The past few weeks team mijnracket.nl player Stephan tested the Yonex VCORE SV 98 305. Read everything you want to know about this racket here!
Tested racket: Brand: Yonex Model: VCORE SV 98 305 Head size: 98 sq/inch Weight: 305 gr Balance: 31.5 cm Stringing pattern: 16/20 Length: 27 inch RA: 67 Stringing: Diadem Elite XT 17 on 24/23 kg
Tester: Player name: Stephan Couzijn Level: 5 Player type: 41 year old, all-courter, eastern grip, one-handed backhand, fairly flat strokes Own racket: Yonex EZONE DR 98 , 98 sq/inch, 310 gr, 31.0 cm balance, 16 x 19 stringing pattern 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 gives the VCORE SI a new update to the VCORE SV. As a Yonex fan I am very curious how this new version/series plays.
Baseline:
The Yonex VCORE SV 98 is with 305 grams slightly lighter than my current racket the Yonex EZONE DR 98 310. Furthermore the specifications are quite comparable. With a string pattern of 16 x 20 I expect a bit more control. At the first ball contact I immediately feel that wonderful Yonex playing feeling. The frame of the VCORE SV 98 is slightly narrower than my EZONE DR 98 and tends more towards a box beam frame like the VCORE Duel G 97 310 which I recently compared with the EZONE DR 98. With this slim frame it is easy to create racket head speed. Both flat and with a big dot spin.
The length of my strokes was perfectly fine. Despite full-on forehands and backhands, my balls stayed nicely within the lines. Remarkably few strays. I think the nice combination of power and control is mainly due to the large sweet spot and the string pattern of 16 x 20 that is known from Yonex. I could also pull my forehands through nicely.
Also striking was the large amount of spin that I could produce with the Yonex VCORE SV 98. Despite the fact that the VCORE SV 98 is a lot stiffer with an RA value of 67 compared to the 62 of my EZONE DR 98, the frame did not feel overly stiff. Probably also due to the nice stringing. Slices can be cut sharply from the baseline. I had little trouble with floaters. In my opinion, this VCORE SV is in terms of playing feel between the VCORE Duel G 97 and the EZONE DR 98. Due to the easy-to-handle weight, the frame is easy to change direction.
Service:
With the Yonex VCORE SV 98 you can produce very sharp serves. The power level of the frame is not that high. Due to the relatively low balance of 31.5 and the swingweight of 320 grams you can still generate power quite easily. You will have to put something into it yourself, either with a smooth fast technique or with some muscle power. In short, if you are strong enough or have a smooth technique you can deliver big serves.
Just:
The Yonex VCORE SV 98 305 performs remarkably well at the net. I was able to lay down razor-sharp volleys with more than enough punching power. Volleying with the VCORE SV 98 is, next to hitting my one-handed backhand, the stroke I could perform most comfortably. Wonderfully crisp and super easy to maneuver at the net. At the net, this VCORE SV 98 wins over my EZONE DR 98.
Power:
As mentioned, the VCORE SV 98 does not offer an excessive amount of power. Due to the average weight of 305 grams and the lower balance, you can create a lot of rackethead speed with a good technique, which means the frame produces more than enough power. In combination with the large sweetspot, you can place many balls close to the lines.
Control:
The VCORE SV 98 offers a lot of control with a forgiving, large sweet spot. In terms of control, the VCORE SV 98 is on the precise side of the spectrum. In terms of feel, my EZONE DR 98 wins. I think the stiffness of the frame in combination with the string pattern makes for less contact with the ball. In my opinion, this can be solved by using a more flexible string.
Comfort/arm-friendliness:
The Yonex VCORE SV 98 feels comfortable despite its higher RA value of 67 and did not give me any arm problems. Compared to the previously mentioned Yonex VCORE Duel G 97, this Yonex VCORE SV feels a little less arm-friendly. But certainly not unpleasant.
Overall impression:
With the new VCORE SV 98, Yonex has created a worthy successor to the VCORE SI 98. In fact, I think the VCORE SV 98 feels high-end in all aspects of tennis. This makes the SV fit even better into Wawrinka's VCORE line. The VCORE SV 98 falls between the EZONE DR 98, which is more flexible and generates more power, and the VCORE Duel G, which offers more control. All in all, a nice frame, both from the baseline and at the net, where the Yonex VCORE SV 98 305 performs remarkably well.