Yonex VCORE Pro 97HD... Strings???

MajesticMoose

Hall of Fame
I've been using Yonex PTP 16L around 50-52lbs in a full bed in some of my other frames like the Six.One 95 reissue and the Yonex DR98+.

For the few of you that have the 97HD now, what strings are you using for it and what tension. What are your opinions and is PTP 16L still a solid choice? I like to stay with a softer poly like this one. What about RS Lyon?
 

thebigz

Rookie
RS Lyon is awesome string. Low powered but great feel and comfort. It will have less pop than the PTP for sure. Maybe you can also just try a thinner PTP at 1.20
 

Dominic

Semi-Pro
I hit with the HD with RPM 18 at 53/50 lbs.
And I'd say, is was ok..maybe some more power would have been nice...so
PTP 16L at 45-48lbs..would be my suggestion
PTP is a great string. Decent Power for a Poly.
 

RogerShrederer

New User
I’m enjoying Hyper G at 50ish pounds. I say that because I don’t know how accurate the DW stringer I use is. I will try around 47 next.
 

Jdawgy

New User
Any one tried gut/poly on this Yet? How do u find it? If too powerful I’m thinking of going for a softer more lively full poly
 

Kozzy

Hall of Fame
I'm lazy and I don't like to string my racquets too often, so I use a low powered multi (prince premier control 15L) at 52lb, which seems to work quite well. I might try some poly at 40lb at some point, but I prefer multis.
 

jmk223

New User
Any one tried gut/poly on this Yet? How do u find it? If too powerful I’m thinking of going for a softer more lively full poly
I used VS Team/Lux Fluoro at 52/50 (lasted ~6 hours) and 54/52 (2 hours) and like the latter setup better. There's plenty of power and more than enough control. When I hit with a demo racket strung with PTP at mid-range my wrist hurt after that for a couple of days.
 

Gabi1284

New User
I've been using Yonex PTP 16L around 50-52lbs in a full bed in some of my other frames like the Six.One 95 reissue and the Yonex DR98+.

For the few of you that have the 97HD now, what strings are you using for it and what tension. What are your opinions and is PTP 16L still a solid choice? I like to stay with a softer poly like this one. What about RS Lyon?
I'm using Isospeed Cream around 44 lbs (20 kg) and for now it has plenty of power but still has good control. I think it's one of the softest polys to consider and it has excelent tension maintenance
 

Dansan

Semi-Pro
I've tried gosen og sheep micro 16 syn gut mains at 58lbs and red code wax 17 cross at 55 lbs. This works great on my other 98 inch 18x20 frames - but on the HD it was a little stiff and underpowered. If I use this hybrid again, I'm going to try dropping the tension by 2.5 lbs

So I cut that out and am going to try full poly at high 40s. Right now I threw in 16L Hyper G at 48lbs. I can already tell it has a LOT more power and much softer than it did with that high tension hybrid.

I believe in this frame a lot after playing successful matches with it, so I'm going to experiment with strings a bit before I settle on something. I thought about trying RS Lyon or PTP full bed of 17 or 16L at 48-50ish lbs. I'll try that after the Hyper G and report back
 

!<-_->!

Hall of Fame
Using RPM 17 at 49lbs. Only hit with it once. Felt ok. Felt better than other instances of using RPM 17, mainly VCore Pro 97 310.
 

achapa8807

Semi-Pro
Putting Poly Tour Drive in my HD tonight. I'll let you know how it plays. I'm also planning on trying PTS and PTP in this frame at similar tensions.
 

spoonfed

Rookie
Had my first hit with it yesterday, thought it was absolutely wonderful. I had it strung with Yonex Poly Tour Pro, the black color, at 46 lbs, gauge 16L. I'm not trying to hype this racket any more, but I had a whole amount of power. Spin was really, really good as well. Suprised me a lot. But I was getting good swing speed. No discomfort during play or today. The racquet with that setup feels like the way to go.

I usually need a week or two before I start to like a racquet, but this was great from the beginning. I am coming from Pacific X Tour Pro (weighted up at 3 and 9, leather grip), with alu power rough. Before that RF97A with CC, and before that the Ultra Tour with CC. Never could get along with the Ultra Tour, the frame felt way to weak, even weighted up. The 97HD felt much more solid and powerful, but with great depth and directional control. Played it stock and can't imagine I will change anything (and I usually put a leather grip on all my racquets).

So yeah, I'm a fan.
 
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1HBHfanatic

Legend
its a very tight pattern stick,,
soo multis and/or synthetic.gut strings would work well imo
next time I get to try it, I think ill just do full.bed multis or syngut on it
 

Dansan

Semi-Pro
I also think it's a pretty "open" 18x20.

Tried 16L Hyper G at 46lbs. I think 45 lbs would be just right with many full poly setups.
 

Kurt0707

Rookie
Tried PTP 16L @ 47 lbs and found feeling a little harsh, not that it was uncomfortable.. usually prefer softer especially in 18x20 patterns and don't play with full poly (it was easier to order like this and wanted to try anyways). As this is not a very tight pattern, will try poly/multi next, and then my general setup; multi/poly or NG/poly...
 

PD1978

Semi-Pro
I use VS/ALU rough at 52/50, I always use a gut/poly combo. I think I can go down to 50/48 even.

it feels a touch “boardy”so I might go down in tension. Otherwise it’s great.
The racquet has a very low launch angle.
 

Kozzy

Hall of Fame
I was loving poly at low tension (40lb) but it's not that long lived. I'm going to try multi mains and poly crosses next.
 

Nate7-5

Hall of Fame
Right now Im using gut/poly at 59/55 and I think I probably should have gone a few lbs lower. Looking for low 40s full poly suggestions (I have like a collection of ~25 packs now) as thats what I'll be switching to when I move outside on the clay.
 

1HBHfanatic

Legend
I was loving poly at low tension (40lb) but it's not that long lived. I'm going to try multi mains and poly crosses next.
-ive been playing around with a few 18/20s lately, and was surprised how well synthetic gut strings work on these 18/20 patterns
 

Kurt0707

Rookie
-ive been playing around with a few 18/20s lately, and was surprised how well synthetic gut strings work on these 18/20 patterns

I have also seen that syngut / poly hybrids also work quite well for some, and with high durability... but I think that it works better in softer feeling frames and will give this also a try ...
 

Mischko

Professional
VCore Pro 97 series, dark blue/orange and dark green/gold need surprisingly low tensions. It is the same frame, but with a bit of soft mesh added in the handle with the new green ones. I played for a year with 310g then 330g, and now the 97HD. It is a wonderful racquet, but you need to swing it hard and fast, just like the 310g and 330g. Already at 24kg/53lb with poly it is too high, seemed weird in the beginning. I tried many different strings and hybrids, I string it myself. Wilson Revolve Spin 1.25 is one of the best strings for that frame, not too stiff string. The racquet(s) are all total control racquets, so Yonex Poly Tour Pro yellow 1.25 was too dead and underpowered for me, but good for the first half hour or so, until its coating wears off. Strings last OK, medium towards lower lasting, but not RF97A low lasting. Second hitting was always OK, but third either too thin/used or breaks.
 
I've tried tonic/alu rough with 2 lbs difference and tonic/bhbz with 4 lbs difference. Both setups played wonderfully for the first hour then I experienced unusually high launch angle and couldn't control depth (almost all shots were long)...
 

Mischko

Professional
RS Lyon is a great string, I used almost two reels of it myself. However, as a better alternative to Lyon I would suggest Tecnifibre Ice Code, just better in every way, especially being more linear in response and control and better with spin, Lyon visibly lacks spin. Ice Code is also a poly with good pocketing like Lyon, also not too stiff, medium I would say, both are a bit soft for me, but I hit very hard. Because of the good elasticity, I can see it already on the stringing machine - the string simply stretches more, and pocketing, the ball dwells longer on Lyon - same for Ice Code - so I needed to string it a kilo or two higher to not lose control, which isn't a problem, it is never boardy or too stiff, but then I noticeably lose spin with it. As for Ice Code, I tried it in two different racquets, maybe 4-5 strings in total, so I have less experience with it, but my impressions were consistent, in summer and winter etc. Always only 1.25 with both but I plan to try Ice Code in 1.30 in a 16x19 racquet such as RF97A.

However I wouldn't really compare the two with Yonex Poly Tour Pro which is a very distinctive kind of dead-ish string, low powered. YPTP has a nice surface when new so it has nice snapback and feel for the first 20mins or so, but then gradually loses it, and stays a very good, consistent low powered poly with an OK muted/soft-ish feel. It is kind of a hard string, not medium soft like Ice Code or Lyon, but has a specific soft-ish feel. How would it go with 97HD I'm not sure, I think only so-so, because I think that YPTP enables more of a defending counterpunching game, keeping the ball in play kind of style, and attacking only when you get a good chance, while 97HD has more of attacking racquet balance, precision and speed with just enough mass, to always hit hard and fast, in front of the body. Not exactly a type of racquet for a non-attacking player, but all racquets can be modified, and we are all different. But I could be wrong, and I plan to try that and other combos, I have a lot of different strings that kind of accumulated and I've decided to go through it all and reduce the build up.
 

Nate7-5

Hall of Fame
Any new setups? Im about ready to cut out my gut because 59 was too high. Has anyone tried Alu Power with syngut crosses?
 

nwatts

Rookie
Any new setups? Im about ready to cut out my gut because 59 was too high. Has anyone tried Alu Power with syngut crosses?
Which poly did you put in the crosses? Depending on the poly, 55 lbs could be the problem. 59 lbs for gut is very reasonable. I string gut at 64, and I am not a big hitter.
 

Nate7-5

Hall of Fame
Which poly did you put in the crosses? Depending on the poly, 55 lbs could be the problem. 59 lbs for gut is very reasonable. I string gut at 64, and I am not a big hitter.

I have Kbaum Max Power 1.25 in the crosses. I thought 4lbs differential would be enough but after experiencing the low launch angle I guess I should try something like 58 gut/51 poly? I have 58/55 in my backup Duel G 310 and its the closest to perfect Ive got it.
 
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nwatts

Rookie
I have Kbaum Max Power 1.25 in the crosses. I thought 4lbs differential would be enough but after experiencing the low launch angle I guess I should try something like 58 gut/51 poly? I have 58/55 in my backup Duel G 310 and its the closest to perfect Ive got it.
Max power is one of my favorite crosses. Great choice! Very stiff though. I never string it above 48. Some may disagree, but I routinely string with a 9 lbs differential.

Your gut has lost some tension by now. Maybe Try replacing your crosses with max power at 50 or below
 

Nate7-5

Hall of Fame
Well Im going to try Luxilon Alu Power 1.25 46lbs x Luxilon Ace 18 44lbs because I havent tried Lux mains yet. I will probably use it for 6-8 hrs and try some shaped mains when the clay courts get fired up.

Update: Alu 1.25 46lbs x Ace 18 44lbs feels absolutely incredible in the HD. This motivates me even more to get a stringing machine this summer.
 
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WNCSRVVLLY

New User
Stringing mine up now with Babolat Tonic Touch and Luxilon 4G Soft at 57/54. Plays fantastic. Lots of spin with this combo without loss of control. Touch on volleys is the best I've ever had with any racket/string combo. I may reduce the tension of the crosses a pound or two next time I restring to increase the launch angle just a little.
 

tdhawks

Professional
Anyone try any Mayami strings in this stick yet?

My go to has been Firewire Boost @ 45lbs but I need something softer dues to shoulder issues.
 

petetennis54

New User
Any one tried gut/poly on this Yet? How do u find it? If too powerful I’m thinking of going for a softer more lively full poly
I use 16 ga tonic/17 ga Revolve at 55/53#. I still hit reasonably hard with spin but am not a young guy. Have had no elbow or wrist pain but did with copoly at 45#. The 16 ga poly would have a bit less power and maybe also use16l gut.
 

Sahbatage

Rookie
If you want to stick with a full bed of poly I'd recommend trying PTP (not blue color) or Hyper G soft in 1.20 in this frame. Strung in the upper 40s with a 3lb diff between your mains and crosses.

1.25 nat gut main with 1.20 PTP crosses have worked well for me.
 

tele

Professional
I am going to try a full bed of isospeed professional classic (57lbs) tomorrow. Hoping it will be low-powered enough to keep things in the court. Will report back just in case anyone else's arm can't tolerate poly even in a racquet this flexible.
 

Louis33

Semi-Pro
I am going to try a full bed of isospeed professional classic (57lbs) tomorrow. Hoping it will be low-powered enough to keep things in the court. Will report back just in case anyone else's arm can't tolerate poly even in a racquet this flexible.
Plays like a pillow and has great feel. String is gummy with not as much spin as a slick multi but it gets the job done keeping the elbow comfortable.
 

tele

Professional
It was raining earlier this week, but I was able to hit for the first time today for about 90 minutes (1 hour rally and a 30 min set). As Louis33 said, it felt like a pillow, and although I probably get more spin out of Triax or Velocity, there is no comparison in terms of comfort. I read a few reviews of this string saying that it felt stiff, but this is hands down the most arm friendly string I have hit with (note: I have not used natural gut). I would feel confident stringing this higher than 57lbs (what I had it strung at this time).

Control was also good for a multi. Not really any "free" spin, but I didn't have any issues generating it on full strokes and slices. Kick serves were fine, and enough control to go for the lines on groundstrokes.

On the downside, durability doesn't seem great. Although not a ton of string movement, there is already a lot of fraying in the center of the racquet. I am going to try control classic (16g) in my other vcore 97HD (hopefully the professional classic will last long enough to compare the two. . ), and prob bump up the tension to 60.

Tempted to see what would happen with a soft poly in the crosses (maybe professional would still be too sticky to slide?), but getting my arm back to 100% takes priority for the time being.

Overall, a positive experience, and I would recommend this to anyone w/a more closed string pattern (probably wouldn't last long in an open pattern) looking for comfort and decent control.
 
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ACC

New User
I really like PTP 120 w/ Dynawire 16L, both @ 55. Thinking about swapping the Dynawire for Rexis next time, just to see how it hits.
 
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