Length: 27.5 in.
Weight: 10 oz.
Ideal Swing – Short: No
Ideal Swing – Medium: Yes
Ideal Swing – Long: YesV-Con 20 sounds like a covert military operation. In fact, it stands for Vibration Control Shaft. At the throat, Yonex covers the graphite core with a patented elastic material, which itself is wrapped in a ceramic alloy. According to Yonex, this construction dampens vibration by a whopping 90 percent. Testers picked up on that: They said the V-Con 20 was extremely comfortable, though it was so damp, it didn’t have much feel. The oversize suits take-charge baseliners with medium-length swings who want a nice blend of power and control. Although it has a head-heavy balance, the oversize feels quite maneuverable. On the other hand, the megapowerful super-oversize, which is ideal for short-swinging players, is less maneuverable. Testers also noticed that both models exhibited a loss of power on shots hit on the lower half of the string bed.

BOTTOM LINE
This Yonex provides a ton of comfort.

PRICE: $239
HEAD SIZE: 107 sq. in.
LENGTH: 27.5 in.
WEIGHT: 9.9 oz.
FLEXIBILITY: Stiff
BALANCE: 1/4 in. head heavy
IDEAL SWING: Medium
NTRP: 2.0–4.0SALES PITCH
This Yonex is designed to give improving beginners and solid intermediates some extra pop without sacrifi cing control.

COMPARE TO
Yonex RQ-7 OS

HOW IT TESTED
Feelings on the RQS 33 ran from hot to lukewarm. Its fans used the word “easy” when describing its power and handling. A relaxed swing can get you plenty of depth on ground strokes while the ample sweet spot helped put some punch on volleys. Serving with the Yonex is a real treat—one high school girls’ varsity player appreciated the “awesome” action she could put on the ball. Detractors, however, wished the RQS 33 had a hint more control (particularly on touch shots) and stability. At just under 10 ounces, it’s a light frame, and bigger, faster swings can cause the racquet to twist a little on off-center hits. But it’s probably nothing a little lead tape in the head couldn’t cure.

BOTTOM LINE
If accuracy isn’t a problem, but a shortage of power is, this lightweight frame is worth a look.

PRICE: $189
HEAD SIZE: 98 sq. in. (MP); 103 sq. in. (Super Mid)
LENGTH: 27.25 in. (MP); 27.5 in. (Super Mid)
WEIGHT: 11 oz. (MP); 10.4 oz. (Super Mid)
BALANCE: 3/5 in. head light
FLEXIBILITY: Firm
IDEAL SWING: Long
NTRP: 3.5–5.0FIRST TAKE:
Do you play aggressive tennis with the strategy of charging the net to end the point as quickly as possible? Then try this Yonex racquet, which is suited for a net-rusher’s game.

COMPARE TO:
Yonex MP Tour-1 XF

HOW IT TESTED:
Although it’s heavy, the mid-plus is maneuverable and stable. These two attributes will enable you to easily react to volleys and then stick them with a vengeance. The RDX 300 mid-plus also worked well in no man’s land, where you often have to dig out half-volleys. At the baseline, players said control was fine, but where was the power? Even with a long and hard swing, the racquet didn’t always put out what players put in, causing balls to land short. So if you’re glued to the baseline, you’ll probably want to arm yourself with a more powerful racquet, like the RDX 300 Super Mid. About a half-ounce lighter, it has a bigger head, slightly thicker beam, and extra length to deliver better depth. While it may not have enough juice to satisfy full-time baseliners, its improved pop should appeal to all-court intermediates. A final note: The mid-plus was comfortable, but the Super Mid had, inexplicably, a bit of unwanted vibration.

BOTTOM LINE:
Maneuverability and stability give you an advantage at the net, but it could use more pop on ground strokes.

Price: $199
Head Size: 98 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 11 oz. (standard); 12.1 oz. (Tour)
Flexibility: Firm (standard); ?exible (Tour)
Balance: 3/5 in. head light (standard); 9/10 in. head light (Tour)
Ideal Swing: Medium to long (standard); long (Tour)
NTRP: 3.5–5.0 (standard); 4.0–7.0 (Tour)SALES PITCH:
A maneuverable racquet for accomplished players offered in two varieties—a forgiving standard version and a more demanding Tour model.COMPARE TO: N/A (standard); Yonex Ultimum RD Ti-80 (Tour)

HOW IT TESTED:
With two different versions, the Yonex RDS-002 has the intermediate-to-advanced-players bases covered. The standard model is lighter, stiffer, and has a thicker beam, which makes it more powerful and easier to handle. There’s still enough heft to make the racquet feel substantial in your hands, yet the head-light balance means you can be nimble at net. But while the standard has plenty of control, fast swingers may struggle with consistency and will probably want to step up to the Tour version. You have to work for your power on the heavier model, but you’re rewarded when you increase your racquet-head speed. It has excellent control and feels very solid from all parts of the court. Both racquets scored high in stability and comfort, but the Tour got the more glowing praise.

BOTTOM LINE:
The easy-to-handle weight and balance should give the RDS-002 standard mass appeal, while the Tour model will be more attractive to the advanced set.

PRICE $199
HEAD SIZE 90 sq. in. (mid); 98 sq. in. (mp)
LENGTH 27 in.
WEIGHT 11.5 oz. (mid); 11.1 oz. (mp)
FLEXIBILITY Flexible
BALANCE 1 in. head light (mid); 4/5 in. head light (mp)
IDEAL SWING Long
NTRP 4.5–7.0 (mid); 4.5–7.0 (mp)FIRST TAKE:
It’s clear who this Yonex is built for—Lleyton Hewitt wannabes. You know, the consistent, all-court types who need a heavy but head-light racquet to help them scramble.

COMPARE TO:
Yonex Muscle Power Tour-1

HOW IT TESTED:
There are two models, the very flexible mid and the slightly more flexible mid-plus. The mid has a tiny head and a sweet spot to match, so unless you’re a 4.5 player or better you’ll struggle mightily with this racquet. It requires you to bring your own power. The Yonex RDS-001 is so head light that, while maneuverable, it lacks the mass toward the tip to help you generate power. If you let up even a smidgen, your shots will land short. Of course, that’s the point—the RDS-001 is designed for players who swing as if they have angermanagement issues. Control is adequate, and the flexible construction delivers a lot of feedback—to the point where, even with a dampener, one playtester said, “It still has a buzz.” The RDS-001 mid-plus was overwhelmingly preferred by playtesters, who said it offered a little bit of pop to help you out. The mid, on the other hand, is only for top-flight players who never let up on their swings.

BOTTOM LINE:
You better have your tour card if you like the mid, while the mid-plus is a more realistic choice for strong rec players.

PRICE $229
HEAD SIZE 100 sq. in.(MP); 110 sq. in. (OS)
LENGTH 27.5 in.
WEIGHT 10.6 oz. (MP); 10.2 oz. (OS)
FLEXIBILITY Flexible(MP); Firm(OS)
BALANCE 3/5 in. head light (MP); 1/5 in. head heavy (OS)
BEAM WIDTH 21.4-22 mm (MP); 23.4-24 mm (OS)
IDEAL SWING Long (MP); medium to long (OS)
NTRP 4.5–7.0 (MP); 4.0–5.0 (OS)FIRST TAKE:
Lose weight, add muscle. That’s the concept behind this Yonex, which will appeal to fans of medium-weight racquets.

COMPARE TO:
Yonex V-Con 17

HOW IT TESTED:
Yonex uses stiff, light Nano carbon in the shaft (for power) and traditional, flexible graphite in the head (for feel). But overall the mid-plus, which is endorsed by Daniela Hantuchova, is flexible. Many testers went so far as to say that the racquet felt “soft,” robbing them of power on their ground strokes and volleys. Everyone, though, was pleased with the amount of spin they could generate at the baseline and on serves, which enhanced their ability to control the ball. The oversize? With a slightly head-heavy balance, thicker beam, and firmer construction, it helped doubles players stick their volleys. And if your net game could use a little work, the NSRQ-7 oversize should give you the confidence to develop your transition game. Both head sizes are very comfortable, thanks to vibrationdampening grommets at the 12- and 6-o’clock positions of the head, which eliminate the jarring effect of an off-center hit.

BOTTOM LINE:
The mid-plus left us wanting more power, but the oversize should warrant consideration for net players.