Tennis Racquet String Types

Your tennis racquet strings can give you that extra edge on the tennis court. However, after just 40 hours of play time, strings no longer have the same control or feel as brand new strings, and this quick wear can influence your tennis game. The type of string you choose for your racquet can affect your performance on the court.

  1. Natural Gut

    • Natural gut strings are 100 percent natural and made from the intestine of an adult steer. These strings dampen vibration and offer you outstanding feel on shots. The feel of a racquet is determined by the vibrations of ball impact on the racquet. If the racquet vibrates too much, it will negatively affect your hand and arm as well as your game. If the racquet doesn't vibrate enough, you won't be able to adequately feel when the ball strikes the racquet. Natural gut string lets you feel the ball, yet the vibration-dampening properties offer relief from excessive vibration. This decrease in vibration is especially important if you suffer from tendonitis or arm pain.

      Since gut string is an expensive choice and can be affected by moisture and humidity, make sure not to leave your racquet in the trunk of your car on days of extreme hot or cold. You will also need to change this string often since it is not very durable.

    Nylon

    • Nylon strings come in a variety of textures, constructions and gauges. Thicker gauges offer the best resilience, especially if you’re prone to breaking strings. The drawback is that you have less feel. The thinner gauges will give you a better feel and add more spin to the ball, but the durability of the strings declines.

      When a nylon string is made with a solid core, it offers an animated bounce response. A string with a multi-fiber construction dampens vibrations. You can also purchase nylon strings with smooth coatings, braided wrap coatings or rough textures. These factors will affect your control and spin of the ball. Overall, these strings offer you an excellent balance between durability and playability.

    Kevlar

    • Kevlar is an extremely stiff string constructed out of the same fibers used in bullet-proof vests; this makes Kevlar strings exceptionally durable. If you are a chronic string breaker, use Kevlar as your main strings and another synthetic gut string as your cross strings. While some companies offer prepackaged Kevlar hybrids, any accredited stringer can create a Kevlar blend for you.

    Polyester

    • Polyester strings are made from synthetic fibers. Since this type of string has little movement, you have less friction and greater durability during your game. Polyester strings can also feel "boardy," according to Courtsidesports.com. To reduce this feeling, you can decrease your stringing tension by five or ten percent. You can also try a hybrid such as polyester on the main strings and a natural gut on the crosses. This will improve your feel and durability.