Volkl V-Sense V1 MP Racquet Review

Groundstrokes - Score: 81

With a 308 swingweight and 3 points head light balance, the Volkl V-Sense V1 MP was quick and powerful from the baseline. Mark has had success playing with the prior models of the Volkl V1 series. He started by saying, "I was optimistic that this new racquet would offer more of the same lively, easy to control power the older versions did, and the new V-Sense V1 MP felt crisp, maneuverable and precise. With a full bed of a low tensioned polyester string, the V-Sense V1 MP provided me with an almost impossible-to-miss sweetspot. In addition, its mid-10 oz strung weight and semi-tight 16x19 pattern complemented both my linear backhand swing and forehand, which has more shape to it. I was hitting my targets consistently with topspin, and directional control on my backhand slice was outstanding."

"From the very first hit I was reminded of how easy it has always been to play with the V-Sense V1 Midplus from Volkl," added Chris. "This version picked up right where the previous racquet left off. I quickly dialed in my groundstrokes and was able to rally comfortably. I found a solid and predictable level of pace, which allowed me to hit with confidence. We had our test racquet strung up with Volkl V-Star, which is a softer and decently powerful co-poly, but I'd actually choose a multifilament for my preferred setup. I found ample control in this racquet for it to handle a softer and more powerful string."

Brittany felt right at home using the V-Sense V1 MP. She commented, "Right off the bat, this racquet was very user friendly from the baseline. It was easy to swing, had great feel, and there was access to power and spin. Having playtested the previous two versions, I am very comfortable with how the V1 series plays, and I found this racquet played very similarly. I loved how big the sweetspot was, and I could hit deep shots with little effort. Compared to the V1 Pro, I was just missing a little mass behind my strokes. Although I was able to hit the ball hard, my groundstrokes weren't penetrating the court, and there were a couple extra balls that came back to me. Nonetheless, I still had a blast (literally!) exchanging groundstrokes during practice sessions."

Volleys - Score: 79

The comfortable, responsive feel of the V-Sense V1 MP allowed the TW playtesters to feel comfortable and precise at net. Chris had nothing put positives to say about his volleys, raving, "The V1 Midplus was very easy to maneuver at net. The racquet felt fast in my hands, and I was able to react well with it. As I've come to expect from the V1 franchise, I found lots of touch and feel. My drop volleys and angle shots were working well. Even when I was punching volleys deep with pace I felt like I had a lot of control over the ball. I liked the way the racquet felt comfortable without disconnecting me from the ball. The response was plush without feeling too dampened."

"The overall maneuverability was top notch anywhere inside the service court lines with the V-Sense V1 MP," raved Mark. "Although the V-Sense V1 MP's stability was not quite on par with its maneuverability, the racquet never quivered in my hand until passing shot speeds eclipsed 65 miles per hour."

The racquet was lightning quick in Brittany's hands, allowing her to set up and end points with ease. She detailed, "When I set up points for put-away volleys I always found myself punching the ball deep to end the point with both regular and swinging volleys. I appreciated the crisp, yet comfortable, feel, and I felt connected to the racquet when I was trying to be a little more creative with an angled or half volley."

Serves - Score: 82

All of the playtesters found the Volkl V-Sense V1 MP to be a powerful weapon on the serve. This ended up being Mark's favorite portion of the playtest, which came as a surprise since he typically serves better with a heavier racquet. He said, "There was something about the combination of the V-Sense V1 MP's traits that complemented my serve more than other racquets in this weight class do."

"I loved how easy it was to generate racquet head speed, which resulted in easy power," added Brittany. "While I wanted a little more mass behind the ball, I could still be effective when I was starting a point. I liked mixing up my serves, but I loved hitting a flat serve into the body. I could hit the body serve consistently, and I could get a weaker response that I could attack. The spin potential in the V-Sense V1 MP gave me a successful second serve percentage."

Chris continued to find success with the V1 MP. He said, "I served very well with the V-Sense V1 MP. It had just enough power for me to not miss my Pure Drive Plus too much. I found spin when I wanted it and was able to hit my targets with consistency. Recently I have been hitting my second serve more aggressively, and I fell into that groove quickly with this racquet. The V1 Midplus is just an easy racquet to use."

Returns - Score: 77

Although the V-Sense V1 MP was fast through the air, several playtesters would have liked a little more stability. Chris could hit a variety of returns to keep himself on the offensive. He explained, "I felt like I got out what I put in when it came to my returns with the V1 MP. When I took an aggressive cut at the ball I was rewarded with solid pace and spin. When I blocked a serve back or chipped and charged I found the control I was seeking. Most impressively, I was surprised at how solid and comfortable this racquet felt. I thought it punched above its weight, playing more solidly than several mid-11 oz racquets I've hit."

"I loved how easy it was to set up for returns with the V-Sense V1 MP," said Brittany. "This racquet felt really quick, so I had to make an adjustment to get better timing. I also missed long due to the free power, so I had dial back a tad at times. I also noticed some instability -- especially when returning bigger serves. It felt like the racquet was getting pushed around and was twisting in my hand, and I couldn't be as aggressive as I wanted. However, this was expected from such a light racquet."

Mark concluded, "For most of this playtest the Volkl V-Sense V1 MP's mid 10-oz strung weight and low 300 swingweight were a virtue. However, when it came to return of serve those same virtuous traits made it tough for me to be as effective as I would have liked, especially against a heavy serve."

Overall - Score: 82