The first playtests of the Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 (330 grams) are in. What can you expect from the new racket of ‘Stan the Man’ Wawrinka?
Brand: Yonex
Model: VCORE Duel G 97 (330 grams)
Head size: 97 sq/inch
Weight: 330 g
Balance: 31.0 cm
String pattern: 16/20
Length: 27 inches
RA: 66
Since the start of this calendar year, two-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka has been playing with a new weapon, the Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 330 grams. As mentioned in our previous post , the VCORE Duel series is once again a technical masterpiece from our Japanese friends at Yonex. Here is a brief summary of the technology in the Duel G series:
- Tough G Fiber is incorporated into the shaft: this material provides extra racket flex for a higher ‘kickback’ speed (the frame returns to its original position more quickly) for extra spin and power
- Lock Booster System: a new tubing system on the sides of the head with new curves where the strings lie over it, providing extra string movement and thus more power and spin
- The well-known Isometric (angled) head shape provides a larger ideal sweet spot for the ball
- 3D Vector shaft provides increased stiffness in the heart of the racket for extra power and less head twisting
- Black Micro Core technology at 10 and 2 o’clock in the head for more head stability and vibration dampening
- An even narrower 20.0 mm frame construction for more feel
As you might expect from a racket of this weight and caliber, you need to have some muscle to swing the Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 330. If you have enough of your own, the racket offers plenty of feel and control to manage your own power. Compared to its predecessor, the Yonex VCORE Tour G 330, the Duel G 97 330 offers a more direct playing feel and more feedback: you can feel more clearly when you hit the ball well and where it is going. With this racket, control over power is logically the focus, but that does not mean there is no power in the Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 330. Quite the opposite! If you take a big, full swing on your shots, the mass of this frame provides enormous acceleration while maintaining control.
This racket also makes a solid impression at the net. You don’t get free power on the serve: you will have to generate the head speed yourself. The 16/20 string pattern offers plenty of spin potential but still feels compact enough to remain sufficiently ‘connected’ with the ball for control and placement.
Due to the control aspect of this racket, most players will choose a (likewise control-oriented) polyester string. We recommend going low in the tension range to get the best performance from the racket and string.
We will soon be putting the lighter and more player-friendly 310-gram version of this Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 through its paces in detail. Keep an eye on mijnracket.nl and our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/mijnracket/) for our test report!
The Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 330 and the 310 version are now available in our webshop!
