About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the tennis racquet, which I tested for five days from February to May of 2023.

My take

The Volkl V-Cell V1 MP is a great match for beginner to advanced players looking to take their games to the next level. It’s a really versatile racquet that combines great maneuverability, controllable power, and arm-friendly feel.

About the racquet I tested

• Model: Volkl V-Cell V1 MP
• Grip Size: 4 ⅜ / EU 3
• String and Tension: Volkl Power Fiber II. Strung at 56lbs
• Head size: 102in2
• Racquet Length: 27in
• Any Customizations: Volkl V-Dry Overgrip

About me

• Height: 5’11”
• Weight: 185 lbs
• Previous Racquet Played With: Head Graphene 360+ Gravity MP
• Experience: 29 years of tennis
• NTRP/UTA Rating: 5.0

Test conditions

• When I tested it: February, May 2023
• Days tested: 5
• Court Surfaces: Hard, Hard Indoor
• Match Play/Practice Session/Both: Both
• Where I’ve used it: Kingsford High School, Kingsford, MI, Marinette County Rec Plex

How it performs

What I was looking for

The Volkl V-Cell V1 MP is one of the most popular models in the Volkl lineup with a really broad target audience of 2.5–4.5 level players. As these players make up a large chunk of our clients at Curated, it was important to me to spend time playing with this racquet to really understand it so I could recommend it to the right players.

Why I chose to test this gear

It’s easy to see why this racquet works for such a variety of players. It has a nice mix of controllable power, top-notch maneuverability, and forgiving, arm-friendly feel. While it is a little too light for the type of game I play, I could easily play a match with it in a pinch. I am actually going to be switching to the more advanced player’s version of this racquet, the V-Cell V1 Pro, for this season.

What I love about it

• Feel: Volkl prides themselves on making very arm-friendly racquets, and the V-Cell V1 line seems to take this further than some of the others. It’s very comfortable without feeling dead or mushy.
• Power: The slightly larger 102 square inch head size and thick 28mm beam at the throat translates into really nice, usable power on all strokes.
• Serves: With lots of racquet head speed and that inherent power, my serves are top notch with the V-Cell V1 MP.
• Groundstrokes: For a racquet that is more powerful and lighter than my usual racquet of choice, I quickly found the groove off the ground with the V-Cell V1 MP.
• Control: There is ample control from the V-Cell V1 MP with both spin and a predictable response off the stringbed, which combines to give me the depth control I need.
• Maneuverability: A nice and speedy 303RDC swingweight lets me get the racquet moving easily at the net and on the run.
• Volleys: With good touch, a forgiving head size, and great maneuverability, volleying is a breeze with the V-Cell V1 MP.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Stability: The V-Cell V1 MP punches above its weight in terms of stability, but it still had some issues handling my biggest-serving opponents.

Favorite moment with this gear

Playing a mixed doubles match with my wife as my partner and my sister and her husband as our opponents, I was on fire at the net using the V-Cell V1 MP. I felt like I could get to every ball and hit all types of volleys with ease that day.

Value for the money vs. other options

Volkl provides outstanding value with all of their racquets, packing tons of technology into them and pricing them slightly less than many competitors. The V-Cell V1 MP is no exception, and undercuts similar options such as the Babolat Pure Strike 103, Dunlop CX 400, and Head Radical Team

Final verdict

The Volkl V-Cell V1 MP is a very versatile racquet that suits players from beginner all the way to advanced tournament players. It offers an outstanding combination of controllable power and fast-moving maneuverability in an arm-friendly package.