MORE THAN A GUT FEELING
With hundreds of strings on the market, landing on the right one can bring on an acute bout of choice paralysis. Fabricio Mendes, a self-confessed restring nerd and owner of Fab TennisRestringing recommends that when it comes to picking your strings, the first question to ask is, ‘‘What type of player am I?”
“Being aware of your own on-court strengths and weaknesses will narrow down the choice of strings. Do you like to play with power? Do you like to grind out rallies with consistent topspin? Do you prefer the fast volleys of doubles? These decisions will 100% affect the strings you should be choosing and your enjoyment of the game. It might even be the reason why you win more matches.”
Mendes says an understanding of your string choice is an on-court equivalent to knowing “how the shape of a skateboard will affect your carve, or what the number of fins on a surfboard will do to your speed.” Information is power — and in this instance, control and spin too.
Once you know your player profile, Mendes recommends getting to grips with the basics of strings to unlock your “beast mode” on the court. It might be time to pick up some scissors, snip through your strings and start again with this advice in mind
STRING TYPES
NATURAL GUT
It's expensive, but it’s the best, combining maximum playability and comfort whilst also helping generate the most power. The tension holds over time too. Its only achilles heel is humidity: as a natural material, real gut absorbs moisture, so it’s not ideal if you want your strings to last longer.
POLYESTER
This string changed the game in the early 2000s, enabling pro players to combine spin and control and still allowing for durability. But it’s stiff, so the big con is reduced power. Polyester will also lose tension, even without action.
SYNTHETIC GUT
Made from nylon, synthetic gut has good overall playability, providing power and spin. It might not be as comfortable as natural, or as stiff as polyester, but it maintains good tension.
DOUBLE UP
If you want to add an extra 10% to your game, consider going hybrid. Many players on tour combine two strings to access the qualities of both. Note that the qualities of the vertical strings become the most dominant. There are no hard rules to the combinations, but many next gen players are experimenting with two polyester hybrids.
GAME TYPE x TENSION
TOPSPIN
Go for low tension (52lbs or lower) on a polyester string.
FLAT WITH POWER
Choose a high tension (55lbs or more) on a natural or synthetic gut.
PLENTY OF POWER
Opt for low tension (50lbs) with a natural gut or multifilament.
FAQs
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GET THEM RESTRUNG?
Change your strings as many times a year as you play a week. If you play three times a week, change them three times a year. The exception is with polyester, which loses tension over time, so every three months is advisable.
CAN BAD STRINGS AFFECT TENNIS ELBOW?
Yes, and the worst culprit is polyester. The stiffness of the strings sends extra vibrations through the racket into the elbow joint. Only those with strong forearms or advanced players should be using it
