Yonex: SV 98 vs Duel 97 310?

[TripleB]

For anyone who has compared the Yonex VCore SV98 and the Yonex VCore Duel G 97 310...what are your thoughts?

I demoed the Duel G 97 310 and started out really liking the racquet (see my demo thoughts below) because it reminded me of a lighter POG Mid. But as my time with the racquet went on my fondness of it dropped a bit and by the end of my sessions I felt my groundies lacked depth and the feel seemed very stiff near the top of the racquet face. But as I read other players comments there is very little mention of the stiffer feel and with a flex of 64 it shouldn't feel that stiff...which leads me to think that maybe the stringing was off or something.

Anyway, thanks for any thoughts on these two racquets!!!

TripleB


1st Time withYonex VCore Duel G 97 310: right now this is probably my favorite racquet of the bunch (with the DR98 close behind); it plays more like an enlarged POG Mid than any of the other three; served very well with this racquet…placement is uncanny although the lower power level (compared to the DR98) made service winners tougher to come by---kick serves were the best of the bunch but nowhere close to my normal racquet; topspin and slice were both excellent…very comparable to my POG Mid (top maybe not quite as good as my Prince); control and touch were probably the two standout areas for me with this racquet – I could really direct the ball exactly where I wanted it to go and was only late one time with this racquet because of the very headlight balance…my backhand slice return was really my standout shot with this racquet…I could hit the ball low and deep or drop it barely over the net; at net I was missing the power of the DR98 but could live without that thanks to the touch and control up there; weight and balance were about perfect

2nd Time with Yonex VCore Duel G 97 310: Yonex VCore Duel 97 310: very strange day with this racquet; the feel with this racquet seems to be a bit brittle...I don't really think it is strung overly tight but that's what it plays like; I feel the ball on the strings much better than with the DR but anything above mid racquet face has such a dead and brittle feel...it even makes a strange 'twang/crack' when I hit balls near the tip and every time I serve; slice was very nice, topspin is great, power level is good (below the DR), control is good (can even hit the crosscourt forehand with this racquet) but the feel is just something I can't get past (and looking at the flex is was not something I was expecting); definitely not the racquet for me

3rd time with Yonex VCore Duel G 97 310: Yonex VCore Duel 97 310: reminded me some of my POG Mid but didn't have the solid feel of my Prince slice was excellent however topspin was only average, control was decent but groundstrokes lacked depth, touch volleys were the nicest of the group but didn't feel like there was enough power to put the ball away at net, what really bothered me was the feel of the racquet from the mid to upper part of the head (very stiff...sounded like the racquet was cracking on every serve)

 

[DustinW]

I just demoed both and ended up with the SV98. The Duel G was really good, but honestly, the only thing it did better than the SV was a little more control. The SV excels in power, spin, defense, and mobility. The SV is just overall a much easier racket to play with... for me and my game.

Interesting that you mention the stiffness of the Duel G. I felt the same thing. I was feeling more flex from the SV. The Duel G was firmer in the top of the hoop, and it was slightly more uncomfortable for me. I strung both with the same string at the same tension.

 

[smalahove]

I have both, and prefer the DG97, as I tend to gravitate towards thinner beamed, control oriented rackets. I've added a 2-3g @12 to bump up the SW a bit, as both my 310 DG97s feel a bit underpowered in stock form. I also prefer to go down on tension or opt for a softer poly, to bump dwell time, power and mitigate stiffness. You can also string it 16x19 instead of 16x20.

 

[CNButts]

I am looking at the DG 97 330 vs the SV98. I don't have much of an issue for hitting hard, my miss is swinging too hard probably. I am wondering if I am going to miss having the extra power on my serve but I like the idea of having more touch. Can't seem to make a decision.

 

[sma1001]

I am looking at the DG 97 330 vs the SV98. I don't have much of an issue for hitting hard, my miss is swinging too hard probably. I am wondering if I am going to miss having the extra power on my serve but I like the idea of having more touch. Can't seem to make a decision.

These frames are quite different. The DG330 is solid, but needs good preparation and flowing swings: no flicks here. With a good swing the results are very satisfying. The SV98 is much lighter and easier to swing and flick around. It's also stiffer. So much more like a tweener than a solid players stick. both great in their own way.

 

[Crocodile]

I prefer the duel G due to its more traditional feel combined with its comfort is a deal breaker for me.

 

[2HBH-DTL]

I'd go with the duel g 310 or 330. Both are amazing frames.

 

[cdub95]

Duel G fan here, enjoy the classic feel and thin beam.

 

[TripleB]

I just demoed both and ended up with the SV98. The Duel G was really good, but honestly, the only thing it did better than the SV was a little more control. The SV excels in power, spin, defense, and mobility. The SV is just overall a much easier racket to play with... for me and my game.

For DustinW or anyone who currently owns a Yonex V Core SV 98, can I ask a strange favor...what is the distance from the left most main string to the right most main string? Also what is the distance from the bottom cross string to the top cross string?

ie: my Pure Strike is 7.1 inches from left most main to right most main and 10.0 inches from the bottom cross to the top cross.

I know the SV 98 is a 16x20 but at least the measurements will give me some idea of how open the string pattern is. In the pics the pattern looks pretty evenly spaced and somewhat wide open, but it only got a score of 74 for Slice from TW.

Any thoughts/comments/opinions/etc. you have on the racquet would be helpful as well.

Thanks!!!

TripleB

 

[Crashbaby]

For DustinW or anyone who currently owns a Yonex V Core SV 98, can I ask a strange favor...what is the distance from the left most main string to the right most main string? Also what is the distance from the bottom cross string to the top cross string?

ie: my Pure Strike is 7.1 inches from left most main to right most main and 10.0 inches from the bottom cross to the top cross.

I know the SV 98 is a 16x20 but at least the measurements will give me some idea of how open the string pattern is. In the pics the pattern looks pretty evenly spaced and somewhat wide open, but it only got a score of 74 for Slice from TW.

Any thoughts/comments/opinions/etc. you have on the racquet would be helpful as well.

Thanks!!!

TripleB

Hi there TripleB SV98: Left to right measures 7 1/8". Vertical measures 9 6/8". The mains are spaced much closer together on my Strike PO7 than they are on the SV. I have poly in my strike and Gut/poly in my Sv98+, so hard to compare them, but i find the strike to be plush in the sweet spot and harsh outside it. The SV98 has a bigger sweet spot and more comfort than the Strike in my opinion. Neither is my main racquet at present. Both are not as comfortable as the new Vcore 98 or my Vcore pro 310 which I'm still preferring at present.

 

[anfield]

I've say my favorite is the Tour G 310 with leather grip and some lead, but use the Duel G 310 with same setup depending on mood. With the Duel I'm better at net, pickups, returns and put-away forehands. The Tour G is so sublime. I can absolutely rip OHBH, slice someone off the court, drop shot from the back of the fence. Never got along with any of the SV. The new Vcore 98 is good in all aspects, but nothing stands out.

I've had both Vcore Pro 310 and 330 but they are flimsy, no amount of lead can help. I'd say my winner is the Tour G 310, the Tour G 330 is amazing and solid, but I've never been able to pull off more trickery than with the Tour G 310, crazy second serves and voodoo backhands.

 

[TripleB]

Hi there TripleB SV98: Left to right measures 7 1/8". Vertical measures 9 6/8". The mains are spaced much closer together on my Strike PO7 than they are on the SV. I have poly in my strike and Gut/poly in my Sv98+, so hard to compare them, but i find the strike to be plush in the sweet spot and harsh outside it. The SV98 has a bigger sweet spot and more comfort than the Strike in my opinion. Neither is my main racquet at present. Both are not as comfortable as the new Vcore 98 or my Vcore pro 310 which I'm still preferring at present.

I appreciate you measuring that for me...I thought it looked more open than that.

Yea, my Pure Strike is 7.1"w x 10.0"t but it's more open on the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock edges than in the middle. I struggle getting the right amount of spin, especially on serves, from my Pure Strike (probably because my contact point is so inconsistent). Get a much more consistent response out of string patterns that offer pretty much consistent spacing between all the strings....my Prince Original Graphite Mid and my Prince CTS Approach are two that come to mind.

Is the spacing equal between all the mains on the SV98?

I'm currently trying the Burn 100 CV which I really like...seems to have consistent spacing and really wide open string pattern: 8 inches width and 10 inches tall in a 16x19 pattern. I'm also trying the Prince Phantom 100 and it pretty open as well although not as open as the Burn as it's 7.5" width and 9.6" tall in a 16x18 pattern.

I know I'm now getting picking in looking at all the specs but just love wide open patterns...I get as much control and more consistency with these wide open patterns as I do with tight string patterns.

Again, thank you for taking the time to give me those measurements as well as your thoughts on the SV 98....it has been a great help.

TripleB

 

[TripleB]

The Tour G is so sublime. I can absolutely rip OHBH, slice someone off the court, drop shot from the back of the fence. Never got along with any of the SV. The new Vcore 98 is good in all aspects, but nothing stands out.

That sounds exactly the results I've been getting with my Prince Phantom Pro 100 demo I've tried the last two days!

TripleB