Restringing Tennis Racket Near Me? The 68 Latest Answer

By: Tim Hahn, Owner of Aspen Hill Pro Shop

As a general rule, you should re-string as many times per year as you play per week. If you play twice a week, you should restring your racquet twice a year. All strings will gradually stretch and lose tension or go dead, even if you rarely play. When this happens, start swinging harder, gripping the racquet tighter to get the same results with the ball.

Swinging harder and gripping tighter makes control more difficult, fatigue sets in early and can even contribute to tennis elbow. fresh strings will help your racquet play the way it was intended. If you have questions about racquets or re-stringing please visit the Aspen Hill Pro Shop. Tim will be happy to help you. Tim is a member of USRSA, a Master Racket

Technicians, the Yonex National Stringing Team, and the USPTR.

This article was co-authored by Peter Fryer. Peter Fryer is a tennis writer and coach based in Derry, Northern Ireland. He completed his professional tennis teaching qualification shortly after graduating from university and has been teaching tennis for over 13 years. Peter started the Love Tennis blog in 2010 and contributes to the BBC and national media. This article has been viewed 110,450 times.

Article overview

X

If your tennis racquet is old or damaged, you can re-strung it without having to buy a new racquet. If you don’t play tennis that often, it’s cheaper to pay someone to restring your racquet. However, if you play tennis several times a week, investing a few hundred dollars in a stringing machine can be worthwhile. Nylon is the cheapest and most popular string, but you can also buy polyester, kevlar, or natural gut strings for a more professional feel. After cutting off the old strings with a sharp knife, mount your racquet in the machine and thread the new strings. Start with the vertical strands, then weave the horizontal strands below and above. For more tips from our tennis co-author, including choosing your stringing pattern, read on!

We offer two Ontario based retail locations. One is located in Toronto (1621 Bayview Ave.) and the other in Oakville (361 Cornwall Ave.). Click here for more details.

For many, choosing a tennis string can be even more difficult than choosing a tennis racquet. With literally hundreds of different options, it’s difficult to know which is the right string for you. Just think of your racquet as a car and your strings as an engine. Strings can affect your game just as much as the actual racquet you are using. Finding a string that works well with your racquet will help you feel more confident in your gear and your game when it’s time to hit the court.

Here are 3 things to consider when deciding which are the best tennis strings for you:

ADVANTAGE MATERIAL PRICE POINT

1. BENEFITS: What is the best tennis string for your playing style?

Just as different sizes and weights of tennis rackets create different playing experiences, different types of tennis strings create different effects when making contact with the ball. There are four main benefits to consider when choosing the right string for you: power, control, comfort and spin. Let’s do a tennis string comparison, in which we’ll go into detail on which benefits are best for specific players, and finally which strings we recommend trying for each of these strings:

Power: How quickly the ball leaves the string bed upon contact

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

Which strings? Power strings are typically made from either natural gut or nylon. The strings we recommend in this category are Wilson Synthetic Gut Power, Wilson NXT Power or Luxilon Natural Gut.

Control: how long the ball sits on the stringbed at impact, also known as “dwell time”

For whom? Control strings are best for experienced players who can generate their own power and want to rely on their strings to help them control where the ball is going and make it easier to hit their points.

Which strings? Control cords are typically made of polyester and in some cases nylon. The strings we recommend 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 upon contact

For whom? Comfort strings are best for older players who are more prone to arm injuries like tennis elbow, or for those who have had arm problems in the past.

Which strings? Comfort strings are made of flexible materials such as natural gut or nylon. We recommend Wilson Sensation, Wilson NXT, or Wilson Natural Gut.

Spin: How many revolutions per minute the strings make when they make contact with the ball

For whom? Spin strings are best for competitive players who want to use the spin to create a “heavy ball” or a ball that bounces high and makes it difficult for opponents to attack.

Which strings? Spinning strings are made of polyester and commonly come in a variety of shapes and textures to enhance spin. We recommend Luxilon ALU Power Rough.

2. MATERIALS: What types of strings, gauges, and combinations should you use?

To achieve different benefits, tennis strings are made with a variety of materials and gauges. The three most important things to think about when deciding on materials are:

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

Gauge: Tennis strings are made in different gauges called gauge. The thicker the gauge, the more durability and control, while the thinner the gauge, the more performance and comfort. Here are the most common gauges and who we would recommend them for:

15/1.40 mm: thickest gauge; Best for advanced players looking for maximum durability and control.

thickest starch; Best for advanced players looking for maximum durability and control. 16/1.30 mm: medium thickness; best for competitive players who frequently break strings.

medium thickness Thickness; best for competitive players who frequently break strings. 16L/1.28mm: Medium gauge found in Luxilon strings; best for competitive players looking for a blend of power and control.

Medium gauge in Luxilon strings; best for competitive players looking for a blend of power and control. 17/1.25 mm: medium-thin thickness; Best for beginners and intermediate players looking for power and comfort.

medium-thin starch; Best for beginners and intermediate players looking for power and comfort. 17L/1.20mm: Thin diameter; best for players looking for more touch and feel

thin starch; ideal for players looking for better ball feel 18/1.15 mm: Thinnest thickness; best for players who want maximum touch and feel

Full Bed or Hybrid: Tennis strings are woven both vertically (main strings) and horizontally (cross strings) in a racquet. This means you have to decide which strings go up and down and which strings go sideways in your racquet.

While most players prefer to use the same string for both, or “full bed,” many players have started using two different strings, or “hybrid,” 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 gives you a blend of control, spin, power and comfort, while using only nylon keeps your strings powerful and comfort-oriented.

We recommend beginners go for full bed nylon or a comfortable hybrid, intermediate players go for a hybrid, and advanced players go for either hybrid or full bed polyester. If you’re interested in trying a hybrid string setup, we recommend:

3. PRICE POINT: How much do you want to spend on your strings?

With so many different types of strings, this might be the fastest way to find out which strings work best for you. Here are the two things to think about when it comes to string price:

how much do you want to spend A set of strings can range from $4 to $40. While there is an option for every type of string advantage at every price point, remember that higher price points mean higher performance. As a rule of thumb, we would recommend that beginners spend around $4-$10 per set, intermediate players spend $10-$20 per set, and advanced players spend $20-$40 per set.

Buy sets or rolls? A set of tennis strings strings one racquet, while a roll of tennis strings strings 18 racquets. Reels are priced to save players money. Whether or not the value of buying a reel applies to you depends on how often you play or how often you break strings. If you only play once a month, we recommend sticking with Sets. However, if you’re playing competitively and breaking strings every week or two, we’d say take a roll.

Knowing how often to tighten is just as important as choosing the right string. It actually depends a lot more on your skill level than how often you play. Check out our guide to how often to re-string here.

We hope you found this information helpful in deciding which is the best tennis string for you. If you still have questions, send us a direct message on Instagram and we’ll be happy to help!

My strings are fine for a few more months – I paid good money for them, they last, so what’s the problem?

The problem is that failing to change strings often enough can be detrimental to a player’s game and health. “Most people underestimate the effect a leftover string has on their game and their body,” says Dennis Fabian, Global Business Manager of HEAD’s Accessories Division.

How often should you restring your tennis racket?

Ask any racquet stringer or tennis shop owner what is the number one question they get asked every day and many of them will answer you, “Do I need to re-string my racquet?” “When will I know it’s time to re-string?” ”

While this is a frequently asked question, it’s also something that not many players ever think about.

I know players at the clubs I’ve played at who have maintained the same action for years, and a new string is only ever considered when a string breaks.

However, strings wear out relatively quickly when played and consequently lose their elasticity and tensile strength.

Leaving them for too long can negatively affect your game. Let’s take a closer look at why and when you should change your tennis strings.

Why should you change your tennis strings?

Aside from snapping a string being the obvious reason to have your racquet re-strung, there are two other main reasons why it’s time to cut your strings and put in new ones.

loss of voltage

All tennis strings lose tension over time. They begin to lose tension as soon as they leave the stringing machine.

Depending on the string type, strings can lose about 10 percent of their tension in the first 24 hours after stringing, which continues as the racquet is played.

If you’re a player who relies on higher tension for control and find that your shot accuracy decreases over time, you may need to re-string to regain this element of your game.

String type Tension stability Natural gut very good Synthetic gut good Multifilament medium to good Polyester bad Kevlar very good

string performance

Not only do strings lose tension, they also eventually go dead. This causes them to lose their performance characteristics, which is most likely why you decided to string them in the first place.

This is especially true with polyester strings as they lose their snapback effect, which is a big part of how they help players generate topspin.

How do you know when it’s time to change strings?

visual indicators

Most advanced players will know that it’s time to restring purely by feel, but there are a few visual things to watch out for.

notches

When you touch the ball, your strings rub against each other and create friction, causing the strings to notch.

If you look closely, you can see grooves that form where the main and cross strings cross. This becomes more apparent in the top center of your racquet, which is hopefully the area where you make the most contact with the ball!

When you see that these notches are about to snap the string, or even getting pretty deep, it’s probably an excellent time to re-string the string.

Fray

Natural gut and multifilament strings are made up of many tiny fibers that are intertwined. When freshly strung they often have a coating to protect them, but once this wears out the fibers begin to fray.

This is a natural part of wear for this type of string, so some fraying is completely normal. Fraying can also be increased by humidity and wetness.

However, beyond a certain point, fraying reduces the strength of the string to the point where it breaks. So if you see fibers fraying at all angles and the string looks weak, re-stringing is probably the right choice.

Feel indicators

For players just starting out, you’re unlikely to notice subtle changes in feel on the stringbed. But as your technique develops and your feel improves, you will notice changes in the string’s play over time.

A loss of control

When the strings lose tension, the ball spends more time on the string bed, which can affect your control. A loss of tension can mean hitting long, making more unforced errors, or struggling to place the ball. If so, maybe it’s time you re-string.

Less top spin

When polyester strings lose tension, the string’s snapback decreases, which means you have to swing harder to generate the same amount of topspin as you would with a freshly strung racquet. Polyester strings also develop dead points, resulting in an erratic response.

If you find yourself hitting with less spin and needing to adjust your strings at every point, then it’s probably time to re-string.

So how often should you re-tension?

The reason for writing this post is because of the following question that we received via email. Below is my answer, modified to be a little more generic.

Hello, do you have a general recommendation for the frequency of re-stringing? I play doubles three or four times a week, mainly in my spare time, but also in doubles on the weekends in the summer. I wouldn’t consider myself an aggressive baseline player, but more of a touch player using sensible pace and placement over sheer power. I currently have a 53 lb Prince synthetic gut string in a Yonex DR 100, 6 months since last stringing. I really like this string, but I’m wondering if it’s a little loose and maybe I’m losing control. Any thoughts?

When it comes to racquet re-stringing, there is a general rule of thumb that most players are familiar with:

Over a year, you should restring your racquet as many times as you play in a week.

So if you play four times a week, re-string your racquet four times a year.

If you haven’t had a fresh string bed in six months, then I’d say it’s time to freshen things up.

Even if they look good, the loss of tension and elasticity over time will have reduced the string’s playability.

For most players, this concept of stringing as many times per year as you play per week is not a bad rule. Especially for recreational players who string with artificial gut and don’t hit a big ball.

However, the problem is that it is a fairly wide top that cannot be used for all types of players or all types of strings.

While the time you spend on the court is an important factor, other considerations determine the speed at which players restring their racquets.

This only applies to non-string breakers as they have no choice but to re-string once a string breaks, but factors include:

Frequency and duration of the game

play style

level of competition

budget

string choice

comfort

Aggressive ball racquets with full, heavy topspin hits will wear down strings much faster than flat-hitting doubles specialists with shortened swings and touch play.

For most players, a visual test is more appropriate than sticking to a newly covered calendar. My rule is based on both a visual look at the strings and how they play.

When they look good but you play poorly in a match? OK, it happens. Playing the next match and the one after that badly? It’s probably time for a re-string. Even if the strings were okay, you at least mentally reposition yourself 🙂

What about the polyester restring frequency?

Polyester strings are difficult to follow, and there isn’t really a calendar rule that needs to be followed. In general, while polyester strings are difficult to break for most club players, they die after 10-20 hours of play.

Not only that, they also break off unevenly, creating dead spots in the string bed, which can lead to erratic performance. However, because they don’t break, players often leave them in their frames for too long.

For this reason, it’s often recommended to swap out polys at least every few months to restore playability and reduce the risk of arm injuries as you have to swing harder to keep the same pace.

Final Thoughts

As with most things involving tennis racquets, ultimately restringing comes down to personal preference and how the individual player evaluates a racquet’s performance.

Many players love to play with a freshly strung racquet; others enjoy them more after a break-in period, and some even like strings when they’re dead dead.

I quite like a racquet soon after it’s freshly strung, so I usually restretch my racquets before a more meaningful game.

Or if I know I’m going to play a few times over the coming week, I’ll increase the tension so that when it comes to the second or third hit, the tension is about as high as it would be if fresh from the game would be stringing machine with my desired tension.

From there, it’s all about keeping track of your game throughout the life of the string job. Do I need to swing harder to generate pace and spin? Do the strings bite on the ball or do I have to readjust them after each point? Are shot placement and predictability starting to go awry?

If these questions come to mind after 2 or 3 batting sessions or matches, it’s usually time to re-string and that’s the rule I follow.

Depending on the strings and how often you play, this could take as little as a week or a few months.

While it’s not an exact science, I think it’s best to replace strings early rather than late. And your local club stringer or tennis shop too 😀

Find Your Ideal Tennis String Looking for a new string for your racquet? Use our easy-to-use tennis string finder tool. You can filter by string type, gauge, color, price, stiffness, and shape.

How often do you re-string your racquet? Let me know in the comments below

The old rule of thumb has always been to restring your tennis racket as many times a year as you play in a week. Here is a more detailed explanation:

How often should I re-string my racquet?

Your strings can affect your performance just as much as the racquet you use. If you thought of your racquet as your car and the strings as the engine, you would have a stringing schedule just like you would have an oil change maintenance schedule for your car. The old rule of thumb has always been to re-string your tennis racquet as many times a year as you play in a week (example: if you play once a week, re-string once a year). This model doesn’t take into account players who play less than once a week, and most importantly, it doesn’t play often enough. As a starting point, here is a basic guide of the minimum number of times you should restring your racquet in a year:

What other factors should I consider when re-stringing?

From the environment to how you play, there are so many variables that affect how often you should restring your racquet.

LOSS OF VOLTAGE

The strings begin to lose tension as soon as your racquet is removed from the stringing machine.

When the tension is released, you lose control and your ability to generate as much topspin as possible – especially when playing a poly.

In general, poly strings lose tension faster than multifilament strings. They would need to be re-stringed more often.

ARM/ELLBOW COMFORT LEVEL

Strings lose their resilience over time, creating a stiff or dead feel that can strain your arm.

A freshly strung racquet absorbs the impact better on contact and offers more comfort.

This is especially important if you have elbow or arm problems. In this case, you should consider re-stringing more often

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Natural gut absorbs moisture faster in humid environments.

Poly strings wear out even faster when exposed to excessive heat or sun.

In addition to re-stringing, a tennis bag with a Thermoguard lining better protects the racquet and strings by better controlling the environment.

GAME STYLE

Strings wear out faster when you play more aggressively, use more spin, and/or hit mostly from the baseline.

How do I know when it’s time to restring my tennis racket?

VISUAL INDICATORS THAT RE-STRING IS OVERDUE:

NOTCHES

Strings rub against each other when you hit the ball, creating friction.

This creates grooves at the intersection of the strings in the center of the racquet.

ASK

Natural gut and multifilament strings are made up of tiny fibers that eventually break down.

Poly strings are made from a single filament, so they don’t fray.

I break tennis racket strings too often. What should I do?

DISPLAY OPTIONS

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

SWITCH TO HYBRID STRING

If you play with a multifilament string, you should switch to a poly string in the mains or crosses for more durability.

SWITCH TO POLYESTER (MONOFILAMENT) STRING

Poly strings offer excellent durability because they are made from a single filament.

However, they also lose tension more quickly. This may require more frequent re-stringing for consistent performance.

If you have arm/elbow issues this may not be the best option due to the stiffer feel.

Tip: As the performance of the string changes, continually adjust your technique – whether you notice it or not. It can become frustrating to constantly overcompensate when the strings aren’t working the way they should. If you are an avid player or compete in tournaments and are looking for more consistent performance, you may want to consider stringing more regularly.

I have multiple racquets. I mainly use one and have the other as a backup so it doesn’t get played with as much. Do I have to re-string both each time?

Tip: If you carry multiple racquets, ideally re-string both each time. Even if you play mostly with just one racquet, the strings in the other racquet still lose tension and resilience (just a little more slowly). If you snap your main racquet mid-game and switch to your other racquet, it will play very differently if it hasn’t been strung in a while.

Can I string my tennis racket myself?

A stringing machine is required to re-strung a tennis racket. In order for a racquet to be strung to a specific tension, each main (vertical) and cross (horizontal) string must be individually pulled, and clamps are used throughout the process to maintain tension until a proper knot is finally tied. If you are interested in stringing machines, you can learn more about our Wilson Baiardo stringing machines. Depending on which racquet frame you have, the string pattern and instructions will vary. See our tennis stringing guide for more information.

Where can I find tennis racket stringing services?

There are a variety of places where you can drop off your racquet to have it re-strung. Find local sporting goods stores, tennis specialty shops, and tennis and country clubs in your area. Additionally, you can look around your local tennis community to see who other players are recommending, which might put you in touch with a stringer at home. If you live near a Wilson retail store you can bring it there and have it strung on one of our Baiardo stringing machines.

To learn more about stringing, visit our blog posts What String Tension Should I Use In My Tennis Racket and How Do I Choose A Tennis String!

Rule of Thumb – Well, you may have heard the rule of thumb that says you should restring your racquet as many times per year as you play per week. So if you play three times a week you should restring about three times a year. I think that’s probably a pretty good rule, and if you don’t want to think too much about re-stringing or aren’t even sure when you last re-stringed your racquet, you can follow this rule and it’s good. Instead, here are some other pointers to look for and watch out for in order to know when to restring a tennis racquet:

String Appearance – The easiest way to know when it’s time to tighten is to notice how your strings look. If your strings are fraying or looking ragged, the strings will start to loosen and you won’t get as much spin or power when you hit the ball. If your strings are looking scratchy, it’s definitely time to re-string them.

The Sound of Hitting the Ball – If you find that the sound of hitting the ball is not normal or familiar, it may be time to re-string the string. As your strings wear out, they won’t be as springy, and you may only notice this at first by a change in the tone of your hits.

The Feeling When You Hit the Ball – As your worn strings lose or have lost their elasticity, you may notice a dull or dead feeling when you hit the ball. The ball just doesn’t bounce off your racquet like you’re used to, especially on your groundstrokes. You may feel like you have to hit the ball harder just to get it to go the same distance as it used to.

Time Since Last Stringing – You may feel like you need to re-string just because it’s been so long since your racquet had new strings. This could be especially the case with a racquet you haven’t played with in a long time. And while the strings on this racquet look good, you’ll benefit so much from new bouncy strings that it might be worth the reasonable cost.

Well if you’ve decided, hey, it’s time to re-string but aren’t sure how to go about it, speak to Matt for more information

Most serious tennis players will switch to a new set of racquets about every year. Top pros will change their racquets more often because they don’t want to leave anything to chance. However, some club players have been using the same frames for decades, relying on the maxim “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” So is there a good reason to change your clubs frequently, or do you? Club players with their trusty old Dunlops have the right idea?

For a club player, a racquet frame can last a decade or more, but in the hands of a full-time player with powerful shots, it can wear out after a few months. Some players and their stringers are much rougher on frames than others, and their racquets degrade faster. Once racquets wear out, they feel different and need to be replaced.

Storing two to four racquets should prevent crises, but once they become too cracked or scratched you’ll need to change them anyway.

How long do tennis rackets last?

Racquets are typically made of fiber and resin. Frames are stressed by the forces exerted during play, especially when physically strong players are hitting big serves or aggressive groundstrokes. Eventually the fiber and resin will begin to break down and the racquet will lose some of its stiffness. As this happens very gradually, players may not notice the change.

Nonetheless, reducing stiffness affects the power and spin that can be generated from a frame and limits control. An expensive machine known as a “Racket Diagnostic Center” (RDC) can check for deterioration by measuring frame stiffness. Without this, you’ll likely have to rely on general guidelines to determine how long your clubs will last.

For a large racquet that practices regularly and plays tournaments, racquets last about 1 year and tend to lose stiffness after that. A club player who doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard and takes care of his clubs can easily last 10 years or maybe longer.

Variables affecting racket life expectancy

The lifespan of your racquet is influenced by several factors. How often you play will clearly be one of them and how hard you hit the ball. Some others may be less obvious. Racquet frames must be stored properly: they could be damaged by excessive heat or cold.

The stringing process is also critical. The string is usually of fairly high tension and needs to be removed carefully, and the clamps that hold the racquet in place during stringing should not be too tight. If the stringer is careless or its clamps have seen better days, damage can result. Each time the racquet is re-strung there is a risk of damage, so frequent re-stringing can also shorten the life of the frame.

Of course, a racquet can also be damaged during play, whether from scratches on a hard court or intentionally hitting the ground in anger. Pros can afford to throw their racquets around, but for amateurs it can become an expensive habit: once a frame breaks, it’s useless.

How many tennis rackets should you have?

If you’re a club player, two racquets should be enough. If you break a string or even a frame, you’ll get by with a spare line in your bag. Just make sure you only use one of the racquets until its string breaks so your spare doesn’t get used. Carrying two worn-string racquets puts you at risk of breaking both during a game and running out of one.

As a tournament player you should have enough racquets to last a two week tournament trip without having to resort to a potentially expensive and iffy local stringing service, so four or five should be adequate. Full-time pros might take ten or more and re-string them in batches for each event.

Signs that it may be the right time for a new racquet

If you don’t have an RDC, you probably won’t notice the gradual degradation of your racquet frame. Still, other things may indicate that they need to be replaced. As you play hard courts, the outer portion of the frame will gradually wear out as it gets scraped across the court every time you retrieve a low ball.

This is easy to spot and if the wear is significant then it is likely that your racquet’s weight, balance and stiffness have changed and it is more likely to break. Even worse is the dreaded crack. If you discover a crack in your frame, it will no longer function as it used to and you will need to replace it immediately.

Should you switch clubs even if they’re still good?

As you are young and getting bigger and stronger you may need to switch to a heavier racquet even if the one you have is in good condition. Serious adult players need to change racquets regularly to avoid the effect of gradual loss of frame stiffness, even if the racquets still look good. For club players, your racket should last for several years: if it suits you, there is little point in going through the hassle of changing it frequently.

Final Thoughts

Take care of your racquets, find a good stringer and you’ll put them to good use. Beware of gradual deterioration, but you won’t benefit from changing your racquet just to get the latest style.

A typical club or recreational tennis player will rarely change the string or grip of his racquet. They tend to get used to the feel, and since changes in string tension or grip condition are likely to be very gradual, they will just keep going until the string breaks or the grip visibly slips. You won’t want to unnecessarily incur the expense of re-stringing or a new grip.

Top professionals, on the other hand, see things very differently. They want their racquets to be in optimal condition every time they step out onto the court, whether for a game or for practice. They will therefore come out with a load of freshly strung racquets with new grips and switch racquets whenever they find it necessary. The pros also use different string tensions for different atmospheric conditions or court surfaces.

The reason for the frequent racquet changes made by top pros during matches is primarily to ensure that the racquet performs exactly as they want it to, with no deviations and with little chance of string breakage. They have racquets strung at a range of tensions in case conditions change and also to accommodate the impact of new balls.

broken strings

The racquet head speed and power that pros can bring to bear puts their strings at risk of breaking. Although they typically use hard polyester strings, these may still only last a few hours. There is also a trade-off between string gauge and playability. A top player would rather play with strings that feel good than those that might last longer. To compensate for the increased risk of breakage, the top players are simply given a batch of racquets strung to their specifications each time they practice or play a match.

As Serena Williams pointed out, if a racquet string breaks, it’s likely to cost the player a point, and that point could be extremely critical, so why take the risk? Of course, less affluent players cannot afford such an extravagant approach, so they are slightly disadvantaged by it. The top players are meticulous and take no chances.

loss of voltage

It’s difficult to measure the actual tension in your strings once they’re tied in your racquet. However, it is believed that within 24 hours they lose about 5-10% of the tension they were originally strung at. This underscores another reason why the top pros want their racquets re-strung every day. If they are using racquets that have been re-strung a few days previously, some tension loss has already occurred, the exact amount is unknown.

Tension is also lost during play, to an extent dependent on the player’s aggression and the composition of the string. The top players’ desire for security means they don’t want to allow time for further deterioration, so they will change racquets frequently.

New handle

New racquets tend to come with grips that have a moderate level of stickiness, but which will quickly dissipate upon contact with the natural oils and sweat of a player’s hand. It’s possible to replace the entire original grip with a sticky, padded, absorbent replacement that can be purchased for a few dollars. It is relatively easy to swap out the grip with a little practice and for a club player this may be the best solution.

Pros expect a “new” grip every time they play to avoid slipping the racquet in their hands. They are most likely to do this by using “overgrips”. These are thin, sticky strips that, as the name suggests, are wrapped around the original handle to create a new surface. They can be bought in bulk and are quick to swap out – much more so than a full handle. Some pros take things to the extreme: Richard Gasquet is commonly seen putting a new overgrip on his racquet with every change of ends in his matches. Others simply wait until they switch clubs.

Why do players switch racquets with new balls?

During matches on the main tours, new tennis balls will be provided every 7-9 matches. These are harder and faster than the used balls, so pros should take that into account. The most thorough players will switch to a higher tension racquet when the new balls are brought out. The concern is that the new balls tend to fly far or wide due to their extra speed, and the tighter strings help players feel more in control, at least psychologically.

Final Thoughts

Professional tennis players change their racquets very often. It could be argued that a tremendous amount of time and effort is wasted putting strings in and out of racquets, but top players can afford it and stringers enjoy a steady flow of work.

Players are aware that margins are very good at the highest level and they don’t want to risk losing a game because they are less prepared than their rivals. Nonetheless, the difference these frequent changes make is fairly minimal, and the standard of play would hardly be affected if they didn’t happen, except perhaps when atmospheric conditions change dramatically.

How often should you restring your tennis racket?

Ask any racquet stringer or tennis shop owner what is the number one question they get asked every day and many of them will answer you, “Do I need to re-string my racquet?” “When will I know it’s time to re-string?” ”

While this is a frequently asked question, it’s also something that not many players ever think about.

I know players at the clubs I’ve played at who have maintained the same action for years, and a new string is only ever considered when a string breaks.

However, strings wear out relatively quickly when played and consequently lose their elasticity and tensile strength.

Leaving them for too long can negatively affect your game. Let’s take a closer look at why and when you should change your tennis strings.

Why should you change your tennis strings?

Aside from snapping a string being the obvious reason to have your racquet re-strung, there are two other main reasons why it’s time to cut your strings and put in new ones.

loss of voltage

All tennis strings lose tension over time. They begin to lose tension as soon as they leave the stringing machine.

Depending on the string type, strings can lose about 10 percent of their tension in the first 24 hours after stringing, which continues as the racquet is played.

If you’re a player who relies on higher tension for control and find that your shot accuracy decreases over time, you may need to re-string to regain this element of your game.

String type Tension stability Natural gut very good Synthetic gut good Multifilament medium to good Polyester bad Kevlar very good

string performance

Not only do strings lose tension, they also eventually go dead. This causes them to lose their performance characteristics, which is most likely why you decided to string them in the first place.

This is especially true with polyester strings as they lose their snapback effect, which is a big part of how they help players generate topspin.

How do you know when it’s time to change strings?

visual indicators

Most advanced players will know that it’s time to restring purely by feel, but there are a few visual things to watch out for.

notches

When you touch the ball, your strings rub against each other and create friction, causing the strings to notch.

If you look closely, you can see grooves that form where the main and cross strings cross. This becomes more apparent in the top center of your racquet, which is hopefully the area where you make the most contact with the ball!

When you see that these notches are about to snap the string, or even getting pretty deep, it’s probably an excellent time to re-string the string.

Fray

Natural gut and multifilament strings are made up of many tiny fibers that are intertwined. When freshly strung they often have a coating to protect them, but once this wears out the fibers begin to fray.

This is a natural part of wear for this type of string, so some fraying is completely normal. Fraying can also be increased by humidity and wetness.

However, beyond a certain point, fraying reduces the strength of the string to the point where it breaks. So if you see fibers fraying at all angles and the string looks weak, re-stringing is probably the right choice.

Feel indicators

For players just starting out, you’re unlikely to notice subtle changes in feel on the stringbed. But as your technique develops and your feel improves, you will notice changes in the string’s play over time.

A loss of control

When the strings lose tension, the ball spends more time on the string bed, which can affect your control. A loss of tension can mean hitting long, making more unforced errors, or struggling to place the ball. If so, maybe it’s time you re-string.

Less top spin

When polyester strings lose tension, the string’s snapback decreases, which means you have to swing harder to generate the same amount of topspin as you would with a freshly strung racquet. Polyester strings also develop dead points, resulting in an erratic response.

If you find yourself hitting with less spin and needing to adjust your strings at every point, then it’s probably time to re-string.

So how often should you re-tension?

The reason for writing this post is because of the following question that we received via email. Below is my answer, modified to be a little more generic.

Hello, do you have a general recommendation for the frequency of re-stringing? I play doubles three or four times a week, mainly in my spare time, but also in doubles on the weekends in the summer. I wouldn’t consider myself an aggressive baseline player, but more of a touch player using sensible pace and placement over sheer power. I currently have a 53 lb Prince synthetic gut string in a Yonex DR 100, 6 months since last stringing. I really like this string, but I’m wondering if it’s a little loose and maybe I’m losing control. Any thoughts?

When it comes to racquet re-stringing, there is a general rule of thumb that most players are familiar with:

Over a year, you should restring your racquet as many times as you play in a week.

So if you play four times a week, re-string your racquet four times a year.

If you haven’t had a fresh string bed in six months, then I’d say it’s time to freshen things up.

Even if they look good, the loss of tension and elasticity over time will have reduced the string’s playability.

For most players, this concept of stringing as many times per year as you play per week is not a bad rule. Especially for recreational players who string with artificial gut and don’t hit a big ball.

However, the problem is that it is a fairly wide top that cannot be used for all types of players or all types of strings.

While the time you spend on the court is an important factor, other considerations determine the speed at which players restring their racquets.

This only applies to non-string breakers as they have no choice but to re-string once a string breaks, but factors include:

Frequency and duration of the game

play style

level of competition

budget

string choice

comfort

Aggressive ball racquets with full, heavy topspin hits will wear down strings much faster than flat-hitting doubles specialists with shortened swings and touch play.

For most players, a visual test is more appropriate than sticking to a newly covered calendar. My rule is based on both a visual look at the strings and how they play.

When they look good but you play poorly in a match? OK, it happens. Playing the next match and the one after that badly? It’s probably time for a re-string. Even if the strings were okay, you at least mentally reposition yourself 🙂

What about the polyester restring frequency?

Polyester strings are difficult to follow, and there isn’t really a calendar rule that needs to be followed. In general, while polyester strings are difficult to break for most club players, they die after 10-20 hours of play.

Not only that, they also break off unevenly, creating dead spots in the string bed, which can lead to erratic performance. However, because they don’t break, players often leave them in their frames for too long.

For this reason, it’s often recommended to swap out polys at least every few months to restore playability and reduce the risk of arm injuries as you have to swing harder to keep the same pace.

Final Thoughts

As with most things involving tennis racquets, ultimately restringing comes down to personal preference and how the individual player evaluates a racquet’s performance.

Many players love to play with a freshly strung racquet; others enjoy them more after a break-in period, and some even like strings when they’re dead dead.

I quite like a racquet soon after it’s freshly strung, so I usually restretch my racquets before a more meaningful game.

Or if I know I’m going to play a few times over the coming week, I’ll increase the tension so that when it comes to the second or third hit, the tension is about as high as it would be if fresh from the game would be stringing machine with my desired tension.

From there, it’s all about keeping track of your game throughout the life of the string job. Do I need to swing harder to generate pace and spin? Do the strings bite on the ball or do I have to readjust them after each point? Are shot placement and predictability starting to go awry?

If these questions come to mind after 2 or 3 batting sessions or matches, it’s usually time to re-string and that’s the rule I follow.

Depending on the strings and how often you play, this could take as little as a week or a few months.

While it’s not an exact science, I think it’s best to replace strings early rather than late. And your local club stringer or tennis shop too 😀

Find Your Ideal Tennis String Looking for a new string for your racquet? Use our easy-to-use tennis string finder tool. You can filter by string type, gauge, color, price, stiffness, and shape.

How often do you re-string your racquet? Let me know in the comments below

A tennis racket used by Switzerland’s Roger Federer against Rafael Nadal in the 2011 French Open final has been auctioned for a record price.

The red and white Wilson Six One Tour model fetched $55,000 (£42,000/€46,000) at Goldin Auctions’ online sale.

That’s the highest amount anyone has ever paid at auction for a racquet used by a male player.

The highest price to date was in 2007 when a collector paid $32,000 (£24,000/€27,000) for the wooden Slazenger racquet used by Britain’s Fred Perry in the 1934 Wimbledon final when he won the first of three consecutive singles titles.

The most a racquet fetched at auction was two years ago when a different Wilson model was used by American legend Billie Jean King when he was winning former world number one and ex-Wimbledon and US Open champion Bobby Riggs in an exhibition match defeated Houston in 1973, sold for $125,000 (£95,000 / €105,000)

The Donnay racquet used by Swede Björn Borg in his 1981 loss to John McEnroe at Wimbledon was sold by Christie’s in London 13 years ago for $18,500 (£14,000/€15.00).

Last December, Goldin Auctions sold Serena Williams’ broken racquet from her infamous 2018 US Open final loss to Japan’s Naomi Osaka for $20,910 (£15,900/€17,500).

The red and white Wilson Six One Tour model used by Roger Federer in his last loss to Rafael Nadal at the 2011 French Open broke the auction record for a men’s tennis racket ©Getty Images

Federer’s bat included a letter of authenticity from his agent and a Beckett authentication for the autograph.

Goldin Auctions described it as “an incredible piece of tennis history”.

At the final at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, Federer attempted to become the first male player in the Open era and only the third man overall to achieve a double-career Grand Slam.

Nadal was the defending champion and the Spaniard successfully defended his crown, defeating his long-time rival 7-5 7-6 5-7 6-1 to claim the sixth French Open title of his career.

Federer also lost to Nadal in the French Open finals in 2007 and 2008 but won the title in 2009, beating Sweden’s Robin Söderling 6-1 7-6 6-4 in the final.

In total, Federer has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles – with Nadal, the most in history for a male player.

Re-stringing racquets London

We offer a professional racquet stringing service for tennis, badminton and squash racquets from our shop in Northwood Hills (North West London). We have hundreds of strings to choose from and our experienced staff can advise you on the most suitable strings for your playing style and recommend a tension if you are unsure.

Customers bringing their own string pay £25 for stringing.

Racquet Restring Prizes

Tennis Racket Restring

Tennis racquet string prices range from £25 to £65 depending on the type of string you choose.

Spring tensioner for badminton rackets

Plain Strings – £22

Premium Strings – £25

Squash Racket Restring

Plain Strings – £22

Premium Strings – £25

Racquets must be returned to us for re-stringing, which is usually done within 3 working days (excluding Saturday and Sunday). This may take longer at busy times but you will be notified when you return your club.

Terms & Conditions Conditions: