“chances are that a racquet should be restrung at least twice a year, whether the string breaks or not. A helpful rule of thumb is: a player should restring their racquet as many times in a year as they play in a week. So if you play three whether the string breaks or not. A helpful rule of thumb is: a player should restring their racquet as many times in a year as they play in a week. So if you play three times a week, each racquet should be strung at least three times a year.”

To get the best out of your racquet you’ll have to do a little more than just use the best string. The choice of the right tension is about as important as the choice of the racquet frame. As a general rule the higher tension you string your racquet, the less power you get and the more control you have. You gain more power with lower tension however you will also sacrifice control. In any case you should try different tensions; if you play better - great, and if you don’t, you can always go back to the old tension the next time your racquet is restrung. Some players find that they play better with different tension in the main strings (head to throat) than in the crosses (side to side).

Additionally, you need to consider the gauge or thickness of the string. Thinner string will generate more power and tend to produce more spin as well. The downside to thinner gauge is durability…thinner strings tend to break more often than thicker strings. Often the diameter of a string is not given in millimeters but in “gauge”. The Following table will help you convert between these two measures:

To increase the durability of your strings you should never expose your racquet to extreme heat, cold or humidity. Therefore you should always keep your racquet in its bag. Also, leaving your racquets in the trunk of your car, exposed to high and low temperatures will have an adverse effect on your strings as well as your racquet. Additionally, to protect your racquet head you can use head tape.

Today’s strings are made of many different materials. The most expensive is natural gut. However, there are many, good quality strings that are not as expensive. Some players (many on the ATP tour) are using a different string in the mains than what they have strung in the crosses. You will also see many tour players switch racquets each time new balls are put into play. These world class players have such a “feel” for their game that subtle changes could mean the difference between winning and losing a match.

String is a very important aspect of getting the most out of your game. The next time you have your racquet restrung, talk with your stringer to determine what string, tension, gauge, etc. is best suited for the type of game you play.