Restringing Tennis Rackets Near Me? Best 173 Answer

From time to time you need to give your racquet a makeover. How often you ask? Well, the general rule of thumb is that you need to replace your strings as many times as you play per week. For example, if you play four times a week, you should restring the racquet at least four times a year.

With all the re-stringing, would it be better to just buy a new racquet? Let’s compare that today. Over time and with play, strings lose their elasticity, so it’s important to know if you need to replace or re-string them when they start to negatively affect your movements on the court.

restringing

As previously mentioned, the general rule of thumb for restringing a tennis racquet depends on how much you play per week. If you play 3 or 4 times a week, consider changing the strings at least 3 to 4 times a year.

New strings ensure quality performance. Since your power and control on the court is highly dependent on the tension of the strings, keeping it up to date is crucial.

Most avid players have at least two racquets in their bag – having a backup nearby is crucial. What if a string breaks? Well, that’s just one more reason to make sure your frames are re-strung with fresh strings as often as needed. And sometimes you can tell it just by looking at it. If they’re looking a little shabby, frayed or sagging, that’s a clear sign it’s time to re-string them.

Often you will even be able to feel or even hear the difference in your swing. If either one doesn’t seem right, that’s another sign it’s time to pull the strings.

Substitute

How do you know when it’s time to buy something brand new instead of investing in new strings? Well, that’s really up to the player!

Upgrading your racquet

As you move up the ranks, you may want to start buying a more advanced racquet. Many kids start out with youth racquets that are made for beginners, so it’s in their interest to get a better design to keep their game on track. And sometimes you might not just want to re-string your current racquet, you might want to buy a new one as a backup.

Extending racquet life

The life expectancy of your racquet varies. But there are a few key signs to look out for that will tell you when it’s time to start buying a new one. Sometimes re-stringing is not enough as the problems can be in the grip or in the frame itself. In fact, if you re-string your racquet and end up not feeling a difference in your swing, it’s time to go shopping.

The post-stringing also affects the frame. So the more you re-string, the heavier the toll your frame takes. But you can have the grommet strip replaced when you re-stretch, which will help extend the life of your racquet without having to buy a whole new one too soon.

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

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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!

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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

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: Yes, racquet frames will eventually “soften”. Over time, various stresses add up and eventually destroy the fibers and resin that make up your racquet, resulting in a frame that’s less stiff than it used to be. The change is very, very gradual and usually occurs slowly over many years, making it difficult to detect by just hitting the club. Some very observant players seem to be noticing it and have told me that they feel like their frame just doesn’t have the same feel or pop as it used to. The only way to objectively measure “softening” is to use a Racquet Diagnostic Center (RDC) to measure the stiffness of the frame. To accurately measure stiffness loss over time you would need to record a basic stiffness measurement when the frame is brand new and then continue measuring over time to track how much the stiffness has decreased. However, RDC machines are quite expensive, so unless you have access to one at your local pro shop, this probably isn’t a practical route.

To complicate matters further, the exact time frame the “softening” process takes varies based on a number of different contributing factors including – but not limited to – how hard the player hits the ball, how often the frame is used where the frame is stored, string tension, how often the frame is re-strung, and how careful the stringer is when stringing. There’s really no set deadline – it just depends. The good news is that there are several things you can do to prolong the effective life of your tennis racquets.

Choose an experienced, conscientious and careful stringer. Re-tensioning is actually one of the more stressful things a frame can go through, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid it! It is truly akin to the routine maintenance of a car, keeping your racquet performing as it should. A careless or inexperienced stringer can shorten the effective life of your racquet or possibly even cause immediate damage to the frame. An experienced stringer using a quality machine can minimize the stress on your frame during the stringing process and extend the life of your frame. Store your racquets in an air-conditioned area. Extreme temperatures and temperature changes are not good for your clubs. Don’t leave them in a sweltering car in the summer or in an unheated shed in the winter. Storage in a climate controlled area at room temperature will minimize damage from temperature extremes and temperature changes. Don’t hit your racquet, throw your racquet, bounce your racquet, or use your racquet to bang a ball out of a fence. While a few bumps and scrapes are inevitable during play, staying away from the above behaviors will save your racquet additional stress it doesn’t need.

I’m not sure if there is a “right” answer to this question, if it’s time for you to look at a new frame, and it’s hard for me to say for sure – it really just comes on it. Based on my experience I will say this: Ten years is quite a long time to use a frame, although I’ve seen people play very well with even older frames. If you play regularly (1-3 times a week) and have your racquet re-strung regularly (which you should), it may be time to try new frames.

How much has racquet technology evolved over the last 20-30 years? There are many answers to the question: are modern racquets better than old ones?

Tennis rackets have not changed massively in shape, size and material in the last 20 years. The move from wood to graphite was massive in the ’80s, but how much has changed since then? Are modern racquets better than old ones?

So what is modern and what is old? At a time when technology is evolving at the speed of light, ten years is a long time. 20 years is huge and 30 years is a whole different world. But clubs definitely don’t move as fast as electronics. Some might argue that not much has changed at all, and there are those who definitely prefer older racquets to modern ones.

Let’s start by looking at what has changed.

What has changed in clubs?

Along with minor material updates, larger head sizes and thicker bars are more common today. Let’s list it.

Head sizes have increased overall – most models today are 100 square inches.

Bar Thickness – The most popular racquets have thicker bars, ranging from 23-26mm.

Stiffness – Older racquets used to be very flexible (RA 50-60), now they are stiffer (65-75).

More Open String Patterns – There are more racquets today with open string beds like 16×19.

Lighter – Rackets are much lighter on average

These are the most common trends in racquets. Racquets have gotten bigger, lighter, stiffer, with more open string patterns and thicker bars. That doesn’t mean there aren’t more old-school racquets on the market. Medium sized racquets (90-93 square inches) are still available. There are racquets with very thin beams. And tight string patterns have made a small comeback with more 18×20 models being released in the last two years.

Why are we seeing these general trends?

Tennis has gotten faster. Players are fitter, move better and hit with more club head speed. Due to the changed swing mechanics (windshield wipers, more racket deceleration) they need lighter rackets (swing faster) that provide better topspin (open patterns and spin grommets). The faster pace requires the racquet to offer a little more power (higher stiffness). And because of the faster swing, they need more forgiveness (bigger head size, bigger sweet spot).

That all makes sense. And for a while, racquets like the Babolat Pure Drive really fueled this trend. Other brands followed suit with similar racquet models.

Then, in recent years, there has been a countertrend. Players suffered from wrist problems and tennis elbow due to the stiffer and lighter racquets (strung with stiff polyester strings at high tension). The Wilson Clash, HEAD Gravity and Prince Phantom came out trying to find a position between modern and old school racquets. That meant: a larger sweet spot, a semi-thick bar, a slightly more open pattern, but a more flexible frame for better shock absorption.

So why not use older clubs?

As you may know, many pros use older racquets that are painted to look like the latest model. Tennis players are definitely sensitive to change. For a professional player, the racquet needs to feel like an extension of his arm.

For this reason, many pros use the racquets they have always played with. But they’ve hit millions of tennis balls and can always hit the sweet spot.

Because of this, I think most recreational and club players should use more forgiving racquets. Most older racquets are heavy and/or have a small sweet spot. I really love the HEAD Pro Tour 630 (waiting to test the HEAD Pro Tour 2.0 reissue) but I know I won’t be playing my best tennis with it. Maybe once or twice, but not on average.

Does forgiven mean stiff?

no You don’t need to use stiff racquets and risk injuring your elbow and wrist. Today you can find racquets with a large sweet spot and a slightly more flexible feel. I don’t think there is no reason for players below NTRP level 5.0 to use head sizes less than 100 square inches (unless they really prefer the slightly faster feel of 95-98). In my last post on top 3 racquets for intermediate players, I listed HEAD Gravity MP, Wilson Clash 100 and Prince Phantom 100X 305 as three excellent options for the modern game without being stiff and lacking in feel.

The smaller the head size, the more weight you’ll need to create a decent sweet spot. And a 100 square inch racquet can provide good control despite the larger head size. Players under 5.5 rarely need the precision of a 95 square inch racquet. (Tennis is a matter of feeling and taste, so of course this is very personal.)

So forgiveness doesn’t have to be stiff. If you like stiff racquets, that’s fine too. But they are generally not recommended for players with arm problems.

summary

I love to play with classic racquets from time to time. And I’m using a 1997 racquet which is still forgiving and easy to play (read my Babolat Soft Drive review). But I don’t see myself returning to anything like a 95 square inch racket any time soon. I better play with a little more real estate.

Tennis technology has evolved slowly. Some materials come, go, and come back. Quality control may have deteriorated in most cases. So there are no definite answers to the question: are modern racquets better than old ones? Some are, some aren’t. There are racquets that are 20-30 years old that work well today. And there are modern racquets that play better than most old-school racquets. A good bat is a good bat. What you choose is up to you.

hp And if you don’t know what to get, check out the Tennisnerd Advice Service. DS.

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

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.

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