Yonex Vcore Pro 97

[HolyMountain]

So after running through lots or racquets over the last year or so, this may very well be the perfect balance for me. I love the RF97A but it is not very forgiving on less than perfect strokes and the weight just helped me be ever so slightly late. The Babolat Aero Tour was great but not my favorite with gut/hybrid strings and not my favorite for volleying (which I am fond of). The Yonex Ezone 98 was almost the right one, but not hefty enough. On a whim I bought the Vcore 98 - loved it but I had to really watch my strokes with it or it turned into a canon. Strung the Vcore Pro 97 330g with 4G at 48lbs, so far so good. But I am known to have honeymoon period with racquets. It really is a easier to use RF97A in my brief experience with it. I like that I can really just let lose on balls and not worry about them sailing to the moon. I have never played with a full bed of poly at such low tensions, it is surprisingly awesome! I am going to try it with some Wilson Champions choice in the next week or so and see if I can dial that tension in.

 

[PlayBrave]

@PlayBrave
I have never tried the latest Prestige Pro, coincidentally, the only recent Head frame I demoed was the Head Graphene XT Prestige Pro. I selected it based on the specs I found through racquetfinder.com. I felt that the specs were very compatible with my kind of swings but I also thought that it was too powerful for me, had a hard time controlling the ball. I really liked the shape of the grip though.

The VCore Pro 330 ultimately felt like there was mass in the throat but lacking in the hoop, which works well in my opinion if you have more flattish strokes. I naturally gravitate to an almost full Western grip (I also played competitive table tennis whilst I was younger, almost 2 years, after competing in tennis as a junior, was enough to permanently change my strokes) and a lot of pullback on the handle on my forehand. As a result, I found that I play much better with very polarised racquets; modest weight (305 - 310 g) and significant mass in the hoop (SW ~ 335 I think), a.k.a. the hammer setup. Maybe I tried to follow the TTW gospel of high static weight and very head light for too long! I think I could have made it work with the VCore Pro 330 by trying to adjusting my strokes but in the end I did not believe that I would have played more successful. As a left hander, my current style is actually an advantage on clay, at least I would like to believe. To be fair, I'm not really an S&V player, I like to stay behind the baseline, hit big and curl the ball - typical clay court tennis. What also helped to change my opinion is that better players told me that I play better with the DR98, hard to argue with that.

The only problem is that my racquets are getting old and I haven't found anything close to a replacement. Hopefully this year's EZONE will go back to the DR magic wand feeling. Always keen on hearing new suggestions though.

Hey @mscream
Appreciate the detailed reply and insight into your playing style.
I agree that "playing better overall" should be the overriding factor (as opposed to the perfect sensation/outcome on a lower percentage of shots).
The DR98 enables me to do most things well (in both perfect and challenging playing conditions) and there is an element of compromise with any frame.
Been using Yonex Poly Tour Pro 17G for a while in my DR98's and going to try Voikl Cyclone 16G to see if that gives me a bit more control/grip on the forehand.
Did you also switch to the Wilson butt caps on your DR98's? I use Grip 4 and keen to try the Wilson butt caps (for the increased flair). Any particular type/size you would recommend?
Still planning to demo the VCore 97 (330) but will try to be objective/realistic about the likely impact on my overall game over the medium-term (and whether it will be worth the additional cost, frustration and hassle).
Many thanks.

 

[mscream]

Yes, I have Wilson Butt caps on all my Yonex racquets, L3, same as the racquets, fit perfectly. I only tried one specific cap, though (2015 non-pro staff?). Much prefer the bigger flare, especially on FH and serves. Can only recommend it. That's the only thing I don't like about Yonex; the grip shape and the lack of flare.

If you want more control yet still maintain a good feel, I can highly recommend Kirschbaum Max Power Rough 1.20 in the DR98. Personally I gravitate towards somewhat lively strings with a high dwell time and good bite into the ball. YTex Square-X is surprisingly good for my game, as is BC4S. I like gear-shaped strings such as Cyclone but I could not get decent tension maintenance with it.

 

[HolyMountain]

Had my come down after several days of playing several hours a day. To be fair I was a bit off today. I just was not getting any depth on my balls, hitting the tape on the net too often. I wasn't really swinging for the fences as I was hitting with my wife. Served well when I found the sweet spot. Hit a few serves with her Head Instinct MP (also with 4g @ 48lbs) - was a huge difference, big sweet spot easy power. That being said, that is also what I dislike about the more powerful racquets - serve like a canon but groundstrokes are hard for me to control. At any rate, I think I am going with a Gut/poly hybrid for tomorrow. Any suggestions on tensions?

 

[dje31]

FWIW, in my Yonex EZone Xi98, I really like Volkl Cyclone 19 mains, OGSM17 crosses, 5-10% less than mains. That combo has worked for me for years, in multiple racquets.

In one, I have 47M / 43C, in the other, 41M / 37C. For modern Yonex frames with modern strings, for me, at least, mid-to-lower end of MFR suggested range, if not lower.

Of course, YMMV...

 

[Crashbaby]

Had my come down after several days of playing several hours a day. To be fair I was a bit off today. I just was not getting any depth on my balls, hitting the tape on the net too often. I wasn't really swinging for the fences as I was hitting with my wife. Served well when I found the sweet spot. Hit a few serves with her Head Instinct MP (also with 4g @ 48lbs) - was a huge difference, big sweet spot easy power. That being said, that is also what I dislike about the more powerful racquets - serve like a canon but groundstrokes are hard for me to control. At any rate, I think I am going with a Gut/poly hybrid for tomorrow. Any suggestions on tensions?

I’m at 53m/50c with Wilson 16g natural gut mains and Luxilon alu power rough crosses. Love it. Also great with poly tour Strike 17 crosses.

 

[HolyMountain]

I’m at 53m/50c with Wilson 16g natural gut mains and Luxilon alu power rough crosses. Love it. Also great with poly tour Strike 17 crosses.

Really? That low? I have always been afraid to get my gut below 55lbs. I'll have to give it a try.

 

[Crashbaby]

Yep, works for me. When it looses tension, say 15 percent on racquet tune I had always cut it out. Especially if i have a bad night and seem to be blasting everything long. But, a few times now I’ve had some great hitting experiences with an old string job. So now, I can’t blame the strings for a bad night... lol

 

[Crashbaby]

I’ve been flirting with the vcore 95 and 98 lately, but I keep coming back to the vcore Pro. My 310 with leather and 4 grams under the bumper (10 till 2) is still my favourite and “go to” stick. This racquet just feels better!

 

[HolyMountain]

I just hit for a few hours with it Gut 57/Poly 52 - sort of my starting point. I notice I was hitting a lot into the net, conversely if I really let lose I would send them sailing. So there is clearly an adjustment period happening. Got my 2nd one in the mail today - debating on your lower tension or going really high (60lbs area)

 

[Hmgraphite1]

I just hit for a few hours with it Gut 57/Poly 52 - sort of my starting point. I notice I was hitting a lot into the net, conversely if I really let lose I would send them sailing. So there is clearly an adjustment period happening. Got my 2nd one in the mail today - debating on your lower tension or going really high (60lbs area)

Are you using 1.25 gut or 1.3? 4g is 16 or 16L?

 

[HolyMountain]

16 gut / 16L poly (Alu Power)

 

[HolyMountain]

My full bed of 4g was 16L - was great for 3 days

 

[Hmgraphite1]

16 gut / 16L poly (Alu Power)

Seems like small adjustments of poly , up to 53, and gut up to 60.
I found 1.25 gut at 59, 1.25 poly at 53 was tight for a week or two then good, whereas 57/51 was good right off the stringer, maybe it will be too much power sooner but tbd.
Seems the poly can set the stringbed characteristics in a major way

 

[HolyMountain]

I just strung one up per Crashbabys recommendation- 53/50 - I’ll report back tomorrow

 

[teekaywhy]

Hey Teekawhy, many thanks for the speedy reply.
Did you stick with the SV98? Or have you switched to another frame?
I have been playing with a modified DR98 for the last couple of years - TW leather grip + lead at 10/2 (approx 4g in total).
I have been playing some decent tennis overall (singles and dubs) but for me the DR98 lacks a little feel and touch around the net. And my forehand has been ok but not fully dialled in.
I restrung my old Youtek Prestige Pro a few weeks ago - which felt amazing inside (indoor courts). But tough outside (winter here so heavy/slow conditions).
On the one hand I appreciate the free power of the DR98 in lots of situations. On the other hand, I love the control/precision of the Prestige.
I was hoping the VCore Pro 97 310 (with similar mods to my DR98) would be a decent compromise between the DR98 and the Prestige?
I could probably handle the 330 too but concerned that a leather grip would be a step too far...

Just came across this.
I went back to the SV98 for a bit, then went to the Ezone 98 for a few months. Ended up with .....Pure Aero Plus. Yep.
I'll be posting a video in a few weeks with my review, spec out, and matching to my other PA+.

 

[Nadal shall rise again]

Quick update:

Have been experimenting with weight and strings in my VCP 330. For strings I have settled on a round poly at 43 (still deciding which I like most). Hybrid setups felt good and I see why people here like it so much, for me it was too powerful. I play better and more confident with a full bed of poly although I prefer the feel of the hybrid.

As for weight I have added 6g (might go down to 4g) total to 3&9 with a leather grip, so far this feels best. I tried lead at 10&2 and it wasn't my cup of tea. My biggest problem with this racket is the balance, especially after adding a leather grip. Lead at 3&9 works for me as it make the racket less HL and gives me that stability on volleys that I miss from my RF97.

 

[Supertribe]

This is not a perhaps the short, straight forward answer you were looking for, but here goes:

I have a couple of VCore Pro 97s (310) that I've been playing for a while. Before that I had the DG97 both in 310 and 330g.
I also own two VCore 98, and just bought a VCore 95.

The 310 version needs a bit of lead to perform ime. Yes, it's playable in stock form, but the frame itself doesn't give you much pop due to the low stiffness I guess. To me, the VCP 97 is a Prestige-type of frame - or TFight 315 Ltd, Ultra Tour asp. The VCore 95, otoh, is a more modern type of player's frame, such as the Textreme Tour 95. I also have the VCore 98, which I've been playing recently, as they make my game more competitive, and it's apparent to me that the VCore 95 and 98 share the same "DNA".

The VCore 95 is a fast swinging racket, and allows and encourages me to swing fast and big - all out. It's entoxicating ;-)
The VCP is even more solid on impact, but it doesn't exactly feel fast (modified with a few g of lead at 3&9).

So to me:
VCP97 = solid, classic feel, capable of hard hitting
VCore 95 = fast, modern pop

That's useful feedback, those are all frames I'm interested in. You mentioned you had the DG97 in 310/330, how do they compare to the VCP97? I have the DG97 310 and I'm considering the newer version.

 

[HolyMountain]

So at first I loved the 53/50 set up, but as it lost some tension I found I was getting timid on short put away balls. Last few matches I only played with the 57/52 racquet, today I am going to only play with the 53/50 and see how much of it is between my ears

 

[HolyMountain]

I really wanna say screw it and string it up at 62lbs or so, but every time I do that I snap a string right away

 

[smalahove]

That's useful feedback, those are all frames I'm interested in. You mentioned you had the DG97 in 310/330, how do they compare to the VCP97? I have the DG97 310 and I'm considering the newer version.

Sorry for the late response; didn't see you post before now.

The DG97 is a plusher frame compared to the VCP97. Although when I switch between my VCore 95 and the VCP97, the difference is noticeable; the VCP97 is still a low stiffness frame. I string at 46 lbs, so I'm not sure how this works out for higher tensions, given the fact that the DG97 has one more cross string. My fav setup with the DG97 was stringing it without the the top cross string, making it a 16x19 frame (as Chung does apparently). Paired with a poly at mid 40s, it produced epic ball pocketing, if that's your thing. If I had the choice between the two now, I'd prob go for the DG version, but it's not that big of deal tbh. Some players focus on the differences between the various iterations, such as AI/DR/Ezone, but ime Yonex does a great job in keeping the model "DNA".

So, if you like how the DG97 flexes, there's no need in changing frames; you can try skipping the top cross string.
If you want a bit more pop from the frame, but in a similar/almost identical package, the VCP97 is a great contender.

 

[richdvng]

This question might have been asked already but wanted people's opinions and reviews on adding a leather grip to a stock Vpro 310. Just added a kimony leather grip (10g) and plan on testing it this week. Currently not adding lead weight.

 

[JoaoN]

So, the one thing i disliked on the Vcore Pro 310g was it's lack of stability, so i sold the two i had last year. After a frustrating period with a head prestige pro, i decided to get another Vcore 310g to test with more lead than i had before. It arrived yesterday and i gave it a try. I played it stock, only added an overgriop.

It played completely diferent from the ones i had before, no lead was needed, it was perfect, so i decided to weight it to see if it came out of spec.

The ones i had before were 322g strung, this one was 329 strung. This 7g changed the whole thing, to make it even better i added a leather grip and an overgrip, now it's 340g total. Finnally found my set up.

IMO this sits right in the middle of the 310g and 330g. Stable and manuverable.

I will surely get another one and customize it to this specs.

Strung with hyper-g 48/50lbs.

 

[XJ9]

hello guys
i have just got my first ever yy racket - vcore pro 97 310g
i used to play with wilson's rackets, eg ps97 2015 with leather grip
i would like to ask if that feels go to also get a leather grip for vcore pro 97?
thanks

 

[richdvng]

So, the one thing i disliked on the Vcore Pro 310g was it's lack of stability, so i sold the two i had last year. After a frustrating period with a head prestige pro, i decided to get another Vcore 310g to test with more lead than i had before. It arrived yesterday and i gave it a try. I played it stock, only added an overgriop.

It played completely diferent from the ones i had before, no lead was needed, it was perfect, so i decided to weight it to see if it came out of spec.

The ones i had before were 322g strung, this one was 329 strung. This 7g changed the whole thing, to make it even better i added a leather grip and an overgrip, now it's 340g total. Finnally found my set up.

IMO this sits right in the middle of the 310g and 330g. Stable and manuverable.

I will surely get another one and customize it to this specs.

Strung with hyper-g 48/50lbs.

Thanks for the review. I haven't weighed mine but I liked the way they played stock. Wanted to see if the leather grip would give me more feel and a tad more weight. Will update everyone once I give my stick a test.

Strung mains with Red Code 53lbs/crosses with Technifibre syn gut 56lbs.

 

[aaron_h27]

How does this frame compare to the DR 98?

 

[richdvng]

How does this frame compare to the DR 98?

Never played with the DR 98 but I found this racket stable with a lot of feel. The frame is not loaded with power but I prefer low powered rackets as I like to generate my own pace. Its a stable racket with low RA (64) which I like since I have acquired arm issues with stiff rackets. I am at the point where I am modifying/tweaking this stick a bit but I definitely plan to stay with this model for awhile.

 

[sleepyeg]

How does this frame compare to the DR 98?

Swings faster then the DR but not as stable. I have 3G @ 3&9, leather grip, poly strung in the mid 40's total weight about 346. Racket is powerful with good control but you don't have that easy access with power like the DR. If I can hit the sweet spot everytime, it'll be my racket of choice without a doubt.

 

[sleepyeg]

hello guys
i have just got my first ever yy racket - vcore pro 97 310g
i used to play with wilson's rackets, eg ps97 2015 with leather grip
i would like to ask if that feels go to also get a leather grip for vcore pro 97?
thanks

I have leather grip on all my rackets, its about feel for me. I like a thin leather with an overgrip.

 

[zettavaska]

This question might have been asked already but wanted people's opinions and reviews on adding a leather grip to a stock Vpro 310. Just added a kimony leather grip (10g) and plan on testing it this week. Currently not adding lead weight.

I added a gram at 12 o’ clock with a fairway leather grip. Have a dampener and overgrip as well. Feels a lot better to me than stock. Total weight at 349g

 

[richdvng]

I added a gram at 12 o’ clock with a fairway leather grip. Have a dampener and overgrip as well. Feels a lot better to me than stock. Total weight at 349g

Played with my stick yesterday - I have a dampener and overgrip on top of my leather grip. I got more feel and I think that's due to the thin leather. I can feel the bevels of my handle and feel more connected to the ball. Mishitting feels more obvious now since the vibrations are more noticeable and lets me know if my technique or timing is off. I think adding the leather was a good move but its still too early for me to say. I have another fresh Vpro 310 without leather I am going to string up and compare to my current one.

 

[JoaoN]

Played again yesterday wtih my customized Vcore Pro 97. Now, i'm thinking adding a leather grip was a mistake. The racket had way more vibration and the comfort level droped a lot.

Like i said, one of mines came 6gr over the average weight, which i liked a lot. So, i will give the leather grip one more try, but i am really sure i will go back to original cushion grip and leave it in "stock" form, keeping 6g of lead on the other one so they match.

On the other hand, this 6gr on the hoop made racket way more solid.

 

[VaMoose98]

I demoed the Vcore 98 and it was really nice but I was over hitting a little bit. The demo was strung with a syn gut though so I wonder if I put a control/spin poly in the 40's would it be a little more controlled?

 

[Nadal shall rise again]

I demoed the Vcore 98 and it was really nice but I was over hitting a little bit. The demo was strung with a syn gut though so I wonder if I put a control/spin poly in the 40's would it be a little more controlled?

Assuming you use some topspin the poly will help reign in your ball. The Vcore's have a fantastic feel when used with a hybrid, but for me, I have most control with a full bed of poly.

 

[anfield]

Has any gone a grip size down with the Vcore Pro from DG. It feels a half size bigger.

 

[isukatennis]

Has any gone a grip size down with the Vcore Pro from DG. It feels a half size bigger.

So it's not just me... my VCP97 feels bigger than the grips on my dr98's... I haven't bothered to actually measure though

 

[anfield]

I haven't bothered to actually measure though

Whoops, my demo is L4, thought it was L3. But I still swear the Vcore 98 I tried, that I put my normal Skin Feel on felt larger. Has anyone measured the newer grips?

 

[HolyMountain]

So the 62/57lb (gut/poly) went flat really fast. Very boardy. Decided maybe I'll just find a good poly and restring every 2 weeks. I do like polys, they just crap out too fast. Strung one up (330g) with Luxilon ALU Power at 52lbs. Never played with it, but do like 4g. What I noticed was it was super buttery, maybe a little to much pop. I could focus on making a smooth technically correct stroke and the strings would create depth and pace, balls would look they were going long and then just dip down inside the baseline. This was amazing .... UNTIL.... we started playing a match. Then I started sailing them. Switched over to the boardy gut/poly hybrid and started being able to smack the fuzz off of them. The reality is however, I think if I just upped the 52lb LUXILON a hair and focused on my stroke mechanics, I would end up with a heavier ball and be better of as far as my strokes. My serves were insane by the way. Feel like I am inching closer to my perfect racquet/string combo. I have a buddy who often jokes "Remember, its not the arrow its the Indian "

 

[HolyMountain]

Also have some RPM Blast, Lux Element, free pack of Head Lynx to try.

 

[Hmgraphite1]

So the 62/57lb (gut/poly) went flat really fast. Very boardy. Decided maybe I'll just find a good poly and restring every 2 weeks. I do like polys, they just crap out too fast. Strung one up (330g) with Luxilon ALU Power at 52lbs. Never played with it, but do like 4g. What I noticed was it was super buttery, maybe a little to much pop. I could focus on making a smooth technically correct stroke and the strings would create depth and pace, balls would look they were going long and then just dip down inside the baseline. This was amazing .... UNTIL.... we started playing a match. Then I started sailing them. Switched over to the boardy gut/poly hybrid and started being able to smack the fuzz off of them. The reality is however, I think if I just upped the 52lb LUXILON a hair and focused on my stroke mechanics, I would end up with a heavier ball and be better of as far as my strokes. My serves were insane by the way. Feel like I am inching closer to my perfect racquet/string combo. I have a buddy who often jokes "Remember, its not the arrow its the Indian "

With what i'm noticing, your gut/poly 62/57 is like a full poly bed at about 56-57. Haven't noticed a gut bed getting boardy, but I've strung mine at 59/53 max in a 95" 18x20

 

[HolyMountain]

That’s kind of what I was thinking - full poly at 56lbs

 

[mad dog1]

Just played the VCore Pro 97 (310) on Saturday and Sunday. Holy crap! What an amazing racket. How the heck does a 16x19 stick offer so much control still. This stick does everything so well.

 

[blai212]

switched over to a Vcore pro 100 (300g) after the RF97 killed my arm from playing too much...jus couldn’t gel with the VCP97 after trying both the 330g and 310g models...played good with the VCP 100 model for a while til I talked to a 5.0 club pro that switched over to the ezone/DR 98/100 and all I can say was wow...perfect combination of spin/power/comfort...yonex designed these racquets to accelerate through the air faster thus resulting in more whippiness for nice flick shots (think nick.kyrgios) I would recommend them a try with yonex poly tour pro 17g for spin/power/comfort friendly strings + racquet at low 50s tension MAX as well as crosses strung slightly lower tension and just embrace the magic...i think the extended version has similar plow through as the RF97 but not as heavy or harsh and whenever i want to change to standard length i just choke up on the grip to adjust accordingly. Ezone is heaven.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Notirouswithag]

Been a month with my vcore pro 97 with 18g round prototype poly and holy crap i love the stick.

Im starting to want more weight and are going to expirament with lead tape. I like the weight, just need to place lead for extra plow through and make the head a little more stable

 

[QuarterWestern]

First time poster here, so maybe you want to take my info with a grain of salt.

Anyhow, when I took my duel g to get strung the other day, the shop owner told me the new vcore pro will be coming out in September, and in addition to the current lineup (330g, 310g and 285g), there will be a 320g 18x20 HD version as well. He knows this because the distributor is asking the local shops to put in their orders already. But he has no picture or any other information.

I frequent this shop a lot so I know the know the owner and trust him on this, but has anybody else hear anything similar?

 

[Notirouswithag]

first i've heard of that

 

[Yoneyama]

First time poster here, so maybe you want to take my info with a grain of salt.

Anyhow, when I took my duel g to get strung the other day, the shop owner told me the new vcore pro will be coming out in September, and in addition to the current lineup (330g, 310g and 285g), there will be a 320g 18x20 HD version as well. He knows this because the distributor is asking the local shops to put in their orders already. But he has no picture or any other information.

I frequent this shop a lot so I know the know the owner and trust him on this, but has anybody else hear anything similar?

Seems a bit farfetched. Yonex usually do not release a new model so soon, its usually in 24-ish month blocks. I think the cosmetic will remain the same, and there will just be the HD version added to the lineup. Other Yonex models are switching over to a similar 'namd' cosmetic as well. The new Regna comes out soon and looks very similar to the Vcore Pro.

 

[QuarterWestern]

I'm fine with no new paint job or whatnot, just getting a closed pattern version again will be awesome.

 

[Yoneyama]

I'm fine with no new paint job or whatnot, just getting a closed pattern version again will be awesome.

Me too, I love the current cosmetic and would definitely be open to trying a tigher pattern.

 

[PederWonder]

New here. I recently tried a bunch of Yonex frames including all the Vcores, 97, 98, 100, the Kyrgios stick, anything I could get my hands on.
Generally liked the control and muted vibration of these frames, but as soon as I went back to my regular frame I thought what the hell am I doing. It is so much better in almost every area. Primarily much bigger sweet spot, more power, better feel.

I play with the 2017 Head Speed MP 16x19. White, orange and black paint job. Not pretty.
I added leather grip, 2" of silicone in bottom of handle and 3" strips of led tape at 3 and 9. Total weight is 350 grams and 10 pts head light.
Strung with Solinco Tour Bite 18 at 52 lbs.

I also have a Bab Pure Strike 98 16x19 modded similarly. It has more racquet head speed and is softer. But for match play I use the Heads as they are better on defense and have more pop on offense.
The strings make a huge difference, so it's not fair to Yonex that the gap was so big. I am sure if I strung them with my own string they wouldn't suck as badly.