Tester
Player name: Stephan Couzijn Level: 5/6 Player type: 44 year old, all-courter, eastern grip, one-handed backhand, fairly flat strokes Own racket: Yonex EZONE DR 98 , Wilson Clash 100 , Head Graphene 360+ Gravity MP Player's racket history: Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 95, Wilson Six-One 95, Head Radical, Dunlop Aerogel 300 Tour, Babolat Pure Storm Tour GT, Wilson Pro Staff 95, Wilson Juice Pro, Yonex EZONE DR 98, Wilson Clash 100, Head Gravity MP.Tested racket
Brand: Yonex Model: VCORE Pro 97-310 Head size: 97 inch Weight: 310 grams Balance: 31.0 Stringing pattern: 16x19 Length: 27 inch RA: 64 Stringing: Diadem Flash 17 on 22/22 kg
The Yonex VCORE Pro 97-310 is now available in our webshop , including free stringing of your choice!
Intro
New this fall is the dark green Yonex VCORE Pro 97 (310 grams) the lighter brother of the Wawrinka percussion iron. For this test opportunity I took my old Yonex VCORE Duel G out of the closet to make a comparison with this renewed VCORE Pro. I was a fan of the Duel G and am very curious how this modern version plays.
Yonex has once again succeeded in producing a beautiful looking racket. The paint is matt green with subtle shades of brighter green, highlighted with matt gold logos. The newly applied technology is focused on control and shock absorption.
Baseline Yonex VCORE Pro 97 310
The VCORE PRO 97-310 is a nice thin frame with more than enough power and a lot of control. The racket absorbs almost all vibrations and, unlike many other rackets, can be played without a dampener. The RA value of 64 also improves the playing pleasure. The VCORE Pro is not as flexible as the EZONE DR 98, but is still a lot more flexible than its competitors such as the Babolat Pure Strike and Wilson Blades. I hit fairly flat balls with a long and reasonably fast Eastern grip. This is reinforced with this VCORE 97. Due to the weight and stability of the frame, I can easily get length in my strokes, compared to lighter frames such as the Head Gravity MP. Unlike with the Yonex VCORE 98 I tested earlier, I do have to make more effort to get spin in my strokes. With my grip, I have to brush the balls a bit more to generate spin. In that respect I prefer the VCORE 98. But when it comes to flat hitting balls, this VCORE Pro 97 310 is unmatched and my absolute favorite.
Both my backhand and forehand I can hit the lines with high speed. Length and control are the keywords for this Yonex VCORE Pro 97-310 from the baseline. More than with my EZONE DR 98 the balls stay within the lines more easily. The VCore PRO 97 310 is a blade that I could play almost unchanged. I would possibly add a leather grip to increase the weight a bit. But that is of course very personal. The open 16x19 string pattern also contributes to the ease of play.
Volleys and service
About the volleys I can be brief, just like with the VCORE 98. They go fantastic! Better than with my EZONE 98. The narrow, more box beam-like frame is very easy to maneuver. If you are powerful enough to get the racket around, the YONEX VCore PRO 97 is really a dream for every net player. Partly due to the large sweet spot, putting away volleys is a piece of cake. Hard incoming shots can be parried well without the frame becoming unstable. Many times people looked surprised when my volleys came back after a seemingly devastating ball straight at me. That makes me happy. The service also goes well with this VCORE Pro 97 of 310 grams. The frame is just heavy enough to be able to put enough mass in the ball, so that flat serves come through hard. What is remarkable here is that the power never becomes uncontrollable. The second service can also easily be provided with a venomous kick or slice effect due to the large sweet pot.
Comfort
Compared to my VCORE Duel G (yes, I also have this Yonex model in my collection), this frame feels a bit crispier, but that certainly does not make it arm unfriendly. On the contrary: the new technology absorbs vibrations even more, which makes the racket feel very nice.
Conclusion
All in all, Yonex has definitely gone one step further. This VCORE PRO 97-310 is the more refined version of the Duel G. Without compromising the core competence of the racket, Yonex has made the racket more comfortable but also kept it super stable. This new VCORE PRO 97 310 is with its relatively low RA value and fine control an absolute must for the serious baseliner. In my opinion a very high-quality competitor of the Wilson Blade 98 or the Babolat Pure Strike. In short, a must demo!!
The Yonex VCORE Pro 97-310 is now available in our webshop , including free stringing of your choice!