Tennis Racket Restringing Near Me? The 7 Latest Answer

By: Tim Hahn, Owner of Aspen Hill Pro Shop

As a rule of thumb, you should restring 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 110,497 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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In this best tennis strings rating guide, we show you the 9 best strings on the market and how to choose the perfect string for your game.

We analyzed and ranked each option on our list based on several factors including: price, durability, comfort, control, feel and performance.

Our goal is to teach you everything you need to know about tennis strings and help you find the string that works best for you. Whether you’re a hard-fought, intermediate tennis player or a beginner just starting out, we’ve reviewed a tennis string for you below.

Before we take a closer look at each string below, here is our list of the 9 best tennis strings.

Best tennis strings by category

While tennis strings come in a variety of styles and types, these three standout strings are our picks for the best spin, durability, and all-around playability.

Best Overall String Solinco Hyper-G Heaven The best string for players of all skill levels looking to maximize spin, power, durability and control. Best String for Spin RPM Blast Black 17g The best string for players of all skill levels looking for the perfect blend of spin and comfort. Most Durable String Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power Rough 125 Silver The best string for hard-fought players looking for a durable and powerful string.

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Reviews of the 9 best tennis strings

Below we will review the 9 best tennis strings and include specific characteristics of each string such as:

Shape | How is the string constructed?

| How is the string constructed? fabric | What is the cord made of?

| What is the cord made of? Price | Scale of 1-3 dollar signs.

| Scale of 1-3 dollar signs. Gauge | How thick is the cord?

#1 – Solinco Hyper-G sky

With its boxy shape, Solinco’s Hyper-G offers remarkable spin and control for a polyester string. It is strong in almost all areas of playability and excels in durability and control. While other poly strings can be stiff and lose tension quickly, Hyper-G offers exceptional feel and maintains tension after play. Finally, this is a great alternative for intermediate players looking for an arm-friendly polyester string. As a competitive player struggling with tennis elbow when playing with other polyester strings, Hyper-G helped me recover without sacrificing quality.

Shape | square

fabric | copoly

Price | $

Gauge | 16-20

Pros For a poly, it offers great feel and control and is fairly durable

arm-friendly

Square string design offers spin Cons Lack of power and probably not suitable for beginners

Although better than most polys, the string tension still drops quickly. Buy On Tennis Warehouse

#2 – Babolat RPM Explosion 17g

The octagonal RPM Blast is our pick as the best string for spin. First used by Rafael Nadal in 2010, RPM Blast remains one of the most popular and popular strings among all types of players. While some reviews suggest that players with bigger hits will benefit more from this string, comfort, control and feel are clear strengths that even inexperienced players can fully appreciate. Power isn’t this string’s best attribute, but RPM Blast’s 17 gauge option offers plenty of pop.

Shape | Round

fabric | copoly

Price | $$$

Gauge | 16, 17

Benefits Unmatched spin potential

Also soft on the arm, offers control and comfort

Suitable for all types of players Cons 17g version can break quickly for intermediate and advanced players

Being polyester lacks power

Loses tension quickly which is common with poly strings Buy On Tennis Warehouse

#3 – Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power Rough 125

Despite being our pick for the most durable string on the market, Luxilon’s Alu Power Rough offers much more than just durability. A textured brother to Alu Power, a smooth poly, the “rough” version maintains control while giving the player more spin. A serious contender for even the best players, this string is extremely popular throughout the pro tour. Although its stiffness makes it an unlikely choice for beginners, Alu Power Rough is one of the most popular strings of all time.

Shape | Structured and rough

fabric | polyester

Price | $$$

Gauge | 16, 17

Pros Holds tension well and is extremely durable

Offers great spin and control for a poly

Particularly suitable for high-level players Cons Hard on the arm

It lacks power

Too stiff for most beginners Buy from Tennis Warehouse

#4 – Wilson NXT comfort

Wilson makes some of the best tennis balls and racquets out there, but they also make some great strings.

As a multifilament string with approx. 1600 fibers, this string offers a great combination of power and comfort. Its soft feel makes it our top pick for the best tennis elbow string, and is particularly well-suited for players looking for comfort. As its durability as a smooth multifilament is limited, it is best suited for beginner to intermediate players who rarely break strings.

Shape | Round

fabric | multifilament

Price | $$

Gauge | 16, 17

Benefits Helps players avoid problems like tennis elbow

Great comfort and remarkable performance

Popular with beginners Cons Breaks easily

Doesn’t hold tension well Buy from Tennis Warehouse

#5 – Head Synthetic Gut

This nylon (or synthetic gut) string is a well-rounded string for beginners who value value for money. Head Synthetic Gut is a good choice for players who want decent feel and power from their string. While not as popular as the other options on our list, this is a solid all-around string that doesn’t cost too much.

Shape | Round

fabric | Nylon (synthetic gut) and multifilament

Price | $

Gauge | 16

Pros Very affordable

Decent feel and power

Great for newer players

Multiple color options Cons Not ideal for intermediate players Buy from Tennis Warehouse

#6 – Wilson Synthetic Gut Power

Wilson’s Synthetic Gut Power is an all-round string that combines the durability and control of synthetic gut with power. Surrounded by high-energy wraps, the string gives lots of action on the ball and avoids the main problem of synthetic guts, which is lack of power. One of the cheapest strings on our list, it’s perfect for players who don’t string very often or want to save money on strings.

Shape | Round

fabric | Nylon (synthetic gut)

Price | $

Gauge | 16

Advantages Relatively high power for a synthetic gut string

arm-friendly

Inexpensive compared to other top brands. Cons Lack of spin and feel

Not ideal for intermediate players Buy On Tennis Warehouse

#7 – Babolat VS Touch

Dubbed Original Natural Gut, the latest version of Babolat VS Touch combines the original properties of natural gut, such as stability, control and spin, with the new BT7 and Thermogut technologies. Babolat claims that the BT7 treatment increases the string’s longevity and durability, making it nearly 60% more resistant to moisture. Overall, this string gives players plenty of power and tries to alleviate durability issues. Unsurpassed in feel, this string is popular with all types of players.

Shape | Round

fabric | polyester

Price | $$$

Gauge | 16

Benefits BT7 treatment increases durability

Amazing feel, power and spin

Popular with all types of players Cons Expensive for non-competitive players Buy On Tennis Warehouse

#8 – Tecnifibre NRG2 SPL

One of the most comfortable and powerful strings on our list, Tecnifibre’s multifilament NRG2 SPL is resilient and explosive. Using Silicon Pyrogene Lubritec (SPL) to resist abrasion and improve durability, Tecnifibre’s string is great for players looking for a comfortable, powerful and durable string. NRG2 is particularly desirable for players looking to improve their depth and increase their speed.

Shape | Round

fabric | multifilament

Price | $$

Gauge | 16, 17

Benefits Great power

Silicon Pyrogene Lubritec improves durability

Extremely comfortable and supple. Disadvantages Not good for control and spin

The strings often move and often need to be readjusted. Shop at Tennis Warehouse

#9 – Wilson Champion’s Choice Duo

Marketed as Roger Federer’s string, Wilson Champion’s Choice Duo is a perfect balance of natural gut and the rougher polyester. Combining these two fundamental types, this string ranks on all aspects of performance including comfort, durability, power, control and touch. This leads us to conclude that it is the best string for control, although it certainly excels in other categories as well. Overall, it’s a great option for advanced players willing to invest in their game.

Shape | Round

fabric | polyester and natural gut

Price | $$$

Gauge | 16

Pros Best string for control

Blend of gut and poly offers all round excellence

Championed by Roger Federer himself Cons Expensive Buy On Tennis Warehouse

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Properties of tennis strings

Before choosing a tennis string to play with, it’s important to know what characteristics to look for, including the pros and cons of choosing one string over another.

You’ll hear people use terms like poly, multifilament, synthetic gut, and hybrid. What does it all mean? We will understand below.

tennis string material

Strings are usually made from one or a combination of the following materials.

Natural Gut – for advanced users

– for advanced players Nylon – recommended for beginners

– recommended for beginners Polyester – for all types of players

The table below shows the differences between natural gut, nylon and polyester tennis strings. Each type of string has different advantages and disadvantages in terms of spin, control, durability, comfort and price.

Natural Gut Nylon (Synthetic Gut) Polyester Spin & Control 5/5 3/5 4/5 Durability 3/5 4/5 5/5 Comfort 5/5 4/5 3/5 Price $$$ $$$

natural gut

This type of string is actually made from a cow’s intestines and offers the best stability, control and spin of any string you can buy. However, it is less durable than some synthetic strings and is one of the most expensive types of strings.

Because it is expensive, natural gut is typically only used by advanced or professional tennis players. Most club and advanced players use nylon or polyester strings.

nylon or synthetic gut

When people say they play synthetic gut strings, they usually mean nylon. This type of string has more feel and durability than natural gut, but you don’t have as much control.

Most beginners and some intermediate players will play with nylon because it is cheaper than natural gut and is a good material to avoid tennis elbow.

polyester

Polyester tennis strings have grown in popularity over the past few decades and are probably the most commonly used strings among intermediate and advanced players. Also known as “poly”, this string is the most durable type of string you can use. However, it is very stiff and not ideal for people with tennis elbow. Many poly strings are combined with a gut string to increase comfort.

If you are an intermediate club player who frequently breaks strings, consider a polyester string.

Composition of tennis strings

When manufacturers make a tennis string, it can be made in a variety of ways.

monofilament string

A monofilament string is made from a strand of material. If you examine its profile closely, you will see that it consists of a single solid core. This is how most poly strings are constructed.

Monofilament strings, popular among intermediate players, have high durability and control, but typically lack comfort, power, and feel.

multifilament string

A multifilament string, as it sounds, is made up of multiple strands of material. These strings are usually made of nylon, polyester, or a combination of both. Multifilament strings are often made from hundreds or thousands of fibers woven together.

These strings offer better feel and comfort for players with tennis elbow, but typically fray and break more easily than monofilaments.

Composite string and co-poly string

Occasionally a string will have a monofilament core but with an outer layer that is a multifilament string. This is called a composite string. Similarly, a co-polyester string is primarily polyester but contains additional materials.

Co-poly strings are becoming increasingly popular and some of the picks on our list above are co-poly.

Structured String

In recent years, many string manufacturers have started making textured strings. If you cut a textured cord and look closely you would see that they don’t have a round profile at all. Instead, they are edged to help the string grab the ball and increase spin. Textured strings are often hexagonal, octagonal, or twisted.

To add even more spin to your groundstrokes, consider the Topspin Pro. It is one of the best tennis training aids on the market.

tennis string gauge

The gauge of a tennis string refers to its thickness. String gauges range from 15 to 19, with 15 being the thickest. As you increase your strength, you gain more spin and power, but lose control and durability. The most commonly used string gauges are 16 and 17 respectively. Source: Tennis Warehouse

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How to choose a tennis string

You can spend dozens of hours trying to figure out which tennis string is best for you. As a player, you have to go through hundreds of options like string type, tension, gauge and brand.

There isn’t just one universal string, and to choose a string that’s right for your game and needs, you need to decide what factors (comfort, power, feel, etc.) are most important to you. In the following sections we’ll help you through every step of the process so you can choose the perfect string for your game!

Do you want comfort and feel or durability and control?

The first step in choosing a tennis string is to decide what qualities are important to you.

For many beginners and advanced players, comfort and feel are particularly important. If you’re a player who likes to swing freely without as much racquet vibration on contracts, a synthetic gut or multifilament string is probably your best bet. These strings are great for players with arm injuries, such as B. a tennis elbow, and who want a string with maximum comfort.

However, many advanced players, especially those with fast swings, prefer durability, control, and power instead. Especially for players who hit the ball hard and break strings frequently, long-lasting strings can save a lot of money. If you’re one of those players, polyester and co-polyester strings like Solinco Hyper-G and Luxilon Alu Power Rough are perfect for you.

Choosing the Best Type of Tennis String for Your Game

First you need to choose the best string type for your needs. For most players, we recommend one of these options.

Polyester and co-polyester – for advanced players who frequently break strings. These strings are very durable and generate a lot of spin.

– for advanced players who frequently break strings. These strings are very durable and generate a lot of spin. Synthetic Gut – for beginners or intermediate players who want a forgiving string. These strings are good for control and less expensive than other types

– for beginners or intermediate players who want a forgiving string. These strings offer good control and are cheaper than other hybrid strings (a combination of polyester and synthetic gut) – for intermediate and advanced players looking for the control of a synthetic gut combined with the spin and durability of polyester.

Choosing the right string gauge

Most tennis players, from beginners to high-level tennis players, choose a string gauge between 16 and 17. These are the most common gauges because they do the best job of combining durability with power and spin.

So if you’re specifically looking for control and durability, we recommend starting with a 16-string gauge. However, if you’re interested in a bit more power and spin, thinner 17g strings might be a better place to start. After that, if you feel like you need more of something, you can adjust accordingly.

At what tension should I string my racquet?

First, look at your racquet. All of the best tennis racquets have a manufacturer-recommended tension range. You can usually find it on the inside of the neck or on the outside of the frame. It’s usually in the 10 lb range. For example, 55 lbs +/-5 would mean 50 to 60 lbs.

Once you have reached the recommended tension, consider which string to use.

If you’re using a polyester, we recommend starting at the bottom of this recommendation.

, we recommend starting at the bottom of this recommendation. With a synthetic gut, start in the mid to high range.

While some strings naturally offer more power and others emphasize more control, you can control these factors by stringing your racquet tightly.

In short, when it comes to string tension, lower tension gives a player more power, while higher tension increases control.

For example, if you’re playing with a poly string like Babolat RPM Blast, which has more control than power, you can string it looser to generate more power. If you want more control, tighten the string with a higher tension in the same way. This is the best way to subtly manage the pros and cons of each string.

Conclusion: Our pick for the best tennis string

With hundreds of choices on the market, it can be difficult to determine the best tennis string for you. There are many factors to consider when choosing a string, and depending on your game and skill level, some may be more important than others. Things like control, power and durability might be more important for serious and intermediate players, while price, comfort and feel might be more important for advanced players or beginners.

Our pick for best overall tennis string is Solinco Hyper-G Heaven. It combines performance, control, durability and affordability. It’s a string that suits players of all skill levels and has everything you need to play your best tennis!

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.

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

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.

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.

If you purchase a product through our links below, we may earn money from our affiliate partners to support the site. However, this does not affect our rating or recommendation of each product. See our list of partners and how we get paid here. Here you can also find out how we check tennis equipment.

In this best tennis strings rating guide, we show you the 9 best strings on the market and how to choose the perfect string for your game.

We analyzed and ranked each option on our list based on several factors including: price, durability, comfort, control, feel and performance.

Our goal is to teach you everything you need to know about tennis strings and help you find the string that works best for you. Whether you’re a hard-fought, intermediate tennis player or a beginner just starting out, we’ve reviewed a tennis string for you below.

Before we take a closer look at each string below, here is our list of the 9 best tennis strings.

Best tennis strings by category

While tennis strings come in a variety of styles and types, these three standout strings are our picks for the best spin, durability, and all-around playability.

Best Overall String Solinco Hyper-G Heaven The best string for players of all skill levels looking to maximize spin, power, durability and control. Best String for Spin RPM Blast Black 17g The best string for players of all skill levels looking for the perfect blend of spin and comfort. Most Durable String Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power Rough 125 Silver The best string for hard-fought players looking for a durable and powerful string.

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Reviews of the 9 best tennis strings

Below we will review the 9 best tennis strings and include specific characteristics of each string such as:

Shape | How is the string constructed?

| How is the string constructed? fabric | What is the cord made of?

| What is the cord made of? Price | Scale of 1-3 dollar signs.

| Scale of 1-3 dollar signs. Gauge | How thick is the cord?

#1 – Solinco Hyper-G sky

With its boxy shape, Solinco’s Hyper-G offers remarkable spin and control for a polyester string. It is strong in almost all areas of playability and excels in durability and control. While other poly strings can be stiff and lose tension quickly, Hyper-G offers exceptional feel and maintains tension after play. Finally, this is a great alternative for intermediate players looking for an arm-friendly polyester string. As a competitive player struggling with tennis elbow when playing with other polyester strings, Hyper-G helped me recover without sacrificing quality.

Shape | square

fabric | copoly

Price | $

Gauge | 16-20

Pros For a poly, it offers great feel and control and is fairly durable

arm-friendly

Square string design offers spin Cons Lack of power and probably not suitable for beginners

Although better than most polys, the string tension still drops quickly. Buy On Tennis Warehouse

#2 – Babolat RPM Explosion 17g

The octagonal RPM Blast is our pick as the best string for spin. First used by Rafael Nadal in 2010, RPM Blast remains one of the most popular and popular strings among all types of players. While some reviews suggest that players with bigger hits will benefit more from this string, comfort, control and feel are clear strengths that even inexperienced players can fully appreciate. Power isn’t this string’s best attribute, but RPM Blast’s 17 gauge option offers plenty of pop.

Shape | Round

fabric | copoly

Price | $$$

Gauge | 16, 17

Benefits Unmatched spin potential

Also soft on the arm, offers control and comfort

Suitable for all types of players Cons 17g version can break quickly for intermediate and advanced players

Being polyester lacks power

Loses tension quickly which is common with poly strings Buy On Tennis Warehouse

#3 – Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power Rough 125

Despite being our pick for the most durable string on the market, Luxilon’s Alu Power Rough offers much more than just durability. A textured brother to Alu Power, a smooth poly, the “rough” version maintains control while giving the player more spin. A serious contender for even the best players, this string is extremely popular throughout the pro tour. Although its stiffness makes it an unlikely choice for beginners, Alu Power Rough is one of the most popular strings of all time.

Shape | Structured and rough

fabric | polyester

Price | $$$

Gauge | 16, 17

Pros Holds tension well and is extremely durable

Offers great spin and control for a poly

Particularly suitable for high-level players Cons Hard on the arm

It lacks power

Too stiff for most beginners Buy from Tennis Warehouse

#4 – Wilson NXT comfort

Wilson makes some of the best tennis balls and racquets out there, but they also make some great strings.

As a multifilament string with approx. 1600 fibers, this string offers a great combination of power and comfort. Its soft feel makes it our top pick for the best tennis elbow string, and is particularly well-suited for players looking for comfort. As its durability as a smooth multifilament is limited, it is best suited for beginner to intermediate players who rarely break strings.

Shape | Round

fabric | multifilament

Price | $$

Gauge | 16, 17

Benefits Helps players avoid problems like tennis elbow

Great comfort and remarkable performance

Popular with beginners Cons Breaks easily

Doesn’t hold tension well Buy from Tennis Warehouse

#5 – Head Synthetic Gut

This nylon (or synthetic gut) string is a well-rounded string for beginners who value value for money. Head Synthetic Gut is a good choice for players who want decent feel and power from their string. While not as popular as the other options on our list, this is a solid all-around string that doesn’t cost too much.

Shape | Round

fabric | Nylon (synthetic gut) and multifilament

Price | $

Gauge | 16

Pros Very affordable

Decent feel and power

Great for newer players

Multiple color options Cons Not ideal for intermediate players Buy from Tennis Warehouse

#6 – Wilson Synthetic Gut Power

Wilson’s Synthetic Gut Power is an all-round string that combines the durability and control of synthetic gut with power. Surrounded by high-energy wraps, the string gives lots of action on the ball and avoids the main problem of synthetic guts, which is lack of power. One of the cheapest strings on our list, it’s perfect for players who don’t string very often or want to save money on strings.

Shape | Round

fabric | Nylon (synthetic gut)

Price | $

Gauge | 16

Advantages Relatively high power for a synthetic gut string

arm-friendly

Inexpensive compared to other top brands. Cons Lack of spin and feel

Not ideal for intermediate players Buy On Tennis Warehouse

#7 – Babolat VS Touch

Dubbed Original Natural Gut, the latest version of Babolat VS Touch combines the original properties of natural gut, such as stability, control and spin, with the new BT7 and Thermogut technologies. Babolat claims that the BT7 treatment increases the string’s longevity and durability, making it nearly 60% more resistant to moisture. Overall, this string gives players plenty of power and tries to alleviate durability issues. Unsurpassed in feel, this string is popular with all types of players.

Shape | Round

fabric | polyester

Price | $$$

Gauge | 16

Benefits BT7 treatment increases durability

Amazing feel, power and spin

Popular with all types of players Cons Expensive for non-competitive players Buy On Tennis Warehouse

#8 – Tecnifibre NRG2 SPL

One of the most comfortable and powerful strings on our list, Tecnifibre’s multifilament NRG2 SPL is resilient and explosive. Using Silicon Pyrogene Lubritec (SPL) to resist abrasion and improve durability, Tecnifibre’s string is great for players looking for a comfortable, powerful and durable string. NRG2 is particularly desirable for players looking to improve their depth and increase their speed.

Shape | Round

fabric | multifilament

Price | $$

Gauge | 16, 17

Benefits Great power

Silicon Pyrogene Lubritec improves durability

Extremely comfortable and supple. Disadvantages Not good for control and spin

The strings often move and often need to be readjusted. Shop at Tennis Warehouse

#9 – Wilson Champion’s Choice Duo

Marketed as Roger Federer’s string, Wilson Champion’s Choice Duo is a perfect balance of natural gut and the rougher polyester. Combining these two fundamental types, this string ranks on all aspects of performance including comfort, durability, power, control and touch. This leads us to conclude that it is the best string for control, although it certainly excels in other categories as well. Overall, it’s a great option for advanced players willing to invest in their game.

Shape | Round

fabric | polyester and natural gut

Price | $$$

Gauge | 16

Pros Best string for control

Blend of gut and poly offers all round excellence

Championed by Roger Federer himself Cons Expensive Buy On Tennis Warehouse

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Properties of tennis strings

Before choosing a tennis string to play with, it’s important to know what characteristics to look for, including the pros and cons of choosing one string over another.

You’ll hear people use terms like poly, multifilament, synthetic gut, and hybrid. What does it all mean? We will understand below.

tennis string material

Strings are usually made from one or a combination of the following materials.

Natural Gut – for advanced users

– for advanced players Nylon – recommended for beginners

– recommended for beginners Polyester – for all types of players

The table below shows the differences between natural gut, nylon and polyester tennis strings. Each type of string has different advantages and disadvantages in terms of spin, control, durability, comfort and price.

Natural Gut Nylon (Synthetic Gut) Polyester Spin & Control 5/5 3/5 4/5 Durability 3/5 4/5 5/5 Comfort 5/5 4/5 3/5 Price $$$ $$$

natural gut

This type of string is actually made from a cow’s intestines and offers the best stability, control and spin of any string you can buy. However, it is less durable than some synthetic strings and is one of the most expensive types of strings.

Because it is expensive, natural gut is typically only used by advanced or professional tennis players. Most club and advanced players use nylon or polyester strings.

nylon or synthetic gut

When people say they play synthetic gut strings, they usually mean nylon. This type of string has more feel and durability than natural gut, but you don’t have as much control.

Most beginners and some intermediate players will play with nylon because it is cheaper than natural gut and is a good material to avoid tennis elbow.

polyester

Polyester tennis strings have grown in popularity over the past few decades and are probably the most commonly used strings among intermediate and advanced players. Also known as “poly”, this string is the most durable type of string you can use. However, it is very stiff and not ideal for people with tennis elbow. Many poly strings are combined with a gut string to increase comfort.

If you are an intermediate club player who frequently breaks strings, consider a polyester string.

Composition of tennis strings

When manufacturers make a tennis string, it can be made in a variety of ways.

monofilament string

A monofilament string is made from a strand of material. If you examine its profile closely, you will see that it consists of a single solid core. This is how most poly strings are constructed.

Monofilament strings, popular among intermediate players, have high durability and control, but typically lack comfort, power, and feel.

multifilament string

A multifilament string, as it sounds, is made up of multiple strands of material. These strings are usually made of nylon, polyester, or a combination of both. Multifilament strings are often made from hundreds or thousands of fibers woven together.

These strings offer better feel and comfort for players with tennis elbow, but typically fray and break more easily than monofilaments.

Composite string and co-poly string

Occasionally a string will have a monofilament core but with an outer layer that is a multifilament string. This is called a composite string. Similarly, a co-polyester string is primarily polyester but contains additional materials.

Co-poly strings are becoming increasingly popular and some of the picks on our list above are co-poly.

Structured String

In recent years, many string manufacturers have started making textured strings. If you cut a textured cord and look closely you would see that they don’t have a round profile at all. Instead, they are edged to help the string grab the ball and increase spin. Textured strings are often hexagonal, octagonal, or twisted.

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tennis string gauge

The gauge of a tennis string refers to its thickness. String gauges range from 15 to 19, with 15 being the thickest. As you increase your strength, you gain more spin and power, but lose control and durability. The most commonly used string gauges are 16 and 17 respectively. Source: Tennis Warehouse

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How to choose a tennis string

You can spend dozens of hours trying to figure out which tennis string is best for you. As a player, you have to go through hundreds of options like string type, tension, gauge and brand.

There isn’t just one universal string, and to choose a string that’s right for your game and needs, you need to decide what factors (comfort, power, feel, etc.) are most important to you. In the following sections we’ll help you through every step of the process so you can choose the perfect string for your game!

Do you want comfort and feel or durability and control?

The first step in choosing a tennis string is to decide what qualities are important to you.

For many beginners and advanced players, comfort and feel are particularly important. If you’re a player who likes to swing freely without as much racquet vibration on contracts, a synthetic gut or multifilament string is probably your best bet. These strings are great for players with arm injuries, such as B. a tennis elbow, and who want a string with maximum comfort.

However, many advanced players, especially those with fast swings, prefer durability, control, and power instead. Especially for players who hit the ball hard and break strings frequently, long-lasting strings can save a lot of money. If you’re one of those players, polyester and co-polyester strings like Solinco Hyper-G and Luxilon Alu Power Rough are perfect for you.

Choosing the Best Type of Tennis String for Your Game

First you need to choose the best string type for your needs. For most players, we recommend one of these options.

Polyester and co-polyester – for advanced players who frequently break strings. These strings are very durable and generate a lot of spin.

– for advanced players who frequently break strings. These strings are very durable and generate a lot of spin. Synthetic Gut – for beginners or intermediate players who want a forgiving string. These strings are good for control and less expensive than other types

– for beginners or intermediate players who want a forgiving string. These strings offer good control and are cheaper than other hybrid strings (a combination of polyester and synthetic gut) – for intermediate and advanced players looking for the control of a synthetic gut combined with the spin and durability of polyester.

Choosing the right string gauge

Most tennis players, from beginners to high-level tennis players, choose a string gauge between 16 and 17. These are the most common gauges because they do the best job of combining durability with power and spin.

So if you’re specifically looking for control and durability, we recommend starting with a 16-string gauge. However, if you’re interested in a bit more power and spin, thinner 17g strings might be a better place to start. After that, if you feel like you need more of something, you can adjust accordingly.

At what tension should I string my racquet?

First, look at your racquet. All of the best tennis racquets have a manufacturer-recommended tension range. You can usually find it on the inside of the neck or on the outside of the frame. It’s usually in the 10 lb range. For example, 55 lbs +/-5 would mean 50 to 60 lbs.

Once you have reached the recommended tension, consider which string to use.

If you’re using a polyester, we recommend starting at the bottom of this recommendation.

, we recommend starting at the bottom of this recommendation. With a synthetic gut, start in the mid to high range.

While some strings naturally offer more power and others emphasize more control, you can control these factors by stringing your racquet tightly.

In short, when it comes to string tension, lower tension gives a player more power, while higher tension increases control.

For example, if you’re playing with a poly string like Babolat RPM Blast, which has more control than power, you can string it looser to generate more power. If you want more control, tighten the string with a higher tension in the same way. This is the best way to subtly manage the pros and cons of each string.

Conclusion: Our pick for the best tennis string

With hundreds of choices on the market, it can be difficult to determine the best tennis string for you. There are many factors to consider when choosing a string, and depending on your game and skill level, some may be more important than others. Things like control, power and durability might be more important for serious and intermediate players, while price, comfort and feel might be more important for advanced players or beginners.

Our pick for best overall tennis string is Solinco Hyper-G Heaven. It combines performance, control, durability and affordability. It’s a string that suits players of all skill levels and has everything you need to play your best tennis!