Tennis Strings Explained (Without the Jargon)
Here's something experienced players love to point out: your strings matter more than most people realise — often more than the frame itself — for how your racquet feels, how much spin and power you get, and whether your arm survives the season. And unlike a racquet, they're cheap to change. This is everything you need to know, minus the jargon.
Why strings matter more than you'd think
The string bed is the only part of the racquet that touches the ball. Its material and tension shape power, spin, control and comfort more than almost anything else you can tweak — and swapping strings is the cheapest way to meaningfully change how a racquet plays.
The four families of string
Almost every string on the shelf falls into one of four types, from most comfortable to most demanding:
- Natural gut — the gold standard for feel, power and comfort, and the kindest to your arm. Expensive and sensitive to damp weather.
- Multifilament — soft, powerful and arm-friendly; it mimics gut at a lower price. The go-to for comfort seekers.
- Synthetic gut — the cheap, dependable all-rounder. A great default for beginners and recreational players.
- Polyester ('poly' or co-poly) — control, spin and durability for players with big, fast swings. Stiff and hard on the arm — the main tennis-elbow culprit, so approach with caution.
Gauge = string thickness
Gauge is just how thick the string is, and the numbers run backwards: a higher number is thinner. Thinner strings (17 or 18) grip the ball for more spin and feel but break sooner; thicker strings (15 or 16) last longer and offer a touch more control. If you're unsure, 16 gauge is a sensible default.
Tension: the big dial
Every frame lists a recommended tension range. Lower tension gives you more power and comfort (and a little more spin from the trampoline effect); higher tension gives more control and a crisper feel. Start in the middle of the range and adjust from there.
Two things to know: string 'dies' — it loses tension and liveliness over a few weeks even if it never breaks — and if your arm complains, dropping a few pounds of tension is one of the first things to try.
Hybrids: the best of both
A hybrid uses two different strings — most commonly polyester in the mains (the up-and-down strings, for spin and control) and gut or multifilament in the crosses (for comfort). It's the famous Federer-style setup, and a smart middle ground between a harsh full-poly bed and a soft full-multi one.
Because the mains do roughly 70% of the work you feel, this gets you most of poly's control with much of a soft string's comfort. Stringing the crosses a few pounds looser is common.
The arm-health rule
If you have any hint of tennis elbow — or want to avoid it — this is the most important line in the guide: choose a multifilament or natural gut over a full bed of stiff polyester, and string toward the lower end of the range. This single choice matters more for your arm than the racquet itself.
How often should you restring?
The old rule of thumb: restring per year as many times as you play per week. Play three times a week, aim for roughly three restrings a year — more if you break strings or chase peak feel. Dead strings quietly sabotage your consistency long before they snap, so don't wait for a break to change them.
Quick picks by player type
- Beginner or recreational player: synthetic gut or a soft multifilament, mid-range tension.
- Spin and power seeker with a full, fast swing: a co-poly, or a poly hybrid for a little more comfort.
- Anyone with arm niggles: multifilament or natural gut, strung on the lower side.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best tennis strings for tennis elbow?+
Choose a multifilament or natural gut over a full bed of stiff polyester, and string toward the lower end of the racquet's tension range. This single choice matters more for arm comfort than the racquet itself. Avoid full poly setups if you have any hint of elbow pain.
What tennis string tension should I use?+
Start in the middle of your racquet's recommended range. Lower tension gives more power and comfort; higher tension gives more control and a crisper feel. If your arm complains, dropping a few pounds of tension is one of the first things to try.
How often should I restring my racquet?+
A common rule of thumb: restring per year as many times as you play per week. Play three times a week, aim for roughly three restrings a year. Strings lose tension and liveliness over a few weeks even if they never break, so don't wait for a break to change them.
What does string gauge mean?+
Gauge is the string's thickness, and the numbers run backwards — a higher number is thinner. Thinner strings (17 or 18) grip the ball for more spin and feel but break sooner; thicker strings (15 or 16) last longer with a touch more control. 16 gauge is a sensible default.
Does polyester go dead even if it never breaks?+
Yes — and faster than most people expect. A full polyester bed loses most of its lively snap-back after roughly 10 to 15 hours of hitting, long before it ever snaps. Once poly goes dead it plays stiff and boardy and becomes noticeably harder on your arm, so the play-per-week rule of thumb understates how often poly players should restring. If you use a full poly, cut it out and restring on a schedule — many players do it every month or two — rather than waiting for a break.
Choosing a frame to string up? Our Racquet Finder matches you to frames that fit your game and budget.
Try the Racquet Finder →Curated from r/tennis and r/10s stringing discussions and stringer guides — where string type and tension come up constantly as the cheapest way to change a racquet — paraphrased into plain English.