How to Choose Tennis String Tension

First, remember that tension is really a matter of personal preference. Even the pros' tensions are all over the map. Some string as low as the mid-to-high 30-lbs range, while others are as high as 70+ lbs, with most others sprinkled somewhere in the middle. So, it's important to experiment and find a tension that works best for you and your game.

So, if you're going to try different tensions, where's a good place to start? It depends on what type of string you are using, so here is what we suggest for the various string types.

Synthetic gut, natural gut or multifilament string: Start at the middle of the recommended tension range that's printed on your racquet.

Polyester or kevlar: String 2 lbs below the middle of the recommended tension range that is printed on your racquet.

Try that out and see how it feels for you. If you want to make an adjustment, here are a few tips to remember.

Lowering your tension will give you more power, more comfort and will open up the sweetspot of your racquet.

Increasing your tension will give you more control and allows you to generate your own power more (instead of the racquet or string doing it for you).

Spin is affected both positively and negatively by increasing and decreasing tension, so it is difficult to determine which setup would help provide more/less spin.

If you are using a hybrid string setup with a polyester and something softer like a multifilament or natural gut, we usually recommend stringing the polyester at 5 percent lower tension to account for its stiffness relative to the other string. However, once again this comes down to personal preference, so try your two strings at different tensions and see how they feel to you.

Hopefully that answers some of your questions regarding what tension to use when stringing your racquet. Always remember that Tennis Warehouse is your No. 1 place to go to learn everything you need to know about tennis equipment!