Tennis String Information

Until the late 1970s, animal gut was used as a string for tennis rackets, but it was brittle and often broke. Today, technology has turned stringing into a science with more than a dozen manufacturers and hundreds of types of string. Most tennis pro shops and sporting goods stores offer stringing services, though you can purchase your own stringing machine and learn to do-it-yourself for anywhere from $80-$500.

  1. Improve Your Racket

    • Players spend hundreds of dollars on a racket and, perhaps, a few backup rackets -- if they compete often. Having them strung at the ideal tension and with the proper materials can make the difference between winning and losing.

    Tension

    • Finding the correct string tension to match your game is key. Lower tensions give a player more power; higher tensions give a player more control but requires them to generate their own power. Most rackets have a recommended tension between 50-65 pounds.

    Materials

    • Strings can be made from nylon, polyester, Kevlar and natural gut, which is cost prohibitive for most recreational players. Nylon is the most popular choice because of its performance and for giving players a good "feel" for the ball. Polyester and Kevlar are popular for the durability they offer. Strings also come in widths, or gauges, ranging from 15 to 19. Thicker strings offer increased durability; thinner strings offer more control.

    Synthetic Strings

    • Strings are constructed in a variety of ways to provide a broad range of flexibility, power, durability and ball manipulation. The string may be solid or have a hollow core with a wrap that create grooves on the string. The choice in manufacturing technique is based on the control needs of the player.

    Composite Strings

    • Composite strings blend different materials to maximized the best features of each type of material. Nylon and Kevlar can be combined to create a string for feel and durability.

    Cost

    • You can purchase string for as little as $3 per re-string for synthetics. Natural gut tops the price spectrum at $35 or more. Labor costs usually run $10-$30 per stringing.