A Guide to Racquet Stringing and Choosing the Perfect String for You.
In the world of racquet sports, the choice of string can make a significant difference in your performance on the court. From enhancing power to improving control, selecting the right string for your racquet is crucial for optimizing your game. In this blog post, we'll delve into the art of racquet stringing and provide valuable insights to help you choose the best string to suit your playing style and preferences. All information provided from our amazing stringer Ben Roja-Unate.
Types of String
Multifilament
Multifilament strings offer a soft, almost cushion-like feel, making them an excellent choice for players with arm injuries. However, some players may be surprised or slightly put off by the fraying that occurs as these strings wear down, which results from the breakage of the tiny fibers used to create them. Multifilament strings are typically the most expensive option after natural gut.
Synthetic Gut
Synthetic Gut is similar to multifilament’s, synthetic gut offers greater durability but is slightly stiffer and provides less power. It is typically cheaper than multifilament strings.
Polyester
If players are seeking added durability, polyester tennis strings can be a solid option; however, due to their more durable construction, polyester strings can be quite hard on a player’s arm. Consequently, they are not typically recommended for players dealing with arm injuries. Polyester strings do enjoy some popularity among players who frequently break strings. However, even in this case, polyester strings are typically combined with natural gut or nylon strings to provide durability while maintaining a softer, more natural feel.
Natural Gut
The main benefits of natural gut strings are the superior feel and control they provide players. There's just enough texture that translates into great spin, and they do a great job of maintaining their tension due to their elasticity. However, they're not nearly as durable as polyester tennis strings, and they are without a doubt the most expensive to purchase.
Textured String
Textured tennis strings are frequently constructed by incorporating an outer wrap or a larger wrap within the outer layer of wraps, creating a raised band and adding texture to the strings. Alternatively, grooves may be added to strings to achieve a similar effect. Another method involves morphing the shape of the string to provide texture. These types of strings are exclusively made from polyester and offer the greatest potential for spin.
Hybrid Tennis Stringing
Hybrid strings combine the benefits of two different types of tennis strings by using them both within a racquet. It's popular to use more durable strings on the mains (the strings that run from the bottom of the racquet head to the top) and softer strings on the crosses (the strings that run from one side of the racquet to the other).
String Characteristics
String Gauge (Thickness)
String gauge is measured by the following format:
19 / 1.00-1.10 mm (diameter)
18 / 1.10-1.16 mm
17L / 1.16-1.20 mm
17 / 1.20-1.24 mm
16L / 1.22-1.26 mm
16 / 1.26-1.33 mm
15L / 1.34-1.40 mm
15 / 1.41-1.49 mm
The bigger the number on the left, the thinner the diameter of the string.
Typically the thicker the string the more durable the string will be. Will also cause the racquet to feel slightly stiffer when compared to thinner strings.
The thinner the string the more potential for spin.
We mostly deal with gauges 18, 17, 16L, and 16.
String Tension
Normally measured in lbs, occasionally in kgs, the typical range of tension is between 45-65 lbs.
Low String Tension (roughly 45-53 lbs)
Generally speaking, lower string tension provides a player with more power, while higher tension offers more control.
With a lower tension, or softer string bed, your strings act like a trampoline, providing greater rebound effect upon ball contact and enabling you to generate more speed or power on your shots.
Additionally, the sweet spot of a tennis racquet becomes slightly larger as string tension decreases.
High String Tension (roughly 57-60 lbs)
Conversely, higher tension reduces the rebound effect, resulting in a more stable hitting surface and a smaller sweet spot, ultimately leading to greater control.
Consider your level of play when evaluating string tension; while higher tension aids in control, beginners may benefit from lower tension, which is more forgiving, especially for off-center shots.
Finding the right tension
Start within the tension range recommended by your racquet manufacturer, usually indicated on the inside of the racquet's throat. Begin with a tension that is midway between the manufacturer's recommendations.
Different types of string often require different tension.
Natural Gut, the most powerful string, requires a 3-4 lbs increase compared to normal synthetic guts.
Multifilament, similar to natural gut in power, requires a 2-3 pound increase compared to synthetic guts.
Polyester strings, being the stiffest, typically need a drop of about 10% compared to synthetic guts.
Synthetic guts serve as the baseline measure, typically strung in the middle of the racquet manufacturer's recommendations.
Other
"Pre-stretching" is another aspect of stringing/string tension, involving stretching the string prior to stringing the racquet, measured by a percentage of tension (e.g., 5%, 10%, or 15%). It is primarily done to reduce tension loss over the string's life, typically only applicable to natural gut.
Racquet Overview
Head
Generally speaking, most head sizes will typically fall between 95-110 square inches.
Generally speaking, the size of a racquet head has a direct influence on the overall power of a racquet. That is, the bigger the head, the more power and the smaller the head, the less power, but the more control a player will have.
Beam
The beam of a tennis racquet is simply the thickness of the racquet head.
The thicker the beam the more power the racquet will produce. The thinner the beam the more control the racquet will have.
Grip
The problem with a grip size that is too small is that your hand, wrist and arm will have to expend extra energy squeezing the handle to keep the racquet firmly in place. Over time this can contribute to injuries such as tennis elbow.
Similarly, a grip that’s too large can be challenging to hold and as a result put unnecessary stress on your hand, wrist and arm.
String Pattern
The amount of strings on a racquet, the mains (strings going up and down), crosses (string going from one side to another).
Generally speaking the more strings on a racquet the more control the racquet will posses (referred to as a more dense or closed string pattern).
These types of string patterns give more control, less power, less comfort.
Examples: 18 Mains x 20 Crosses (18x20), (16x20),
The less amount of strings refereed to as an ‘open’ string pattern.
These types of string pattern offer more comfort, more spin potential, and more power.
Examples: (16x19), (16x18), (18x16), (16x15)
Weight/Balance
Generally speaking, lighter racquets are easier to swing and maneuver, but tend to provide less overall stability and control when hitting. As a result, these racquets can be great options for beginners or players who weigh less and have less strength.
On the other hand, heavier racquets will typically provide you with more control and help reduce vibration or shock when hitting. However, by their very nature, heavier racquets tend to be more difficult to maneuver and harder on your wrist and arm.
Weight is in grams or oz
Closely tied to racquet weight is racquet balance or more specifically, how weight is distributed throughout a tennis racquet. The three different categories of racquet balance are head heavy, head light and balanced.
Head Heavy (HH)
Generally speaking, tennis racquets that are head heavy will provide players with more power and stability. As a player swings a head heavy racquet and makes contact with a tennis ball, the extra weight helps provide greater force on contact and also helps keep the head of the racquet from moving or twisting, thus providing greater stability and more control.
HH racquets tend to have less mass than Head Light racquets, Lighter racquets are HH in order to counter the instability they lack because of a lack of mass.
Tend to be around 250-285 grams.
Head Light (HL)
With head light racquets the weight of the racquet is greater in the handle allowing players to swing faster, which can also help improve stability on contact with the ball. In addition, with the extra weight in the handle, head light racquets can often help reduce vibration and overall shock to a player’s arm.
HL racquets tend to have more mass than HH racquets, Heavier racquets are HL in order to increase maneuverability.
Tend to weigh around 305-340 grams.
Balanced (EB)
A balanced racquet is one where the weight of the tennis racquet is equally distributed throughout. Balanced racquets try to strike a happy medium with enough weight in the head to provide power and stability, while at the same time providing enough weight in the handle to help prevent excess vibration and shock.
Tend to weigh around 285-305 grams.
