When you're looking to add comfort to your playing experience, changing your strings is a good option. For the most comfortable string experience, we recommend natural gut and multifilament strings.

Babolat Touch VS

It's hard to exaggerate the impact Babolat Touch VS has had on the game of tennis. It was launched in 1925, and if you consider the list of iconic tennis players who have used it or the number of historic matches it has graced, Babolat Touch VS is literally the stuff of legend. Made from the fibrous and stretchy serous membrane of cow intestines, the magic of VS Gut lies in its elasticity, which delivers a feel at impact that is without equal. It also remains peerless in the areas of comfort, arm-protection and power. If you're curious to learn about natural gut, be sure to check out our article on the history of natural gut.

KLIP Legend 16 Natural Gut

One hurdle to natural gut is its price. It is the most expensive string type. Players who want to give natural gut a try at a lower price, should take a look at KLIP Legend. Although Legend is not as durable or premium as the Babolat Touch VS above, it still delivers the comfort and responsiveness of natural gut.

Wilson NXT 17

One of the most popular strings of all time, Wilson NXT has a well-deserved reputation as the king of comfort. Built with more than 1,000 ultra flexible fibers that are bonded with stretchy polyurethane, NXT has been meticulously engineered to dampen the brutal force of ball impact. What separates it from many of its softer competitors is that it takes much longer to become mushy and lose its magic feel. The fact that it will also supercharge your shots with power is a nice bonus. Granted, it doesn’t have the absolute comfort of the top natural guts, but it comes pretty close for half the price.

Babolat XCel 17

Similar to NXT, Xcel is also a multifilament. Packed with a bundle of shock absorbing filaments and loaded with stretchy polyurethane, Xcel offers plenty of comfort but also some good control and durability for its string type. Our TW playtesters found Xcel to have above average control for such a flexible string. The increased control comes partly from a recent durability upgrade, which gives this string a tougher construction and a slightly crisper (as opposed to mushier) response. In their review of Xcel, they noted the feel and precision as highlights.

Tecnifibre NRG2 17

Although it is impossible to replicate the sublime feel and awesome power of natural gut, Tecnifibre NRG2 is an affordable alternative for a great many players. Built from an army of ultra pliable filaments and bathed in stretchy polyurethane, NRG2 not only adds instant power and buttery feel to any racquet, it also sidesteps the No. 1 problem of multifilament strings: getting stuck out of position. The fact that it stays playable longer than most of its peers means you get more bang for your buck.

Volkl Power Fiber Pro 16

Made with larger filaments and a firm bonding resin, this arm-friendly multifilament offers above average control and durability for the breed. Recommended to comfort seekers who want to take bigger cuts at the ball without having to worry as much about overhitting.

Head Velocity MLT 17

Head's Velocity MLT delivers above average spin potential compared to other multifilaments and comes at a great value. This string is a great option for non-string breakers who want comfort and power without breaking the bank. In their review, the playtesters liked this string for its comfort, playability and good value.

Prince Premier Control 17

Don't be fooled the the name, Premier Control isn't all about control. This multifilament delivers a comfortable blend of power and control, and it comes in at a great price. We recently reviewed this string, and it won over the playtesters for its blend of comfort, power and control.

When it comes to adding more comfort to your tennis setup, changing to softer strings, such natural gut or multifilaments, is a good place to start. Once you've selected a string, you can further fine-tune the feeling you get at ball impact by adjusting the tension you choose. For additional comfort, we would recommend lowering the tension, while for additional control, we would say to increase tension. We go into more detail in our article about how to choose tension for your racquet.

We hope you found this article helpful, and if you have any questions about strings or other arm-friendly gear advice, you can give our racquet experts a call at 1-800-799-9230.

Understanding String Stiffness
How to Choose Tension
How to Pick Strings for Power, Control, Spin, Durability
Best Comfort Racquets