by: Nima Naderi
The racket of choice for three time Grand Slam winner and reigning US Open champion, Stan Wawrinka’s latest Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 (330g) racket will have advanced players ripping through their ground-strokes with pace and precision.
Packed with more than enough heft to spare, the VCORE Duel G 97 (330g) features a strung weight of 12.2oz and a stiffness index of 66. Featured in a slightly smaller head size at 97 square inches compared with other high-end player rackets, the VCORE Duel G 97 (330g) was definitely designed for advanced to competitive players.
Not offering a ton of natural power, players with full, fluid swings will enjoy the ball control and accuracy that this frames provides.
Ground-strokes and volleys were consistency hit in a reliable manner and the number of over-hit balls and mishits were very rare with this particular racket. I’ve always been a believer that heavier rackets are actually better for the longevity of a player’s arm and if you’re interested in taking the steps to prolonging your pain-free days on court, then a heavier racket like the VCORE Duel G 97 (330g) is definitely worth a try.
Other great features of this frame were its balance on contact on serves and returns. Flat serves were hit in an effective and powerful manner, while kick and slice serves repeatedly hit their desired spots.
The iconic Isometric shape that Yonex frames are known for provided great accuracy when trying to hit those tough passing shots, due in large part to the Tough G Fiber technology that allowed for more plow-through to the ball at the end of a player’s reach.
Other elements that added to our advanced player recommendation of this frame were its relatively compact 97 sq. inch head size and its unique 16×20 string pattern, which is about as unconventional as it gets in today’s high-end racket market. This unique head-size to string pattern ratio truly did allow for tremendous ball control for players that do not struggle in generating their own power.
With a recommended string tension of 50-65 lbs and a compatibility with the SONY Smart Tennis Sensor, you’ll be feeling like Stan the man in no-time this fall/winter with the VCORE Duel G 97 (330g).
All in all, the VCORE Duel G 97 (330g) is the real deal when it comes to performance rackets for the competitive athlete. We would definitely recommend a play-test of Wawrinka’s latest frame when considering your next racket purchase.
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Nima Naderi is the Founder/Creative Director of TennisConnected.com. He is also an award winning coach with the PTR and has over 19 years of coaching experience.
