Intro

Volkl has long applied high quality German engineering and design to their racquet lineup. Their newest offering for developing players who want a light frame that can grow with them is the V-Feel 8 285g. The lightest member of the 8 series racquet includes all of the new technologies in the V-Feel family. Volkl uses a new cellulose material called V-Cell in the layup for enhanced feel and response. The renowned Volkl handle system now uses REVA foam, which improves shock absorption by 25% compared to previous versions. The butt cap pin also uses a new rubber called VTex for improved dampening and better durability. With so much innovation on hand, I had to hit the court with the V-Feel 8 285 to see how it would perform.

Groundstrokes

Off the ground the V-Sense 8 285g was impressive for its lighter overall weight. The firm, 22/24/22 mm beam provided ample power from both sides. At 10.6 oz strung with a somewhat headlight balance, I was able to accelerate through contact to maximize pace. The solid swingweight also gave it a surprising amount of punching power from the baseline for its weight class. The frame had a bit stiffer feel than I was used to so it took a bit of time to fully find my rhythm. As I got more comfortable, I enjoyed the easy depth and pace the V-Feel 285 offered. The 100 inch head had a generous sweet spot and power felt consistent across the string bed. There was plenty of spin available thanks to the 16 x 18 string pattern and easy to generate head speed. I was consistently able to vary margin on my shots and put plenty of air under them. The weak point of the reduced mass was when it came time to flatten out a mid court ball. The frame just didn’t have the same authority to handle them that a heavier racquet would have. The flip side of this was that the V-Feel 8 285g was exceptional on the run. I was able to readily flick passing shots or reset a point with a high trajectory ball. The decent swingweight gave the frame solid stability for its weight class and it felt like it had room to be customized as users develop and want to improve the stability for bigger hitting.

Volleys & Serves

The V-Feel 8 285 was a strong performer as I moved to the net. The fast feel made it easy to position during exchanges and I came out on top of most net play duels. The frame had a decent amount of finishing power but I found myself playing a few more extra balls compared to the heavier 300g and 315g versions. The racquet had excellent directional accuracy and I felt I could easily hit the corners or paint the lines with my volleys. The firm feel of the racquet did give me some difficulty with touch and drop volleys. The ball left the string bed with so much energy, I found it hard to consistently take enough off the ball for more delicate shot making at net. The V-Feel 8 285g again played above its station stability wise at the net. There was some twisting against big body shots but it was remarkably stable for how light it was.

On serve, I had several effective options with the V-Feel 8 285. The easy swing speed lent itself well to point and shoot big first serves. While they lacked the heavy feel of serves from the beefier model 8 frames, my flat serves still had enough pace to snag me some free points. The racquet was also exceptionally accurate. I was able to target the lines and move the ball around the box at will, ensuring I didn’t fall into predictable serving patterns. For second serves, my kick serves proved highly effective. The open string pattern and acceleration yielded balls with healthy action and bounce height. I mixed in some slice serves out wide into the ad court as well but they were less effective as the frame didn’t have enough mass to give them the bite I typically get.

Feel & Comfort

Like other frames in the V-Feel lineup, the V-Feel 8 285 had a pretty firm feel to it. There wasn’t a lot of dwell time to it and balls exited the string bed with high energy. I had trouble feeling well connected to the ball and gauging what the ball was doing as it left the strings. It seemed like it could be a string sensitive frame and would take some experimenting to improve the response. While firm in response, I never found the V-Feel 285 uncomfortable. The REVA foam and Vtex rubber in the handle did a good job absorbing vibration. I just found myself wanting a bit more overall flex to the frame. Players concerned about comfort could always pair the frame with softer strings and lower tensions for enhanced playability.

Overall

Volkl’s newest entry is a strong option for players looking for a lighter racquet that doesn’t skimp on performance. Its combines impressive power and spin potential at the baseline with nimble net play and versatile serving. It also has impressive stability for its weight and room to be customized as players develop. The Volkl V-Feel 8 285g is an excellent option for players who need a light frame that dynamically mixes power, spin and control in one package.

About the Reviewer: Matt Locke formerly served for 3 years as the Junior Programs & Development Coordinator for USTA-Idaho. He is a PTR certified coach and is an active USTA 4.5 League and Tournament player.