yonex tour f 93 vs yonex dr 98

[Nathan Shim]

Hey guys! I am debating on switching to the yonex DR 98, but am pretty unsure if I really should.

While I was using my rf97, I was testing out some potential rackets. I really liked the wilson 6.1 95, but chose the yonex tour f 93 last year because I wanted a smaller frame.

I am a 4.5+ player and I have too much power and hit mostly flat, so my hitting partner told me to just stay with the tour f 93, but I feel like I have to try way too hard for the same shot I could hit with the rf 97. The only reason I stopped using the rf was because after 3 months of around 100 hours of practice, my wrist started to ache like crazy and was always sore. When I switched over to the lighter yonex, the pain was gone after a week, so I know I can't go back to the rf.

Any advice?

 

[GBplayer]

Add a bit of weight to the F93 to up the power.

 

[n8dawg6]

i like the f93 and f97 much better than the DR98 ... think im in the minority though. they have a more direct feel, but also lower-powered. more demanding. BUT, we are both named nathan so it might be a trend that we prefer f-series yonex.

 

[Nathan Shim]

Add a bit of weight to the F93 to up the power.

My power is fine, but its the shots where I require a lot feel like drop shots, volleys, running forehands/backhands, etc., that is making me put extra effort that at the end of the day makes it a little frustrating. My performance with the tour f 93 is totally fine on paper, but it's just that personally, I don't know if the extra perceived effort would be worth it. (mentally and physically)

 

[Nathan Shim]

i like the f93 and f97 much better than the DR98 ... think im in the minority though. they have a more direct feel, but also lower-powered. more demanding. BUT, we are both named nathan so it might be a trend that we prefer f-series yonex.

haha yeah maybe!

I just feel like compared to the blade 98 I used for 7 years, the rf97 I used for 3 months, and the 6.1 95 I practiced with for a couple months, this is the smallest size I've gone down to and it just takes quite a bit more preparation for a shot than the other rackets.. I love the plush feeling of the tour f and the feel, but because I need to get that extra half step in, bend my knees a bit more, concentrate harder than I needed to for the other rackets, it's more fatiguing than all the other rackets I've used thus far.

Maybe I'll have to look into the tour f 97 eh. What string configuration do you use for your tour f 93?

 

[n8dawg6]

haha yeah maybe!

I just feel like compared to the blade 98 I used for 7 years, the rf97 I used for 3 months, and the 6.1 95 I practiced with for a couple months, this is the smallest size I've gone down to and it just takes quite a bit more preparation for a shot than the other rackets.. I love the plush feeling of the tour f and the feel, but because I need to get that extra half step in, bend my knees a bit more, concentrate harder than I needed to for the other rackets, it's more fatiguing than all the other rackets I've used thus far.

Maybe I'll have to look into the tour f 97 eh. What string configuration do you use for your tour f 93?

i actually sold the f93. it is a little less stiff then the f97, but i was having too many mishits. both f97s are currently strung with the yonex multi (forget the name ... 850?) and its a little too bouncy and frail. have also strung them with cyclone, which is too dead and harsh for me. the truth lies somewhere in the middle of those extremes, i think.

also think about the duel G 97. very nice frame, perhaps better than the f97.

 

[cdub95]

Demo the Duel G 330.

 

[Nathan Shim]

i actually sold the f93. it is a little less stiff then the f97, but i was having too many mishits. both f97s are currently strung with the yonex multi (forget the name ... 850?) and its a little too bouncy and frail. have also strung them with cyclone, which is too dead and harsh for me. the truth lies somewhere in the middle of those extremes, i think.

also think about the duel G 97. very nice frame, perhaps better than the f97.

So the smaller frame is a bit less stiff eh. I might just demo the f97 when I get the chance to.

I have my f93 strung with cyclone at 45 for the mains and 47 for the crosses. Idk why, but my stringer (who is also my hitting partner) recommended it for my style of play for some reason lol. This set up is pretty good for me at the moment, but literally only when it's fresh off the machine. After a week, I want to restring it, but who has the budget for that kind of restringing right? rofl.

 

[Nathan Shim]

Demo the Duel G 330.

Way too heavy. After my experience with the rf97, theres no way I'm going that heavy ever again. My wrist will die on me. lol

If I was okay with that weight, I wouldn't have switched to the yonex honestly.

 

[ShahofTennis]

Have you ever tried an SV95? I personally think it's a cut above the DR98 and F93. Granted I string mine with full poly at 60lbs, so my judgement may be a little suspect to someone who strings in the mid to high 40's.

 

[Nathan Shim]

Have you ever tried an SV95? I personally think it's a cut above the DR98 and F93. Granted I string mine with full poly at 60lbs, so my judgement may be a little suspect to someone who strings in the mid to high 40's.

I haven't tried the SV95. I saw the review on tennis warehouse, but after hearing Michelle saying that the volleying was a bit off, it turned me off quite a bit since I feel like I relate to Michelle's taste in rackets and stringing the most out of all the play testers. I might like the SV98, since Michelle did say it was basically the same as the rf97 except for the feel at contact which is just more plush. (Which I enjoy now. It's actually more like I can't play with my rf97 anymore because the stiff feeling feels too alien to me.)

I used to play with high 50's or be at 60 for tension with my wilson blade 98 back in the day, but it just didn't feel right for the yonex racket to be at a high tension when I started messing around with string tension.

Honestly, I'm just a bit lost because I'm not sure what the differences are between all the yonex lines are..

 

[ShahofTennis]

I haven't tried the SV95. I saw the review on tennis warehouse, but after hearing Michelle saying that the volleying was a bit off, it turned me off quite a bit since I feel like I relate to Michelle's taste in rackets and stringing the most out of all the play testers. I might like the SV98, since Michelle did say it was basically the same as the rf97 except for the feel at contact which is just more plush. (Which I enjoy now. It's actually more like I can't play with my rf97 anymore because the stiff feeling feels too alien to me.)

I used to play with high 50's or be at 60 for tension with my wilson blade 98 back in the day, but it just didn't feel right for the yonex racket to be at a high tension when I started messing around with string tension.

Honestly, I'm just a bit lost because I'm not sure what the differences are between all the yonex lines are..

Hell, I dont know what the differences between Yonex's various lines are either. All I can say is that if I play my style(long athletic strokes with good RHS), then 60lbs still lets the ball pocket deep into the stringbed and still gives me great access to spin with a fairly muted feel. Its not uncomfortable, but certainly more easy on the wrists long term than a Babolat, or an RF97.

One more thing, Michelle stated in her latest Playtester Picks installment that she strings at 57lbs. You're issue of having too much power, at least, is as simple as upping the tension of your strings.

Get a DR98 Blue.

 

[Nathan Shim]

Hell, I dont know what the differences between Yonex's various lines are either. All I can say is that if I play my style(long athletic strokes with good RHS), then 60lbs still lets the ball pocket deep into the stringbed and still gives me great access to spin with a fairly muted feel. Its not uncomfortable, but certainly more easy on the wrists long term than a Babolat, or an RF97.

One more thing, Michelle stated in her latest Playtester Picks installment that she strings at 57lbs. You're issue of having too much power, at least, is as simple as upping the tension of your strings.

Get a DR98 Blue.

Hm.. I started out with a mid 50s tension for the yonex to test it out, but the feel wasn't just quite right for me. The lower I got, the better it felt, and then I hit the sweetspot of mid 40s. The problem there is that the tension only lasts for a few sessions.. I'm just thinking that if I get a bigger head, (just like with the wilson blade) I can manage the mid to high 50s and hope it'll last me a bit longer. I have no idea if this logic is right with stringing though.. haha.

I was eyeing the Dr98 Extended length, but I just don't know if I will regret it. I honestly think that consumers should be able to demo a racket for a much longer period of time. That rf97 felt like my soulmate until I found that my wrist couldn't handle it about 3 months later lol.. The first few sessions were wayy too misleading.

 

[PMChambers]

If you want temper power and still like Mid Plus, try a ProKennex Redondo 98. It's 18x20, RA58, thin box section, very low power and happy to have high tension stringing if you want gut. It's also relatively cheap and you might get 2nd cheap as many give up because low power and its moderately heavy so adding lead can become issue. The 93 is as above but deader.

I'm currently using RF97 and believe the frame needs high head speed with top or slice to control. On 1st Serve return been bunting well but margin for error is small, kind of great when hit well. I wouldn't hit flat with it unless I had no choice.

The PK 5g/5ki PSE plays well flattish. It's heavy but strung tight with poly has a lot of plow. Still better with low to high swing but high TW makes hard to whip. It's racquet made for Djokovic style. Also one of the most arm friendly at the neg of feel.

 

[Nathan Shim]

If you want temper power and still like Mid Plus, try a ProKennex Redondo 98. It's 18x20, RA58, thin box section, very low power and happy to have high tension stringing if you want gut. It's also relatively cheap and you might get 2nd cheap as many give up because low power and its moderately heavy so adding lead can become issue. The 93 is as above but deader.

I'm currently using RF97 and believe the frame needs high head speed with top or slice to control. On 1st Serve return been bunting well but margin for error is small, kind of great when hit well. I wouldn't hit flat with it unless I had no choice.

The PK 5g/5ki PSE plays well flattish. It's heavy but strung tight with poly has a lot of plow. Still better with low to high swing but high TW makes hard to whip. It's racquet made for Djokovic style. Also one of the most arm friendly at the neg of feel.

As for the ProKennex Redondo 98, I see that it's been released quite some time ago. I was using the wilson blade 98 since 2009 and I don't really want to go back to the older rackets. Once I stick with a racket, I want to be able to keep it for quite some time so I would like to be up to date with recent racket technology.

First of all, you're a champ to be using that Rf 97. I am a pretty solid player that has been ranked decently high in juniors back in the day and can keep up with open level players that have done low level professional tournaments with the RF97, so I do have the technique. I just don't think my wrist is strong enough for that heavy thing. I play a pretty aggressive flat ball kind of game, so I'm guessing I just went too hard with the racket than my forearm could handle too quickly. But ever since I switched to the lighter Tour F93, no wrist pains again. I'd just want something that 1) gives me no wrist pain and 2) lets me hit without stressing too much. I don't play competitively much anymore, so I just want to have tons of fun and make harder shots without trying so hard you know haha.

 

[GBplayer]

My power is fine, but its the shots where I require a lot feel like drop shots, volleys, running forehands/backhands, etc., that is making me put extra effort that at the end of the day makes it a little frustrating. My performance with the tour f 93 is totally fine on paper, but it's just that personally, I don't know if the extra perceived effort would be worth it. (mentally and physically)

I have no trouble with touch shots and cute angles, in fact the reason I love this racquet. But I am stringing at 59/55.

 

[smalahove]

i actually sold the f93. it is a little less stiff then the f97, but i was having too many mishits. both f97s are currently strung with the yonex multi (forget the name ... 850?) and its a little too bouncy and frail. have also strung them with cyclone, which is too dead and harsh for me. the truth lies somewhere in the middle of those extremes, i think.

also think about the duel G 97. very nice frame, perhaps better than the f97.

I have to agree with n8dawg6 about the DR98, and I know I'm prob in a minority here, but to me, it was a good, but somewhat lackluster frame, just as the AI98, esp. when compared to the Duel G97. I have both the 310 and 330 versions, and use to play with the RF97A (had 4). The 330 is noticeably stiffer than the 310. I thought I had found a great compromise in the new PS; what I did find however is my first serious bout with TE. The DG97 330 is a bit better, whereas the 310 (with a soft setup) lets me play tennis again. My vote is for the 310 version

 

[ByakuFubuki]

Way too heavy. After my experience with the rf97, theres no way I'm going that heavy ever again. My wrist will die on me. lol

If I was okay with that weight, I wouldn't have switched to the yonex honestly.

There is a 310g version (same as f93).

 

[GeroFornari]

Hi, i need some help please! I'm about to buy the Yonex VCore F97, and i dont know which grip choose.
I use L3 on Dunlop and Head, and L2 on Babolat...
Thank you!