Why Is The Yonex Vcore Significantly More Arm Friendly Than The Speed MP Despite A Higher Stiffness Rating?

[TheStrenuousLife]

I played with both a Vcore (2021 model) and Speed MP (2018 version). With the vcore, I had zero arm problems and tested it for a few months. I recently switched over to a Head Speed MP, as my coach just gave it to me. It is the 2018 version of the Speed MP. I immediately started having arm problems within the first few days of playing it, and when it hits the frame, I feel it go throughout my arm. I did not once have any arm problems when I played with Vcore, despite it having a higher stiffness rating, and I have been having arm problems with the Speed MP, despite it having an RA of 62.


Is there a reason why the more stiffer Vcore was much more arm friendly over the flexible Speed?

 

[iceman_dl6]

Probably, a softer head/stiffer throat on the vcore. To note, mesurements are taken at the throat.

 

[recreationalplayer]

Strings?

 

[Rabbit]

@TheStenuousLife, I find Yonex to be very arm friendly. I've been playing the VCore 98 for about 4 years now. The only time I had any discomfort was playing a full bed of PTP which took some time to manifest. I am 64 and probably should have known better. Went back to a more arm-friendly setup and things are improving.

 

[FrankyRelax]

That VDM is no joke. For better or worse

 

[om panda]

Head 2018 graphene layup makes the racket harsh despite the lower ra rating.

Its the matter of how the shock travel to your arm.

 

[socallefty]

Your equipment in terms of impact shock to the arm includes the racquet, string, tension, string gauge and if poly, the age of the stringjob matters. So, are you using both racquets with exactly the same stringjob?

 

[iceman_dl6]

Head 2018 graphene layup makes the racket harsh despite the lower ra rating.

Its the matter of how the shock travel to your arm.

True! All their Graphene iterations pre 360+ (2020), as I remember, are arm wreckers.

 

[Wheelz]

I find the Head that I used are harder on my wrist if I go up in tension. I tried many yonex at any tension and never had any issue. Head has more of a raw direct feel that is nice and yonex has that muted feels that seems to be good for the arm.

and that’s auxetic, 360 and 360+ …. Just have to stay in the safe spot for tension.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

Japanese baby, vdm is real

 

[LeastExhaustingPlayer]

Japanese baby, vdm is real

Oh, they are real...and they are SPECTACULAR!

 

[ohplease]

The measured RA is taken at just one place, and in just one direction. in general, I've found that regardless of how stiff a racket might be along its length (and in particular its throat), what matters more is how a frame bends or twists torsionally. For me, anything too stiff torsionally/with too little bending side to side leads to discomfort pretty quickly.

Interestingly, in the promo materials for the new Wilson Shift (for example https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.c...0/Technology/wilson-tennis-shift-racquet.aspx), they're making a distinction between torsional stiffness being good for power, and lateral flexibility (as measured by hanging a weight on the side of the frame) being good for spin. I always figured any twisting or bending along that plane to be the same thing, but I guess they're saying it's different somehow. Historically, Heads, Princes, and Volkls tended to be less rigid in this regard then say Wilsons or Babolats - but I doubt that's consistently true nowadays.

I will say that so called spin frames (yonex vcores, dunlop sx, babolat aero, etc.) all seem softer about the long axis then the comparable power frames (ezone, fx, pure drive, etc.) - so maybe there's something to this lateral flexibility = spin thing. It'd still be good to know how exactly lateral stiffness differs from torsional stiffness, though

 

[stickM]

I agree that the '21 VCore 100 is slightly more arm friendly than the 360+ Speed MP. However, I think the Auxetic Speed MP is slightly more arm friendly than either of those two. I still have one of all three frames and yes have tried with various strings/tensions for comparison.
I also find the '22 EZone 98 to be a nice all-around arm friendly option while both the '20 and '22 100s were uncomfortable over time for me. JMO

 

[McLovin]

Oh, they are real...and they are SPECTACULAR!

A visual reference for our younger audience:

 

[WYK]

Probably, a softer head/stiffer throat on the vcore. To note, mesurements are taken at the throat.

One of the things the RDC machine doesn't test for is over all racquet stiffness. It does take the measurement at the throat. In other words, it's how flexible the hoop is.
So, if you have something like 65RA, but it has a long throat like a Prestige, it is going to feel different than a 65RA ProStaff, and way different than a 65RA Prince with a 20mm throat.
The RDC/RA is more of a guideline.

 

[HFK]

True! All their Graphene iterations pre 360+ (2020), as I remember, are arm wreckers.

This right here.

 

[Lorenn]

I played with both a Vcore (2021 model) and Speed MP (2018 version). With the vcore, I had zero arm problems and tested it for a few months. I recently switched over to a Head Speed MP, as my coach just gave it to me. It is the 2018 version of the Speed MP.

RA doesn't tell the whole story, as many others have mentioned. So Graphene... "reduces frame deformation which enables better energy transfer"... Which ends up straight into the player, unless it is diffused somewhere. This is where the spiral fibers in 360+ tech helps. Basically they used graphene to make the racquets lighter, but it also made them stiffer. They then had to figure ways to absorb this extra energy, while keeping feel in the range players like. 360+ tech was where they finally found decent balance. I don't really recommend any of the Graphene racquets before the 360+ line. After that they seem to preform well without being harsh on the player.

Between the two I would stick with the Vcore, unless you feel the Speed MP opened up your game. Then I would likely buy a 360+/2022 version of the Speed MP.

 

[TennisHound]

I played with both a Vcore (2021 model) and Speed MP (2018 version). With the vcore, I had zero arm problems and tested it for a few months. I recently switched over to a Head Speed MP, as my coach just gave it to me. It is the 2018 version of the Speed MP. I immediately started having arm problems within the first few days of playing it, and when it hits the frame, I feel it go throughout my arm. I did not once have any arm problems when I played with Vcore, despite it having a higher stiffness rating, and I have been having arm problems with the Speed MP, despite it having an RA of 62.


Is there a reason why the more stiffer Vcore was much more arm friendly over the flexible Speed?

Graphene