How to Extend the Life of Your Tennis Strings

Racquet strings lose performance slowly, and most people don't notice until they can't control the ball any longer. Waiting for the string to break is not recommended. Tennis racquet strings need to be replaced periodically. A good rule of thumb is to replace them in a calendar year as many times as you play in a week. So, if you play three times a week, you'd need to replace your strings every four months, but there are ways to extend the life of your strings.

Things You'll Need

  • String savers
  • Tennis bag
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Instructions

    • 1

      Protect your racquet from the elements. Extreme temperature changes will reduce the life of your strings. Some strings tend to react quicker to weather conditions; natural gut strings, especially, should be handled with additional care. Do not leave your racquet in your car. The heat and cold will affect your strings. Try to keep the racquet indoors in a temperature-controlled environment as much as possible.

    • 2

      Straighten your strings during play. Racquet strings tend to move, and if you have a large racquet face, this could result in a miss hit that breaks the string.

    • 3

      Purchase string savers to place between your strings in the "sweet spot" or the spot that gets hit most. This will keep some friction off the areas where the main and cross strings connect.

    • 4

      Keep your racquet in a racquet bag when not in use. This will protect your racquet from moisture and extreme weather when in transport.