vcore tour 97

Yonex VCore Tour F 97 Tennis Racket (310g)

String upgrade options, mains string, crosses string, stencil upgrade.

Have your racket painted with one of our custom stencils. Choose 'No Thanks' to have the default manufacturers logo.

Featuring new Aero Fin Technology—a unique frame construction that equips fins at the frame head—YONEX’s latest racquet increases serve speed by 6%. Enter the VCORE Tour F—the next evolution in the VCORE series. Experience YONEX’s newest innovation in tennis, and quickly dominate points with huge serves and crushing shots. In addition, a new 16 x 21 string pattern offers improved power and better control.

As used by Borna Coric and Sabine Lisicki.

• Isometric Technology for 7% Larger sweet spot
• 3D Vector Shaft
• Aero Fin Technology for 6% increased Serve Speed
• Black Micro Core for increased face stability and better vibration dampening
• Super Cushion Grip

Specification

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For all-round playability & power, choose a medium tension

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Suitable for advanced/intermediate looking for plenty of power and spin. The slightly thicker beams (22mm to 24mm) and regular range of weights give the perfect mixture of power & control.

Thin beamed, heavier rackets for advanced players with good technique and power looking for more control from their racket.

These rackets are perfect for the budget conscious player, or players who do not play regularly, but need a racket for some occasional family games or holiday play. Suitable for beginners and Intermediate players alike.

Suitable for regular club players or improvers alike, these rackets suit players starting to play regular competitive or friendly tennis. Lighter weight.

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• VCORE Tour 97 (310g)

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Groundstrokes Before hitting a ball with this racquet, I thought it had a super solid feel. When I got on the baseline with the Tour G, I fell in love immediately. My forehand and backhand clicked right away, and I was powering balls back without much effort. The racquet at 11.6 ounces is perfect for players who like to create their own power with a heavier frame. I thought that this racquet was actually pretty easy to maneuver, which is a common complaint of heavier sticks. It also had the stability that I was looking for, even on off-center hits. The stability mixed with a relatively closed string pattern (16x20) gives the racquet great feel and awesome control.

Volleys & Serves It took me a little while to get in a rhythm with this racquet on my serve, but once I did, I noticed solid control and placement potential. When it came to slice serves, I did not notice much difficulty getting used to the Tour G, but I did struggle to get used to the weight of this frame on my flat serve. The Tour G handled very well at the net. I was pleasantly surprised with how my volleys where coming off when I was playing. The weight of the racquet was actually an asset on the volley. My touch volleys and swinging volley felt great with this frame. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Fine Points This was the first time I’ve experienced Yonex's trademark Isometric head shape, but I was pleasantly surprised in the way it played. The grip, also being the first Yonex product I have used, was very soft and kept my sweaty hand dry when I was playing on a hot day. I love the way this racquet it looks: I think that the paint job and the 3D Vector shaft made the Tour G look sharp!

Overall Yonex truly made a beast of a racquet with this one. I am very impressed with how much I loved the groundstrokes with this racquet. I would say my absolute favorite thing about it was that I could just crush balls with my flat one-hand backhand. I can definitely see why Stan Wawrinka uses this racquet. If you are a player who loves to be aggressive from the baseline, powering balls from any part of the court, I would recommend this racquet highly. The specs make this racquet better suited to players 3.5 and up. I will definitely be adding this one to my bag.

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Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 310 racket review

• Controllable power
• manoeuvrable
• Some instability outside the sweetspot

The VCORE Duel G 97 (310g) is a lightweight and fast feeling racket that's packed with a comfortable, crisp feel and plenty of spin potential for intermediate to advanced players. In this update to the Tour G line, Yonex has returned to the more common 16x20 string pattern and has added Tough G fibre technology to the throat of the frame to increase stiffness. The racket still features the classic Isometric head shape for an enlarged sweetspot that Yonex is known for. The Tennis Warehouse playtesters were impressed right from the start of the playtest. The racket scored extremely highly in groundstrokes, and the playtesters found they could could have both power and control in a manoeuvrable package. While the playtesters found plenty of put-away power up at net, they were left wanting more stability especially on off-centre shots. The racket continued to shine on serves and returns where the playtesters once again found a powerful and manoeuvrable response. All in all, this lighter version of the Duel G 97 is a versatile player's racket from all areas of the court.

Overall 86/100

Groundstrokes - score: 88/100.

The Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 (310g) had positives reviews right from the get-go. The playtesters enjoyed the combination of effortless power and control from the baseline. They noticed the racket was fast-feeling and it was easy to generate racket head speed. Compared to the previous version, the playtesters noticed some extra pop and depth from the VCORE Tour 97 (310g). Additionally, they were impressed with the stability offered in the lightweight racket. Lastly, several playtesters commented on the ability to really knife their slice backhands.

Volleys - Score: 83/100

Up at net, the playtesters had some positives and negatives with the Yonex VCORE Duel G (310g) . They noticed right away that they found the most success punching the ball deep with pace to end the point. The VCORE Tour 97 (310g) was extremely manoeuvrable for quick exchanges in doubles and feel was clean, crisp and precise. The one downside almost all playtesters agreed on was when a volley was hit outside of the sweetspot, they found the racket to twist in their hands and experienced some instability with a more unforgiving response.

Serves - Score: 84/100

The playtesters thoroughly enjoyed starting off the point using the Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 (310g) on their serve. Like with groundstrokes, they were very happy with the pace, spin and accuracy they were getting out of the racket. They had confidence to go after their first serves with power but still have the control to keep the serve in the service box. One playtester had a small adjustment period of one hitting session before he fully felt in control of their serve, and another playtester found she needed to put in a tad more effort to get the racket going.

Serve Returns – Score: 83/100

The Yonex VCORE Duel G 97 (310g) was manoeuvrable and powerful yet still controllable on return of serve. The playtesters could start the points off aggressively by taking big cuts at the ball and aim for smaller targets closer to the lines thanks to the control offered by the racket. They also noticed they were able to generate some spin and hit nice angled returns with the VCORE 97 (310g), which was effective in doubles play. Similarly to volleys, a couple playtesters noticed some instability and drop in power outside of the sweetspot but overall were very happy returning serves.

Jason - " Great feel and control. It was easy to swing and generate racket head speed. "

Karly - " I loved the control and improved dampened feel. It played like a traditional player's racket without the extra heft that normally comes along with one. "

Mark - " I value the versatility of its 16x20 string pattern. I actually like the feel of the poly when it begins to lose tension with this pattern. The strings are not allowed to move as freely at contact of the ball with a 16x20, so once the poly loosens up a bit, I can really get a proper grip on the ball (topspin or slice). "

Chris - I enjoyed this racket very much. The feel was spot on, the power level was perfect, it felt manoeuvrable and I found a lot spin. This would be my current top pick from the Yonex line-up.

Jason - " Some instability out of the sweetspot. "

Karly - " The slight instability outside the sweetspot, especially with volleys. "

Mark - " I do not have one knock on the Duel G 97 (310g) ; I really love this racket. "

Chris - " I would add just a smidgen of weight to help improve stability on volleys but not much. "

Comparing it to other rackets they've used, our testers said:

Jason - " This racket has more power than the previous model it replaces. It has similar feel and playability to the Prince Textreme Tour 100P. "

Karly - " My racket of choice at one point was the previous version, the Tour G (310g). One of the main reasons I switched from it was because I thought the Tour G model was too lively, and I found a little more control in the manoeuvrable Prince Textreme Tour 95. However, all the updates to the Duel G (310g) make it more tempting to switch again. It's more manoeuvrable than the Tour G (310g) and offers a more dampened feel, making it feel more control-oriented as well. Not to mention, it's also more spin-friendly than both the Prince Textreme and Tour G rackets! "

Mark - " The original VCORE 97 (310g) and the Tour G are definitely comparable. The Babolat Pure Control Tour and the Prince Textreme Tour 100P are two others that are similar as well. "

Chris - " My level of play and what I could do with the ball with this racket reminded me of playing with the Babolat Pure Control Tour. The Volkl Super G 10 295 also punches above its weight like this racket, but it is a tad lighter and faster feeling. "

Playtester Profiles:

Chris: 4.5 all-court player currently using the Baboalt Pure Drive Tour. Chris uses a full-western forehand grip, has a fast swing style and hits a one-handed backhand.

Jason: 4.0 baseliner with a semi-western forehand and two-handed backhand. Currently using a Yonex EZONE Ai 100.

Karly: 4.0 baseline player currently playing with the Prince Textreme Tour 95. She hits with a semi-western forehand grip and uses a two handed backhand.

Mark: 5.0 lefty all-court player with a one-handed backhand. He currently plays with the Babolat Pure Aero Tour.

Review date: February 2016. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us. [email protected] .

All content copyright 2016 Tennis Warehouse.

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• Tennis Equipment

VCore Tour F 97 (290g) vs ‘21 VCore Pro 97 (310g)

• Thread starter Underdog
• Start date Aug 25, 2023

Professional

• Aug 25, 2023
• Aug 26, 2023

I call upon the gods for help! @Trip @dr. godmode  

dr. godmode

Hall of fame.

I think those are 16x21's right? TWU says twist is like 13 which is very low and hard to find. I personally vote to preserve the low twistweight and try to centralize the weight down the centre line. I personally would put 3g at 12 and 10g in the butt as my first go.  

dr. godmode said: I think those are 16x21's right? TWU says twist is like 13 which is very low and hard to find. I personally vote to preserve the low twistweight and try to centralize the weight down the centre line. I personally would put 3g at 12 and 10g in the butt as my first go. Click to expand...

I own one. They are rather firm and raw by todays Yonex standards. Very unstable if you ask me. Mine ended up leaded up to 335g to be usable. I ended up gifting it to a friend who used it until he replaced it with a VCore 100 and returned it. It's around here somewhere...  

WYK said: I own one. They are rather firm and raw by todays Yonex standards. Very unstable if you ask me. Mine ended up leaded up to 335g to be usable. I ended up gifting it to a friend who used it until he replaced it with a VCore 100 and returned it. It's around here somewhere... Click to expand...

• Aug 27, 2023

Underdog said: Do you feel that the stability is fixable if static is raised to 340-350g? How do you reckon it’s profile across the board? Click to expand...

WYK said: I would reckon there are many better sticks. Yeah, lead it up. I put like 4, six inch strips at 3 and 9. It does have a lot of control, and loads of feedback. It looks vicious. I call it the Sith stick. But to be frank, there's plenty better out there. For a profile? I dunno. Very firm, yet I wouldn't say it's hard on the arm. I wouldn't call it crisp compared to like a Speed MP, but it is crisper than modern Yonex's. Low powered. Low launch angle. Spin is fair. I would rate the Vcore Tour 97 minus the 'F' higher in nearly all aspects except comfort. It's far more stable and much more easy spin. You can skip the bottom cross on that Tour F for a bit more spin and power, I suppose, especially if you hit nearer the top of the hoop. Having said all that, if you want a stick in the 65-67RA range, my first pick would be a Pure Strike or maybe even a Prestige. Good luck! Click to expand...

Trip said: @Underdog - Sure thing. Let's start with RacquetFinder: ​ As @WYK said, compared to the '21 VCP, the VCTF 97 290 is going be a fair bit more direct/raw, as it basically lacks any dampening/muting "tech" at all, and is definitely more firm with that 66RA flex. However, it will also feel a bit more tinny/hollow on impact, as there's probably ~10g less graphite in the layup and ~10g less in the handle (absence of VDM) -- thus the 3pt vs 7pt HL balance. The 16x21 would probably give you slightly better control, but it will have a lower launch angle and the string bed will be more static in its movement (more Prestige-like -- not necessarily a bad thing if that's what you like). At equivalent strung spec (ie. weighted up with handle weight and hoop lead) and the same strings and DT, I'd wager power would be slightly more with the VCTF, especially up towards max effort, where the VCP tends to "flatline" at a point of diminishing return. As for strings, due to its rawness, the VCTF is probably a lot more string agnostic, although being more firm, I'd wager you'd probably want to go with something a bit softer, more gummy and/or more muted (examples - fb poly: TP Black Knight -- hybrid: Dunlop Silk Spin crossed with IsoSpeed Cream), whereas with the VCP, you'd want the most crisp string bed possible, to transmit max feel through the VDM (examples - fb poly: Tour Bite -- hybrid: Gamma Ocho TNT crossed with Head Hawk). Also, as @WYK and @dr. godmode also touched on, the VCTF is from the previous generation of lower twist weight frames, which can be both a good thing (if you have excellent technique and have a whippy forehand and/or a one-handed backhand), but also a not-so-good thing if you're used to having more twist resistance as a "guide" against your own strength (ex: when hitting a 2HBH). Usually, it's the latter these days, and you're probably best off at least adding *some* weight to the 3 and 9 areas, as opposed to keeping 100% of added mass on or around the centerline. All-in-all, a nice throwback stick to when Yonex frames were more firm, direct and raw, across the board. Also, as @WYK mentioned, I absolutely LOVE the paint jobs from this era -- very Darth Maul! If you do try and revive it, do keep us posted on how it plays! Click to expand...

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Moscow Bike TOur

• Page active

Description

Highlights:.

• Find adventure at every turn
• Take pride in covering Moscow in record time
• Enjoy the icons in style
• Explore off the beaten path routes of Moscow
• Expert commentary as you travel around the city
• Test your nerve, driving on crazy Russian roads
• Get an Endorphin Rush
• Savour delicacies from different regions of Russia in a traditional restaurant

Only in Moscow for a short time and want to get the most out of the city and have fun? Then a 3-hour bike tour in Moscow is what you need! You won’t hear much about Russian history or become an expert on Russian art, but you will experience all the rest of Russian culture! This tour gives you a unique perspective of a little bit of everything in 3 or 5 hours: must-see tourist sights, local hangouts, Russian food, a glimpse of the modern Moscow life, amazing photo opportunities, a bit of Russian history, and a lot of fun!

This is a great opportunity to cut the usual all day tour down to only 3 or 5 hours and get the most out of the city while having fun and being fit in the greatest locations around Moscow!

A bike trip is sure to capture your heart. It enables you to see the heart of Moscow within the Boulevard Ring and to explore some non-touristic areas of the city, to get an image of the city centre and to work out at the same time.

Our tours differ and depend on whether you are interested in city scenery or nature-like landscape. A variety of places in Moscow are great for riding a bike: these are large parks, yards with old mansions, and historical streets in the centre.

Let’s see what’s waiting for you!

Here are 4 suggested itineraries for a 3-hour tour:.

Moscow Bike Route #1

St. Basil's Cathedral, GUM, Kazan Cathedral, State Historical Museum and Lenin's Mausoleum

Revolution Square and Theatrical Square

Bolshoy Theatre, Metropol Hotel, Chinese Wall, State Duma of Moscow

Alexander Garden

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, fountains, the Grotto, Central Exhibition center, Kutafya tower, Kremlin wall and towers

Historic City Center

Tverskaya street with its beautiful historical architecture, China town (Kitai-gorod), an old historical area of Moscow

Beautiful  City bridge  leading to  Gorky Park  with scenic views of  Christ the Savior  cathedral and the Moscow River. Explore all the beauties riding a bike along the riverside pathways.

Sculpture Park

Peaceful  Crimean embankment  is one of the quietest area of Moscow city with painters' works at the  Vernisage , close proximity to new  Tretyakov Gallery  and good views of  Christ the Savior Cathedral ,  Peter the Great  monument and the Crimean bridge.

Delicious lunch at a café/restaurant

Arbat street + Stalin Skyscraper

The  Arbat  has existed since at least the 15th century and is proud of being the oldest surviving street of the Russian capital. Nowadays, it is now an entertainment and event mecca for Muscovites and tourists alike.

Victory park

Get thrilled with 142 metres  Obelisk  and  Victory Park museum , which is an open-air museum dedicated to the Russian victory of 1945, built in 1995 to celebrate 50 years of victory

Moscow Bike Route #2

Pyatnitskaya street - the Tretyakov Gallery - Luzhkov Bridge - the Cathedral of Christ the Savior - the Gogolevsky Boulevard - the Nikitsky Boulevard - the Tverskoy boulevard - Teatralnaya street - the Bolshoi Theatre – the Kitai - Gorod - Red Square and GUM store - the Bolshoi Moskvoretsky Bridge

This route is the best one if you want to see the heart of Moscow. It goes right through the major places of interest and touches upon the most exciting and vibrant areas of Moscow such as part of the Boulevard Ring, which is absolutely loved by everyone.

Cozy streets of Zamoskvorechye will never leave you indifferent. This district has a long and vivid history and is full of old baroque houses along with Stalinist buildings. It includes three theatres, three museums and sixteen churches.

Back in the 18 th century Zamoskvorechye was known as a quiet, country-like land of single-storey houses and conservative businessmen. It remained country-like and is much more filled with business than before, as this area is just right in the city centre.

You’ll learn:

• what was previously on the site of the Novokuznetskaya metro-station;
• names of four abandoned metro stations and how to find these stations;
• what is the oldest bridge among all the bridges in Moscow;
• how old was Pavel Tretyakov when he decided to collect paintings, that are now exhibited in the Tretyakov gallery;
• what does the real form of the Boulevard Ring in Moscow look like;
• what tricks did the Russian government used to save the houses and buildings from bombing during the World War II;
• what unofficial name the Bolshoi Moskvoretsky bridge has

Moscow Bike Route #3

View over the Kremlin - The Luzhkov Bridge –  The Strelka Institute –  The Muzeon Park –  The Gorky Park –  Neskuchny Garden –  Sparrow Hills –  The Luzhniki Stadium -  Novodevichy Convent – The Arbat Street – The Gogolevsky boulevard - The Cathedral of Christ the Savior –  The Bolotnaya Square

This route includes the most popular city-sights and goes along the Moskva-River. It starts with an observation point, from which you may enjoy the view over the Kremlin, and covers all the most beautiful green areas of Moscow. Historical sites are included into the route so you can feel the historical vibes of ancient Moscow.

• where is hidden an island Moscow;
• where in Moscow you can get printed music of the most sweet masterpieces like “Chocolate waltz” and “Cake-gallop” along with a box of chocolates of the 18 th century;
• why the Luzhkov bridge is also called “the bridge of kisses”;
• the place where the famous Olympic symbol – the Olympic Bear of the Olympics-1980 was flown from;
• the stage where Rolling Stones and Madonna performed when they came to Moscow;
• why the Krymsky bridge was Stalin’s favourite bridge and what musical instrument it represents;
• where living statues in Moscow could be found in 1740s;
• myths and legends about inhabitants of the main building of Moscow State University;
• story about why Sparrow Hills were called that way;
• how Napoleon was cheated when he was going to burn down the Novodevichy convent;
• what was supposed to be on the site where the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is now;
• why Moscow was nearly burnt down in the 15 th century and which role the Arbat street played in it.

Moscow Bike Route #4

Starting with wide area of the VDNKh, you are to learn interesting and fun facts about this spectacular part of Moscow.

• where is a hidden the secret bunker under Moscow (and no, it’s not a famous Bunker 42 everybody knows about;
• why the number of golden statues at the fountain is more than the number of Soviet republics, although it is said to correspond them;
• why one of the Stalin statues was called “matryoshka” (Russian doll);
• what was Picasso’s favourite statue at the exhibition in Paris in 1937.

You’ll see:

• the world’s first light-music fountain that was built in 1950-1954;
• pavilions that symbolize Soviet republics;
• the Botanic garden which is twice as big as the Principality of Monaco;
• the largest green-house in Europe (for the opening day in 1945);
• English garden at the Ostankino mansion;
• Ostankino Tower, one of the tallest structures in Europe;
• the most beautiful flowers in hidden places of the parks.

Biking through VDNKh, Botanic garden and the territory of the Ostankino park will definitely be appreciated by nature-lovers and all those who are keen on speed, who knows no limits and want to explore off the beaten path of Moscow.

We can customize your bike adventure to meet your individual interests.

Our bicycle tour in Moscow gives you a chance to have a s pectacular ride  with  wonderful photo opportunities  and an  unforgettable cultural experience!

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow
• + Private & customized tour
• + An exciting tour, not just boring history lessons
• + An authentic experience of local life
• + Flexibility during the tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri)
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow

*This tour can be modified to meet your preferences

Write your review

• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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Yonex VCORE Tour G 310 Racquet Review

• A bit cumbersome

While there seems to be a bit more excitement around the 330 gram version of the VCORE Tour G that Stan Wawrinka used to win his first Grand Slam, the lighter VCORE Tour G 310 may appeal to a wider group of players and be the more versatile of the two racquets. Our playtesters enjoyed the solid, plush feel and the exceptional precision. Serves were their favorite shot to hit with this racquet, and the whole team found enough power, control and spin to help them be effective and consistent. However, even though this is the lighter of the two versions, we still found a lack of maneuverability that affected the racquet's performance, primarily on groundstrokes and volleys. It proved difficult at times for our team to swing the VCORE TOur G 310 quickly enough to handle an opponent's harder hit shot, and this certainly affected a couple of the playtesters' overall opinions of the racquet. However, for players who place an emphasis on control and feel (like one of our playtesters on this test), this new Tour G 310 is sure to impress!

Groundstrokes - Score: 74

Our playtesters found the VCORE Tour G 310 to be pretty demanding from the baseline, requiring a lot of strength to get it moving through the contact zone. Although it may be a little heavier than what Karly is used to, she loved the amount of control she got with it. She said, "This racquet was made for my style of play. I hit much better with a control-oriented racquet that lets me generate my own pace, and the VCORE Tour G 310 does exactly that. It's pretty low-powered, which allowed me to hit with a lot of control and made placing the ball where I wanted extremely easy. I loved how I could take big rips at the ball without worrying about overhitting. Considering its lighter weight, this racquet felt surprisingly stable and solid. Compared to other racquets in the same weight range, the Tour G 310 drove through the ball particularly well. Although it did swing a little slower than most racquets with similar weights, the maneuverability didn't bother me too much. I'd gladly play with a little heftier racquet so I can use the weight to produce my own power and get exceptional control."

The VCORE Tour G 310 was a little heftier than what Brittany is used to as well. Swinging the racquet fatigued her a bit during longer hits, but she liked the stability, especially on her slice backhand. She explained, "This racquet is definitely way out of my wheelhouse, but I had a ton of fun hitting with it because it has the Yonex feel I truly enjoy. This racquet felt smooth and stable off the baseline. I was able to get enough spin and control to take full swings on my groundstrokes, which allowed me to really go after the ball and be aggressive with my shots. However, after about 45 minutes of playing tennis I started to feel fatigued and wasn't swinging through the ball as well, which caused the ball to land short. Lastly, I absolutely loved slicing with this racquet. My shots were staying low and penetrating, and I was using the slice both offensively and defensively."

Jason also liked the control and stability the VCORE Tour G 310 offered, but it was simply too heavy and underpowered for him. He critiqued, "Let me start with the good. This racquet provided excellent control, and I also really enjoyed the solid, yet comfortable, feel. Now what I didn't like: This is a taxing racquet to use and it lacks power. After about 30 minutes of use my arm and shoulder felt pretty fatigued. The racquet is too underpowered for me, so I felt like I had to swing hard to get the pace I wanted. I'm not really sure why this was, because the specs are all within my comfort zone."

Michelle simply never got dialed in from the baseline during this playtest. She said, "I can appreciate what this racquet offers, but I also realize it doesn't work for me. I personally don't think it's a match for someone who plays like me - flat strokes with a lot of power. I had to adust to the Yonex head shape and the smaller head size. I struggled to hit consistent groundstrokes with this racquet. I know this is more of a control-oriented racquet, and I thought I'd get more control, but I found it to be more demanding instead. I had a hard time putting balls away and found the small margin of error I hit with wasn't working with this racquet. Also, despite not using a lot of topspin on my groundstrokes, I do rely on it at times, and it wasn't there when I needed it -- or not enough of it at least. I can usually just flick my wrist to get some added spin, but I wasn't finding it with this racquet. I also felt like the VCORE Tour G 310 was a bit sensitive to whatever string it had in it. Stiffer polys felt very dead and stiff."

Volleys - Score: 77

Our playtest team had some mixed results when they approached the net with the VCORE Tour G 310 . Brittany liked the easy depth and stability that the heft of the racquet offered, but it also contributed to a lack of maneuverability that affected her during point play. She explained, "I loved the solid and stable feel when I first hit some practice volleys. The volleys were landing deep in the court when I was moving forward. However, I was having trouble getting my racquet into place when I started playing points. I wasn't making very many volleys that I had to reach for."

Michelle had a better experience volleying than she did with her groundstrokes. She found it easy to get the VCORE Tour G 310 into position, but she also found it to be unforgiving on off-center hits. She offered, "I enjoyed volleying with this racquet. It had such a soft response and was maneuverable and comfortable at the net. I could hit a variety of balls. I never really felt uncomfortable, and I could carve out whatever I wanted at the net. I did feel like anything outside of the sweetspot was a little unpredictable, and I would have liked a bit more stability on mis-hits."

Karly's rave reviews continued. She said, "That stable feel was as apparent as ever up at net. Contact felt solid and comfortable and the stringbed was forgiving, so it didn't make too much of a difference if I hit outside of the sweetspot. I also thought the maneuverability was better when hitting volleys. The excellent control let me move the racquet faster and place my shots where I wanted. However, what I liked most about volleying with this racquet was the touch and feel. With all the forgiveness the VCORE Tour G 310 offered, taking pace off the ball for a soft touch shot was simple. I have no complaints whatsoever using the Tour G 310 at the net."

Jason appreciated the feel and responsiveness the racquet had at net, but like Michelle, he found it unstable if he missed the sweetspot. He said, "I'm not the cleanest volley striker, and this racquet let me know that. It has a small sweetspot, and balls that hit outside of it really made the racquet torsionally unstable. When I hit the sweetspot I had nice touch around the net and was able to hit my drop volleys with some success."

Serves - Score: 84

Serves proved to be one of our playtesters' favorite shots to hit with the VCORE Tour G 310 , and our team all loved the precision it offered on both first and second serves. Along with control, Michelle found easy pace on her first serves and access to spin for her second serves. She said, "This is the one area where I enjoyed this racquet. I felt like I could get a lot out of this racquet on my flat first serves, and I could create a lot of kick on my second serves. I was handsomely rewarded when I went big on my first serve. I was surprised because what I was missing from my groundstrokes was there for my serves. I could really brush up and get the ball moving on kick serves, and I often threw those in to change up the pace and predictability."

It took Brittany some time to get used to the weight of the racquet on her serve, but once she did she was finding tremendous success. She offered, "I wasn't able to find my range the first time I played with the Tour G 310. However, once I was dialed in my first serve was my favorite shot to hit. I loved hitting really heavy first serves into my opponent's body, and I was able to get a lot of free points because my serves were landing deep in the box. I had to put a little extra effort into my second serves to get them over the net, but when I did I was rewarded with a heavy serve."

Karly found an ideal blend of power, control and spin on her serves. She raved, "Even with all the control I could get on groundstrokes and the superb feel up at net, serving was my favorite shot to hit with this racquet. Control was still the most prevalent characteristic, but I could also get a ton of leverage behind my shots for good power. As long as I sped up my stroke, there was enough weight and plow through to drive through the ball for lots of power. I loved being in control of both pace and placement with my serves."

Control and consistency allowed Jason to serve effectively with the VCORE Tour G 310. He said, "This was probably my favorite aspect of this racquet. I wasn't able to get any more power than usual, but I did really like the consistency. I was hitting a high percentage of my serves in, which for me is always a win, even when it's not with a ton of power. I was able to control my placement pretty well with this stick."

Serve Returns - Score: 73

Our playtesters struggled with the maneuverability of the VCORE Tour G 310 when returning serve. Jason was able to use the control the racquet offered when he had a little more time, but he had trouble consistently neutralizing his opponent's service game. He explained, "Again, this racquet left me wanting more power. Chipping or slicing a serve back usually resulted in a short reply, putting me immediately on the defensive. It was better when I was facing a slower second serve, and I had time to set up. I could use the great control to move the ball into the corners."

Brittany had a similar experience, saying, "Like volleys, I was having trouble at times getting my racquet in place when I was returning serves. This was especially noticeable when it was a first serve wide to my forehand side. On the other hand, when I could get my racquet into position I felt really comfortable attacking the return because I found a controlled, stable response."

Michelle , who likes to take big cuts on the return of serve, had trouble getting completely dialed in. She critiqued, "Again, I just didn't feel connected to the racquet. I never felt like I was hitting a clean return with this racquet. It felt like it was lagging behind at times, and I would have enjoyed a bit more plow through. I wasn't really rewarded when I tried to be aggressive. I felt like I had to exaggerate everything to get the ball where I wanted it. I don't think this makes the racquet bad, but I think it just proves this racquet is better suited to control-oriented players who set up the point off returns rather than people who go big off returns. I know some of my fellow playtesters have been playing awesomely with this racquet!"

Karly continued to love the precision and feel of the VCORE Tour G 310. She was able to hit her returns aggressively and successfully. She said, "Just because a racquet is low powered doesn't mean you can't return aggressively, and this racquet proved that! I relied on all the control to get on the offensive quickly. This racquet made it so easy to direct the ball and place my shots where I wanted. I also enjoyed being able to take big swings without being concerned about sending the ball long. I just had to be careful of my timing with faster servers because the mobility was a little on the slower side. The maneuverability never bothered me because of the excellent control, but I had to make sure I got my racquet out in time when returning hard serves."

Overall - Score: 78

Brittany - "I liked the control and stability as well as the solid feel this racquet offered."

Jason - "The solid and comfortable feel. Performance-wise, I thought it had very good control."

Karly - "I absolutely loved playing with this racquet, mostly because of the unbelievable control and exceptional feel and touch."

Michelle - "The soft response, and I loved it on both first and second serves!"

Brittany - "While the swingweight was low, I struggled with the maneuverability at times. It was too much racquet for me."

Jason - "A tiring racquet to swing. Underpowered, with a small sweetspot."

Karly - "None, really! Sure, the racquet was a little slow at times, but I thought the higher swingweight helped add more power to my shots."

Michelle - "It just doesn't suit my game style - I couldn't get a consistent feel out of it on groundstrokes and struggled putting balls away. It is still a solid racquet, just not for me!"

Comparing it to other racquets they've used, our testers said:

Brittany - "I haven't really tested a lot of racquets in this spec range, but I would say the Prince Classic Graphite 100 was very similar. Both are more control-oriented racquets that I felt I needed a little extra power. They both felt a bit sluggish compared to what I'm used to, and I wasn't able to get the racquet in place at times. Lastly, both were comfortable, and I enjoyed the feel."

Jason - "The VCORE Tour G 310 reminds me of the Volkl Organix 9 Super G. This racquet has a softer feel, though. Also, it plays similarly to the old Boris Becker Delta Core London Tour."

Karly - "It played and felt most similar to the Head Radical Midplus racquets, but I thought the VCORE Tour G 310 offered a little more pop and liveliness."

Michelle - "The Wilson Pro Staff 95 feels similar because it has a smaller head size, is control-oriented and is a bit demanding."

Technical Specifications

(Scores are determined by averaging individual play test scores)

Playtester Profiles

Brittany: Open level player with a semi-western forehand and a two-handed backhand. She currently plays with the Yonex EZONE Ai 100.

Jason: 4.0 baseliner with a semi-western forehand and two handed backhand. Currently using a Wilson Steam 99 S.

Karly: 4.0 baseline player currently playing with the Volkl Organix 10 Mid. She hits with a semi-western forehand grip and uses a two handed backhand.

Michelle: Open level baseline player with a semi-western forehand and a two handed backhand. She currently plays with the Babolat Pure Drive Roddick.

Review date: May 2014. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us.

All content copyright 2014 Tennis Warehouse.