Vcore 98 2023 -Where's the love?

ZeroandOne

Rookie
I broke the element rough strung at 50. Next up is head hawk touch at 48. When I broke it, I pulled out the ezone 98 strung with tour bite at 48. Immediately lower launch angle and more control, however the fun factor went down. Vcore swings so sweetly through the air. But... it does seem to have some unpredictability if you're not hitting that sweetspot. Anyone switched over from the VC98 to the VC95? I'm itching.
 

Marcel92

New User
I got curious and decided to add some weight. Added a leather grip and 6 grams of lead total and 3&9, balance is about the same as stock. Strung weight is 343g, so significantly higher than stock but lower than the VcorePro 330s I was coming from (~352g strung). Now just an unbelievable stick. I had no issues with this racquet in stock form, but now its just feels like the best of both worlds - hits a heavier ball and still feels plenty maneuverable. Definitley encourage folks to add a little weight if they are curious.
You tried adding weight at 10&2?
Heared that it would be better because of the isometric head shape.
 
You tried adding weight at 10&2?
Heared that it would be better because of the isometric head shape.
I did not. The weight I added isn’t quite at 9&3. I “measured” where 9&3 would be on this stick and it just looked too low down so I moved it up a bit. It’s probably equivalent to about 9:20and 2:20 but definitely short of 10 and 2. Feels great
 

Marcel92

New User
I wrapped a leather grip (tourna genuine) + yonex super grap overgrip + yonex dampener and i am 342g strung weight (1,25 tourna 7 silver Tour + 1.22 ghostwire).

Don't have a SW and balance measurement Tool but i have the Feeling that the static weight is kinda high
+ i think i need to add few g lead to counterbalance it. Stick feels a to head light for me.
 

Fpoisson94

New User
Tengo un toque de ventaja en el 12, lo que puede ayudar, pero no tengo problemas en las devoluciones, la pelota simplemente sale un poco baja al principio antes de ajustarse.

El 98 es definitivamente un poco más sólido. Nunca agregué ventaja y logré algunas devoluciones contra un servidor grande (110-120), parece que el espacio adicional de la raqueta ayuda a que se sienta un poquito más estable pero aún así agradablemente suave.
¿Cuántos gramos agregaste a los 12? ¿Te sientes más rápido en el aire y poderoso ahora?
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
My favorite cosmetic was the Galaxy Black with the current coming in 2nd. I would love to see the Galaxy come back in a gloss paint job. That would be a no brain purchase.

You may have called this one. New pj coming this summer. No idea the colors but black and glossy sounds good to me. I forget if the galaxy was glossy. I had one but didn’t like it and sold it pretty fast when it came out.

I love the 23 version. Amazing frame. Playing it stock currently and it will most likely remain that way.
 
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Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
You may have called this one. New pj coming this summer. No idea the colors but black and glossy sounds good to me. I forget if the galaxy was glossy. I had one but didn’t like it and sold it pretty fast when it came out.

I love the 23 version. Amazing frame. Playing it stock currently and it will most likely remain that way.
The Galaxy wasn’t glossy. I have 2. I have moved on from the VCore to the EZone 100. It suits me better I find.
 
You may have called this one. New pj coming this summer. No idea the colors but black and glossy sounds good to me. I forget if the galaxy was glossy. I had one but didn’t like it and sold it pretty fast when it came out.

I love the 23 version. Amazing frame. Playing it stock currently and it will most likely remain that way.
I think things are going to be somewhat more beige than you’re hoping for.
 

Leopardini

New User
A little bit late to this party. I tried this racket this week I am quite torn.

Where I come from:
I am 38 years old and I was a pretty decent junior player. I still play to a decent level, mostly a flat game. I dont know which USA rating I would be under to be honest, but I am well above a "club player" and I hit a pretty solid ball. I am not a I'm not a muscular guy, i rely on timing and taking the ball early.
I play a wilson blade v5 1820 with a 1,20mm soft string. I love it, but its a 9-10 years old racket that starts to be old (grommets have seen better days, dings, original grip is worn). SW is 318, which feels good to me but maybe I could use a tad less as I get older.

To the Vcore 98:
I am completely new to the yonex world.
My test Vcore has 330g static weight with overgrip and dampener, strung with hyper-g soft 1,25mm. It showed a 312/313 SW, which I thought was amazing to maneuver during matchplay and good for injury prevention (shoulder tendinitis).

Forehands: probably my best shot, I did not love the racket specially on dead balls, or if i want to hit a penetrating down flat trajectory from a high point (The Blade v5 does that wonderfully) The racket also did not do a lot for me on short swings, such as when you get a return deep into your feet and you need to be fast.
Backhands: I could generate more power on this side, and i could control it and vary the direction. Really enjoyed it.
Slice: Truly amazing, super easy to execute and penetrating in the air. Amazing for defense in the back court. Probably the best racket for this I have ever tried.
Volleys were OK, did not test a lot.
Serve: Felt a little more mass was needed to generate speed. But serve is my worst stroke, so it has mostly to do with that.
Returns: This was the worst aspect. I felt it was not stable enough to handle a fast serve, specially on the forehand side. This is what is keeping me from changing so far since it is one my strong facets with the Blade...
 

Fighting phoenix

Professional
A little bit late to this party. I tried this racket this week I am quite torn.

Where I come from:
I am 38 years old and I was a pretty decent junior player. I still play to a decent level, mostly a flat game. I dont know which USA rating I would be under to be honest, but I am well above a "club player" and I hit a pretty solid ball. I am not a I'm not a muscular guy, i rely on timing and taking the ball early.
I play a wilson blade v5 1820 with a 1,20mm soft string. I love it, but its a 9-10 years old racket that starts to be old (grommets have seen better days, dings, original grip is worn). SW is 318, which feels good to me but maybe I could use a tad less as I get older.

To the Vcore 98:
I am completely new to the yonex world.
My test Vcore has 330g static weight with overgrip and dampener, strung with hyper-g soft 1,25mm. It showed a 312/313 SW, which I thought was amazing to maneuver during matchplay and good for injury prevention (shoulder tendinitis).

Forehands: probably my best shot, I did not love the racket specially on dead balls, or if i want to hit a penetrating down flat trajectory from a high point (The Blade v5 does that wonderfully) The racket also did not do a lot for me on short swings, such as when you get a return deep into your feet and you need to be fast.
Backhands: I could generate more power on this side, and i could control it and vary the direction. Really enjoyed it.
Slice: Truly amazing, super easy to execute and penetrating in the air. Amazing for defense in the back court. Probably the best racket for this I have ever tried.
Volleys were OK, did not test a lot.
Serve: Felt a little more mass was needed to generate speed. But serve is my worst stroke, so it has mostly to do with that.
Returns: This was the worst aspect. I felt it was not stable enough to handle a fast serve, specially on the forehand side. This is what is keeping me from changing so far since it is one my strong facets with the Blade...
Have you tried the Blade v9? I'm using that now but contemplating a switch to the Vcore 98 after a long journey, for many of the same reasons you're articulating. I'm guessing a v9 Blade will give you the stability you like with a bit more stiffness and power than your v5, especially given how long you've had it for.

My experience with the Vcore 98 was similar to yours with a few differences - on forehands, I loved the whippiness and easy access to spin, and gives me more free power and spin than the Blade, and ability to hit tighter angles. Backhands, both two handers and slice, were great like you described, one of the better racquets I've used in that regard. Serves I like better than the Blade (which I think is a great serving racquet) given I'm more of a slice/kick server, but still working on dialing it in as I'm currently hitting a lot of balls long with it. Returns I agree, but I played against a big server and it could have been that vs. inherent issues with the Vcore. Need more time with it for sure.
 

Leopardini

New User
I have tried the blade v9. In fact I have tried many versions of the blade along the years, i have not found the same feeling as the v5. It is not easy to demo rackets, even harder to demo them with a proper string and tension..
Here are my thoughts on them:

v9 18x20: I was able to demo the racket a few weeks ago through a "guy who knows a guy" and he borrowed me for a few days strung with my string setup (solinco hyper g soft 1,20mm @ 23 kg). After 2 minutes I thought "this is absolutely impossible for me to play", either I am getting old or I got unlucky with Wilson QC and got a mega swingweight racket. I put it down after, took it to another guy who has a swingweight measurement machine and it showed a 326 SW which I thought it was massive (compared to the 317/318 my 2 v5s have)

v8 18x20: In 2022 I bought a used (mint condition) blade v8. 318 SW. I really liked it, but whenever i made a practice session with it, it always felt my joints (shoulder mainly) suffered a little more. Almost as the materials in the racket were somehow stiffer than my v5.

v7: this one I did not try

v6 CV 18x20 : In 2018 I bought a new one. Although the feeling was different and more muted than the v5, it was not that bad. The main issue was that a 4 3/8 grip with an overgrip felt like a L4 racket.. did not love this.. eventually found another deal and got another v5...


So.. My journey to find a racket with good stability, for a flat hitter that does not kill my shoulder / elbow (even with soft poly 1,20'mm) continues...

PS - 2024 Head Speed MP: Tried it, loved it, crushed the ball and had amazing depth, but felt like I would call my physio in 3 days time due to the massive Swing Weight... Going to give it a few more tries with the vcore 98
 
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I have tried the blade v9. In fact I have tried many versions of the blade along the years, i have not found the same feeling as the v5. It is not easy to demo rackets, even harder to demo them with a proper string and tension..
Here are my thoughts on them:

v9 18x20: I was able to demo the racket a few weeks ago through a "guy who knows a guy" and he borrowed me for a few days strung with my string setup (solinco hyper g soft 1,20mm @ 23 kg). After 2 minutes I thought "this is absolutely impossible for me to play", either I am getting old or I got unlucky with Wilson QC and got a mega swingweight racket. I put it down after, took it to another guy who has a swingweight measurement machine and it showed a 326 SW which I thought it was massive (compared to the 317/318 my 2 v5s have)

v8 18x20: In 2022 I bought a used (mint condition) blade v8. 318 SW. I really liked it, but whenever i made a practice session with it, it always felt my joints (shoulder mainly) suffered a little more. Almost as the materials in the racket were somehow stiffer than my v5.

v7: this one I did not try

v6 CV 18x20 : In 2018 I bought a new one. Although the feeling was different and more muted than the v5, it was not that bad. The main issue was that a 4 3/8 grip with an overgrip felt like a L4 racket.. did not love this.. eventually found another deal and got another v5...


So.. My journey to find a racket with good stability, for a flat hitter that does not kill my shoulder / elbow (even with soft poly 1,20'mm) continues...

PS - 2024 Head Speed MP: Tried it, loved it, crushed the ball and had amazing depth, but felt like I would call my physio in 3 days time due to the massive Swing Weight... Going to give it a few more tries with the vcore 98

@Leopardini Is it mostly the swing weight that affects your shoulder or is stiffness a concern?

If you want low swing weight but stable I think you need thicker framers that are stiffer. Like Pure Strike 100 16x20 assuming it is close to actual listed specs. Ezone 98 stability is similar to Vcore 98 but you can hit flatter shots with it.

However, if stiffness also affects your shoulder then I think there may not be a lot of options out there. Maybe Wilson Blade 100?
 

notthatgood

New User
I have tried to like the last few generations of the VC98, each time thinking I'd finally gel with it. On paper it seems like I should, but it never happened for me. That was true until I got my hands on a 2023 VC98 Tour. After quite a long and winding racket journey over the past year or two (Ezone 98, VCore 98, VCore 100, Regna 98 (briefly), Dunlop CX200, 400 Tour (very briefly), FX500, Wilson BLX Steam 100, a Speed MP, and a quick run with a Gravity Tour, the VC98 Tour is it.|

I'm not a huge dude by any stretch, but the balance, the 328 measured swingweight, and this particular mold negate the on-paper static weight of 315g unstrung, and I find it super easy to swing. And the mass behind it, the spin potential, and moderate power level are just really dialed in for my game. This is a definite, enthusiastic switch for me... for now.
 

Leopardini

New User
@Leopardini Is it mostly the swing weight that affects your shoulder or is stiffness a concern?

If you want low swing weight but stable I think you need thicker framers that are stiffer. Like Pure Strike 100 16x20 assuming it is close to actual listed specs. Ezone 98 stability is similar to Vcore 98 but you can hit flatter shots with it.

However, if stiffness also affects your shoulder then I think there may not be a lot of options out there. Maybe Wilson Blade 100?
Yes its mostly SW I feel is the biggest issue. I can hit and practice with higher SW rackets and I obviously like the stability, but I can tell pretty quickly that they will have an impact on my body if I play more sessions (I had elbow and shoulder issues before starting physical conditioning a year and a half ago), specially on dampened clay courts, such as we have here in Europe during Winter.
And then during match play, I hate the feeling of stretching out to a ball in a difficult position in the court and not being able to "save it" and comeback to the point just by using the racket momentum (which I cannot do with higher SW rackets, they are less maneuverable and you need to put some mass behind them )

As for stiffness, it is rare that I can tell "this racket is more stiff than this", maybe because of the soft string setup I use? I have not tried a lot of rackets other than the blades to be honest

I never tried the Ezone 98, I heard that it was the "power" segment racket of yonex and assumed it would be hard for me to control the ball (i hit a flatter ball, hyper g soft then gives me a decent amount of spin due to the nature of the string), Maybe time to try and demo one.
Pure Strike 100, never gave that a try.
Wilson Blade 100 seems like a natural move to me, maybe I will give that a go as well.

The Vcore was awesome in that sense, super easy to swing, but lacking some "ommpphhh". I want something in the middle

Sorry for being a pain in the ass and thanks for the tips!
 
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