Volkl V-Sense 3 Racket Review
Not every racket is designed with top-level tennis in mind, and nor should they be.
While advanced players will often seek a slightly heavier racket than everyone else, that style of racket doesn’t necessarily work well if you’re just starting out in tennis, have had persistent injuries, or are just getting a little bit older and want something easier to play with.
The Volkl V-Sense 3 is designed specifically for these groups of people, with a light frame that will give you power and spin without putting needless pressure on your elbows and wrists.
If you are an adult who is just starting out in the game, or a veteran of the game who doesn’t want to be wielding a heavy racket around for hours at a time, then this could be a perfect racket for you.
At 27.8 inches long, the V-Sense is longer than the conventional racket of 27 inches, which allows its user to generate a little extra pace on the ball, along with the obvious effect of extra reach.
It is packed full of some of Volkl’s signature technology, so you can be sure you’re getting the very latest tech out there.
The V-Sense 3 includes Volkl Catapult Technology which increases power and control through a catapult system located in the frame. As the ball hits the strings, the catapult loads, increasing the sweet spot by up to 30% and launching the ball with massive power.
It also has Volkl’s VSensor Handle, which reduces the number of vibrations on impact, meaning less pressure on your joints.
We have found this to be very good in other Volkl rackets, so we expect the Volkl V-Sense 3 to be very easy on the body.
I may be just 27 years old, but I can really identify with people who are looking to limit the wear and tear that playing tennis can put on their bodies.
Throughout my tennis career, I have suffered from problems with my wrist and shoulder, and there have been times when I wasn’t able to do simple tasks like writing and opening doors with my left hand the day after a long tennis session.
This has caused me to change rackets to something a little lighter and easier on the body, and it is an excellent reason to look for a new racket.
If you are experiencing problems with your current racket, and you’re not going to be playing super high-level tennis then the Volkl V-Sense 3 could be well worth looking at.
The racket itself has quite a strange shape and certainly isn’t your classic tennis racket.
It’s decked out in a simple black, blue and white trim, which is nice and simple, something we appreciate.
We’re out there to play tennis not catch fish, so neon colors aren’t really necessary!
Unsurprisingly, there aren’t any tour level players endorsing this racket on tour, but you wouldn’t expect there to be any with a racket of this kind.
You will, however, be emulating Nicolas Almagro and Laura Siegemund in taking to the court with Volkl!
The Volkl V-Sense 3 definitely isn’t a racket that we’d be looking at during this point of our tennis journey at thetennisbros.com.
We all enjoy something a little bit more stable and control oriented, but we were interested to see what the V-Sense could do for us.
Groundstrokes
8.5out of 10
I figured I’d test out the racket just playing my normal game to see how that transpired.
Normally I hit through the ball with a lot of racket head speed, especially on the forehand, so I predicted the lightweight, high power nature of this racket wasn’t destined to mix well with my game!
This proved to be true, as ball after ball sailed past the baseline, and the more spin I tried to put on the ball the more it trampolined even further from the court.
This was what I expected to happen though, as the racket is not designed for players like myself.
I set about simplifying my game a bit, keeping my strokes short and compact, and focusing on a clean contact, and getting depth.
This worked very nicely, and as I reduced the racket head speed and complexity of my shots, the Volkl V-Sense 3 felt much more at home, and I could see what it was all about.
My backhand is a much simpler stroke than my forehand, so it was easier to connect with the V-Sense 3 on this side.
As I settled down with the racket, I was impressed with the depth that I was able to keep and noticed just how easy this racket is on the body.
There is no need to strain to hit the ball hard with the V-Sense 3 and you are rewarded for keeping things simple and hitting through the ball.
The feel and control of this racket is not amazing, but that’s not what it’s designed for.
On the forehand side I struggled much more to adapt to the Volkl V-Sense 3, as it is just completely the opposite of what I would look for on this side.
What it promises to do well though, the V-Sense does well, and it would be a good racket for someone starting out their journey in tennis.
Scoring this racket is difficult in the sense that, if you’re looking to play a high level of tennis it’s not a good racket at all.
But, if you dig down into the specs of the racket and the blurb that Volkl give, you realize it’s aimed more at people with injury concerns, or people just beginning in tennis needing that extra power boost.
Taking this into consideration, we have to conclude that the Volkl V-Sense 3 is a good racket from the baseline, and I gave it a good 8.5 out of 10.
Volleys
8out of 10
Ordinarily, I would look for a racket that is quite control oriented at the net, which the Volkl V-Sense 3 certainly isn’t.
The V-Sense 3 is quite stable on impact though, and that made for a reasonable volleying experience.
Being so light, the racket is easy to maneuver, and I found myself getting into position quickly.
The maneuverability of this racket at the net is a big plus and combined with a solid feel on impact, it made for a better experience than I expected.
I wouldn’t have thought this is the racket for someone who loves to spend a lot of time at the net, but if you’re someone who likes to mix their game up, then it’s certainly not going to let you down.
The V-Feel was a little bit too pingy for my liking, but once again, it was very comfortable to play with, and the V-Sensor handle does a good job of dampening the vibrations to ensure your joints don’t take the strain.
I could see this racket being perfect for someone who plays a lot of doubles at an intermediate level.
The power the racket gives you brings the most out of your swings, and you don’t have to break your back doing it! If you’re thinking of switching rackets due to injury, then have a look at this one.
This racket has its limits at the net, but it does a more than adequate job.
It’s comfortable and feels solid on contact, with a large sweet spot that helps you put those overheads away even if you don’t get the timing spot on! We gave it an 8 at the net.
Serve
8out of 10
The Volkl V-Sense 3 continued in the same vein on the serve, providing easy power and a comfortable swing.
So long as you keep it simple and don’t try to do too much with the ball, then the V-Sense puts the ball where you want it and gives you that easy power boost.
The V-Sense would definitely suit players in the beginner to lower intermediate level as it rewards uncomplicated stroke play with deep, powerful shots.
It can certainly give you the kind of boost you need when you’re just starting out.
It’s also an ideal tool if you’re tired of the strain that tennis puts on your body and are looking to take a little step back and let the racket take some of the strain for you.
I can imagine myself a little later on in my life and career putting in a causal serve with the Volkl V-Sense 3, jogging on up to the net, and popping back a few volleys while I enjoy some doubles with my buddies.
The V-Sense is fun, and easy to play with, and might just put some enjoyment back into tennis if you’ve been suffering with injuries.
Obviously, everyone’s body is different, and it won’t be a magic fix, but it’s worth giving this one a go.
Overall, it’s nice and easy to swing, comfortable on contact, and offers a welcome power boost for the beginning player.
Therefore, we gave the Volkl V-Sense 3 an 8 out of 10 on the serve.
Overall
8.5out of 10
In case you skipped straight to the conclusion and you’re looking for a high-performance racket – turn back.
If you’re looking for a comfortable racket to start out your tennis, or just tired of using heavier rackets, then this is a great racket.
The light setup and V-Sensor technology make this racket very easy-going on the main joints, and if you keep things uncomplicated, this racket could definitely become your new best friend.
Final Thoughts
While the Volkl V-Sense 3 is not the kind of racket I need at the moment, it was a fun test, and I can see how this racket would suit a lot of amateur tennis players out there.
The easy maneuverability of this racket encourages players to continue to develop their swings on the groundstrokes and makes getting into position at the net nice and easy.
It’s ideal for a developing player, and we think it is a good first step into the tennis racket market.
If you feel like you’re improving rapidly, and want something with a little bit more control, then you can always tighten the string tension to reduce the trampoline effect upon contact.
Overall, a good racket. If you’re looking for something that’s not too heavy, is easy on the joints, and encourages you to keep developing your strokes, then give it a go.
A solid 8.5 out of 10 for us.
Is the Volkl V Sense 3 the Right Racket for You? Find Out with a Custom Fitting!
Groundstrokes
8.5
out of 10
Volley
8
out of 10
Serve
8
out of 10
Overall
8.5
out of 10
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