Racquet review

Yonex Vcore 100 review (2026): the spin racquet for most players, and 100 versus 98, 100L and Pure Aero

By Sturdy Racquets, Brooklyn VIC Updated 13 October 2026 7 minute read

The Yonex Vcore 100 is the spin racquet most players in the Yonex range should buy. It has a forgiving 100 square inch head, a 300 gram weight that most intermediate players can handle, and a frame built to make topspin easy. This review tells you who it suits, how it differs from the Vcore 100L and the Vcore 100 Plus, how it compares with the Vcore 98, the Babolat Pure Aero and the Pure Drive, and how we string it. You can see the Vcore 100 on our product page at any time, with today's price.

Yonex Vcore 100 2026 tennis racquet in Ruby Red
Yonex Tennis Racquet Vcore 100 (Ruby Red)(Unstrung). Tap the photo to open the product page.

Facts at a glance

  • Model: Yonex Vcore 100, 2026 model year, Ruby Red.
  • Price at Sturdy Racquets: $419.95, sold unstrung.
  • Unstrung weight 300 grams, strung weight about 318 grams, swing weight about 322.
  • Head size 100 square inches, 16 by 19 string pattern, beam 25.3, 25.3 and 22 millimetres, 4 points head light, stiffness about 65 RA, length 27 inches.
  • Recommended tension 45 to 60 pounds, which is 20 to 27 kilograms.
  • Best for intermediate and advanced players who hit with topspin and want forgiveness with their spin.
  • Rated 4.8 out of 5 across 46 customer reviews on our site.
  • Grip sizes and availability are on the product page. Stringing from $19.95 with the racquet, usually ready the next day.

The short answer

Buy the Vcore 100 if you hit with topspin, you are an intermediate or advanced player, and you want a 100 square inch head that is forgiving without being a beginner's racquet. It costs $419.95 unstrung. If you want more precision and your contact is clean, the Vcore 98 is the one. If 300 grams feels like too much, the Vcore 100L is 20 grams lighter.

Price $419.95, sold unstrung. Grip sizes and availability are on the product page. Stringing from $19.95 when you buy the racquet from us, usually ready the next day.

See the Yonex Vcore 100 on our product page

Who it suits, and who should skip it

Good for you if

  • You hit with topspin and want a racquet that rewards brushing up the ball.
  • You are an intermediate or advanced player who wants forgiveness as well as spin.
  • You want a 100 square inch head with a quick, head light swing.
  • You play singles and doubles and want one racquet for both.
  • You like Yonex's isometric head shape, which Yonex says gives a larger sweet spot than a round head.

Skip it if

  • You are a complete beginner. Start on a lighter, cheaper frame and come to this one later.
  • You hit flat and want the ball to leave low and fast. A Pure Drive suits that better.
  • You want the softest feel. At about 65 RA it is a medium stiffness frame, and we rate comfort 7.5.
  • You find 300 grams tiring. The Vcore 100L is the lighter answer.

How it plays

Spin 9 / 10Power 8 / 10Control 8 / 10Swing speed 8 / 10Comfort 7.5 / 10
Yonex Vcore 100, head and string bed
Yonex Tennis Racquet Vcore 100 (Ruby Red)(Unstrung). Tap the photo to open the product page.

Spin. We rate it 9 out of 10. The 16x19 pattern on the 100 square inch head grabs the ball, and the wide 25.3 millimetre beam gives a bit of extra pace to go with the spin.

Power. We rate it 8, a full point above the Vcore 98. The bigger head and the wider beam add free depth, which is why this is the better Vcore for most club players.

Control. We rate it 8. The ball launches a little higher than from the 98, which is good for topspin players and less good for flat hitters.

Comfort. We rate it 7.5. It is a medium stiffness frame. A soft polyester or a hybrid keeps it comfortable; a stiff full poly bed at high tension does not.

Specifications

Yonex Vcore 100, throat detail
Yonex Tennis Racquet Vcore 100 (Ruby Red)(Unstrung). Tap the photo to open the product page.
Head size100 square inches
Unstrung weight300 g
Strung weightabout 318 g
Balance4 points head light
Swing weightabout 322
Stiffnessabout 65 RA
Beam25.3, 25.3 and 22 mm
String pattern16 x 19
Length27 inches, 68.6 cm
Recommended tension45 to 60 lb, 20 to 27 kg
SoldUnstrung
ColourRuby Red, 2026
Grip sizesSee the product page

The three Vcore 100 models

Yonex makes three versions of the Vcore 100 and we stock all three. They share the head size and the string pattern. Here is what changes.

Vcore 100 100L 100 Plus
Unstrung weight 300 g 280 g 300 g
Swing weight about 322 about 312 about 328
Balance 4 pts head light 2 pts head light 3 pts head light
Beam 25.3, 25.3, 22 mm 24 mm 24 mm
Stiffness about 65 RA about 66 RA about 65 RA
Length 27 in 27 in 27.25 in
Rating on our site 4.8 (46) 4.6 (28) 4.7 (31)
Our price $419.95 $419.95 $429.95
Yonex Vcore 100L tennis racquet
Yonex Tennis Racquet Vcore 100L (Ruby Red)(Unstrung). Tap the photo to open the product page.

The standard Vcore 100 is the one most players should buy. The 100L is for players who want the lightest swing. The 100 Plus adds a quarter inch for reach and serve leverage.

Vcore 100 or Vcore 98

Same family, different head. The Vcore 98 is the precise one and the 100 is the forgiving one.

Vcore 100 Vcore 98
Head size 100 square inches 98 square inches
Unstrung weight 300 g 305 g
Swing weight about 322 about 320
Balance 4 points head light 5 points head light
Beam 25.3, 25.3 and 22 mm 23 mm
Our control rating 8 8.5
Our power rating 8 7
Rating on our site 4.8 (46 reviews) 4.9 (58 reviews)
Our price $419.95 $419.95
Yonex Vcore 98 2026 tennis racquet
Yonex Tennis Racquet Vcore 98 (Ruby Red)(Unstrung). Tap the photo to open the product page.

Choose the 100 if you want easy depth and a bigger sweet spot. Choose the 98 if you want a lower launch and more precision. Our Vcore 98 review goes into that frame in detail.

Vcore 100 or Babolat Pure Aero

The Pure Aero Gen 9 is the other 100 square inch spin racquet at this price, and the one most people compare the Vcore with.

Vcore 100 Pure Aero Gen 9
Unstrung weight 300 g 300 g
Swing weight about 322 about 324
Balance 4 points head light 4 points head light
Stiffness about 65 RA about 67 RA
Beam 25.3, 25.3 and 22 mm 23, 26 and 23 mm
Our spin rating 9 10
Our control rating 8 8
Our comfort rating 7.5 7
Rating on our site 4.8 (46 reviews) 4.7 (40 reviews)
Our price $419.95 $419.95
Babolat Pure Aero Gen 9 tennis racquet
Babolat Pure Aero Gen 9 Tennis Racquet (Unstrung). Tap the photo to open the product page.

The Pure Aero is the spin benchmark and we rate it a full 10 for spin. The Vcore 100 is a touch softer and a touch more comfortable. They cost the same, so this one is about feel: Yonex's isometric head and medium stiffness, or the Babolat's stiffer, livelier response.

Vcore 100 or Babolat Pure Drive

If you are torn between spin and power, the Pure Drive Gen 11 is the power choice.

Vcore 100 Pure Drive Gen 11
Unstrung weight 300 g 300 g
Stiffness about 65 RA about 72 RA
Our power rating 8 9
Our spin rating 9 9
Our control rating 8 7.5
Our comfort rating 7.5 7
Our price $419.95 $395.95
Babolat Pure Drive Gen 11 tennis racquet
Babolat Pure Drive Gen 11 Tennis Racquet. Tap the photo to open the product page.

The Pure Drive is much stiffer and gives more free power. The Vcore 100 is softer and more controlled. Topspin players should lean Vcore; flat, first-strike players should lean Pure Drive.

How we string it

The Vcore 100 is sold unstrung. Yonex recommends a shaped or co-polyester string, and 50 to 52 pounds is the range that brings out the best in it. When you buy the racquet from us, stringing is added at the discounted prices below and it is usually ready the next day.

Most players: Premium, $39.95 with the racquet. Yonex Polytour Spin or Babolat RPM Team at 50 to 52 pounds. Shaped polyester for spin, soft enough to stay comfortable.

Maximum spin: Ultra Premium, $49.95 with the racquet. Solinco Hyper-G or Babolat RPM Blast at 50 to 52 pounds.

Sore arm: Ultimate Performance, $59.95 with the racquet. A hybrid with a soft polyester in the mains and a multifilament in the crosses at 48 to 50 pounds.

Your own string: $15.95 labour when you buy the racquet from us.

All four packages are explained on our racquet stringing page.

Try it before you buy

We have demo racquets at the Brooklyn shop so you can hit with a frame before you commit. See the demo racquets we have available, or come in and ask.

Questions players ask

Is the Yonex Vcore 100 good for intermediate players?
Yes. It is the Vcore most intermediate players should buy. The 100 square inch head is forgiving, the 300 gram weight is manageable, and the frame is built to make topspin easy. A strong beginner who already rallies can grow into it too.
What is the difference between the Vcore 100 and the Vcore 98?
The 100 has a bigger head, weighs 5 grams less and has a wider beam, so it gives more power and more forgiveness. The Vcore 98 is more precise and a little heavier. If you want a safety margin, choose the 100. If you want control and your contact is clean, choose the 98.
Vcore 100 or Vcore 100L?
The Vcore 100L weighs 280 grams, 20 grams less than the standard, with a slightly narrower 24 millimetre beam. It is for players who find 300 grams tiring or who want the quickest possible swing. The standard 100 is steadier against pace.
What is the Vcore 100 Plus?
The Vcore 100 Plus is a quarter inch longer at 27.25 inches. The extra length adds reach and leverage on serve and raises the swing weight to about 328. It costs $10 more.
Vcore 100 or Babolat Pure Aero?
They are the two best known 100 square inch spin racquets. The Pure Aero Gen 9 is a little stiffer at about 67 RA and we rate its spin a full 10 out of 10. The Vcore 100 is a touch softer and we rate it 9 for spin and 8 for control. They cost the same. Try both if you can; the difference is feel, not quality.
Does the Vcore 100 come strung?
No. It is sold unstrung. We string it in store, usually ready the next day, from $19.95 when you buy the racquet from us.
What tension should I use on the Vcore 100?
Yonex lists 45 to 60 pounds, which is 20 to 27 kilograms. We suggest 50 to 52 pounds with a shaped polyester string. That is the range that gives the best mix of spin, feel and control on this frame.
Which model year is this Vcore 100?
This is the 2026 Vcore 100 in Ruby Red, the current generation. We only stock the current model, so we have not compared it with earlier years and we will not guess at the differences.

Our verdict

Yonex Vcore 100 2026, full view
Yonex Tennis Racquet Vcore 100 (Ruby Red)(Unstrung). Tap the photo to open the product page.

The Vcore 100 is the Yonex racquet we recommend to the widest range of players. It is forgiving, it spins, and at 300 grams it suits most intermediate and advanced club players. The 2026 model costs $419.95. Buy it if you brush the ball and want a safety margin. Buy the Vcore 98 instead if precision matters more than forgiveness.

Price $419.95, sold unstrung. Grip sizes and availability are on the product page. Stringing from $19.95 when you buy the racquet from us, usually ready the next day.

Buy the Yonex Vcore 100

Sources: specifications are the manufacturer's published figures as listed on our product pages. Playability ratings, prices and stringing prices are Sturdy Racquets' own, correct on 13 October 2026. Availability changes daily and is shown on the product page. Customer ratings are collected on our site.

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