The Yonex Vcore Pro 97 and Wilson Blade 98 tennis rackets are two control oriented rackets that work great for advanced players who hit a one handed backhand.
In this article, I will look at the racket specs of the Vcore Pro 97 and the Blade 98 to see how these two tennis rackets compare to each other.
Yonex Vcore Pro 97 vs Wilson Blade 98 – Racket Specs Comparison
In the comparison below I have used the 2021 version of the Yonex Vcore Pro 97 310 (or “VcorePro97”) and the 8th version of the Wilson Blade 98 16 x19.
Main Differences: The Blade 98 has a bigger head size (98in vs 97in), a lower strung weight (11.29oz vs 11.5oz), a slightly higher swing weight (317 vs 316), a less head light balance (5 pts HL vs 7 pts HL), and a slightly higher frame stiffness rating (61 vs 60).
Similarities: Both rackets are 27in in length, have a beam width of 21mm, and have a 16×19 string pattern.
| Specs | Vcore Pro 97 310 | Blade 98 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand: | Yonex | Wilson |
| Design: |  |  |
| Version: | 2021 | V8 |
| Head Size: | 97in | 98in |
| Length: | 27in | 27in |
| Strung Weight: | 326g (11.50oz) | 320g (11.29oz) |
| Unstrung Weight: | 310g (10.93oz) | 305g (10.76oz) |
| Swing weight: | 316 | 317 |
| Balance: | 7pts HL | 5pts HL |
| TW Stiffness Rating: | 60 | 61 |
| Power: | Low | Low |
| Player Level: | Advanced | Advanced |
| Beam Width: | 21mm/21mm/21mm | 21mm/21mm/21mm |
| Main Color(s): | Green, Black, and Purple | Green |
| String Pattern: | 16 x 19 | 16 x 19 |
| Main Skips: | 8T,8H | 8T,8H |
| Grip Type: | Yonex Synthetic | Wilson Pro Performance |
Head Size
The VcorePro97 (97in) has a head size that is 1 inch smaller than the Blade 98 16×19 (98in), which means the Blade 98 will have a slightly bigger sweet spot but the difference isn’t going to be huge.
Length
Both rackets have a standard racket length of 27 inches.
Strung Weight
The strung weight of the VcorePro97 (326g) is 6g heavier than the strung weight of the Blade 98 (320g), with both rackets being considered relatively heavy tennis rackets to play with (especially for beginners).
Unstrung Weight
The VcorePro97 has an unstrung weight of 310g, while the Blade 98 has an unstrung weight of 305g.
Swing Weight
The VcorePro97 has a swing weight of 316g, which is 1g lighter than the Blade 98 (317g) so you will feel very little difference between the two rackets in terms of swing weight.
Balance
The VcorePro97 has a 7pts Head Light (HL) balance, while the Blade 98 has a lower head light balance of 5pts HL.
The more HL balance of the VcorePro97 helps it to be just as maneuverable as the Blade 98 at the net.
Stiffness Rating
The VcorePro97 (60) has a slightly lower stiffness rating when compared with the Blade 98 (61), with both tennis rackets being arm friendly and comfortable to play with.
Power and Control
You will get slightly more power from the Blade 98 but they are both relatively low-powered frames so you will need a full and fast swing if you want to go for those winners.
Recommended Player Level
If you are a beginner then I wouldn’t recommend either of these two rackets as I think you will be better off going with a racket with a bigger head size and a lower weight like the Wilson Clash 100 or the Yonex Ezone 100.
The same goes for intermediate players, who will be better off going with a Yonex Vcore 98 or Wilson Clash 98.
However, if you are an advanced player then you will enjoy these rackets more as they both offer tons of control and are perfect for players who hit a single handed backhand.
Beam Width
Both tennis rackets have a beam width of 21mm, which means you will get lots of control but very little help in terms of free power.
String Pattern
Both tennis rackets have a 16 x 19 string pattern which is great if you struggle to add spin to your shots.
Grip Type
The VcorePro97 comes with a Yonex Synthetic grip, while the Blade 98 comes with a Wilson Pro Performance Grip as standard.