How to choose a tennis string

You've just purchased your new tennis racket and are undecided on what string to choose?
Your satisfied with the string you are currently using and want to check if there are any better strings to improve your game?

There are alot of string to choose from, but no worries! We know it is not easy choosing the right string for your racket, it's a long detailed process, but thanks to our easy Guide you will be able to make the right choice.

The variables to take into consideration when trying to make the right choice are:

- the Composition;

- the Gauge;

- the Tension.

Natural Gut, multi-filament or monofilament: what string should you choose?

Natural Gut

Natural Gut strings are made of cows' gut worked in strands and assembled with collagen to create a unique element. Natural Gut is the most precious and expensive of these materials, offering great play, incomparable quality, tension stability and plenty of power and comfort. This type string has limited durability and is very sensitive to weather, above all the heat, which could early drying up of the string. Discover all the natural gut string we offer on our online store!

Monofilament

Monofilament string have a simple construction, the structure is based on one single solid core. These polyester strings offer great durability, a quality preferred by professionals and advanced level players searching for control, but losing power and response. We are talking about a tennis string that is not very elastic, but guarantees good spin and longer durability. A section could be rounded to increase ball grip and spin potential and lined to maximize durability to wear and improve string movement.

Multi-filament

The most economical alternative to the natural gut: offers power feel and comfort. Multi- filament strings are constructed of hundreds of filaments coated with a protective lining. Multi- filament strings offer better elasticity than single filament strings, but usually inferior durability. This type of string is recommended to players that suffer or wnat to prevent tennis elbow because it cushions the ball avoiding vibrations. Choose from the vast assortment of multi- filament string in our mega-store!

Hybrid

Hybrid strings are a combination of two different strings for mains and crosses. It is often preferred that the two strings pertain to different categories (for example a mono-filament on the mains and a natural gut on the corsses) in order to benefit from the mix of the two qualities of the two strings. In this way there are many different combinations that can be paired. Generally it is recommeded stringing the more rigid string on the mains and the more elastic string on the crosses but there is an exception to the rule: Roger Federer, for example, inverts the two strings. There is no real and proper rule!

Guage and Duration

The guage of the tennis string, defined also as diameter and thickness, is subject to variability (they range from 1 mm to 1.50 mm); the guages most commonly used are 1.25, 1.30 and 1.35.

The international measurement of the thickness is reffered to as Gauge: the higher the number the thinner the string; generally it is commonly referred to in millimeters.

In a determined range, for example the size 16, there may appear a capital L (16L), which stands for “light”, and indicates that the thickness is slightly less than the norm.

Referenece the following table:

How does the guage influence the performance of your tennis racket?

A thinner string creates a more elastic string pattern, that translates to a freater feel and softness. Comfort is greater (taking into account those that suffer arm and elbow stiffness) and spin is easily generated.

A thicker string, on the other hand, hold tension stable and creates a more rigid string pattern, releasing less energy at impact.

In particular the guage influences strokes as listed in ths following table:

Tension

Tension is the parameter that most influences the speed of the ball in return (power) and the time the ball stays in contact with the strings (control). Generally, a high string tension supplies less power and greater control. Viceversa the lower the string tension more power and less control.

The tension of your strings reflects on your game a in the following table:

Every tennis racket has a tension range recommended by the manufacturer. To make your choice easier, you can start medium tension within the range recommended and later make changes based on the results obtained.