YONEX VCORE SV 98 racket REVIEW
Summary
We're growing accustomed to new rackets from Yonex impressing us when we review them, and the VCORE SV 98 was no exception. Sporting a crisp, modern feel and exceptional maneuverability, this update to the VCORE line is all about spin and forgiveness. Our testers found the racket to be extremely easy to swing and enjoyed a large sweetspot -- "the size of the whole racket, " one of our reviewers quipped. They could take big rips at the ball and generate massive amounts of ball rotation. Although there were few complaints, each of the testers commented on feel. They couldn't come to a consensus about what it was about the feel with some noting this racket felt stiff and others not feeling connected to their shots. This range of opinions shows just how subjective feel can be and underscores why this racket deserves a demo because as one tester put it, "This racket does everything well. "
| YONEX VCORE SV 98 score | |
|---|---|
| Power | 79/100 |
| Comfort | 70/100 |
| Touch/Feel | 75/100 |
| Serves | 85/100 |
| Groundstrokes | 82/100 |
| Returns | 87/100 |
| Slice | 74/100 |
| Topspin | 82/100 |
| Volleys | 82/100 |
| Overall | 81/100 |
Overall - Score: 81/100
Groundstrokes - Score: 82 / 100
All of our testers noted forgiving and easy to use the VCORE SV 98 felt at the baseline, finding easy access to depth and spin. One tested during the test praised, "The sweetspot felt like it was the size of the entire racket. " On top of that, the open string pattern and lightning quick feel through the air allowed our team to generate loads of topspin on their groundstrokes. However, most of our team never got totally comfortable with the feel of the racket and at times had a hard time controlling the ball as it left the strings. Each tester had their own explanation as to why they struggled with precision, but for the most part it came down to a lack of a "connection to the ball. " While it was a love affair for one of our testers, the rest of the team had their wish list of different things that could’ve helped them feel more comfortable with this racket in hand.
Volleys - Score: 82 / 100
There were some mixed feelings from our playtest team regarding the performance of the VCORE SV 98 around the net. On the plus side, maneuverability proved to be a positive feature appreciated by everyone, since the racket was easy to get into position during quick exchanges. The somewhat stiff, crisp feel did help provide some stability to the racket on off-centre contact as well. However, a couple of our testers felt that a little more weight to the hoop could’ve provided some more predictability and even more stability that would’ve allowed them to volley more effectively.
Serves - Score: 85 / 100
Everyone was in agreement, enjoying the easy power and spin the VCORE SV 98 provided on our serves. We found it very easy to swing up over head, allowing us to generate tons of racket head speed and get the ball zooming down at the opposing service box. Flat serves packed a punch, moving through the court quickly and heavily. Slice and kick serves were diving and jumping off the court and out of our opponents’ strike zones. All in all, this may have been the favorites shot to hit for our team during this playtest.
Serve Returns - Score: 87 / 100
There were virtually no complaints from our testers when it came to returning serve with the VCORE SV 98, as everyone continued to appreciate the maneuverability and forgiveness that it offered. It was easy to get around the body and into position when combating a hard-serving opponent, and we felt confident going for bigger swings knowing that the large sweetspot could come to our rescue if we didn’t catch it just right.
Likes:
Chris: "I liked the solid response and the level of comfort. "
Andy: "Excellent power, spin potential and forgiveness and still with plenty of control and feel. This is one of my favorites rackets for its all-around performance. "
Michelle: "This racket did everything well. "
Hannah: "One of the quickest and most forgiving rackets I’ve tried. "
Dislikes:
Chris: "I would have liked more touch and feel from the baseline. "
Andy: "It’s fairly crisp/stiff feeling, so I could potentially foresee it taking a little bit of a toll on my arm during a long weekend of tournament play. I never had any issue with this during the test though, and I think with a bit of time I could dial in a string setup that could ultimately help me avoid any comfort issue altogether. "
Michelle: "Honestly, the only reason I didn't fall in love with this racket was because I didn't love the feel -- otherwise it did everything well. Just a bit light for my taste and not as solid at contact for what I personally prefer. "
Hannah: " Unpredictable and stiff, lacking comfort. "
Comparing it to other rackets they've used, our testers said:
Chris: "For some reason I did not transition into this racket as easily as I did with other Yonex offerings such as the VCORE Duel G 97 310 and EZONE DR 98. I prefer the feel of both of those rackets. While this one has similar stability to the DR 98 it didn't offer the connected feel I loved with the DR 98 and Duel G 97 310. "
Andy: "To me, it bridges the gap between my current racket of choice, the Yonex EZONE DR 98, and the Babolat Pure Aero. It has the power, spin and forgiveness of the Pure Aero with the control and responsiveness of the DR 98. It’s on the stiffer, crisper feeling side though, more similar to the Pure Aero in that regard than the DR 98. All in all, this has quickly become one of my favorite rackets to hit with. "
Michelle: "Comparing it to the Pro Staff 97, this Yonex has more feedback and feel on contact and isn't as muted. For whatever reason, I gravitate towards the Pro Staff's more solid feel. These reminded me a lot of the VCORE Si rackets. I remember not loving the feel of those rackets during the playtest but really playing well with them. It's a bit of a similar story here. There was no reason for me to not love this racket, but I just couldn't get on board with the feel. "
Hannah: "This is the first Yonex racket I’ve tested. I’ve hit with a few Yonex rackets on a couple occasions and feel like the SVs require more of a transition period. I have to say that each time I went out to hit with this racket I noticed something new and it took awhile to get used to the feel because it was very different from anything that I’ve hit with. With a proper adjustment period I’d prefer the SV 98 over the SV 100 because it would give me more choices on the court. "
Playtester Profiles:
Andy: Open level all court player with a semi-western forehand grip and a two handed backhand. Andy currently using a Yonex EZONE DR 98.
Chris: 4.5 all-court player currently using the Baboalt Pure Drive Plus. Chris uses a full-western forehand grip, has a fast swing style and hits a one-handed backhand.
Hannah: Open level player with a semi-western forehand and two-handed backhand. She currently plays with the Babolat Pure Aero.
Michelle: Open level baseline player with a semi-western forehand and a two handed backhand. She currently plays with the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph.
Review date: October 2016. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us: information.en@tenniswarehouse-europe.com.
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