The Yonex Percept 97D is a part of the brand new Percept line, poised to switch the VCORE Professional.
This line introduces a heavyweight body certain to intrigue any tennis participant. Nevertheless, it’s a body that additionally raises considerations for many who might not possess the power and muscularity wanted to wield it successfully.
Probably the most distinguished gamers identified to make use of this racket is Francis Tiafoe, setting the instance of the physique body that could be essential to handle a racket of this calibre.
As I launched into this racket assessment, I used to be excited and conscious of the problem forward.
The anticipation of testing this substantial piece of tennis gear was met with the realisation that I’d must summon the complete extent of my bodily prowess to do it justice.
Nevertheless, my eagerness to take the Yonex Percept 97D out on the courtroom was pushed by a need to offer detailed insights to fellow tennis fanatics.
I understood that choosing the proper racket is a crucial resolution for any participant, and I aimed to supply a complete understanding of what this racket needed to supply.
Let’s delve into the small print of my expertise with Yonex Percept 97D.
Yonex Percept 97D Options and Cosmetics
The Yonex Percept 97D boasts a mixture of traits that set it aside. It contains a smaller head measurement, a reasonable weight, and a denser string sample, all contributing to its distinctive enchantment.
Furthermore, after I first noticed the Yonex Percept 97D, I used to be instantly captivated by its placing aesthetics.
The racket’s design, that includes a shocking mix of olive and aqua inexperienced, garnered consideration from fellow gamers at my tennis membership.
Percept 97D Specification and Setup
The Yonex Percept 97D is a successor to the VCORE PRO 97D, persevering with the legacy of Yonex’s participant’s racket collection.
The racket comes with a 97 square-inch head measurement and a compact 18×20 string sample, aiming to cater to intermediate and superior gamers by providing enhanced management and accuracy in ball strikes.
This mannequin contains a 21mm beam, offering a versatile really feel and efficient ball suggestions. Regardless of its substantial static weight nearing 12 ounces/338g strung, the racket maintains a head-light steadiness, aiming for a faster response and adaptableness in prime spin era and fast reactions.
Key traits embrace an prolonged shaft for improved ball pocketing and management and a firmer racket face to bolster stability and energy.
Yonex has integrated a Servo Filter within the design, utilizing a slender elastic layer inside the shaft to reduce vibrations, intending to boost taking part in consolation.
Moreover, the racket makes use of 2G-NAMD Flex Drive materials expertise inside its graphite composition, selling optimum body flexibility upon ball influence.
With body geometry and really feel modifications, the Percept 97D is a refined choice for these in search of pronounced management and really feel of their racket.
Specs
Head Dimension | 97 in / 625.81 cm |
Size | 27in / 68.58cm |
Unstrung Weight | 11.3oz / 320g |
Strung Weight | 11.9oz / 338g |
Steadiness | 12.59in / 31.98cm / 7 pts HL |
Swingweight | 329 |
Stiffness | 62 |
Beam Width | 21mm / 21mm / 21mm |
Composition | NAMD-2G/H.M.Graphite |
Grip Sort | Yonex Artificial |
String Sample | 18 Mains / 20 Crosses |
String | Yonex Polytour Rev 1.25mm at 20 kg |
Yonex Percept 97D Playtest
First Impressions
The influence of the Yonex Percept 97D went past its gorgeous aesthetics. Whereas its seems initially drew me in, the racket’s weight really intrigued me.
As quickly as I swung this heavyweight body for the primary few pictures, it was instantly obvious that this was not a racket tailor-made to a participant like me, somebody who thrives on manoeuvrability and swift, agile actions on the courtroom.
The substantial weight, whereas exuding energy, raised considerations about my capability to navigate the courtroom simply.
The glossy design, compact head measurement, appreciable weight, and skinny profile added to the racket’s general attract.
The aesthetics and the racket’s sturdy development created an imposing presence. But, they collectively bolstered that this instrument is designed for gamers with substantial power and muscle.
The Yonex Percept 97D is a racket that calls for respect and bodily prowess, making it evident that my model of play may not align completely with its attributes.
Curiously, regardless that it was clear from the primary few strokes that the Percept 97D was not inherently suited to a participant who values manoeuvrability, the plain high quality of the racket shined by.
This obvious incompatibility didn’t deter my dedication to discover its potential absolutely. I used to be intrigued by its problem and was desirous to uncover how this racket may very well be harnessed successfully.
Groundstrokes
Groundstrokes with the Yonex Percept 97D proved to be an intriguing mixture of professionals and cons.
Essentially the most placing facet was, unquestionably, the racket’s weight, which unquestionably contributed to distinctive stability and a satisfying sense of energy upon influence, particularly evident within the authoritative really feel of flat pictures.
These flat drives have been my forte with the Percept 97D; the ball met the strings and left my opponents puzzled by the sheer drive and management I might exert.
Nevertheless, as somebody who depends on spin and manoeuvrability in my sport, the Yonex Percept 97D posed challenges.
The load was a limiting consider producing the pinnacle velocity for topspin pictures. This constraint had a tangible influence on my spin sport.
It was most obvious in my one-handed backhand, a shot that necessitates swift racket motion when coping with low balls.
The everyday method includes whipping the racket head as much as impart topspin, however with the Percept 97D, I typically needed to resort to a sliced backhand to deal with low balls whereas sustaining an aggressive strategy.
Furthermore, along with the burden, the racket’s manoeuvrability didn’t really feel as speedy as a 310mm head mild body would usually really feel, and I felt extra weight within the throat/head of the racket than I might have preferred.
Whereas this steadiness level enhanced energy and management in sure pictures, it made swiftly shifting the racket by the air a fancy enterprise. The load and steadiness challenged my capability to reply shortly to totally different ball trajectories and adapt my taking part in model successfully.
As I continued to play, I couldn’t assist however acknowledge that the Percept 97D was tailor-made extra for uncooked energy and management fanatics than those that thrive on spin and speedy manoeuvrability.
Contact Pictures and Serves
The Yonex Percept 97D really excelled in contact pictures, thanks partially to its thinner profile.
The racket’s slender design enhanced the texture and precision upon influence, making drop pictures and delicate volleys an absolute pleasure to execute.
The responsiveness of the racket allowed for pinpoint management, and it felt as if I might information the ball precisely the place I supposed, leaving my opponents scrambling to react.
I discovered explicit satisfaction within the serving division with flat and slice serves. The racket’s weight was an asset, offering the mandatory energy and producing a satisfying “pop” off the strings.
Nevertheless, the problem arose after I tried kick serves. The substantial weight of the Yonex Percept 97D sophisticated the required movement to toss the racket head upwards to generate kick spin. This wrestle sometimes resulted within the ball touchdown longer than desired.
It’s value noting that the racket’s steadiness seemingly performed a task on this kick-serve problem. The load distribution, whereas advantageous for energy and management in different facets, posed difficulties when making an attempt to create the spin vital for second serves.
Attaining that delicate steadiness between energy, manoeuvrability, and spin remained an ongoing puzzle, notably for finesse pictures like kick serves.
Returns
Returning serves with the Yonex Percept 97D introduced a particular set of challenges. Probably the most noticeable points I encountered was the shortage of manoeuvrability, which turned notably pronounced on this facet of the sport.
This constraint made it remarkably tough to swiftly transfer the racket by the air, limiting my capability to execute aggressive returns.
In consequence, I steadily discovered myself resorting to a “block” method quite than a full swing when returning serves.
The first goal turned retaining the ball low and deep, prioritising placement over tempo. This problem was particularly evident when dealing with sooner first serves, the place the urgency of the return typically compelled me right into a extra conservative technique.
Nevertheless, the state of affairs improved on second serves, permitting me to set myself correctly and execute sooner and flatter returns.
Who’s This Racket For?
In my evaluation, the Yonex Percept 97D is much from a one-size-fits-all answer.
It’s a extremely specialised racket, and its superb customers are particular.
Superior gamers with sturdy bodily prowess and well-versed in wielding heavier rackets will seemingly profit most from this mannequin.
In case your sport revolves round flat pictures, backhand slices, and contact pictures executed deftly on the internet, the Yonex Percept 97D might supply unprecedented energy and management.
Nevertheless, this racket has challenges and might not be appropriate for everybody.
Newbie and intermediate gamers, specifically, may discover the Yonex Percept 97D daunting resulting from its appreciable weight, which has the potential to result in accidents, primarily if not dealt with with correct method.
Moreover, these gamers who thrive on quick spins and manoeuvrability may encounter difficulties adapting to this racket, as its weight can hinder the agility wanted for fast, responsive strokes.
Furthermore, gamers who’re susceptible to accidents or are within the means of recovering from them might must train warning when contemplating the Yonex Percept 97D.
Its substantial weight can pressure the physique, which could not be conducive to a participant’s restoration or damage prevention.
In such circumstances, choosing a lighter racket could be a extra prudent option to prioritise long-term well being and luxury on the courtroom.
Professionals
- Highly effective and Steady: The racket’s weight contributes to distinctive stability and energy in pictures, permitting for forceful, flat pictures and powerful, managed volleys.
- Aesthetic and Construct High quality: The design is fascinating, with a novel color mix and strong development that enhances its enchantment and general presence on the courtroom.
- Contact and Really feel: The racket excels in contact pictures, enabling exact drop pictures and delicate volleys, making it notably efficient in managed, finesse performs.
Cons
- Manoeuvrability: Because of its weight, the racket lacks fast manoeuvrability, affecting response occasions and adaptableness throughout speedy, reactive performs like returns.
- Suitability: Not well-suited for gamers counting on spin and agility. It calls for a strong bodily prowess, doubtlessly limiting its enchantment to superior, bodily sturdy gamers.
- Danger of Harm: Its heavyweight nature raises considerations about potential damage dangers, particularly for novice or intermediate gamers not accustomed to managing such a hefty body.
Energy – 9
Management – 8.5
Manoeuvrability – 3
Stability – 8.5
Consolation – 5
Contact/Really feel – 9
Serves – 7
Groundstrokes – 7
Slice – 8.5
Volleys – 8
Returns – 4