Intro

Volkl fans who want a racquet with some added mass that still swings fast and is dangerous from anywhere on court should keep an eye out for the Volkl V-Feel 8 315g. For the V-Feel family, Volkl brings a host of new materials to the table. The layup now includes a cellulose material called V-Cell for enhanced power and response. The handle of the racquet is also wrapped in a new foam called REVA which offers 25% better shock absorption than previous handle system. The handle pin is now made out of a new silicone polymer called VTex for even more vibration dampening and improved resistance to factors like temperature. Recently, I took the heaviest model in the V-Feel 8 lineup out for a test drive and here’s what I found.

Groundstrokes

The V-Feel 8 315g was pretty easy to use from the back of the court. The firm construction and 22/24/22 mm beam offered up easy power on both wings. At 11.6 oz strung, this model had more consistent depth and court penetration than the lighter models in the 8 family. I was able to use the frame’s mass to create depth and pace with a nice, relaxed swing. With a sub 320 swingweight, the frame still accelerated smoothly; producing easy pace and spin. The sweet spot felt similar to other 100 inch head size frames, but I did notice some hot spots around the string bed where the ball seemed to launch unexpectedly. While I found the entire V-Feel 8 fairly to be accurate, the 315 was the cream of the crop. I was able to paint lines, drive the ball into the corners and generally pick whatever spot I wanted to hit to. Spin production was available, although it took a bit more effort with the 315 as the lighter versions were easier to hit with a whippy swing path. The 16x18 string pattern had a nice blend of grip and give. I was able to hit high margin topspin and the extra weight gave me impressive bite on my backhand slice. For a sub 320 SW frame, the V-Feel 315 was impressively stable and had little twisting against high pace balls. The firm build of the frame did make it a bit more challenging to pull off touch shots but the more I focused on dictating play aggressively, the more the racquet rewarded me.

Volleys & Serves

The V-Feel 8 315g brought a sense of authority to the net. Anything left sitting up for me was quickly dispatched thanks to the frame’s blend of mass and power. While not as quick as the lighter versions, the 315 was still easy to maneuver. It retained enough of a headlight balance that once I got it moving, it positioned relatively quickly and I was capable of holding my own in fast paced volley exchanges. The frame was accurate on volleys just like it was from the baseline. I enjoyed driving balls into the corners and sharply angling volleys off the sides of the court. The firm build made it challenging to bleed pace off for touch and drop volleys, but the added weight on the 315 made it more effective in this area than its lighter siblings. Stability was once again solid and it was capable of fighting off hard hit balls and shots close to the body.

On serve the V-Feel 8 315g had an effective mix of attributes. Coming from the lighter versions, it took me a little time to get used to the extra mass overhead. Once I got dialed in, the extra weight made its benefits known. My first serve had solid pace but the real benefit was that the ball just seemed to move through the court much more effectively than the other models in the line. The V-Feel 315 was an accurate serving frame as well. I was able to target all areas of the box and go from hitting the outside line to driving up the T with ease. My kick serve didn’t have the same amount of action on it as the lighter models were easier to whip through contact and produce some extra spin. I was still able to get it moving and usually keep it out of returner strike zones. The V-Feel 315 did the most second serve damage with my slice serve. It drove the ball low and wide through the court and was my go to play on the ad side, allowing me to open up the court and attack from the first ball.

Feel & Comfort

As with the other V-Feel frames and given Volkl’s heritage, I was surprised at the stiff feel of the V-Feel 8 315g. It had a much more modern, firm response to it than I was expecting. The ball seemed to exit the string bed incredibly quickly. The extra weight in this model seemed to help reign the powerful response in a bit easier. I did feel like I lacked some versatility with this frame because I wasn’t as confident mixing in touch shots due to the lack of feedback I was getting on contact. The racquet seemed best suited to bashing away rather than playing with too much subtlety. The addition of REVA and VTex to the handle did an impressive job dampening vibration so the racquet was still comfortable despite its stiff response. I never had any arm issues, I simply found myself yearning for more flex and a softer contact response from the racquet.

Overall

Big hitters have a powerful new option from Volkl. The heaviest of the V-Feel 8 family, it hits outstanding power and court penetration from the baseline. It also offers strong net sensibilities and dynamic serving choices. Advanced players who want a frame with added mass that swings smoothly and offers a potent mix of power control and spin should strongly consider the Volkl V-Feel 8 315g next time they take the court.

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.