The Yonex Percept 97D is a part of the brand new Percept line, poised to exchange the VCORE Professional.
This line introduces a heavyweight body sure to intrigue any tennis participant. Nevertheless, it’s a body that additionally raises issues for many who could not possess the energy and muscularity wanted to wield it successfully.
One of the vital outstanding gamers identified to make use of this racket is Francis Tiafoe, setting the instance of the physique body that is perhaps essential to handle a racket of this calibre.
As I launched into this racket evaluation, 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 court docket was pushed by a want 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 provide.
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 encompasses a smaller head dimension, a reasonable weight, and a denser string sample, all contributing to its distinctive attraction.
Furthermore, after I first noticed the Yonex Percept 97D, I used to be instantly captivated by its putting 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 dimension 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 encompasses 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 embody 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 reinforce taking part in consolation.
Moreover, the racket makes use of 2G-NAMD Flex Drive materials know-how inside its graphite composition, selling optimum body flexibility upon ball influence.
With body geometry and really feel modifications, the Percept 97D is a refined possibility for these in search of pronounced management and really feel of their racket.
Specs
Head Measurement
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 Kind
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 appears initially drew me in, the racket’s weight really intrigued me.
As quickly as I swung this heavyweight body for the primary few photographs, 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 court docket.
The substantial weight, whereas exuding energy, raised issues about my capability to navigate the court docket simply.
The modern design, compact head dimension, appreciable weight, and skinny profile added to the racket’s total attract.
The aesthetics and the racket’s strong development created an imposing presence. But, they collectively strengthened that this software is designed for gamers with substantial energy and muscle.
The Yonex Percept 97D is a racket that calls for respect and bodily prowess, making it evident that my fashion of play won’t align completely with its attributes.
Apparently, though 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 way of.
This obvious incompatibility didn’t deter my willpower to discover its potential absolutely. I used to be intrigued by its problem and was desperate 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 execs and cons.
Probably the most putting side was, no doubt, 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 photographs.
These flat drives have been my forte with the Percept 97D; the ball met the strings and left my opponents puzzled by the sheer pressure and management I might exert.
Nevertheless, as somebody who depends on spin and manoeuvrability in my sport, the Yonex Percept 97D posed challenges.
The burden was a limiting consider producing the pinnacle pace for topspin photographs. 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 standard approach includes whipping the racket head as much as impart topspin, however with the Percept 97D, I usually needed to resort to a sliced backhand to deal with low balls whereas sustaining an aggressive method.
Furthermore, along with the burden, the racket’s manoeuvrability didn’t really feel as speedy as a 310mm head mild body would sometimes really feel, and I felt extra weight within the throat/head of the racket than I might have favored.
Whereas this steadiness level enhanced energy and management in sure photographs, it made swiftly shifting the racket by way of the air a posh endeavor. The burden and steadiness challenged my capability to reply rapidly to completely different ball trajectories and adapt my taking part in fashion 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 fast manoeuvrability.
Contact Photographs and Serves
The Yonex Percept 97D really excelled in contact photographs, thanks partially to its thinner profile.
The racket’s slender design enhanced the texture and precision upon influence, making drop photographs 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 meant, leaving my opponents scrambling to react.
I discovered specific satisfaction within the serving division with flat and slice serves. The racket’s weight was an asset, offering the required energy and producing a delightful “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 often resulted within the ball touchdown longer than desired.
It’s price noting that the racket’s steadiness doubtless performed a job on this kick-serve problem. The burden distribution, whereas advantageous for energy and management in different points, posed difficulties when trying to create the spin obligatory for second serves.
Reaching that delicate steadiness between energy, manoeuvrability, and spin remained an ongoing puzzle, notably for finesse photographs like kick serves.
Returns
Returning serves with the Yonex Percept 97D introduced a particular set of challenges. One of the vital noticeable points I encountered was the dearth of manoeuvrability, which grew to become notably pronounced on this side of the sport.
This constraint made it remarkably tough to swiftly transfer the racket by way of the air, limiting my capability to execute aggressive returns.
In consequence, I incessantly discovered myself resorting to a “block” approach fairly than a full swing when returning serves.
The first goal grew to become conserving the ball low and deep, prioritising placement over tempo. This problem was particularly evident when going through quicker first serves, the place the urgency of the return usually 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 quicker and flatter returns.
Who’s This Racket For?
In my evaluation, the Yonex Percept 97D is way from a one-size-fits-all answer.
It’s a extremely specialised racket, and its splendid customers are particular.
Superior gamers with strong bodily prowess and well-versed in wielding heavier rackets will doubtless profit most from this mannequin.
In case your sport revolves round flat photographs, backhand slices, and contact photographs executed deftly on the web, the Yonex Percept 97D might provide unprecedented energy and management.
Nevertheless, this racket has challenges and will not be appropriate for everybody.
Novice and intermediate gamers, specifically, may discover the Yonex Percept 97D daunting as a result of its appreciable weight, which has the potential to result in accidents, primarily if not dealt with with correct approach.
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 could 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 is perhaps a extra prudent option to prioritise long-term well being and luxury on the court docket.
Execs
Highly effective and Secure: The racket’s weight contributes to distinctive stability and energy in photographs, permitting for forceful, flat photographs and robust, managed volleys.
Aesthetic and Construct High quality: The design is charming, with a novel color mix and stable development that enhances its attraction and total presence on the court docket.
Contact and Really feel: The racket excels in contact photographs, enabling exact drop photographs 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 fast, reactive performs like returns.
Suitability: Not well-suited for gamers counting on spin and agility. It calls for a strong bodily prowess, probably limiting its attraction to superior, bodily robust gamers.
Threat of Damage: Its heavyweight nature raises issues about potential damage dangers, particularly for beginner 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