Yonex VCORE 100 2023 Review

About two years after the launch of the last VCORE 100, Yonex finally released the updated version for 2023, which comes with several updates.

Alongside redesigning the shaft and minor tweaks to the beam width, Yonex has widened the hitting area of the racket’s upper hoop and introduced SIF Grommets, a silicone oil infusion to reduce the friction between the string and grommets.

With all those tweaks and changes, how does the new VCORE 100 2023 play? Find out in this full playtest and review. Let’s go.

Yonex VCORE 100 Cosmetics

At first glance, it is possible to notice clear modifications in the aesthetics of the racket.

Firstly, the 2023 VCORE 100 model features Yonex’s Namd technology in the frame, which was not included in the 2021 version.

Secondly, the grommet system has been redesigned to increase string movement and enlarge the sweet spot.

Moreover, the throat design appears sleeker and more aerodynamic, enhancing the speed of the swing.

Although the size of the head remained the same, its shape has changed from oval to waterdrop-like. However, Yonex continued to utilize its “isometric” head shape.

The isometric head shape differs from traditional racket head shapes (typically oval or round), offering a larger surface area and a more consistent string bed.

The colour scheme has also been updated, displaying a combination of red, black, and blue.

Specifications and Setup

Yonex is well-known in tennis for its products’ outstanding quality and reliability, and the VCORE line has found its way into the hands of several world-class players such as Angelique Kerber, Elena Rybakina, and Caroline Garcia.

The Japanese manufacturer’s quality control is the best in the industry, and my VCORE 100 Pro was a testament to that, weighing in at 301g unstrung. 

Once strung with a Wilson Pro Overgrip, it was 321.2g fully strung.

For this playtest, my VCORE 100 2023 was initially strung with Head Lynx in one piece; I then switched to Stringlab Tournament Rough in two pieces, which is my string setup of choice in my older generation VCORE 100.

Tension was 21.5kg on the mains and 21kg on the crosses.

Yonex VCORE 100 2023 Playtest and Review

GET THE YONEX VCORE 100 2023

It’s worth mentioning that I have been playing with the previous Yonex VCORE 100 for a couple of seasons, so I was naturally very excited to try the 2023 model and see how it compared to the previous version.

First Impressions

I will start by saying that it took me about 10 minutes to be impressed by the Yonex VCORE 100 2023 tennis racket.

The racket is relatively lightweight and feels easy to move through the air. I perceived the balance slightly shifted towards the head compared to the 2021 version.

This characteristic allowed me to generate power while preserving its manoeuvrability effortlessly.

It quickly became clear that Yonex produced an amazing combination of power, speed, and control. The Namd technology in the frame is a game-changer, providing a particular level of flex and power that has improved my snapback and increased my ball speed and spin potential.

This feature sparked my interest as someone who likes to generate a lot of topspin on my shots.

Despite being lightweight, the VCORE 100 2023 did not shake on impact, and it could handle fast and heavy shots without too much trouble.

I was relieved when I felt the racket remain steady during strong rallies, as it gave me a sense of strength and reliability.

However, Yonex did not forget about comfort in the pursuit of steadiness. This version of the VCORE 100 appears even more comfortable than the previous one, allowing me to hit topspin shots even from far behind the baseline effortlessly.

Groundstrokes

As a fan of the Yonex VCORE line, I was not surprised by my feelings during the first shots.

It did not take long to realise that the VCORE 100 2023 could be the perfect racket for me. As an all-court player, I enjoy utilizing my groundstrokes to build up a point I plan to close at the net.

For this reason, my game consists of much more than just strong, fast shots from the baseline. I consider spin and speed variations essential for me to reach the net.

Thus, I was pleased when I realized that the new VCORE 100 allowed me to easily switch from fast and flat shots to heavy spins and vice versa.

I noticed a significant difference in power between the old and the new version of the VCORE 100. The latter seems overall to unload a lot more power to my groundstrokes, aided by the widened sweet spot of the racket.

I always felt like the VCORE 100 2021 was difficult to play with, especially in tense match situations, since the sweet spot appeared limited.

Thus, I find a larger sweet spot to be extremely appealing. The VCORE 100 2023 immediately greeted me with a sense of security connected to its ability to release power and control even when I slightly miss-hit the ball.

Another positive note concerning this racket is the feeling while slicing.

I enjoy switching my one-handed backhand from topspin to slice, so I typically look for stiffer rackets that do not vibrate on impact.

Indeed, I was glad the racket felt firm and secure even when I attempted to perform a slice on heavy or fastballs.

This characteristic is probably due to Yonex’s new dampening technology (Vibration Dampening Mesh or VDM) incorporated in the design.

Volleys

As I mentioned above, volleys are a key part of my game and my go-to shot when I am trying to close a point.

Therefore, I need to feel I have complete control of my racket when at the net. Although I did not have unpleasant feelings while volleying with the new VCORE 100, I could notice the ball would bounce off a little too early from my racket when hitting stop volleys (like an excessive slingshot effect).

I believe the 2021 version gave me more on touch shots, but I also think regulating the tension according to the racket could compensate for the small setback in this area.

Serve

I believe the improvement in spin and power strongly positively affected the serve. If I had to use a single word to describe this racket’s serve, it would be “versatile.”

I felt comfortable hitting flat, hard serves just as much as spin serves. I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed how easy it was to kick the ball on my second serve. It felt as if the racket sliced its way through the air, which increased the swing speed and, consequently, the percentage of well-kicked second serves.

Return

Utilizing Vcore rackets, it became clear that they are not made for returns to be their forte, and I must say that the VCORE 100 2023 is no exception.

On my return, I try to hit the ball on the rise and from inside the baseline, but I made peace with the fact that I needed to be precise when trying to do so with the VCORE 100.

Although this new version underwent improvements in manoeuvrability, I still think that on-the-rise returns require more of it.

However, in most cases, it is enough for me to take a few steps back when returning at the beginning of the match. Once I analyze the opponent’s serve, I can then take a few steps forward and attack the return without having to forcefully correct my swing while hitting my shot.

Who is This Racket For?

Even though the VCORE 100 2023 appears very versatile, its characteristics would not suit all kinds of players.

Since this racket does not outperform in touch shots, I would probably not suggest it for serve and volley players (despite its great performance at the serve).

On the other hand, I think that players who look for heavy rotations and consistent power could find this racket to be just what they need to step up their game.

Nevertheless, regardless of their game, I would not recommend this racket to amateur players. Despite the enlargement of its sweet spot and improvement in manoeuvrability, it remains a very difficult product to play with.

On the other hand, experienced players with proper technique and knowledge of the game could use this racket to its full potential.

Similar Rackets

Final Thoughts

My overall review of the Yonex VCORE 100 2023 is undoubtedly positive. I loved playing with it and look forward to using it more.

I think that a few modifications to the string tension could be just what I need to improve the feel on the volleys, and I am pleased to say that the changes from the previous version positively impacted the racket’s performance.

Pros

Cons

Have you tried any rackets in the new Yonex VCORE 2023 line? How did you find them compared to the previous generations? Let me know in the comments.