Yonex Vcore Pro 97 (320) tennis racquet is the latest generation. Available in emerald green, these racquets have received a lot of positive feedback for the design alone. However, the frame does look somewhat old-school.
Fortunately, with its sub-60 stiffness rating, 20 mm beam, and 18×20 string pattern, Yonex Vcore Pro 97 racquet keeps up that classic feel.
But I believe it has a little more power and spins to offer than you would expect from the specifications. Continue reading my review to know more about this amazing racquet and my final thoughts before buying.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
About Yonex
Yonex is the industry pioneer for golf, tennis, and badminton products. They are a technology-driven business and are continually testing new materials, new designs, and new ways to improve your game.
To try to spread the sweet spot all over the string surface, the racquet face has more of a rectangular shape. The V-Core Pro 97 Tennis Racquet is used by the three-time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka.
The graphite is given a special flex and fast frame snapback by NAMD technology from Yonex for more strength and spin.
Players like Naomi Osaka won the U. S. Open with the Yonex E-Zone 98 Tennis Racquet. For more power at quicker swing speeds, the E-Zone series provides players with strong stabilization higher up in the string-bed.
To minimize muscle weakness, and shield the hand, and elbow by absorbing vibration, Yonex uses a Shockless Grommet Device on the sides and on the bottom of the E-Zone Racquets.
About the Yonex VCore Lineup
With various weights, from any degree of capacity, the VCore lineup has everything. The Yonex VCore racquets are great for competitive baseliners and deliver an amazing combination of strength and spin.
By using Aero Fin and Aero Trench technologies to minimize drag and speed up the swing, Yonex has engineered them to be among the most spin-friendly racquets you can find.
Yonex VCore Pro 97 (320G) Tennis Racquet Specifications
With this racquet, Yonex adds maximum strength to the VCore Pro group. It’s weighed at around 12 ounces strung for the experienced player that may be looking for something that doesn’t get kicked about as the pace increases.
This racquet has outstanding feedback, with a dense 18×20 string pattern, a slender 20mm beam, and a lightweight 97 sq. inch head. Yonex offers an updated Throat Configuration that combines a narrower and longer shaft with a reduced throat, allowing more traction.
The Vibration Dampening Mesh that is built inside the handle to minimize unnecessary vibrations for a smoother feel is also a nice improvement. The 97 HD has a swing weight of almost 325 + RDC, rendering it great to redirect the velocity of big hitters.
At the net, the Pro 97 HD comes easily to provide a decent depth of weight on block volleys. You’d get the volume to change the speed of a major first service on service returns, with plenty of specificity on broad cuts to stay aggressive. You would also get enough feel to play those sharp edges.
- Racquet Weight: 320 grams
- Racquet Length: 27 inches
- Balance: 31.8
- Head Size: 97 sq. inches
- Swing weight: Around 325
- String pattern: 18 mains×20 crosses
Yonex VCore Pro 97 Review
This racquet is just so sleek and fast that you don’t really realize that you’re playing with a 320g racquet.
You’re never going to get ridiculously simple spin and power, being an 18×20 string, but if you can get the racquet head rpm, there is still enough power and spin to be had. The good news is, the racquet’s balance allows you to swing quick and high.
The outstanding thing about this racquet’s maneuverability is that it also helps you out on defense. You’re not continually trying to produce the momentum of the racquet head like you can for other 320g racquets, which is a huge help when you’re playing a rough shot.
I do not believe you’re going to find any shortcomings in this racquet for experienced players who are used to playing 18×20 string patterns.
Players that are used to 16×19 swing patterns and players who do not produce enough racquet pace to get the best out of this stick will definitely bemoan. If you’ve spent your whole life playing with 16 x 19 sticks, so the shift can be quite problematic.
If that’s the case, then it might take you a bit of time to get used to this racquet, but with the Yonex VCore Pro 97HD 18×20, it’s worth persevering if power, feeling, and maneuverability is what you are searching for.
I found a nice sweet spot, considering its 97-square-inch head height, and the connected-to-ball feel was also great. I could produce some of my most powerful shots because of its hefty nature.
The 18×20 string pattern also provided additional control but did not hinder spin access. To have a startling dosage of speed on groundstrokes, the 11.9oz string-weight, and mid-320 swing-weight combined.
The thin 20mm beam helps produce enough head-speed with ease. Compared to a thicker frame, I found it quite strenuous to produce depth, but the Pro 97 wasn’t too challenging all in all.
With Pro 97 (320), the accuracy was highly impressive. The sleek beam along with the decreased flex made me feel like I could still keep the ball well on strings to take it any place that I wished.
I have repeatedly been able to select ambitious goals and confidently strike the lines. From an 18×20 pattern, spin output was about what I hoped.
The quick frame acceleration can help produce RPMs on the ball and they should be adequate, but I couldn’t help but miss the bounce that allows higher open patterns. The stability of the racquet was good. But increased mass distribution to the racquet head may have been slightly better.
The 18×20 string pattern is perfect for groundstrokes, and the direction of the ball coming off the racquet is amazing. You get a nice form, but it wasn’t too up and down or too straight.
The thin beam makes it easy to maneuver and swift through the air with the correct technique so you can swing it as quickly as you like.
Product Features:
- The Micro Core technology makes it more stable
- Isometric head design offers a bigger sweet spot and greater accuracy
- The cushion grip ensures minimized vibration
- Loch Booster grommet system helps generate more spin
Who is the Yonex VCore Pro 97 HD Best for?
With the Yonex VCore Pro 97HD, experienced players searching for a racquet with lots of power should have a great pick.
The Pro 97 may not be your ideal frame when it comes to more power for little advanced players, as you can see from the specs.
This racquet from Yonex is for those who can deliver the power of their own strength. It’s a frame that focuses on control and manages to deliver enough pop.
For experienced players who want full control, the Yonex VCore Pro 97 HD is a great option.
The VCore Pro 97 HD provides better control over the consistency and weight of a racquet you would be looking for whether you’re an inexperienced or beginner player with various attributes. It is great for maneuvering as well, and you can some good spin from the racquet.
For more experienced players that are seeking a power-focused racquet with a great feel overall, I would advise the Yonex VCore Pro 97 HD. But I wouldn’t suggest the Pro 97 to people who have a limited sewing pace.
Yonex VCore Pro 97 HD Tennis Racquet Review: Summary
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
With the introduction to VCore Pro 97 HD tennis racquet, Yonex has brought a whole new degree of power, feel, and precision to the VCore Pro line-up.
This racquet blends buttery feeling with effortless power with a 326 swing-weight, and a smooth 59 stiffness ranking.
I liked how this racquet played on the court everywhere. At net and on returns, without giving up any stability, the racquet looked more maneuverable than the weight indicated.
Thanks to its accurate, control-oriented nature, experienced players with an offensive game are going to love the VCore Pro 97HD 18×20.
What I Liked:
- Offers excellent control
- Helps generate adequate spin
- Protects the elbow against injuries from hard impacts
What I Didn’t Like:
- Novice players might find it hard to spin
Final Thoughts
The Yonex VCore Pro 97 HD can impress people who love regulated, thin beam, lightweight frames. It promises easily controlled strength, excellent precision, and great maneuverability for all courts.
All of this is blended to please more intermediate players with more than enough mass. The Yonex VCore Pro 97 HD excels as a convenient, precise frame that can assist an aggressive player from any position on the court to manage their point.
To sum up, this racquet offers you lots of different characteristics that you wouldn’t expect to manage the weight and consistency you’re looking for if you have an experienced game.
My name is Reagen and I started AllTennisGear (earlier AllTennisShoes) as a way to share my humble experience and help new Tennis players. Thank you for spending a few minutes of your day here and know that your feedback is always welcome.