Tennis strings explained

Tweet

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Gauges 

Gauges are essentially the thickness of a string. The higher the gauge, the thinner the string. The problem with gauges however, is that there is not a standardized and universal chart. A 16 gauge for one company might be a 16L (L stands for 'light', which basically means it's halfway between 2 gauges, think of a 16L as a 16.5) for another. Which is why we recommend referencing the actual millimeter sizing. In general, thinner string will provide more power and spin while thicker strings provide more control and durability.

 

Construction In other words, what the string is made of. There are 4 main categories that modern strings will fall under: synthetic gut, multi-filament, natural gut and polyester. Synthetic gut: This is the cheapest type of string you can buy. It is typically made of nylon and offers good playability for the price. Multi-filament: Offers playability most similar to natural gut string. They are made from hundreds of tiny fibers wound together. These range in price anywhere from $5 on up to $20. Natural Gut: Made from a cow's intestines, this is the string multi-filament strings try to emulate. Natural gut strings hold their tension the best, is the most comfortable on the arm (great for players with arm problems) but is also the most expensive. Polyester: In the last 10 years or so, this string type has taken over the market and the pro tour. This is a stiffer string that offers intermediate to advanced players with faster swing strokes control and spin. We don't typically recommend these type of strings for most beginner level players. 

Upsides & Downsides 

Polyester 

Upsides: Durable. Lots of control. Lots of spin. 

Downsides: Low powered. Harsher on the arm. Loses tension faster. 

Multi-filament 

Upsides: Very good playability. Wide range of price points. Softer on the arm. Very good tension maintenance. Closest thing to natural gut. Downsides: Less control oriented. Certain multi-filaments can feel "mushy." Lacks durability for bigger hitters. 

Synthetic Gut 

Upsides: Economically priced. 

Downsides: Average overall performance and playability. Not extraordinary in any category. 

Natural Gut 

Upsides: Optimum playability. Holds tension the best. Easy on the arm. Playability even at very high tensions.

Downsides: High priced. 

   

Tension Tension is referring to how tight the strings are strung in the racquet. Each racquet will have a specific tension range that the manufacturer recommends you string within, usually around 50-60 pounds. Even though you can request your racquet to be strung above the maximum tension, it could void the warranty by doing so. In general, the higher the tension, the more control and the lower the tension, the more power. Typically, a player that generate their own power will string with a higher tension and vice version for a beginner. If you don't know what tension to string with, we recommend you choose the the middle tension and then you can make adjustments from there. Need more power? Go down 2-3 pounds next time. 

When to re-string
Contrary to popular belief, breaking a string isn't the only time you should re-string your racquet. For the casual recreational player, a good rule of thumb to follow is to re-string as many times in a year as you play in a week. For example, if you play 5 times a week, then you should re-string at least 5 times a year. But if you use polyester string, then I would recommend stringing more often. You might see in some of our string reviews that we mention that the string has "bagged out." That is when a string has lost most of its tension and therefore, lost most of its playability; which includes power, control and feel.