Yonex VCORE 98 Tennis Racquet Review

The Yonex VCORE 98 8th Gen is the precise end of Yonex's spin line, a fast, whippy 98 that generates heavy topspin with more control than the 100. The 8th gen sharpens the aerodynamics and the snapback and adds comfort, for an advanced player who plays a modern, spin-first game.

The spin player's control frame

The VCORE is Yonex's spin line, its answer to the Babolat Pure Aero and the Head Extreme, and the 98 is the version tuned for a stronger, more precise player. It keeps the heavy spin the line is built on but delivers it with a lower, more predictable launch than the 100, so an advanced player can shape the ball and hit targets rather than just swinging out and hoping the spin brings it down.

It sits in a serious lineup. On tour, the VCORE is Joao Fonseca's frame, along with Emma Navarro and Brandon Nakashima, and the 98 is the one that rewards a player with the mechanics to use it. If you swing vertically, brush up the back of the ball, and want spin with command, this is the VCORE to reach for.

The Four S's, and what the 8th gen changes

Yonex builds the VCORE around the Four S's, and the 98 gets the full treatment. The sweet spot grows by about four percent thanks to a lengthened top and the modified, energized ISOMETRIC head, which widens the spin window. Redesigned oval top grommets free the strings to slide and snap back for more rotation. And the beam has been reshaped flatter and more aerodynamic for faster swings, then thickened in the midsection and throat for stability and power.

Underneath, the 98 leans into feel and comfort. An extended, tapered inner frame adds flex and ball pocketing, so the ball sits on the string bed a fraction longer, and the SERVO FILTER material, the 2G-Namd Flex Force graphite, and the VDM handle mesh work together to smooth out vibration. Yonex says the 8th gen is more comfortable than the version 7, and on court it plays plush for a spin frame.

How it plays

The 98 is quick, spin-loaded and precise. It asks for a modern, full swing and gives back heavy topspin, a lower launch than the 100, and the kind of connected feel Yonex fans prize.

Heavy spin, on tap

Spin is the point, and the 98 finds it easily. The oval snapback grommets and the energized ISOMETRIC head grab and release the ball, so a vertical, brushing swing loads it with rotation and lift. You get the free depth and the margin over the net that a spin frame gives you, without the launch running as high as the 100.

Fast and precise

The 98 moves surprisingly fast. The streamlined beam and the head-light balance make it quick to whip through contact and easy to bring around to chase a ball down, and next to the 100 it is the more precise and predictable of the two. That precision is what lets an advanced player hit a target with pace, or pull the trigger at the end of a long rally.

Suzy, on the VCORE 98

Sharp at the net

For a spin frame, the 98 is a genuinely good volleying racquet. It is easy to get into position, it stays solid at contact, and it holds up on quick-reaction volleys, so a player who likes to come forward and finish can trust it. The fast handling that helps on the run helps at the net too.

Comfort, and one honest caveat

The soft flex and the SERVO FILTER and VDM tech make the 98 comfortable and connected, a real step up from stiffer spin frames. The one caveat from testing: because the frame is flexible, the tip can feel a little lively against the very biggest hitters, where a player who wants a more planted, stable response will notice it. If that is you, the heavier VCORE 98 Tour adds the mass to settle it down.

Strings and setup

The 98 is spin-first, so the strings are about balancing that spin with control. A shaped co-poly makes the most of the snapback for a player who wants maximum bite, while a slightly firmer string or a higher tension tightens the response for a flatter hitter who wants to keep the launch down. Because the frame is already comfortable, you have room to string for control without the setup turning harsh.

98 or 100?

The 98 is the more precise, lower-launching and faster-feeling VCORE, the choice for an advanced player who wants spin with command. If you want a bigger head, more power and an even higher, more dipping ball, the VCORE 100 is the more forgiving, all-court option. And if you are cross-shopping 98s, it is worth demoing against the Babolat Pure Aero 98, the Wilson Blade 98, the Head Gravity Tour and the Yonex EZONE 98, which cover spin, control, feel and power from different angles.

Sam, on the VCORE 98

Who should swing it

The VCORE 98 is for advanced players with modern, vertical, topspin swings who want heavy spin and lift without giving up precision. The aerodynamic beam makes it fast to whip and easy to chase balls down; the snapback grommets load the ball with spin, and it is more controlled and predictable than the VCORE 100. It is a lovely frame at the net, which suits an all-court, come-forward game.

Spencer, on the new VCOREs

If you hit flat or play a traditional, control-first game, the spin and the high launch may give you more than you want, and a flatter player's frame will suit you better. And if you want the most planted feel against big hitters, the VCORE 98 Tour is the heavier answer. But for a modern spin player who wants command to go with the rotation, the VCORE 98 is one of the most complete spin-and-control 98s you can buy.