click to expand...
still feeling good with this setup?
 
Did not go good. Mind you I had a round poly in my cross. I usually play full bed of shaped poly. Just didnt feel right. I also did string at 58lbs. Too tight?
 
Just added 2 grams each at 10 and 2 and 12. So 6 grams total. I also have an og, rubber band and about 3 grams in the butt. The slice and volleys got way better. I normally like to swing hard at slices. But with this racket it is about finding an in-between swing. The racket is still very whippy. I am using way more wrist then normal.
 
pico said:
Did not go good. Mind you I had a round poly in my cross. I usually play full bed of shaped poly. Just didnt feel right. I also did string at 58lbs. Too tight?
Click to expand...
You should try stringing low, around 45-50 lbs if you're using a co-poly.
 
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pico said:
The above has brought my racquet to 353g!
Click to expand...
I have 352g :) on mine. the setup is 6g at 12 ,under the bumper , countered by leather grip on the handle, and some lead (2-4 grams) just over the wright hand on the handle ( 1hbh player ) .
 
Just came across this thread, and OHBH snd slice being one of main strenghts , I have experimented a lot with lead on 2018 VC95 and settled down on 2gr at 12 and 4gr in total at 3&9 and with Yonex dampener which also adds some swingweight. Slices are not great, and only when I added weight at 6 or on handle, it has become acceptable. On the other hand, with 2021 version and similar modificatons, slices and even OHBH was much better, probably due to slightly closed pattern in new version.
 
CosmosMpower said:
Gravity Pro is 18x20, Vcore 95 is 16x20 which is a bit more open. There may not be much you can do.
Click to expand...

Part of the difficulty hitting a good slice is the launch angle, especially if you are used to driving your slice. Part of it is the weight/stability of the racquet. Part of it is the control.
The weight is easy - always play with as heavy a racquet as you can effectively use without injuring yourself. And always strive to improve your strength until you are swinging sticks as close to the same weight range the pros use as you can handle. In a racquet, weight makes a huge difference in all aspects of how they play.
The launch angle on that 95 you can tackle with a combination of string type(size/gauge) and string tension.
Control, aside from adding weight, you can get with a stiffer string in wider gauges. Sometimes with higher tensions.
 
I always counter weight and prefer to keep the balance intact or around 6-7 HL because I hit with a OHBH. I hit my best slices with the 2018 VCORE 95 because of the lower launch angle and immense control from the 16x20 stringbed that allows me to really follow through.


I don't find only lead in the hoop helpful for slices. It's helpful for topspin groundstrokes/stability. For slices, you'd want extra weight in the throat/7 inches above handle so you can use the extra heft to really glide the ball to hit a deeper and more consistent slice. The downwards motion of the slice emphasizes more weight in the throat/handle area while the upwards motion of topspin will see benefit from extra weight in the head "whipping" the ball.


For my VCORE 98s, I have 10 grams split between 9-11pm and 1pm-3pm. Counter weighted 8 grams in the throat (2 4 inch strips double stacked) and 2 grams 7 inches from the end. 347 grams strung with overgrip.


I see that many pros like to add weight between 2pm-4pm areas and that's what I would like to experiment but I'm happy with my setup for now.
 
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