YONEX VCore Tour 89 Tennis Racquet Review
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The V-Core 89 Tour falls into the player’s racquet category at a time when there are very few sub-95 square inch frames. It is really a blast from the past, and I was intrigued when I saw this racquet introduced. Devout Yonex users who are looking to upgrade their RDX 500, RDS 001, or RDiS 100 (mid) should look no further. Those seeking the general feel of a midsize frame might find that this racquet hits the spot.
Groundstrokes
The 89 Tour surprised me a lot from the ground. Having previously used Yonex's RDiS 100 (93) for several years, and seeing that the technical specs were nearly the same, I thought I would get similar results with a little extra effort. But I was completely wrong! The small headsize felt and played more like that of a 95 square inch racquet. Ample plow through was felt on all my groundstrokes and, despite the small headsize, I rarely mishit balls. I even experienced relative stability on off-center shots from the baseline.
True to almost all of the Yonex racquets that I have used, the 16x20 string pattern delivers what I would deem a very dynamic response. I always felt as though I could send the ball with heavy spin, or drive it flatter with equal comfort. Slices with this racquet felt amazing. Its 8-point head light balance greatly helped in making its 12.1 ounce static weight feel maneuverable. Generating sufficient racquet speed wasn't a problem, although if you are not accustomed to a 12-ounce racquet, you may tire more quickly than normal.
Lastly, the racquet had a very soft, comfortable feel when hitting groundstrokes. It was nice to avoid unwanted vibration.
Volleys
On volleys, I loved the controlled slice of the 89 Tour. Driving volleys deep or dropping them short seemed like a simple task as long as I didn't mishit. I did notice the small head size on this racquet when playing against a strong opponent. As you might imagine, I did not have much room for error on off-center shots.
Serves
The Tour 89 delivers when it comes to serving. Many players who have been brought up using mid-sized racquets may attest to the control and accuracy that they feel when using these types of frames, and the 89 Tour fulfilled that need completely. Whether I needed to hit a hard carving slice, a twisting kick serve or a flat bomb, this racquet delivered what felt like pinpoint accuracy. It is truly a fine instrument for adept servers.
Overall
The Yonex VCore 89 Tour has a classic feel that anyone interested in mid-sized frames would be interested in. From the baseline this racquet felt very comfortable in delivering strong shots, however it is best suited for 4.5+ players, as its small head size and ample weight leaves very little room for error. With that aside, almost any hitting style can enjoy the soft feel of the frame and its ease in producing heavy topspin, slice, or flat shots. Volleying with the 89 Tour can also be demanding, but when executed well, the control and power obtained from its weight and balance creates great results. Lastly, this racquet performed well on the serve, in that users should feel a great amount of control and versatility over their delivery. All in all, the 89 Tour is a great mid-sized frame from Yonex that helps keep the old-school tradition alive.
.jpg) About the Reviewer: Brandon Arradaza is a Tennis Professional at the Chris Lewit Tennis Academy in New York City. He is a graduate of the Professional Tennis Management Program at Ferris State University, a USPTA Elite Professional, PTR Professional and USRSA Master Racquet Technician.
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