Stringing Guide
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
Synthetic Gut
A Synthetic gut string is designed for all players. It is a soft string providing plentiful amounts of power due to its level of repulsion thus in turn providing a softer feel. This is ideal for anyone suffering from elbow/arm pains. It is not as durable as say a polyester string due to its construction but has developed to be more durable than in the past.
Multifilament
This is a type of string design where numerous individual string filaments, usually made of nylon, are wrapped or braided into a single length of string with a urethane binding agent. Multifilament strings tend to produce more power and comfort than solid-core or synthetic gut strings, and are a preferred choice for players with arm problems. Multifilament strings are designed to mimic to performance of natural gut without the price tag. These strings provide excellent elasticity when freshly strung but lose tension quicker than natural gut.
Polyester
The polyester string is a much firmer feeling string providing plenty of control helping players keep the ball in court more by reducing the amount of power produced. This allows the player to take faster strokes and be aggressive on court. Due the construction of polyester strings, they also come in rough or shaped versions that give a little more bite on the ball allowing for extra spin. The hard feeling of a polyester string means it is not recommended for those with arm injuries or those who need a little extra power.
Hybrid
This is the mixing of two different types or gauges of string in the same racquet. Hybrid stringing has become popular in the last several years due to the rise of polyester-based strings. Since these polyester-based strings are so stiff, many players have mixed them with synthetic or natural gut strings to make for a more playable and comfortable string bed, while retaining much of the poly’s spin and durability characteristics.
Natural Gut
This is deemed to be the mother of all string materials, providing top-of-the-line tension maintenance and feel for players of all ability levels. Made from individual strands of intestines (usually from cows), this string is also one of the priciest. Used by club players and touring pros alike, natural gut was originally extremely sensitive to water and weather changes, but modern coatings and treatments have decreased this risk.
Monofilament
A type of string design where one string material, or a combination of materials, is extruded, or drawn through a geometrically shaped dye, to form a solid piece of string. Monofilament strings tend to exhibit greater durability than synthetic gut or multifilament strings of the same material, but have less power, feel, and comfort. The most common monofilament string, polyester based strings, have become softer (read: easier on the arm) as it has evolved. These strings are ideal for players searching for durability with control and spin. The lower elasticity of these strings requires full, fast swings to maximize their performance. This is why they are generally used by intermediate and advanced players. Polyester-based strings are known for losing tension fairly quickly.