Power without compromising accuracy. In a nutshell, that’s how our tennis expert, Martina, describes the 2023 Yonex VCORE 100 tennis racquet.
But don’t think that’s all you’ll get with this tennis racquet. We’ll delve into the details of what makes the new Yonex VCORE 100 Martina’s favorite and why she thinks you’ll love it, too, if you’re a serious adult tennis player.
(By the way, if you’re looking for a place to play tennis or brush up on some lessons, check out the Adults Play Sports Directory to find tennis options near you).
2023 Yonex VCORE 100 Tennis Racquet Design Elements: Head, Grommets, and More
VCORE Head Design
There are visibly noticeable changes to the new VCORE from the previous version. The head shape is wider at the top, providing more surface area, and the grommets are spread further apart. While still a rounded head, it has taken on a bit more of a square shape. Yonex coins the shape as ISOMETRIC, and they say the head has a 7 percent larger sweet spot than its previous version.
Martina says these design tweaks have made a difference she can notice.
“Generally, the larger the head is, the more power it allows you to have, and it gives you an even larger sweet spot,” Martina confirms.
Regarding the change in grommet configuration, she says, “They increased the distance between grommets, and it gives you a lot more power. I thought I was going to find some drawbacks compared to the previous version because when you increase the power, you generally decrease the accuracy, but so far, I haven’t seen any trouble with that.”
VCORE Weight
The VCORE 100 weighs in at 300 grams or 10.6 ounces. The Namd graphite frame lends to the racquet’s light weight, which Martina says provides a lot of maneuverability. Yonex says this graphite is designed to be flexible on fast swings and allows for strong spin returns.
“It’s fairly light, so it’s very maneuverable. Even when you are in a tough situation, you can still manage to let the racquet go without hurting yourself, which is great for female players,” says Martina.
She continues, “Maneuverability is essential when you get to higher levels. Once you get to higher levels, you’re going to play a lot of shots, so you need a fairly light racquet.”
Additional Design Features
Some of the other design features characteristic of the Yonex VCORE 100 include something they call Aero Trench. By keeping the grommet placements at the top of the frame, Yonex says this increases the aerodynamics of the racquet by 11%. This design, they say, keeps air resistance to a minimum and contributes to faster swing speeds.
The Yonex VCORE 100 also incorporates silicone oil-infused (SIF) grommets. Yonex claims this lubrication minimizes friction between the string and grommet, which allows for faster string snapback and helps drive the spin of the ball.
Yonex has also given the throat of the racquet a slightly new design, along with a narrower beam. All these design changes should create a significant difference in elevating your launch angle and bumping up your topspin.
Lastly, Yonex adds Vibration Dampening Mesh (VDM) to its VCORE, EZONE, and ASTREL line of tennis racquets. The VDM is inside the grip and is meant to reduce vibration. Yonex’s newest racquet to its family, the PRECEPT, is the only one not to use VDM, instead incorporating a new technology called a Servo Filter to dampen vibration.
The 2023 Yonex VCORE 100 comes in two colors: flame red or galaxy black.
Japanese Engineering
German and Swiss engineering often pop into mind when it comes to quality engineering, but Japanese engineering is right on par, especially in sporting goods. With brands like Mizuno, Shimano, ASICS, and of course, Yonex, the Japanese continue to innovate. Luxury golf club brand Honma is another example of quality Japanese engineering.
“Yonex manufacturing is outstanding,” sums up Martina.
What Type Of Tennis Player Is The 2023 Yonex VCORE 100 Designed For?
If you’re an all-court tennis player who is looking for spin and power in a racquet, the VCORE 100 is for you. But, Martina points out, it isn’t a beginner player’s racquet. Intermediate and advanced tennis players will best appreciate the VCORE 100.
“It’s kind of a complete racquet, so I wouldn’t suggest it for an amateur,” she says. “Also, the price kind of suggests that.”
Current pricing on the racquet is $259.
Martina says the new Yonex VCORE 2023 is best suited for a “player that likes to push from the baseline mostly but also likes to find some variation like slices and volleys. Overall somebody that pushes and likes to counterattack and attack off returns.”
Some Of The Pros Who Use the VCORE
While there are plenty of serious non-pro adult tennis players who use the VCORE, it’s still kinda fun to know which of the pros are using it, too. Here’s who Yonex lists as some of the athletes using their newest tennis racquet:
- 2022 Davis Cup champion Denis Shapovalov
- 2022 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals champion and Caroline Garcia
- 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina
Groundstrokes to Rallies: How Does The 2023 Yonex VCORE 100 Perform?
From serves to rallies to groundstrokes, the VCORE 100 is an all-around great performer.
Martina describes herself as a one-handed backhand player and says, “This rracquet doesn’t give me any trouble with maneuvering, even on low balls, but it still allows me to give power.”
For women tennis players, power typically trumps spin, and Martina says the VCORE delivers.
“Women focus a lot more on power than spin,” she says. “But [the racquet is] light, so you can still move it through the air and give it your own spin. The racquet doesn’t do it alone.”
Martina is also a tennis player who likes to come to the net. “I like to feel my point and then close it at the net,” she says. “This is kind of the perfect racquet to do everything around the court.”
The 2023 version of the VCORE has less stiffness, and its lightweight feel makes it a comfortable racquet for long rallies. Heavier racquets can cause you to fatigue quicker, which can affect your performance and make you more prone to injury.
“If you’re a consistent player who likes to rally a lot, this weight is perfect, in my opinion,” says Martina.
The Downsides of the Yonex VCORE 100
Slingshot Effect
Martina doesn’t have a lot of negative things to say about the VCORE 100, but the minor drawbacks she points out are a slingshot effect on volleys and a desire for more feel.
“I found there to be a little bit of a slingshot effect when I try to volley, especially when I try to do short volleys to stop the ball, but nothing that really penalizes me.”
However, she notes some of this can be mitigated by using the right type of string and adjusting the string tension.
“I pick a very effective, very rigid string, so it doesn’t give me as bouncy of an effect, and I’m able to feel the ball better,” Martina explains. “I think once you pick your own tension and your own string, you won’t find an actual problem. It won’t slingshot.”
Another note on the topic of string, Martina says because of the distance Yonex has put between the grommets to increase power and spin, string tends to break faster.
“I guess there’s more movement, more snapback, more friction,” she says. “You have to pick a resistant string.”
Less Feel Than Desired
While feel is important to her, Martina says more feel would mean less power, so it’s a compromise.
“I would like to feel the ball better, especially on drop shots or touch shots, like those tricky ones. But you would have to increase the tension a lot which would lose the purpose of the racquet, which is to give power. You have to find your balance. All racquets have pros and cons.”
She concedes the VCORE isn’t a racquet you use for the touch shots. You use it for power.
Alternatives If You Seek A More Spin-Friendly Racquet
Since power is the name of the game for the Yonex VCORE 100, Martina recommends other racquets because the VCORE “is not a racquet that is meant for control or spin. There are racquets that are meant for that.”
Tennis players looking for more topspin or better control and feel should look at racquets like the Head Extreme MP and the Babolat Pure Aero.
Martina’s Final Thoughts On The Yonex VCORE 100 2023
From how Yonex has widened the surface area to the lightweight feel of the racquet, Martina is a huge fan of the new VCORE 100. It’s more comfortable than the previous version, has an improved feel, and, in her eyes, is more aesthetically appealing.
Despite a higher price tag, although well within the realm of similar-type tennis racquets, Martina feels the price is absolutely justifiable. The longevity of the VCORE, in comparison to some of its competitors, is a huge selling factor.
Says Martina, “A lot of racquets you play intense for a year, a year and a half, and you have to trash the racquet. [With] Yonex, you can go almost three years playing intensely with the racquet. It doesn’t start shaking too much.”
With the right string setup, Martina says the VCORE performs nearly impeccably.
“Compared to other top-price racquets, this racquet is worth it. This one is worth the price,” emphasizes Martina. “I would 100% recommend it.”
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