Guest blogger Frans has tested the new Yonex VCORE Pro 97 310 over the past few weeks. This successor to the VCORE Duel G is lightning fast and offers plenty of spin, combined with good control!
Yonex VCORE Pro 97 (310 Gram)
Yonex is making inroads in the tennis world; does this new VCORE Pro contribute to that?
Specifications of the Yonex VCORE Pro 97 (310 Gram)
Brand: Yonex Model: VCORE Pro 97 310 Blade size: 97 sq/inch Weight: 310 gr Balance: 31.0 cm String pattern: 16x19 Length: 27 inch RA: 64 Stringing: Diadem Flash 16L, 23/22 kg
Tester:
Name: Frans Player type: semi-western grip, two-handed backhand Player's racket history: Head Flexpoint Radical Team, Head Microgel Radical MP, Head Youtek Prestige Pro, Head Youtek IG Radical Pro, Head Graphene Radical Pro, Head Graphene Speed Pro, Yonex VCORE Tour Duel GTest scores
Power: 7 Control: 8
Spin: 8.5
Comfort: 7.5
Maneuverability: 9.5
Touch: 8.5
Yonex
Yonex is increasingly seen on the court, both domestically and abroad. More and more tennis academies, junior players and pros are aligning themselves with this Japanese brand. Yonex has managed to create a unique range, and combined with excellent build quality and quality control, this makes them an increasingly formidable competitor to the traditional top brands.
The Updates
Although its appearance is open to debate, this successor to the VCORE Duel G still looks beautiful. Yonex has made an adjustment to the construction of the racket. This new edition features the addition of Namd. Namd is a type of carbon that was previously used in Yonex's well-known badminton line. Yonex claims that this provides a faster snapback, which in turn should result in more spin.
So how does the added Namd translate in real terms? What stands out most is a change in feel compared to its predecessor. The Duel G was a bit softer and more flexible. The ball also hung on the Duel G a bit more. This is different with the VCORE Pro. Ball contact with the VCORE Pro feels much shorter, so the frame also feels less flexible and the response is somewhat more direct.
Baseline
The Yonex VCORE Pro 97 310 is a fairly unique frame; there is little on the market that really resembles it. The VCORE Pro perhaps resembles a Head Prestige Pro the most. However, this VCORE Pro is much faster, lighter, and therefore less stable. The racket does not correct a mis-hit as easily as, for example, a Wilson Blade, or a Babolat Pure Strike does. In contrast, this Yonex VCORE Pro 97 310 is much faster, which in turn makes it easy to hit heavy spin balls. This frame can also be used quickly for attacking.
Service
The VCORE Pro is a dream from the service line! This racket allows the player to serve with an incredible amount of speed without too much effort, while still maintaining a decent amount of control. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the best-performing rackets on the market when it comes to serving.
Net
Plenty of control—that is the advantage of this frame at the net. However, the Yonex VCORE Pro is not the most stable frame at the net. Overall, this racket performs fairly normally at the net.
Power/Control
This racket does not have a particularly high swingweight, which means the racket is not very heavy in the head. The result is that power must mainly come from a fast swing, i.e., from the player themselves. It is easy to generate pace with this frame, and it is also easy to control.
Comfort
This racket is not particularly comfortable, but certainly not uncomfortable either; it is somewhere in between. In terms of comfort, the racket is fairly comparable to a Head Prestige.
Bottom line
This Yonex VCORE Pro 97 310 feels very similar to its predecessor in terms of playability; the main difference is the racket's "feel". Compared to other rackets on the market, it stands out for combining excellent maneuverability and control. This combination makes the racket extremely suitable for attacking players. The spin generated by the racket is also exceptional. For the rest, the racket excels on the serve, with its excellent quality control and beautiful looks. This frame is unique in terms of playing characteristics, and many players can benefit from it, so it is highly recommended for a demo!
