Yonex VCORE 98 Review and Playtest

Since it was first introduced in the markets in 2021, Yonex VCORE 98 has received a lot of attention from millions of fans worldwide. The brand has made some bold claims, promising higher performance, easier spin, and maneuverability, amongst other things. But does this racket actually deliver all of this? 

From the first day it was released, I knew I had to try this racket myself, and that’s exactly what I did. I bought and put Yonex VCORE 98 on the test, and trust me when I say I have some very strong opinions about it. If you are also considering buying this Yonex tennis racket, make sure to read my review first to find out all about the racket’s quality and to whom it suits the best. Keep scrolling! 

Yonex VCORE 98 Specifications

Here we have it, the new racket from the Yonex VCORE series. I need to be honest; the designs of the Yonex VCORE 98 tennis racket stood out to me first. This is a modern racket, with a classical, sporty frame and with bold colors that are simply gorgeous. It features a 98 sq. in head with open string patterns and a nice sweet spot. 

This racket is built for a heavy spin but also delivers moderate power levels. 

I would say it classifies as a twinner, considering its features, despite the smaller head. The racket’s beam is slightly smaller compared to previous models of the same line and enhanced by new technology to add more speed. 

This relatively light racket is easy to maneuver, responsive, and delivers a nice feeling. Control levels are decent, and it also offers considerable control and stability. 

To make this racket, the Yonex tennis racket brand has used new, various techniques that are very innovative. 

• Isometric geometry – features a unique frame shape that increases the sweet spot size to 7% larger compared to regular shapes. 
• 3D vector shaft – improves flexibility, helps to generate more stability, and offers more efficient power. 
• New Aero Fin – makes the frame more aerodynamic by an increase of 2.9% of the racket’s swing speed and a 16% decrease in air resistance. As a result, the racket can generate more spin and speed, as well as a higher trajectory of the balls. 
• Namd – helps to optimize the frame response at the contact and, as a result, produces more power and improves the feel. 
• Aero Trench – generates more head speed and less wind drag for the racket. 
• Liner Tech – basically, helps the strings move more to maximize spin. 

Yonex VCORE 98 Specs

• Head size: 98 sq. in / 632.26 sq. cm
• Length: 27 in / 68.58 cm
• Weight: 11.4oz / 323g
• Balance: 6 pts HL 
• Swingweight: 325
• Stiffness: 66
• Beam width: 22.5mm / 23mm / 21mm
• Composition: HM Graphite / 2G-Namd
• String pattern: 16 Mains / 19 Crosses

Groundstrokes – Score: 8.6

At the baseline, Yonex VCORE 98 delivered an impressive performance. As expected, the spin potential was out of the roof. I enjoyed taking full advantage of it, to push my opponent on a defensive mode and clear out my net. 

This racket has easy playability and cuts through the air with ease. In other words, it makes the game feel fun, as it’s supposed to. 

Due to the isometric shape, it features a bigger sweet spot, which was very nice and helped to connect better with the racket. Most players will need a little time to get used to the shape, but as soon as you find your rhythm and gain some momentum, it will feel natural. I really enjoyed the slightly muted feel of the impact and how responsive the frame is.

It’s easy to add depth at each shot and push the ball further in the court, hitting the targets successfully. Even at difficult angles, the racket worked wonders. Forehand slices were a total bliss, but my favorite was backhand slices, where the ball sat low, and the racket was incredibly fast. 

The smaller frame improves the stability levels, but sometimes during the playtest, I felt it could do a better job. I recommend Yonex VCORE 98 to experienced intermediate or advanced players who can take advantage of the heavy spin and control the racket’s speed. 

Volleys – Score: 8.4

Up in the net, this Yonex tennis racket was reliable. This headlight racket is very easy to maneuver, which makes volleys simple. The racket generates a massive spin and moderate levels of power, which was perfect for me. 

Not only that, Yonex VCORE 98 is comfortable too, and lack of stability on groundstrokes was not a problem when I was close to the net. It felt solid and easy to connect with. 

I was very pleased with how responsive and effortless it is to weaponize this racket. It is also very precise, and with a little effort, I could hit the targets every time, adding depth to the shot and redirecting the ball where I wanted to land. 

The sweet spot felt nice, but in case you lose the off-center shots, you will feel the vibrations in your arms and shoulder. Drop shots volleys were my favorite, and it was very easy to switch grips, allowing plenty of time to get back into position. 

The frame has a 16×19 open string pattern that generates a lot of pop and might be hard to control from time to time, especially if you are still mastering your skills and techniques. But other than that, Yonex VCORE 98 worked just fine in the net, and it was a real joy to play with. 

Serve – Score: 8.5

Yonex VCORE 98 is built for spin, so that’s what stood out during serves, as well. It generates an amazing amount of spin at each shot which will put your opponent in great difficulty right away. 

The racket also generates easy power, and you can feel the movement on the first and second serve; I was impressed! It is also solid and precise, helping the player to hit all the targets. 

Slice and kick serves were an absolute favorite, and the aerodynamic nature of Yonex VCORE 98 made it easier to be more efficient during serves and hit the higher launch angles. The beam shape makes this racket easy to maneuver and gives the player a lot of control. 

The pop that bothered me during volleys felt really nice at serves, and it helped to put the shots away. The drawback of this racket is that it is not very stable when hitting flat serves. Other than that, Yonex VCORE 98 did an amazing overall performance at serves, and one can tell that the technological updates really paid off. 

Returns – Score: 8.4

While I would say that Yonex VCORE 98 performed well at the returns, I do have some mixed feelings about it. This racket generates a satisfying amount of power and is solid enough to return the first aggressive serves of the opponent. 

The spin potential shines outs at the returns as well; it’s easy to add the necessary depth at each shot and even hit the difficult angles. The combination of control, stability, and precision made it easy to deal with the opponent’s big serves. 

The racket performed well, whether I was in offensive or defensive mode. The large sweet spot and the crispy feel are a true joy throughout the game.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t as easy to connect with the racket during returns, even though I didn’t face this issue at groundstrokes, serves, or volleys. Sometimes, this racket was a split second late when making contact with the ball, which cost me some precious points when trying to get back into position. It really was disappointing because I had higher expectations, considering all the great features and updates this racket has. 

Overall – Score: 8.46

Overall, Yonex VCORE 98 tennis racket is a good tennis racket that delivers high performance and easy playability. It strongly appeals to intermediate and advanced players that can take full advantage of the amazing spin potential. 

It is adaptable to a wide range of game styles and strategies, but I would say that it best suits players with an aggressive approach.

It’s a solid racket with amazing maneuverability and a decent amount of power. Yonex VCORE 98 is stable and offers much control, which helps control the game’s outcome. It’s easy to hit all the targets and add depth to each shot while still hitting the difficult angles. 

The technological updates have improved the racket’s performance, and even though it has a smaller head frame, the sweet spot is large and hard to miss. 

Overall, it’s easy to connect with this racket, which delivers a nice, crispy feeling. The only drawback I could find was at returns, where the racket felt a little late at contact. However, it works great all around the court and excels at volleys and returns. The racket’s design is another advantage, with a cool modern edge.

Different Models

Yonex VCORE 98 2021 would not be complete without comparing the other versions of the same line. That’s why I also decided to test a few of them to spot the main differences in the design and features. If Yonex VCORE 98 does not cater to your needs and skill level, take a look at other similar versions. 

Yonex VCORE 98 Plus

Yonex VCORE 98 plus has some slight differences compared with the first design, but they deliver similar performance. This racket weighs less than the Yonex VCORE 98, at only 10.8 ounces, trading control with more explosive power. 

It also delivers easy access to spin, good stability and works well all around the court. This racket has an extended length size, which makes the spin feel a bit out of control sometimes, which didn’t happen during the Yonex VCORE 98 playtest. 

However, it is more beginner-friendly because it has a more forgiving frame, higher levels of easy power, and provides full swings. Yonex VCORE 98 plus is more muted when it comes to contact with the ball and more comfortable to the arm. 

Specs

• Head size: 98 sq. in / 632.26 sq. cm
• Length: 27.5 in / 69 cm
• Weight: 305 g / 10.8 oz
• Balance: 6 pts HL 
• Swingweight: 325
• Stiffness: 66
• Beam width: 22.5 mm – 23 mm – 21 mm
• Composition: HM Graphite / 2G-Namd
• String pattern: 16 Mains / 19 Crosses

Yonex VCORE 95

Yonex VCORE 95 is suitable for advanced and professional players, who have the right skills and techniques to bring this racket to life, and easily weaponize it on the court. It has a 95 sq. in head, which is a smaller size compared to Yonex VCORE 98. 

It delivers heavy spin and more precision than the first model, helping to land the ball deeper on the court. This is the heavies racket of the line, and as a result, it has more stability and control.

The balance point is slightly higher, making Yonex VCORE 95 an incredibly fast racket. The string pattern is denser, which delivers a firmer feel, and adds another layer of heavy spin and control. However, because it is oriented toward spin and control, this racket is more low-powered and is expected from the player to generate enough physical strength to deliver powerful shots. 

Specs

• Head size: 95 sq. in / 612 sq. cm
• Length: 27 in / 68.58 cm
• Weight: 11.5oz / 326g
• Balance: 7 pts HL
• Swingweight:  316
• Stiffness: 64
• Beam width: 21.5mm / 22mm / 21mm
• Composition:  Graphite / 2G-Namd
• String pattern: 16 mains / 20 crosses 

Yonex VCORE 100

Yonex VCORE 100 has a bigger head size than the first model and is loaded with power and spin. This classifies as a twinner racket and is more suitable for intermediate level and less for advanced players. 

The balance point is two points lower, which means VCORE 100 is not as fast as VCORE 98. However, it does a great job at delivering full, powerful swings, works well all around the court and allows the player more time to recover and get back into position. It offers a good blend of stability, control, and precision, but they are arguably less impactful than the VCORE 98. 

Specs

• Head size: 100 sq. in / 645.16 sq. cm
• Length:27 in / 68.58 cm
• Weight: 11.3oz / 320g
• Balance: 4pts HL
• Swingweight:  324
• Stiffness: 66
• Beam width: 24mm / 25mm / 22mm
• Composition: Graphite / 2G-Namd
• String pattern: 16 mains / 19 crosses 

Conclusion

Yonex VCORE 98 is a great addition to the popular Yonex tennis racket line. It delivered all the promises for a massive spin, easy playability, and more. I can see how this racket is appealing to a wide range of players from different game styles because it works well all around the court. 

It offers a good blend of control, precision, speed, and stability. The drawbacks are minor and nothing you can’t get past if you spend enough time to better connect with the racket. 

The other models of this line delivered a great performance as well. The slight changes make these rackets suitable for all players, making them inclusive to different skill levels.

The technology that the brand has used is outstanding, and it is pioneering change the market on the market to make rackets of this caliber more comfortable. Overall, I can say Yonex did a great job with their newest release, and they deserve all the recognition they get. 

FAQs

Whether for competitive matches or just for practice, it’s worth it to have a good tennis racket. Still deciding on whether the Yonex VCORE 98 is a good option. Read on for some frequently asked questions when choosing this tennis racket.