VCore Tour F 97 (290g) vs ‘21 VCore Pro 97 (310g)

Underdog

Professional
Hello, everybody.
So, I’ve been playing with my VCP for a good while now and I really like the frame. I’ve had issues with liveliness that were addressed with lead. So, as of now, I play with a ‘21 VCP 97 with a Silencer dampener (Prince) and 2g of lead at 10-2, clocking 350g static. All-court agressive playstyle.
Yesterday I found out my uncle owns a VCTF97 Light that he literally never uses and has been collecting dust. It truly demands a full revamp (new cushion, new strings…). So, on the light of this discovery, I’d love you guys’ opinions on how the VCTF compares to my current VCP and how do you recommend I should customize it to make it similar spec’ed to my VCP.
Obs: I don’t own any customization equipment such as SW machines etc. so I don’t know what exact specs my racquet have, but I like how it currently plays with the aforementioned customization.
I know I’m asking a lot and this is a long text, so thanks in advance for taking the time.
Should I try and revamp my uncle’s racquet? :)
 
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dr. godmode

Hall of Fame
I think those are 16x21's right?

TWU says twist is like 13 which is very low and hard to find. I personally vote to preserve the low twistweight and try to centralize the weight down the centre line.

I personally would put 3g at 12 and 10g in the butt as my first go.
 

Underdog

Professional
I think those are 16x21's right?

TWU says twist is like 13 which is very low and hard to find. I personally vote to preserve the low twistweight and try to centralize the weight down the centre line.

I personally would put 3g at 12 and 10g in the butt as my first go.
Appreciated!
 

WYK

Hall of Fame
I own one. They are rather firm and raw by todays Yonex standards. Very unstable if you ask me. Mine ended up leaded up to 335g to be usable.
I ended up gifting it to a friend who used it until he replaced it with a VCore 100 and returned it. It's around here somewhere...
 

Underdog

Professional
I own one. They are rather firm and raw by todays Yonex standards. Very unstable if you ask me. Mine ended up leaded up to 335g to be usable.
I ended up gifting it to a friend who used it until he replaced it with a VCore 100 and returned it. It's around here somewhere...
Do you feel that the stability is fixable if static is raised to 340-350g?
How do you reckon it’s profile across the board?
 
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WYK

Hall of Fame
Do you feel that the stability is fixable if static is raised to 340-350g?
How do you reckon it’s profile across the board?

I would reckon there are many better sticks. ;)
Yeah, lead it up. I put like 4, six inch strips at 3 and 9.
It does have a lot of control, and loads of feedback.
It looks vicious. I call it the Sith stick.
But to be frank, there's plenty better out there.
For a profile? I dunno. Very firm, yet I wouldn't say it's hard on the arm. I wouldn't call it crisp compared to like a Speed MP, but it is crisper than modern Yonex's.
Low powered. Low launch angle. Spin is fair. I would rate the Vcore Tour 97 minus the 'F' higher in nearly all aspects except comfort. It's far more stable and much more easy spin.
You can skip the bottom cross on that Tour F for a bit more spin and power, I suppose, especially if you hit nearer the top of the hoop.
Having said all that, if you want a stick in the 65-67RA range, my first pick would be a Pure Strike or maybe even a Prestige.
Good luck!
 
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Trip

Legend
@Underdog - Sure thing. Let's start with RacquetFinder:

VCP97.png


VCTF97.png

As @WYK said, compared to the '21 VCP, the VCTF 97 290 is going be a fair bit more direct/raw, as it basically lacks any dampening/muting "tech" at all, and is definitely more firm with that 66RA flex. However, it will also feel a bit more tinny/hollow on impact, as there's probably ~10g less graphite in the layup and ~10g less in the handle (absence of VDM) -- thus the 3pt vs 7pt HL balance. The 16x21 would probably give you slightly better control, but it will have a lower launch angle and the string bed will be more static in its movement (more Prestige-like -- not necessarily a bad thing if that's what you like). At equivalent strung spec (ie. weighted up with handle weight and hoop lead) and the same strings and DT, I'd wager power would be slightly more with the VCTF, especially up towards max effort, where the VCP tends to "flatline" at a point of diminishing return.

As for strings, due to its rawness, the VCTF is probably a lot more string agnostic, although being more firm, I'd wager you'd probably want to go with something a bit softer, more gummy and/or more muted (examples - fb poly: TP Black Knight -- hybrid: Dunlop Silk Spin crossed with IsoSpeed Cream), whereas with the VCP, you'd want the most crisp string bed possible, to transmit max feel through the VDM (examples - fb poly: Tour Bite -- hybrid: Gamma Ocho TNT crossed with Head Hawk).

Also, as @WYK and @dr. godmode also touched on, the VCTF is from the previous generation of lower twist weight frames, which can be both a good thing (if you have excellent technique and have a whippy forehand and/or a one-handed backhand), but also a not-so-good thing if you're used to having more twist resistance as a "guide" against your own strength (ex: when hitting a 2HBH). Usually, it's the latter these days, and you're probably best off at least adding *some* weight to the 3 and 9 areas, as opposed to keeping 100% of added mass on or around the centerline.

All-in-all, a nice throwback stick to when Yonex frames were more firm, direct and raw, across the board. Also, as @WYK mentioned, I absolutely LOVE the paint jobs from this era -- very Darth Maul! If you do try and revive it, do keep us posted on how it plays!
 
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Underdog

Professional
I would reckon there are many better sticks. ;)
Yeah, lead it up. I put like 4, six inch strips at 3 and 9.
It does have a lot of control, and loads of feedback.
It looks vicious. I call it the Sith stick.
But to be frank, there's plenty better out there.
For a profile? I dunno. Very firm, yet I wouldn't say it's hard on the arm. I wouldn't call it crisp compared to like a Speed MP, but it is crisper than modern Yonex's.
Low powered. Low launch angle. Spin is fair. I would rate the Vcore Tour 97 minus the 'F' higher in nearly all aspects except comfort. It's far more stable and much more easy spin.
You can skip the bottom cross on that Tour F for a bit more spin and power, I suppose, especially if you hit nearer the top of the hoop.
Having said all that, if you want a stick in the 65-67RA range, my first pick would be a Pure Strike or maybe even a Prestige.
Good luck!
Well, as a matter of fact, I’m really not a fan of the PJ! Hahah. Red and black is the color scheme of the main rival of my football (soccer) team. Also, I understand there ought to be many better frames, but this is the one that fell on my lap and it got me curious on how well it can perform when optimized to me. Thanks for the feedback. I’m looking for something controlled (hence the fact I’m using a VCP) so I got interested in experimenting the higher stiffness and crazy 16x21 pattern. Maybe low angle is good for me. Maybe better crispness than my VCO is also good. Who knows. :)
 

Underdog

Professional
@Underdog - Sure thing. Let's start with RacquetFinder:

VCP97.png


VCTF97.png

As @WYK said, compared to the '21 VCP, the VCTF 97 290 is going be a fair bit more direct/raw, as it basically lacks any dampening/muting "tech" at all, and is definitely more firm with that 66RA flex. However, it will also feel a bit more tinny/hollow on impact, as there's probably ~10g less graphite in the layup and ~10g less in the handle (absence of VDM) -- thus the 3pt vs 7pt HL balance. The 16x21 would probably give you slightly better control, but it will have a lower launch angle and the string bed will be more static in its movement (more Prestige-like -- not necessarily a bad thing if that's what you like). At equivalent strung spec (ie. weighted up with handle weight and hoop lead) and the same strings and DT, I'd wager power would be slightly more with the VCTF, especially up towards max effort, where the VCP tends to "flatline" at a point of diminishing return.

As for strings, due to its rawness, the VCTF is probably a lot more string agnostic, although being more firm, I'd wager you'd probably want to go with something a bit softer, more gummy and/or more muted (examples - fb poly: TP Black Knight -- hybrid: Dunlop Silk Spin crossed with IsoSpeed Cream), whereas with the VCP, you'd want the most crisp string bed possible, to transmit max feel through the VDM (examples - fb poly: Tour Bite -- hybrid: Gamma Ocho TNT crossed with Head Hawk).

Also, as @WYK and @dr. godmode also touched on, the VCTF is from the previous generation of lower twist weight frames, which can be both a good thing (if you have excellent technique and have a whippy forehand and/or a one-handed backhand), but also a not-so-good thing if you're used to having more twist resistance as a "guide" against your own strength (ex: when hitting a 2HBH). Usually, it's the latter these days, and you're probably best off at least adding *some* weight to the 3 and 9 areas, as opposed to keeping 100% of added mass on or around the centerline.

All-in-all, a nice throwback stick to when Yonex frames were more firm, direct and raw, across the board. Also, as @WYK mentioned, I absolutely LOVE the paint jobs from this era -- very Darth Maul! If you do try and revive it, do keep us posted on how it plays!
You, as always, have me lost for words.
So, I am really interested in testing a more raw/crisp feeling playing with a control player’s racquet. That string pattern feels like a must try also haha. That higher power m-to-effort ceiling is also attractive.
I was highly considering something like a moderately sharp shaped poly, maybe Confidential (black string for black PJ), crossed with slick round poly, open for recommendations :). Stringing lower than I usually do.
You’re right. I value stability and weight in the laterals are mandatory to me on the frame. I loved how my VCP feels after the weight addition to 10 and 2. I probably have to throw some at 12, cause raising from 290g is probably hard, but I’d rather bump it up from 9,10-3,2, as well as the bumper weight.
Spot on on the Darth Maul point, it really looks like him.
 
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