Tennis String Advice

After choosing your racket the next question is, “what string should you choose”. It is important for you to choose a string that compliments your racket and playing style.

Types of String

Natural Gut

As the name states this is a natural product made of cow intestines (serosa fibres), Natural Gut is the pinnacle of string providing Excellent Tension Maintenance, Power, Comfort and Feel. There is always a downfall to strings with pure performance and that is the hefty price tag that comes with it.

Multifilament

Multiple tiny fibres normally consisting of Nylon wrapped or braided together. This type of string offers more elasticity compared to Monofilament strings and Synthetic Gut allowing for more power and comfort attempting to mimic Natural Gut but at a lower price. But unfortunately, it lacks in tension maintenance and durability.

Polyester/Monofilament

Extruded from one material or a combination of materials to form a single piece of string, some times drawn through a geometrically shaped dye. Monofilament/Polyester tends to be more durable than Multifilament and Synthetic Gut but has less power, comfort and feel. The majority of these types of string have become slightly softer and forgiving due to players demanding more durability, control and spin. Polyesters strings tend to lack in tension maintenance compared to any other string.

Synthetic Gut

Synthetic Gut is a nylon-based string, constructed with one single monofilament core with one or multiple layers. This type of string provides good all-round performance and has been known to be the most economical out of all the strings due to its very friendly price tag. For those who are unsure as to what string to go for Synthetic Gut would be the best string to go for as a starting string.

String Gauge

The thinner the string is the more power, spin and comfort you gain. The thicker the string is the more durable it is.

String Tension

Tension plays a huge part in the string’s playability. A racket strung loosely provides more power and comfort and the strings will last longer. A racket strung tighter brings more ball control and precision. Each player has different needs so tension varies depending on what you require.

When to restring my racket?

Strings lose tension and elasticity over time. How quickly they lose tension all depends on the string. A general rule for all types of string would be to restring them between 2-3 months. Regardless of whether the racket is being used or not, it will still lose tension which is why many recreational players who don’t play often should still restring their rackets every 6 months.

String Pattern

The stringing pattern determines the density of the string bed. An open string pattern has fewer strings stretched and the distance between each string is greater allowing for the ball penetrate deeper into the string bed generating more power and spin.

Hybrid

A combination of two different strings for the mains and cross string. With this setup, you are able to combine two advantages from two different strings. Normally when an evenly tensioned racket is strung the mains would break first, this is due to the mains moving more than the crosses.In theory it is possible to combine any string with any other string.