Racquet Stringing

How often should I re-string my raquet?

Your strings can impact your performance just as much as the racket you use. New tennis strings on a regular basis is a bargain compared to supplies for other sports like golf or hockey. As a starting point, here’s a baseline guide with the minimum number of times you should re-string your racquet within a year:

Play 1-3 times per week – re-string 3-4 times per year
Play 4+ times per week – re-string 5x per year

What other factors should I consider for re-stringing?

TENNIS STRING TENSION LOSS

Strings begin losing tension the moment your racket is taken off the stringing machine. As tension drops, you lose control and the ability to generate as much topspin especially if you play with polyester tennis strings. In general, polyester tennis strings lose tension quicker than multifilament strings, and would require more frequent re-stringing.

ARM/ELBOW COMFORT LEVEL

Strings lose their resilience over time, creating a stiff or dead feeling that can be harsh on your arm. A freshly strung racquet will absorb the shock better upon contact, providing more comfort. This is especially important if you have elbow or arm issues. If this is the case, you should consider re-stringing more frequently.

RECOVERING FROM TENNIS ELBOW

Tennis elbow condition can cause a lot of pain and discomfort due to inflammation or even breakage of the muscles. If you are currently in active recovery from this, it would be best to lower string tension rates.

Senior players might compromise in control levels, but comfort must remain a priority in this situation. When let loose, the stringbed will also deliver a softer, plush feeling while reducing the harsh vibration and shock impact on the arm, wrist, and shoulder.

Don’t stop at low-string tension only. When dealing with tennis elbow conditions it is important to switch to lightweight rackets for tennis elbow and softer string types, like the natural gut. These changes might do wonders for your recovery.

I am breaking tennis racket strings too often.
What should I do?

TENNIS STRING GAUGE OPTIONS

The thicker the gauge, the more durable it will be.

SWITCH TO HYBRID STRING

If you’re playing with a multifilament string, consider switching to a polyester tennis string in the mains or crosses for more durability.

SWITCH TO POLYESTER (MONOFILAMENT) STRING

Poly strings provide excellent durability since they are made of a single filament. However, they also lose tension quicker. This can require more frequent re-stringing for consistent performance. If you have arm/elbow issues, this may not be the best option due to its stiffer feeling.

WHAT IS THE BEST TENNIS STRING FOR YOUR PLAYING STYLE?

Just like various sizes and weights of tennis rackets create different playing experiences, different types of tennis strings produce different effects when you make contact with the ball. There are four key benefits to consider when deciding on the right string for you, those being power, control, comfort, and spin.

Power

How quickly the ball exits the string bed on contact.

For who?

Power strings are best for players just learning the game who haven’t yet learned how to generate their own power, as well as for junior players whose muscles have not fully developed.

Which Strings?

Power strings are typically made of either natural gut or nylon. The strings recommended in this category are Wilson Synthetic Gut Power, Wilson NXT Power, or Luxilon Natural Gut.

Control

How long the ball sits on the string bed at contact, also known as “dwell time.”

For who?

Control strings are best for experienced players who can produce their own power and want to rely on their strings to help them control where the ball goes, making it easier to hit their spots.

Which Strings?

Control strings are typically made of polyester and in some cases nylon. The strings recommended in this category are Luxilon ALU Power or Luxilon 4G, and Wilson NXT Control as a control-oriented nylon option.

Comfort

How much shock/vibration you feel in your arm at contact.

For who?

Comfort strings are best for senior players who are more prone to arm injuries such as tennis elbow or for those that have experienced arm issues in the past.

Which Strings?

Comfort strings are made of flexible materials such as natural gut or nylon. Wilson Sensation, Wilson NXT, or Wilson Natural Gut are recommended. The main difference between poly and co-poly strings is that co-poly strings maintain their tightness for a long time while trying to combat the stiffness that causes tennis elbow.

Spin

How many rotations per minute the strings generate on the ball at contact.

For who?

Spin strings are best for competitive players looking to use spin to create a “heavy ball,” or a ball that bounces up high, making it difficult for opponents to attack.

Which Strings?

Spin strings are made of polyester and commonly feature different shapes and textures designed to enhance spin. Luxilon ALU Power Rough is a good option.

WHICH TYPES OF STRINGS, THICKNESSES, AND COMBINATIONS SHOULD YOU USE?

In order to produce different benefits, tennis strings are made with a variety of materials and thicknesses. Here are the three key things to think about when deciding on materials.

Tennis strings are made of natural gut, nylon (multifilament), or polyester (monofilament). Natural gut and nylon strings are best for beginner to intermediate players due to their power and comfort properties, while polyester is best for advanced players due to its stiffer, control-oriented properties.

Full bed or hybrid:

Tennis strings are woven both vertically (mains) and horizontally (crosses) in a racket. That means you must decide which strings go up and down as well as which strings go side to side in your racket.

While most players prefer to use the same string for both, or “full bed,” many players have begun using two different strings, or “hybriding”, to take advantage of a mix of string benefits. For example, using a polyester string in the mains and a nylon string in the crosses will give you a mix of control, spin, power, and comfort, while using just nylon will keep your strings power and comfort-focused.

It’s recommended that beginners go with full bed nylon or a comfortable hybrid, intermediate players go with a hybrid or full bed multi-filament, and advanced players go with either hybrid or full bed polyester. If you’re interested in trying a hybrid string set-up, here are some recommendations.

Beginner: Wilson DUO Feel (Wilson NXT/Luxilon Element)

Intermediate: Wilson DUO Power (Wilson NXT Power/Luxilon ALU Power)

Advanced: Wilson DUO Control (Wilson NXT Control/Luxilon 4G Rough)