Which Tennis String is Right for Your Racquet?
November 19th, 2015 by Do It Tennis
Tennis strings are a major component of your tennis racquet that can truly affect your playing. Yet, there are so many different types and brands. How do you choose? Here are a few things you need to know while shopping for strings.
There are three different types of racquet strings to choose from:
1) Natural gut: The natural gut tennis racquet string gives power and sensitivity, and can also protect your joints from injury. It provides a dampening effect that reduces vibration, and even helps prevent injury when strung at low tension. It also even plays well with wear. Natural gut is made from a cow’s intestine and can withstand stretching due to the collagen. All these traits have earned its name as the “king of strings”. The only downside to natural gut string is that it is sensitive to moisture, so you must store your racquet in a cool, dry place. 2) Synthetic: The synthetic string is the second type of tennis racquet string preferred by players. There are two different subcategories of synthetic strings. You can choose a synthetic string with a solid core or a synthetic string with a multifilament construction. Solid Core string is typically lower cost, but still provides power and control. It’s a good option for tennis players who break their strings often and need a more cost-efficient option. Synthetic racquet string with multifilament construction is the cheapest alternative to natural gut. It has the same dampening effect you get from natural gut, but you lose some of the sensitivity. Multifilament synthetic string is also known for helping increase ball spin. 3) Polyester / Polyester-Hybrid: These polyester racquet strings are durable and grab the ball more, allowing for heavy-topspin shots. However, they are stiffer and consequently known for being harder on your arm. Polyester-hybrid tennis strings provide a nice balance between the stiffness of a polyester string and the softness of synthetic gut, multifilament or natural gut strings. Pro tip: Polyester-hybrid strings are typically used in the mains for durability.A closer look at MultiFilament & Polyester Strings
Tennis racquet strings come in different gauges.
Understanding string gauge is simple: the lower the number, the thicker the string; the higher the number, the thinner the string. A thick racquet string gives more power and lasts longer, while a thin string has a better feel and playability. You can also choose different tensions to have your racquet strung. At low tensions, you’ll feel less control and more power. Lower tensions also give you longer shots. On the other hand, higher tensions give you more control, but less power and shorter shots. Once you figure out the specifics of the racquet sting you want to choose, there are a few different options for buying that string. You can buy it in a reel which will yield around 16 string jobs. Every brand has the option for a reel. This comes in handy for professional stringers and tennis coaches who string their team’s racquets. You can also opt for a single set of string. Last but not least, you don’t have to have boring colors either. Tennis string comes in all kinds of different colors – from fun and bright, to neutral and subtle. Give your racquet your favorite color, or match your tennis strings to your team uniform! Now that you have the 411 on different tennis strings available, you can make a better and more informed decisions for your racquet. An important thing to remember is that you don’t have to feel married to any one string. You can switch it up to a different string every string job until you find the one for you.
