VCore Tour F

So I have my new Vcore F93. My first thoughts were this is really crisp but it lacks from plow through. I love the racket and the paint job, but would like to customize it to match my old RDS 001. I'm new to customization so any help would be appreciated. I think if this had similar specs to the rds 001 this would be amazing, at least for swing weight. I have just added a leather grip... Will post update tomorrow when I play with that.....
 
So I have my new Vcore F93. My first thoughts were this is really crisp but it lacks from plow through. I love the racket and the paint job, but would like to customize it to match my old RDS 001. I'm new to customization so any help would be appreciated. I think if this had similar specs to the rds 001 this would be amazing, at least for swing weight. I have just added a leather grip... Will post update tomorrow when I play with that.....

After adding your leather grip, you only need to add 4 grams of lead at 12 o'clock to match the specs of your old RDS 001 mid.
 
Thanks for the tips guys, I'm going to add some lead and try it out. My question is because of the fin technology if I add lead to the inside hoop will that effect the swing or fin idea or not. Maybe just to test the specs I'll add to inside and if it feels good put under the bumper next string job.
 
Thanks for the tips guys, I'm going to add some lead and try it out. My question is because of the fin technology if I add lead to the inside hoop will that effect the swing or fin idea or not. Maybe just to test the specs I'll add to inside and if it feels good put under the bumper next string job.

Let's assume that the fins actually do something. Then, yes, I would not want to put lead on them. But as you say, you can always tuck the lead under the bumper if your test with lead on the fins is positive. You need the lead at the tip, too - lead any lower on the hoop and you won't get the matched specs you're after. (The static weight will get too high as you load up more lead at 3&9, or wherever, to get the swingweight to 325.) BTW, TW had the RDS 001 mid at 340 grams / 31.5 cm balance / 325 swingweight.
 
The aero fins are clearly the tech gimmick of the moment.

Ping Golf's new driver, the G30, has similar bumps on the crown of the head. They call them "Turbulators."

Clearly the Yonex marketing team needs to step up their gee-whiz nomenclature.
 
Thanks for the tips guys, I'm going to add some lead and try it out. My question is because of the fin technology if I add lead to the inside hoop will that effect the swing or fin idea or not. Maybe just to test the specs I'll add to inside and if it feels good put under the bumper next string job.

Could try 6/8 grams at 10 and 2 on the outside of the frame. Would be in the right ball park and make it more stable for vollies whilst not affecting the fins .
 
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The aero fins are clearly the tech gimmick of the moment.

Ping Golf's new driver, the G30, has similar bumps on the crown of the head. They call them "Turbulators."

Clearly the Yonex marketing team needs to step up their gee-whiz nomenclature.

Which is cooler, shark fins or turbulators?
 
Haha,

I had a good hit with the Tour F 97 yesterday. I'm not sure if its because of the fins or because I haven't leaded it up like my Ezone 98 (I'm demoing the Tour F 97) but it feels nice and whippy.

Compared to my Ezone with 2 grams added at the tip:
Control is better with the Tour F
Serves are pretty good actually! I'd say even with the Ezone
Sweet spot is decent, but not as big or forgiving as the Ezone (A bit of lead would help this)
The crisper feeling is quite nice on volleys, but again less forgiving.

Not sure if I'll purchase yet... I was most interested in the 93 originally (Haven't got a demo) but not sure if I could generate enough power with it.

A.
 
Forgot to mention spin!

The spin of the Tour F is less than the Ezone (as expected). But it wasn't too bad actually. It matched the power level. So I didn't hit long due to a lack of spin.
 
Loving mine. I'm surprised by some on here saying it's difficult to generate spin due to the string pattern. If it was a 21/18 then it might be a valid claim, but a 21/16 is pretty spin friendly IMO (I'm of the opinion that the number of mains dictates spin levels, and crosses dictate power, so I view this as a low power, spin friendly stick).

Another surprising comment I have seen is people complaining about the comfort levels. They must be trying another stick. Sure it's not quite as comfortable as a Pacific XForce Pro, or an Ai 100, but those things are buttery soft. Considering some of the joint damaging garbage the likes of Babolat, Head and Wilson are inflicting on consumers at the moment, the Yonex is one that I least expect to be criticised for its lack of comfort.

All in all, a great stick.
 
Well I've played with the Vcore F quite a few times now. Its a good stick. The spin, which has been mentioned a lot here it totally fine. Because its a control stick you need to take decent swings which in turn gives plenty of spin. I was rarely over-hitting.

The only problem for me is the slightly stiff feeling of the frame. It suits the control aspect of the racket but is just a little too much for me (Especially coming from the plush Ai98). I'd be interested to try the Vcore Tour G next to it as it has a lower stiffness rating.

I'd love to try the 93 as it is less stiff but alas they aren't bringing any into New Zealand! Its a shame as I'd like to give it a go.

A.
 
The 93 is significantly weaker but it feels more crisp like RDS 001 IMO
Also, I found that there is less stability but a lot easier to swing

Yes the 93 will be alot weaker due to the lack of weight for a 93 headsize. The Vcore 89 is 325g without strings so it really plows through. If I did ever get to play the 93 I would lead it up for sure.

A.
 
Just got a hit with the Tour F 93, and since there's been a dearth of reviews I thought I'd do a small write-up. Keep in mind that these thoughts are very preliminary, and I'll update them as I go along. For reference, I currently use the Yonex EZONE Ai 98, with 4g total added to 3&9, playing at a 4.0 level.

I bought the racquet used off of TW, and had it strung up with Volkl Cyclone at 50/48. Taking it out of the box, the paintjob is awesome, and the racquet feels high quality (as Yonex sticks do). Dry swinging the racquet, the balance felt good. It's a really maneuverable stick for sure, but I have my doubts about how it'd stand up to pace in stock form. I added 8g (total) in 4 inch strips at 3&9 and 2.5g of blu-tack to the buttcap (FINALLY a trapdoor for Yonex!). After adding OG and rubber band, I the customization worksheet told me I was sitting around 12.1oz, 7.5 HL, 330 SW.

On the string pattern. I think worries about the string density are overblown. Compared to the Ai98 (a 16x19 in a 98 sq in head), the string densities are virtually the same in the sweetspot. However as you travel away from center, the Ai98 definitely opens up more, whereas there's very little string density change in the F93 until you're really off towards the frame. However, compared to something like the Head GPMP, the pattern is way more open even with the extra cross.

Another note: Like the Tour89, Yonex elongated the handle/throat and shortened the head in this mid. Thus, the racquet face just a wide as most larger frames, but is shorter vertically. If you tend to hit lower in the stringbed, it'll probably take some adjustment.

I was actually playing a match, so it wasn't really ideal situation for testing out a new stick. It was also super windy, which never helps. That said, the response is definitely crisper than the Ai98, but not in a harsh way. I have some wrist issues and am very cognizant of bad vibes coming from a stick, and I liked the feel here a lot. You can feel some flex, but it's not all in the throat like in the Ai98. The feedback was much more direct/less muted, and I felt more connected to the ball. Like others have said, the ball gets in and out of the stringbed quickly, but not in a way that feels uncontrolled in the least.

Groundstrokes took a bit to dial in, though the wind probably played a factor. I was reminded of Troy's comments in the TW review - my 2-handed backhand was doing really well, but it took longer to dial in the depth of my forehand. Many of my initial forehands were landing short or in the net, though they did improve as the match went on. In comparison, I did find better directional control off of both wings compared to my Ai98 - perhaps a combination of a smaller headsize and improved feel. "Free" power is definitely down compared to the Ai98, but there's definitely power available if you want it (the lead probably helped a lot with this). Spin was decreased, but still accessible. Where with the Ai98, I feel like I almost have to really spin the ball to keep it in on a full stroke, the F93 puts out what you put in, and if you want to hit a spinny short angle it's certainly do-able with this stick. Unsurprisingly, this racquet isn't as forgiving as the Ai98 - a combination of a smaller head and increased string density away from center. I could definitely tell when I wasn't in the middle, and my mishits tended to land short. Given that this stick is a 93, that's not too surprising, and I think given the headsize the forgiveness is sufficient.

Probably the area where I ran into the most trouble with this stick were low short balls that I wanted to attack. I found that with the lower launch angle, I was putting a lot of them in the net, and when I tried to compensate I started to sail them long. Probably an adjustment issue - I don't see why I wouldn't be able to dial these shots in with time, but at least today I had some difficulty.

Volleys were great. The added lead really helped with stability, and the direct/crisper response made me feel more connected compared to the Ai98. Point and shoot, though I think the net game would be tougher with this racquet in stock form, particularly dealing with hard-hit shots landing off-center.

On serve, the control is extremely evident. Flat serves had good juice (not as much as with the Ai98, but I didn't feel handicapped in that regard). Not as much movement on sliders and kickers, but more control. Really nothing too surprising compared to my other stick.

I ended up losing the match in two tight sets, and I probably would have won with the Ai98. That said, I definitely want to give this one more time. Tennis isn't as "easy" with this stick, but I feel like once I get dialed in, I'll have more options on court due to the increased control and crisper, more direct feel. Time will tell. I do plan on changing the lead slightly - I think that putting the lead in 2 4-inch layers made the center of the racquet a little too "hot" relatively to the rest of the stick. This may have contributed to my impression of a significant dropoff in power outside of center. I'm planning on reapplying the lead in longer strips, which might even out the response a bit.

Look for updates once I get more time to hit with this stick.
 
Thanks for the detailed review, mxblink! Particularly as someone who has a experience with the Ai98 to boot.

Reviews have been scarce, though it looks like TW finally has demos available. I'll post my thoughts after I've spent some time with it.
 
It is going to be really hard to go from an Ai98 to a 93F. Completely different frame. If you haven't had success with a midsize frame before, save yourself the headaches and stick with what you got. The 93F is a great midsize frame but it is an tough adjustment to make from a 97+ head size to that.

I used to use a rdis93 and went to vcore95. There is no way I can go back down to the 93F. I had the Ai98 and I think its a great frame btw.
 
Thanks for the comments Carlito. I agree that they're very different racquets, but a lot of those differences fit into what I'm looking to change about the Ai98. Namely, feel that's a little more direct/less muted (but still comfortable), and slightly better control on big strokes without having to use a ton of spin to keep the ball in (which has been my experience off the forehand wing with the Ai98 ).

Of course, the headsize change and resulting loss of forgiveness will be the main factor in deciding whether I can use the stick. I'm not a complete stranger to mids - I played the PB10 mid for a while before taking a hiatus from tennis. One reason I think the change might not be as severe is that the F93 is still as wide as most larger frames at the top of the hoop, which is where I primarily hit the ball. I think it'd be a different story if I tended to make contact at the bottom of the head, which is where Yonex seems to have removed the most real-estate.

At least, that's what I tell myself. We'll see how the on-court results play out! :D
 
happy medium

I've been using Yonex frames, dating back to the RD7, to the RDX500, and currently the Vocre 98D. I can't find the soft feel in any other brand, but I'm still looking for a little more crispness than what I have. I'm going to switch to the 97F, and use a hybrid, multi-copoly set up, and wish for the best. The AI line, I felt had too much flex in the throat.
 
the head size drop might just be in everyone's head. i play with a head radical pro 98si, and a buddy broke out a vintage t-7500 yesterday, a stick i haven't held in 30 years. 75si, and after a few minutes i hit well with it. It was really fun due to the wicked maneuverability. pretty decent spin, and that is a 20x18 i believe. it wan't as powerful obviously, but i could still hit the ball plenty hard with footwork and swing speed. honestly, i thought i was going to whiff with that micro head. didn't even shank one
i'm thinking of dropping a few si on the racket head size and might demo this thing.
 
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coming from the ezone xi98 and ai98, and having played the tour G frames, I'm not crazy about it. it's not bad, the F 97, but just feels a little boardy, stiff, and not as plush, flexy, powerful and even accurate as my ezone experiences. but that's just me!
 
i demo v-core f yesterday and i was impressed from the control and the accuracy... about the feel, i like a bit more my pro staff 95, but also v-core has a nice feel.

it has more power than the ps95 and graphene prestige mp.. but i think that prestige in big hits is more stable and comfy
 
Well, after a few sessions with the Tour F 310, I regret to say it's not a good fit for me. I really wanted to like it, but alas, it's too stiff for my 50 year-old joints.

Looks great, swings easy...but too stiff.

On the upside, I picked up a couple of the EZONE Xi98, and so far so good.
 
Played 6 sets of doubles with the vcore tour F 93 this evening and 2 sets with my vcore tour 97. Very similar, only difference is the tour F is slightly softer in feel and the ball trajectory is slightly flatter. Can change from one to the other with no adjustment. Both racquets are 10 points headlight and 351g. Identical in weight. Only difference is the vcore tour 97 ( 310g version ) is strung at 59/57 and the vcour F is strung at 59/55, both with multis. I dropped 2lbs on the crosses to compensate for the smaller headsize, seems to work. Very happy so far. Last 2 pairs that I played against I swapped between the 2 frames on every switch over. The different trajectory seemed to unsettle the opponents.
 
It sounds like the F racquets are a big letdown.

Why is that?

A lot of people liked the original vcore tours but found them a little stiff, this resolves that problem. If you like hitting flat with accuracy also excellent. For vollies also superb.

Most club players that play doubles will love it. Probably not loopy singles players though.

With a leather grip and a little lead it is an excellent doubles racquet. I cannot talk for singles players, but I cannot see why all court players would not love it either?
 
My references are regarding the F93.

I choose this over the F97 due to the weight and balance specifications being almost identical to the tour97 310g. This meant it was easy to match the F93 to the tour 97 racquets I already enjoy.

I was a little worried about dropping 4 inches in size, but this is not a problem at all as Yonex have lost most of the area in the throat leaving the middle and top virtually the same as the tour 97 . As I do not hit the balls with the bottom of the racquet this makes little or no difference.
 
Vcore tour 93F . What a beautiful racquet . Serves well , vollies superbly and puts the ball wherever you want it, also soft on the arm . A good evolution to the Vcore tour 97 red .
 
I just got the Tour F 93. Great racket, definitely plays larger than its size. Serves and volleys well. I added 4g of lead at 3 and 9. Nice solid feel, not soft, but not hollow either, just solid. Volleys well. Groundies are solid, good launch angle. Great control stick with more pop that I expected. Will keep using for now.
 
Any additional thoughts on the Tour F 93 from someone?
I am a 5.5 player --playing this year with the graphene speed pro, 10gr of silicone in the handle, 4gr of lead at 3 and 9, and 2 og+dampener. I bought a couple of these frames on a whim thanks to Andy's review on tenniswarehouse. I does come too light for me so I just started by adding 7gr of lead at around 3 cm from the tip of the racket, and 4gr of lead split at 3 and 9. We'll see if I add more. But so far the racket feels very solid at contact. I have played a few matches this week with it, and boy it plays great. I find that it rewards agressive play but also offers a ton of control --and pinpoint precision from any spot on the court. Great serves as well, both slices and kicks, and very easy to generate power on flat serves. Backhand side works fantastic --slice, topspin or agressive flat. I however find it a bit more difficult on the forehand side, in particular when I am on defense. One thing that is obvious to me is that you need to swing aggressively. The frame requires that. Half-baked shots will be punished!
I definitely need to play more and possibly adjust a bit the mechanic of the forehand side. But overall, impressed so far!

I'd be happy to hear more about different set-ups (lead placement etc...) that you guys have been using.
 
I've been using the Vcore F 93 since a month. My previous raquets were an Ig Prestige Mp and an Ig Prestige Mid before it.
I added a yonex leather grip and supergrap and a soft mono string, gauge 1,20mm.
It has the benefits of both the Prestige mid and midplus: the weight of the midplus and the control of the mid. And it's more and maneuverable than both.
I notice an improvement in my service and backhand shots. Services are more consistent and varied in placement and both flat and slice backhands are more effective and secure.
The raquet is very manouverable and solid at net too.

I still have to get used to it on the forehand side, but if I'm concentrated, it plays very well.

In general, it gives very good sensations on impact, not harsh, nor too soft. Even without the mass of a vcore 89 or an Ig prestige mid, it's a very sweet raquet

ps: I didn't like it so much without a leather grip
 
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So far I have been playing with the 93 for about two weeks and I really like it. In stock form it is way too light so i added about 14 g at 3 and 9, a dampener, an overgrip and I also use it with the sony sensor. It feels great on serve and volleys. Probably the best racquet I have used on serve and volleys. It is also great for slices. My forehand feels great with this racquet and i have more control and can place the ball anywhere, but my OH backhand is still a little bit off. Before this racquet i was using the AI 98 with a leather grip and overgrip. I strung the 93 with black force 1.14 at 46/42, but im probably going to restring it at 50/46 or I might string it with Strategem 8 1.25 at 46/42. What strings are you guys using in this racquet and at what tension?
 
Have been using for a few weeks now . Really enjoying it . Moded to 351g and using Wilson NXT tour /power 17 gauge at 59 mains 55 crosses .
 
So far I have been playing with the 93 for about two weeks and I really like it. In stock form it is way too light so i added about 14 g at 3 and 9, a dampener, an overgrip and I also use it with the sony sensor. It feels great on serve and volleys. Probably the best racquet I have used on serve and volleys. It is also great for slices. My forehand feels great with this racquet and i have more control and can place the ball anywhere, but my OH backhand is still a little bit off. Before this racquet i was using the AI 98 with a leather grip and overgrip. I strung the 93 with black force 1.14 at 46/42, but im probably going to restring it at 50/46 or I might string it with Strategem 8 1.25 at 46/42. What strings are you guys using in this racquet and at what tension?
Wouah 14g at 3' and 9' with no counterbalancing besides an og? What's the balance point now?
 
Why this stick doesn't get the same love for example like tour G ; My coach and a friend of mine who tested both preferred it easily than tour G which is more control oriented, needs low tension at 20kg for decent power and is cumbersome to maneuver.
 
Wouah 14g at 3' and 9' with no counterbalancing besides an og? What's the balance point now?
The overgrip weighs 7g, and the sensor ways 7g. There is 14g in the handle and 14g in the head so there is counterbalancing. The balance is 32.1cm.
 
The overgrip weighs 7g, and the sensor ways 7g. There is 14g in the handle and 14g in the head so there is counterbalancing. The balance is 32.1cm.

Hi Yarika,

so what is the total weight of the racquet now? what does "the sensor ways 7g" means? you added 14g to handle and 7g at 3 and 7g at 9, am I right, did you add any lead at 12? can you give your review after adding the weight, I play with wilson PS 90 and currently started to play with Vcore tour F 97 and felt very less power and all balls are falling short, not much depth. can you share experience after adding lead? Did you add any lead at 12 to increase swing weight?

Thanks
 
My Previous racquet choice is wilson pro staff 90 and Yonex vcore 89, I am trying now vcore tour F 97 , replaced with wilson leather grip and gamma overgrip and added 2gms of lead at 3 , 2gms at 9 and 1.5 gms at 12 ,1.5 gms at 6, Still not getting the feel of PS 90 or Vcore 89.. I think i will add 3-4 gms to handle and try it...

Any thoughts on this is appreciated.

Thanks
 
I enjoyed the rackets for a bit, modding them with leather grips and a bit of lead. I felt they were a bit underpowered for me. So now I'm looking to sell or trade both of them. Shoot me a message if anyone is interested (4 3/8)
 
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