Buttery flex. Raw speed. Spin-friendly precision
Defined by raw speed and spin-friendly targeting, the Percept 97 is perfect for those who want a user-friendly player's racquet with great feel. Boasting a zippy sub-320 swingweight, this stick delivers easy spin from the backcourt and swift reactions at the net. In addition to its buttery flex point, the Percept also packs a surgical 97in² head, resulting in the kind of control that inspires confidence on full cuts. Notable features include an elongated shaft to enhance pocketing, flexibility and control, along with a stiffer racquet face for extra stability and power. To help with comfort, Yonex adds a Servo Filter which utilizes a thin elastic layer in the shaft to filter out harsh vibrations. Similar to its predecessor, this racquet's graphite layup is enhanced by 2G-NAMD Flex Force, a material technology that enables the frame to flex optimally upon impact. Ultimately, the Percept 97, with its seductive combination of speed, spin and feel, is a great option for those who want a light and spin-friendly player's racquet with impressive control and feel.
Specifications
| Head Size: 97 in² / 625.81 cm² | ||||
| Length: 27in / 68.58cm | ||||
| Strung Weight: 11.5oz / 326g | ||||
| Balance: 12.59in / 31.98cm / 7 pts HL | ||||
| Swingweight: 315 | ||||
| Stiffness: 60 | ||||
| Beam Width: 21mm / 21mm / 21mm | ||||
| Composition: NAMD-2G/H.M.Graphite | ||||
| Power Level: Low | ||||
| Stroke Style: Full | ||||
| Swing Speed: Fast | ||||
| Racquet Colors: Mint | ||||
| Grip Type: Yonex Synthetic | ||||
String Pattern:
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| String Tension: 45-60 pounds |
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Customer Reviews
Amazing racquetI was a high school first seed in singles and doubles. Have not really played since 25. I am in my early 40s. I had a 2 handed back hand as a young man and I find it necessary and beneficial to convert to a one hand backhand now. Not really knowing what kind of racquet that I would like I wasted a lot of money buying racquets that did not seem to fit. I tried the Pure Aero, the Head Extreme MP and the Head Speed MP. All of those racquets I found were too head heavy and were too slow for one handed backhand and lacked whippiness. I also struggled hitting flat shots with those racquets. I might have gave up too early on the Pure Aero but I could not find the right string set up and the feel of the Percept far surpasses the Pure Aero. The Percept 97 is great for a one handed backhand. It's fast, whippy, and has great feel. I can hit with spin well enough and can flatten it out. I have greater confidence on changing directions by going for that passing shot. It feels like I can hit almost as hard as my Extreme MP except the ball more often goes in. I think I can hit hard with the Percept because the sweet spot is higher in the hoop, giving me more leverage. It does not feel as heavy as it really is and you can add some weight if you need to but I am not sure if it is needed. The only other racquet that I have demoed that I have thought about pairing with this one is the Vcore 95 because the sweet spot is at the same place and the weight distribution is the same but it has slightly more pop and more spin. I would recommend the Percept 97 racquet for a player with a one handed backhand that likes to swing hard and who likes to hit both flat and spin. If you just want to hit with spin then buy one of the many spin monster racquets out there. If you want to just hit flat then try something with 18/20 racquets. If you want to hit with both spin and flatten it out then give the Percept 97 a try
Great racquetI first played with it stock, not very impressive, just mediocre at best. I then added a leather grip and two grams of lead at 12 O'clock and it significantly improved the racquet. So much more stable and plush. I am really loving it now! I then checked some reviews on YouTube and most agree that this racquet goes from average to rock star with just a little bit of customization.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.]
MattThis has been one of the best racquets I have played with in years.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.]
Percept 97Great feeling, manoeuvrable, precise. Not a lot of free power as expected, but a lot more forgiving than expected. For me it's almost perfection.
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User friendly modern control racquetThis racquet has many excellent attributes and provides slight improvement to its predecessor. I am a 4.0 NTRP league player, so intermediate adult player with a one handed backhand, big serve, aggressive style and mostly play doubles. I played with the VcorePro97 a few generations ago (blue/red) and loved the feel, versatility and control. The only issue I had with that frame was as an intermediate player when my footwork was poor, swing was late or on defense it left the ball short due to zero free power. I switched to the regular Vcore98 for many years and that gave me more free power and forgiveness but was a downgrade in feel and I felt I had to find control with spin. All shots seemed to require spin and big targets or too many balls went long. Now enter the tweaked Percept 97! With the slight increase in beam and technology to add some stiffness to the head I have found that the Percept 97 gives me a little more for free when needed while maintaining the excellent feel and control that is intoxicating and gives me the confidence to swing big at times. I can hit with spin or flatten the ball out with confidence and the maneuverability is great at net or for some use some crazy angles on groundstrokes. Unlike most racquets that give a honeymoon period and then fade I had an opposite experience with the Percept. With this stick the first hit was inconsistent until you adapt to the weight and dynamics a bit. The more I play with it the better it gets!!
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Great dwell/control; customize for powerThis racquet should be sold with a strip of lead tape. It is far too light in swingweight in stock form, yet has a fairly high twistweight (14.6, versus the Ezone's 14.0). I assume this is because Yonex sees it as a genuine pro stock racquet for which players may differ about where they want to put the lead. I added weight only at 12 to bring the swingweight to about 327, and it now plays beautifully. If you like the Ezone, this plays very close to it, but with much more dwell time. It took me a while to figure the racquet out but I can now hit the same MPH on my forehand and flat serve as I do with the Ezone; in fact, my three fastest ever serves were with the Percept because it really encourages you to go for bombs. The Ezone is an easier racquet to play, and I defend better with it, which matters even for advanced players (I'm 4.5). But the Percept is slightly more precise and makes flat shots deadly, and if I'm 100% on, hitting out with arrogance, and able to attack, the Percept makes me more dangerous. Which one is better? For 4.0 and below, the Ezone. For 4.5 and above, maybe the Percept but it will depend on your play style. Also, this is a noticeable difference from the VCore Pro 97, which felt mushy to me. This is plush but I don't feel like it robs you of power the way I felt the VCore Pro did.
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In love from the startOnly logged about 10 hours with the Percept 97, strung mine with X-One BiPhase and Head Lynx at 48/46. This racquet has the sweetest sweetspot feel out there, together with the relatively low launch angle, it gave me all the confidence to go for my shots from the baseline, it can probably just a tad more weight up at net, and it serves like a dream. Highly recommend.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.]
Day 200If you are a 7.0-11.0 UTR like me, I had to make the Percept 340 grams, with power strips at 9ish-2ish… just where I hit. I haven’t messed with the handle. My serve has improved drastically since customizing. It was nowhere near the quality of my strike. The added 10 grams hasn’t drastically changed my game, 10 grams in my strike at 9 & 2 may make it too head heavy. 340 static is just enough to make it 11.0 IMO.
A bit disappointingI have been playing with the 2021 VCP97 for the past two years. Although I have generally been happy with this racquet, I felt that it could use a little more power and more stability against faster balls, especially at the net. I thought that the Percept 97 would suit me well with its added stiffness in the hoop. My Percept 97 came in about three or four grams under spec, which was a little disappointing, given Yonex’s general reputation for quality control. The racquet was fine on groundstrokes but felt a bit anemic on serves. Compared to my VCP97, I just couldn’t get enough pace and spin on my serve, which is normally my best shot. This may be an issue with the swing weight of the Percept 97 being too low. Paradoxically, the racquet felt as if it was heavier to swing than its actual swing weight. I suspect this has to do with the weight distribution. I have experimented quite a bit by adding weight at different places. I ended up with three grams total at 3’ and 9’ and another four grams around the handle, with a total static weight of 342 grams. The racquet feels more playable that way, but it still feels a bit sluggish on my OHBH. I recently tried the Percept 97D. Interestingly, it is easier to swing than the 97 regular, despite the higher static weight, and it is more stable, as you would expect. Overall, I like the Percept 97D significantly better and am switching to it.
Very arm-friendlyI've been playing with the Clash Pro since it came out and probably will switch due to it being easier to produce racquet head speed with. My arm is very sensitive. Definitely on the higher end of a low-powered frame.
Follow up to October 25th Review**Since I demoed this racquet in October I have since switched to it. Strung with a poly/synthetic hybrid at 56/57 lbs. The original review holds true but some other nuances I am really enjoying are:
- The spin capacity on this racquet is pretty amazing, slices and drop volleys for me are crisp and very satisfying.
- There is an extra "level" to be had with this frame on really big cuts. The string pocketing and the neck snap-back off impact produces surprising amounts of pace when needed, yet the feel is pure. The flexibility of this racquet (60 stiffness) paired with a stiff upper hoop is really unlike anything I've hit with. Sublime control, stability and plenty of "reserve pace".
- The amount of precision I am experiencing with this racquet is fun. With past frames I've had there might be a smidge of margin that I couldn't detect off the strings and I would slightly over/under hit a shot but feel it was okay on impact. This racquet is different. Very pure connection to the ball and great feedback.
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I was previously using the Tecnifibre TF40 315 and that racquet has a really nice soft impact feel, is easy to hit with and has a lot of good attributes. The main difference in the Percept 97 and that racquet though is the Percept has a lot more "pop" off of the strings. The Tecnifibre, although a soft feel, is almost "muted" and has less feedback to give. You can sometimes "lose the ball" off the strings with the TF40 and hope it is the shot it should be but not so with the Percept. I'm loving this racquet so far.
Great racketOutstanding racquet. I demoed ten different racquets and this Percept 97 was by far my favorite. I liked it much better than the Percept 100. I was looking for a head light control racquet that provides spin and this one does all of that. I wanted a head light racquet because I have a long wind up on my forehand and am slower to get set for my one-handed backhand. This racquet is perfect for me. Other racquets did provide more power but that wasn't my highest priority. The head shape helps as well since it extends the sweet spot to the end of the racquet which I like since I don't move as fast as I used to so I can reach a little more with this racquet.
Stable and ableThis racquet feels heavier than it is. There is a level of plow through I get with this racquet that I would normally associate with one having a denser string pattern or more weight. At 310 grams and 16X19 there is a lot of spin and nimbleness off the ground. The stiffness in the hoop of this racquet makes for some serious pop off the strings when you hit the gas. I felt super comfortable hitting heavy with this frame. It's very stable and forgiving. The overall feel off the string bed is dampened but not too much as my arm still feels good.
What I love most about this racquet is how the swingweight provides just the right amount of heft in the handle to allow for great head speed and whip potential but not to the point where I sacrifice pace. I won't be adding any weight as I won't need it here. From the net it's solid. Slices have extra bite and on serves it really gives some extra snapback through impact. I was very comfy and satisfied with my kick, slice and flat serves with this frame. I will most likely make the switch to this stick very soon. Overall, a really stellar control-focused racquet with tons of feel plus some stiffness where it counts.
Impressive update to a great racketIt seems like Yonex addressed all issues with the VCore Pro with this update. The most noticeable difference is the stiffer flex in the upper hoop. I had added weight to my old VCore Pro to help with stability on return of serve. I am still experimenting with weight (at 2 and 10) on the Percept, but even in stock form it feels much more stable than its predecessor. It's much more forgiving on off-center contact. I've also noticed slightly increased free power with the Percept although it's still very much a control-oriented racket. Servo filter provides a nice soft feel without dampening too much. The VCore Pro was a bit too muted at times, and I think Yonex tried to address that here.
The only change I am making is adding some weight to the upper hoop. This hardly counts as a complaint considering the D and H exist. Overall, Yonex took a great racket in the VCore Pro and made it even more playable.
Fantastic UpdateComing from the VCore Pro, 3 things stood out:
• top end power has been uncapped.. as other have mentioned the VCore Pro always felt as if there was a limit to what the racket would deliver when hitting 100%. This update does away with that and reward risks more appropriately
• much improved feel; the racket feels a lot more connected to the ball, thanks to the added stiffness. The racket is still extremely comfortable though, especially when compared to a Pro Staff for example
• stability: not sure why but this racket, at equal weight, feels quite a bit more stable than its predecessor. With the VCore Pros, I had to add ~3g at 3 and 9 and bring the swing weight to close to 330 to get a response I liked. That is not needed here
One big consequence of these 3 improvements to me is that the racket is now eminently playable in stock form with a swing weight just shy of 320. Easier on the arm, good power and stability, and faster racket swing.. What's not to like?
I am pairing it with a soft poly at 52lbs.
A great great update!
A Very Nice UpdateI have been using the VCORE Pro line for generations, going all the way back to the Duel G series, which I really loved. The '21 version of the VCORE Pro 97 was far too muted for my taste, but I was getting so much more power and spin that I decided to try to deal with the muted feel. Even after switching to stiffer strings, I felt like I wasn't getting feedback on where I was hitting in the stringbed, and that was very difficult for me, especially on volleys. The feel was also temperamental, so with deader balls, or colder weather, or strings that had lost tension, the feel could really deteriorate.
Needless to say, I had high hopes for the new Percept 97. This racquet immediately felt more connected for me, and maybe slightly more powerful than the previous version. Groundstrokes were great, as were volleys. The serve felt quite natural as well. The playability was very similar to the VCORE 97, just with improved feel. It was certainly still a bit muted, but for me it is at an acceptable level, and my wrist has been very happy since switching to this.
I switched the base grip out to a leather one, and the weight was right around 345 grams when strung with a dampener. I have it strung with Hyper G 1.25 at 55lbs, but the color clash is horrendous! I will try it with Lynx Tour champagne, which I think will be a good fit.
A Worthy ContenderAs the lightest/nimblest of the three 97’s in the lineup, the Percept 97 310g seems to be the one most benefiting from the updates. The knock on the previous 3 iterations was that, though highly maneuverable, they lacked any meaningful punch. As such, the 97 though very much of the mold of a control oriented, thin beam, flex forward racquet, its swing weight and at times anemic response on contact left many wanting more. This Percept 97 seems to have at least moved the needle towards that direction. Though little has changed as far as the numbers suggest, the increased stiffness in the hoop is the primary factor which gives this version that little added pop that was sorely missing from the previous versions. It’s not a major breakthrough as it still just below 320 swing weight, but is enough to where one can feel & see the benefits of the firmer layup. So if you’re looking for a transformative change, this isn’t quite it. If plough and stability are tops of your list, then the D or H versions is where you should be spending more time at.
Still, I found just enough improvement overall in terms of enhanced feel/connection with the ball as well as some added oomph behind all the shots. The 16x19 pattern and nice head light balance and thin profile really allows you to accelerate into the ball with speed and confidence. That confidence Carrie’s through up at net where again the firmer hoop pays dividends as balls are more direct and less likely to deflect if not hit square.
The Percept still maintains a fairly muted overall feel so very much in line with its predecessor but with a more distinct flex point (mid-throat) and a touch better dwell time on impact. I’ve always seen the 97 as a direct competitor with the Wilson Blade but now I find it more in between a blade and a PS 97 given the added firmness up top.
So if control and more traditional even flex, yet maneuverable frame is what you’re looking for, I’d definitely have the Percept 97 on my short list.
Perfect Raquet low Ra spin control.The weight is in the hand and the sw is very low so it seems to be lower weight that it is. I use normal 300-305 Gr. And this play great I. Weight and control. I found it it’s very spin friendly, I love it! I try all the yonex. I love ezone but not my arm and elbow not. The Vcore 98 is more difficult even at 98 the sweet zone is lower than this and lack of control. This is Perfect for my game coming from Head Gravity Tour then Prince Phantom 100x and now this. Love from the first drive.
If you play with a lot of top and love the control oriented racquets try this. It is perfect. I add 2g at 10 and 12. And it’s better. With over grip and all, it weighs 335grams.
