Yonex VCORE Pro 97D: Precision and Plowthrough
The Yonex VCORE Pro 97D. Mouthful of a name. Drop dead gorgeous looks. A true player’s frame. Its a beauty both to play with and to behold. However, there are few players who should really make the switch. Do I recommend it? No. Should you buy it? Absolutely.
The VCORE Pro 97D rests on my shelf bathed in cool daylight. Beckett Chung. TennCom Media, 2021.
Key Specs
There are three areas that tell the story of this racquet. Heft, string pattern and flex. This triple threat is the classic formula for a true player’s racquet. 320g static weight coupled to a 330 swingweight means this beauty punishes the ball like a beast. The dense 18x20 string pattern makes it nearly impossible to miss long. The buttery soft flex of 61RA maximized dwelling time, feel and control. It’s a combination that harkens back to an older time.
The VCORE Pro 97D is like a V8 engine coupled to a manual transmission. It requires high levels of patience, skill and control to take advantage of the ferocity at your disposal. You won’t win more matches with the VCP 97D, just like you won’t win more races in a manual transmission. Times have changes, technology has advanced, and we have come to rely on it for our victories. But people haven’t changed much. Just like you’ll have a lot more fun behind the wheel of a big engined car, you’ll have plenty of fun dicing up the public courts with a scalpel the the Yonex VCORE Pro 97D.
Energy Potential: Big Plow
The 97D is a perfect example of a racquet with a lot of power, but not a lot of forgiveness. If you set up early and step you, you can snipe lasers from corner to corner. I hit this one, directly next to the new V8 Blade 98 16x19, and found much easier access to power and ball velocity due to the extra swingweight.
However, the 97D is demanding. First, you have to be strong and fit. No just in the upper body to handle the mass, but also in the legs. This racquet thirsts for proper footwork. If you don’t set up in time, the ball will do in the net. The racquet is too heavy for a last-second wrist flick and the beam is too thin to really on the racquet to push the ball over the net.
Consider the dense 18x20 pattern, the spin potential is quite good. I was able to high heavy shots with good margin off both the backhand and forehand. As is typical with heavy, control-oriented racquet, the backhand slice was outstanding. The thin beam makes the spin window relatively large, so you can really hit up of the ball, however, there were times where I wasn’t getting the snapback and dip on the ball that I like in more open patterned racquets. Further, I find flexy racquets don’t generate spin as well. The 97D was no expection. You feel the racquet flex, and the ball sinks into the strings, but you don’t get the responsive, slingshot sensation where you feel the frame regain it’s shape, forcing more energy, spin and power back into your shot.
I was getting more plowthrough, ball speed and spin with the 97D than either the Radical Pro or Prestige MP, but not quite as much as a Pure Strike Tour or RF97.
Potential Energy: 129
Similar Performers
Head Radical Pro 360+: 125
Yonex EZONE Tour: 128
Head Gravity Pro: 133
Stringbed Performance: Consistent and Unforgiving
As will any 18x20, the launch angle is quite low. This means the ball comes off the stringbed at a lower angle when compared to something like a Pure Aero. Lower launch angles make it hard to hit long, but your margin of error over the net is also decreased. I love a lower launch angle on my backhand. My two-hander is a relatively flat stroke that thrives when I step in to the ball and swing big. The low launch angle inspires confidence by making it hard to miss long, and it punishes weak shots by dumping balls in the net.
If you are a big topspin player, the tighter patterns can feel too unforgiving. On my forehand, I struggled defensively. When I get pushed back on my forehand side, I like to use height over the net to give myself time to get back in the point. Unfortunately, the lower launch angle meant that my defensive balls often fell short, leaving plenty of space for my opponent to clobber an approach shot.
That said, dense patterns aren’t exclusively for flat-hitting. Notorious spin demon Dominic Thiem uses the 18x20 version of the Pure Strike.
Stringbed Performance: 78
Similar Performers:
Head Prestige MP 360+: 80
Head Gravity Pro: 87
Wilson Prostaff 97 v13: 92
Weight Distribution: Mega Plow
The VCORE Pro 97D is an absolute beast on the court. With a strung balance point of about 32cm and a fairly high swingweight at 330, the VCP97D is weighted for power and stability. This becomes abundantly clear when compared to more maneuverable racquets like the Prostaff 97 or the Prestige MP. This racquets just don’t have the same weight in the tip of the racquet and struggled to plow through incoming balls with the authority of the 97D. The weight feels quite polarized, meaning, that the weight is pushed out towards to poles, at 12 o’clock and in the handle. The weight in the tip is for power and the weight in the handles helps with stability on volleys and slices. This means the weight works quite efficiently if you can get your swing speed up.
On the horizontal axis, the weight is similarly polarized. There is a healthy amount of weight at the 3 and 9 positions, as indicated by TWU’s measurement of 15. This ensures that the 97D retains a doubtlessly stable feel through off-centre shots. That said, the racquet really doesn’t behave like a heavy behemoth. I think it feels a lot faster through the air than the similarly spec’d Pure Strike Tour. This racquet offers a rare combination of outstanding plowthrough and power-oriented weight distribution couples with solid maneuverability. The higher static weight gives Yonex more freedom is distributing the weight, allowing them to cater the stick to higher performance players who demand excellent stability without sacrificing a fast swing speed.
Weight Distribution: 132
Similar Performers:
Head Extreme Pro 360: 130
Yonex EZONE Tour: 135
Head Gravity Pro 360+: 137
Important Competitors:
The closest spec’d racquets that I’ve tried are the Head Gravity Pro, the Head Prestige MP and the Wilson Prostaff 97. I don’t really think the Prostaff 97 is that comparable unless you are willing to add some weight to it. While the static weight is sufficiently close, the Prostaff 97 feels anemic compared to the 97D. The Prostaff 97 simply does not have the swingweight in stock form to feel competitive in this segment, but it makes it a lot more accessible to more players.
The Prestige MP has a more flexible, plush and responsive feel. Spin is similar, but I’ve give a slight edge to the Prestige for a more open string pattern and more maneuverable. Power and control both go to the 97D. The aggressive weight distribution and tighter string pattern allow you to impose serious pace on the pace without losing control.
The Gravity Pro is the closest competitor in my opinion. It weight for aggressive players, with a near even balance, providing strong plowthrough to compliment the 18x20 pattern. Spin definitely goes to the Gravity. The even balance makes it easy to generate a lot of wrist torque, and the wide face allows for a very vertical swing. Control and maneuverability go to the 97D. I think one-handers with definitely prefer the Yonex, and the tip comes around much quicker than the Gravity.
The Yonex VCORE Pro 97D is a niche product, but it deserves it’s place in the market. Few racquets offer the same offensive potential as this one, making it a thrill to hit with. Though it may not be viable for today’s explosive game, those with pure technique and an aggressive mindset will feel at home with Yonex’s classic offering.
