Construction
In other words, what the string is made of. There are four main categories that tennis strings will
fall under: synthetic gut, multifilament, natural gut and polyester.
1 - Synthetic Gut
This is the cheapest type of string you can buy. It is typically made of nylon and offers good
playability for the price.
UPSIDES DOWNSIDES
Economically priced Average overall performance & playability
Good all-around choice Not extraordinary in any category
2 - Multifilament
Offers playability most similar to natural gut string. They are made from hundreds of tiny fibers
wound together. These range in price anywhere from $5 on up to $20.
UPSIDES DOWNSIDES
Very good playability Less control oriented
Wide range of price points Certain multifilament can feel "mushy"
Softer on the arm Less durability for bigger hitters
Very good tension maintenance
Closest thing to natural gut
3 - Natural Gut
Made from a cow's intestines, this is the string multifilament strings try to emulate. Natural gut
strings hold their tension the best, is the most comfortable on the arm (great for players with
arm problems) but is also the most expensive.
UPSIDES DOWNSIDES
Optimum playability Most expensive string type
Best tension maintenance
Good arm comfort
Remains playable at very high tensions
4 - Polyester
This string type has taken over the market and the pro tour. This is a stiffer string that offers
intermediate to advanced players with faster swing strokes control and spin. We don't typically
recommend this type of string for most beginner level players.
UPSIDES DOWNSIDES
Durable Low powered
Lots of control Harsher on the arm
Lots of spin Loses tension faster
Gauge
Gauges are essentially the thickness of a string. The higher the gauge, the thinner the string.
The problem with gauges however, is that there is not a standardized and universal chart. A 16
gauge for one company might be a 16L (L stands for "light," which basically means it's halfway
between two gauges, think of a 16L as a 16.5) for another. This is why we recommend
referencing the actual millimeter sizing. In general, thinner string will provide more power
and spin, while thicker strings provide more control and durability.
Tension
Tension is referring to how tightly the strings are strung in the racquet. Each racquet will have a
specific tension range that the manufacturer recommends you string within, usually around 50-
60 pounds. Even though you can request your racquet to be strung above the maximum
tension, it could void the warranty by doing so.
In general, the higher the tension, the more control and the lower the tension, the more
power. Typically, players who generate their own power will string with a higher tension and
vice versa for a beginner. If you don't know what tension to string with, we recommend you
choose the the middle tension and then you can make adjustments from there. Need more
power? Go down 2-3 pounds next time.
When to Restring
Contrary to popular belief, breaking a string isn't the only time you should restring your racquet.
For the casual recreational player, a good rule of thumb to follow is to restring as many times in
a year as you play in a week. For example, if you play 5 times a week, then you should restring
at least 5 times a year.
But if you use polyester string, we would recommend stringing more often. You might see in
some of our string reviews that we mention that the string has "bagged out." That is when a
string has lost most of its tension and therefore, lost most of its playability, which includes
power, control and feel.
USA Gauges Millimeters European Gauges
13 1.65 – 1.80mm 12
14 1.50 – 1.65mm 11
15 1.41 – 1.49mm 9.5
15L 1.33 – 1.41mm 9
16 1.26 – 1.34mm 8.5
16L 1.22 – 1.30mm 8
17 1.16 – 1.24mm 7.5
18 1.06 – 1.16mm 7
19 0.90 – 1.06mm 4
20 0.80 – 0.90mm 3.5
21 0.70 – 0.80mm 3
22 0.60 – 0.70mm 2.5
