How do I know if my racket needs restringing?

Check whether any of the strings have frayed. A frayed string will be close to breaking.

A loss in string tension is another reason to consider restringing. A loss in tension will reduce the amount of control and power you are able to generate which will affect the performance of the racket.

Signs your strings have lost tension:

• Your racket is beginning to feel 'dead' or lifeless
• You are having to swing harder to get the ball to go deeper
• You make good contact with the ball but aren’t getting as many solid contacts
• The sound has changed when making contact with the ball

 

How often should I have my racket restrung?

Racket Stringer recommends:

• 1. Have your racket restrung after every 40 hours of play.
• 2. Have your racket restrung depending on how often you play.

 

Number of times you play per week	1 - 2	3	4	5 +
When you should restring	every 6 months	every 4 months	every 3 months	every 2 months

 

It is worth noting that different types of string lose tension at different rates. A polyester string such as Luxilon Big Banger Original will lose tension faster than a synthetic gut string such as Head Synthetic Gut PPS. Your style of play will also affect the lifespan of your strings.

 

What types of strings are there?

Natural Gut

• A natural material from animal intestine (usually bovine).
• A very popular string as it helps to create power, control and spin.
• The most resilient material with the best tension retention (remains soft when strung at high tensions compared with other materials that stiffen).
• The most expensive and least durable of all types of strings (highly likely to break in wet conditions).

Synthetic Gut

• Produced to compensate for the lack of durability from natural gut and comes in a variety of colours.
• Used in many factory strung rackets as it is well suited for many playing levels.
• Provides a good mixture of power and control but does not offer a lot of spin potential: unless used with a textured or spin synthetic, such as Head RIP Control.
• Can be used on its own or with a more durable string such as a kevlar or polyester.

Multifilmanets

• Created to replicate the characteristics of natural gut.
• Thin Strands are wound around one another to create variations of power, control, spin and durability, such as Babolat Addiction.
• Popular choice for many players as it provides a great mixture of playability and durability.
• If you suffer from tennis elbow or have any arm injuries then this is the best string for you.

 Polyesters

• Provide the highest level of power, control and spin.
• Primarily used by professionals who want durability and tension retention during matches.
• Often used with another type of string such as a synthetic gut or multifilament creating a hybrid system.
• Has a high impact on the arm and not recommended for juniors.
• The majority of players use polyesters on the main strings and anything else on the crosses.