The Best Tennis Strings for 2020

Find the perfect set of tennis strings

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If you’re in the market for a new set of tennis strings, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve carefully selected 10 of the best tennis strings for 2020 and built this guide to help you find the set that fits your needs.

For your convenience, here’s a table of our top 10 picks that we’ve categorized based on the different types of strings as well as specific goals you may be looking to achieve with your purchase of a new set for yourself or as the perfect tennis gift.

Category	Best String	Type	Price
Natural Gut	Babolat VS Touch	Natural Gut	$$$$$
Multifilament	Wilson NXT	Multifilament	$$
Polyester (poly)	Luxilon ALU Power	Polyester	$$$
Synthetic Gut	Prince Synthetic Gut	Synthetic Gut	$
Hybrid	Wilsons Champions Choice	Hybrid	$$$$
Topspin	Babolat RPM Blast	Polyester	$$
Power	Tecnifibre X-One Biphase	Multifilament	$$$
Control	Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour	Polyester	$$
Durability	Luxilon Big Banger Ace	Polyester	$$
Comfort	Prince Premier Touch	Multifilament	$$$

This is an updated version of our guide on the best tennis strings for 2019.

Article Contents

String Index

How to Use this Guide

Strings for Beginners & Kids

Tips for Selecting Strings

Our Selection Process

Best String Guide

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String Index

To learn more about each string we chose and why we think it’s the best in its category, keep reading or click the link to jump to that section.

Let’s dive in!

How to Use This Guide

When selecting a new set of tennis strings, we’ve found there are two approaches that many players find useful.

Type of string
String features

The different types of strings that we cover include:

Natural gut
Multifilament
Polyester
Synthetic gut
Hybrid

Here are the string features that we find players ask for most frequently:

Topspin
Power
Control
Durability
Comfort

Our goal with this guide is to provide you with a strong recommendation that we feel best represents each category regardless of which is top of mind for you.

For example, if topspin is your main priority, then we feel confident our string selecting will deliver to that end. However, one thing to keep in mind is that with tennis strings, there are often going to be tradeoffs. In this guide, we’ve highlighted those so you can make the best decision.

Recognizing there are more than a handful of great strings out there, we’ve also provided you with a few alternatives to consider for each of our best picks, and we’d encourage you to check those out as well.

Best Strings for Beginners & Children

When you’re first starting to learn how to play tennis as an adult or child, it’s absolutely worthwhile to regularly restring your racquet. However, the type of string you use isn’t worth obsessing over at this stage because you likely won’t be able to detect or appreciate the benefits provided by more expensive strings.

With that in mind, our recommendation is to string your racquet with a quality, yet inexpensive synthetic gut. Our pick for the best synthetic gut tennis string is Prince Synthetic Gut, which is a great string that has a long-standing positive reputation in the tennis community.

Early on as a player, you’ll see the biggest strides in your performance by focusing your energy on the fundamentals and your technique. As your skills develop and you graduate to a more expensive tennis racquet, you’ll be in a much better position to benefit from the selection of a higher quality tennis string.

Ultimately, we hope players of all ages and levels benefit from this guide. However, this guide focuses primarily on providing high-quality recommendations for intermediate and advanced tennis players.

Tips for Selecting a Set of Tennis Strings

To help you get the most out of this guide, we’ve also included a few tips to help you select a tennis string.

Tennis String Gauge

Once you find a set of tennis strings that you’d like to try, you may get tripped up with what gauge or thickness makes the most sense for them. There are two key factors to consider when thinking about string gauge: durability and spin potential.

Typically, the thicker a string, the more durable it is and less spin potential it has, while the thinner a string, the less durable it is and more spin potential it offers.

Best Tennis String Tip - String Gauge

Strings are widely available at 17 or 16 gauge, with 17 being a thinner string and 16 thicker. In the spirit of keeping things simple, we suggest players start with one of those based on whether they’re looking for more durability or spin and then adjust from there.

If you’d like to dive deeper, check out our article on tennis string gauge.

Tennis String Tension

While string gauge is one of the last questions players have before buying a set of strings, tension is frequently the first question afterward.

Different types of strings can require slightly different considerations, but you’re typically making a tradeoff between more power with a lower tension or more control with a higher tension.

Luckily, racquet manufacturers provide players with a tension range that their racquets should be strung at, which they print on the frame. A good starting point is typically the middle point of their recommendation.

For example, if your racquet’s tension range is 50-60 pounds, then a good starting point is 55. Once you hit that tension, you’ll be able to gauge whether to increase or decrease from there.

String tension can have a substantial impact on performance, so if you’d like to dive into the details of string tension, we’d recommend you check out our article on how to enhance your game with the right tension.

Hybrid Stringing

If you’re not already familiar, hybrid stringing is where one type of string is used for the mains and a different string for the crosses.

The result is a blend of string attributes, with the string used in the mains dominating the overall feel and the crosses influencing the feel and performance of the mains. The result is even more flexibility and options when stringing.

Some string sets such as Wilson’s Champions Choice, our pick for the best prepackaged hybrid, include two different types of strings – in this case, natural gut combined with a polyester string. However, you can mix any two types of strings as a hybrid.

Regardless of whether you experiment with hybrid string setups, it’s great to be aware of the option, which has become more popular over the years.

String Replacement

As you look to buy a new set of tennis strings, it pays to have a sense of how frequently you should replace your strings. Typically, many recreational players will wait until their strings break.

While there’s nothing wrong with this approach, it’s good to recognize that the lifespan and performance of a string (referred to as playability duration in the string world) are generally far shorter than the time it takes to break a set of strings.

At the end of the day, it’s entirely a personal preference, but these factors can help you determine when you should replace your strings:

Frequency and length of play
Style of play
Level of competition
Budget
Personal preference

To learn more, we have an article dedicated to providing more guidance on the topic of when to replace your strings.

Your Racquet

As you can imagine, every set of tennis strings performs differently strung up in a different tennis racquet. Racquets, like strings, are designed to provide players with different attributes, i.e., spin, power, control, etc.

Assuming you’re sticking to the same frame, you should expect a set of strings to deliver the attributes covered in this guide. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that your racquet combined with what makes you unique as a player will likely offer a slightly different experience than someone else using the same string in a different racquet.

While there aren’t any rules to which strings should be used for a given tennis racquet, it’s worth keeping in mind, especially if a friend who uses an entirely different racquet is recommending a specific type of string.

Your Style of Play, Preferences, and Opinion

Last but not least, one of the best tips we can offer when considering a new set of strings all comes back to you as a player.

First off, take into consideration your style of play. Are you a baseliner who hits with heavy topspin or perhaps a serve and volleyer? You’ll also want to consider your personal preferences on what you’d like to get out of a new set of strings as well as your own opinion on what you like and don’t like.

All too often, we find players swayed by what the pros are using or a teammate or friend’s advice with little or no consideration for the factors that make them unique as a player. Of course, you can learn a lot by looking for outside feedback, and we encourage you to listen to those thoughts.

However, we tend to find that players get a much better result and are happier with their string setup when they pause to consider their own needs versus what’s popular.

To that end, we can’t stress the value of experimenting to find the right set of strings. Rarely is it a one-and-done scenario to figure out what works best for a player, and while paying for restringing isn’t super cheap, we find it’s a sound investment for players who are serious about their game.

Our Selection Process

To select our 2020 picks for the best tennis strings in each category, we evaluated each set of strings across eight attributes to provide you with the most objective ratings possible.

We then playtested each string and rated each attribute on a scale of 1 to 10. The average of all scores is calculated for the overall rating.

Here are the attributes we used in our selection process.

Power

Some tennis strings return significantly more energy when a ball is struck, making it easier to generate pace. Higher power strings will require less effort to create pace, while low-powered strings will require more of the player.

Spin

There are a variety of factors that can influence spin, but ultimately some strings provide players with significantly more potential for generating topspin than others. Strings with high spin ratings enable players to create more topspin, while strings with low spin ratings will result in less potential for spin.

Control

The ability for a player to direct and place the ball accurately and with confidence is generally perceived as control, especially when taking big cuts at the ball. Power and control are frequently intertwined, i.e., a lower power string will usually provide players with more control while a high-powered string will give players less control.

Touch/Feel

Most players associate touch with feel, or the ability to delicately and accurately place the ball with finesse. A higher rating of touch will help give players a greater sense of touch, while a lower score will reduce touch and make it more challenging to execute certain shots and thus require additional focus and attention from the player.

Comfort

The amount of shock and vibration felt by a player when hitting with different strings is going to be perceived as high or low comfort. Some tennis strings are better at absorbing and reducing shock and vibration, resulting in a more comfortable feel.

Durability

The capacity of a set of strings to limit wear and tear from hitting, moisture, debris, changes in temperature, etc. that can ultimately lead to breakage or reduce the lifespan of a string is referred to as durability.

Playability duration

The length of time a set of strings can maintain tension and quality play is the playability duration. Many strings may be highly durable and not break easily but still require frequent replacement to preserve the quality of the strings’ attributes.

Movement

Strings that snap back into place after hitting and don’t move a great deal or require constant straightening will have higher movement ratings. Strings with low scores will move considerably and require players to straighten them continually.

Natural Gut

As far as tennis strings go, natural gut is some of the best (and priciest) on the market.

To the surprise of some players, manufacturers create natural gut tennis strings by weaving together strands of cow intestine. The elasticity of the material is exceptional, it’s fantastic at holding tension, and it’s easy on the arm.

For 2020, we’ve awarded Babolat VS Touch as the best natural gut tennis strings. If you’re a fan of natural gut, you may want to consider the use of string savers to extend their life and cut down on the cost of restringing.

Babolat VS Touch

Babolat VS Touch - Natural Gut

Back in 1875, Pierre Babolat developed the first tennis string made of sheep gut, and Babolat natural gut has remained the gold standard for natural gut tennis strings ever since.

Players will find Babolat VS Touch delivers on power, comfort, and feel. The string has also received slight upgrades over the years to increase its durability and resistance to moisture – historically two pitfalls of many natural gut tennis strings.

Why We Love It

Power

Hands down, natural gut is the most powerful string on the market, and Babolat’s VS Touch stands at the head of its class.

Comfort

The natural elastic fibers with Babolat VS Touch make for a string with unrivaled comfort. However, what’s unique about this string is that it also plays super crisp and doesn’t lose its comfort at higher tensions.

Feel

The cherry on top for Babolat VS Touch is the incredible feel that it offers even when strung at a high tension, which gives you a strong sense of connection with the ball and exceptional touch.

Tradeoffs

The downsides to Babolat VS Touch are control and spin, which go hand in hand. Some players will find it brings too much power, and it may be challenging to match the level of spin you’re going to get with a quality set of polyester strings.

However, again, what’s unique about this string is that you don’t lose out when you string at higher tensions, which is a great way to rein in the strings’ built-in power for more control.

Lastly, it’s worth noting the natural fibers with this string will result in fraying. While common with natural gut, this may be a turn-off for some players.

Babolat VS Touch Ratings

Power 9.9

Spin 7.8

Control 7.5

Touch 9.5

Comfort 10

Durability 7.0

Playability Duration 9.2

Movement 7.2

Overall 8.51

Gauge & Color Variations

15L
16
16 Black
16 half set

Alternatives to Babolat VS Touch

If you like the idea of Babolat VS Touch but want to explore some alternative natural gut options, then we’d recommend you start with Wilson Natural Gut. It’s an incredible string and comparable to Babolat’s, delivering similar specs overall. Another solid pick would be Luxilon’s natural gut, which is a top performer as well.

A few other options worth checking out are Volkl V-Icon, which is another solid option, and the more affordable KLIP Legend Natural Gut. Besides the price, one of the things we appreciate about KLIP natural gut is the number of options available, which makes it a good starting point for players venturing into gut.

Multifilament

Multifilament tennis strings are composed of thousands of tiny microfibers that are woven together to form a single tennis string with many similar qualities to natural gut.

In particular, multifilament tennis strings offer excellent playability and exceptional comfort. If you suffer from tennis elbow or any other arm injury, then you’ll likely appreciate the added comfort they offer.

Today, there are a wide variety of multifilament tennis strings on the market and more than a handful of terrific options. However, Wilson NXT earns the label of the best multifilament for 2020.

We also love that this string comes in two colors, both natural white and black – which is super slick.

Wilson NXT

Wilson NXT - Multifilament

There’s no doubt that Wilson NXT is a long-standing leader in the multifilament space with a strong following and proven track record.

Whether you’re stringing a full bed or combining with another string as a hybrid, this string is an excellent option for a wide range of players. Here are the top reasons we love this string.

Why We Love It

Power

One of Wilson NXT’s standout features is its power, which it delivers through the combined effort of 1,600 individual microfibers. However, arguably the best part of its power is that it’s not overbearing. As a result, most players will find the extra power a welcome feature that they can easily put to use without having to worry too much about overhitting.

Comfort

Perhaps what Wilson NXT is best known for is its comfort, which is the feature that Wilson highlights as the string’s strongest asset. True to that claim, NXT is a delightfully rich string that is easy on the arm without sacrificing the response and playability that players demand.

Feel

While Wilson NXT packs a punch on the power end of the spectrum, we still found it provided great feel and delivered all-around playability that we believe suits a broad range of styles and skill levels.

Tradeoffs

The main thing you give up with Wilson NXT is durability, which is easily the biggest complaint about the string. To compensate, we recommend you go with the 16 gauge to help extend its life.

Wilson NXT Ratings

Power 8.8

Spin 7.5

Control 7.7

Touch 8.2

Comfort 9.0

Durability 6.3

Playability Duration 6.9

Movement 7.4

Overall 7.73

Gauge & Color Variations

15L
16
16 black
17
17 black

Alternatives to Wilson NXT

If you’re looking for an alternative to Wilson NXT, then the good news is you’ve got options. The truth is, while we give Wilson NXT a slight edge, Technifibre’s X-One Biphase and NRG2 are borderline equivalents, and we’d encourage you to check out all three. If power is high on your list, then we’d give both of Tecnifibre’s strings the edge.

Babolat’s Xcel is also another worthy option to consider in the multifilament category. We find it’s more durable than Wilson NXT and plays with a bit more control. Last but not least, Wilson Sensation is another solid string you may want to check out.

Polyester (Poly)

Within the past 10-15 years, polyester tennis strings have become hugely popular, allowing players like Rafael Nadal to take massive cuts at the ball and redefine our expectations and what’s possible with topspin.

Unlike multifilament tennis strings, which are composed of thousands of microfibers, polyester strings are typically monofilament, i.e., a single solid filament.

Many players seek out polyester strings for their control, spin, and durability. However, this tends to come with a drawback that the strings aren’t as forgiving and can be harsh on your arm.

Our pick for the best polyester tennis string for 2020 is Luxilon ALU Power, which has developed a cult-like following and is widely popular on the ATP and WTA tour.

Luxilon ALU Power

Luxilon ALU Power - Polyester

In the tennis world, it’s hard to utter the word polyester without the Luxilon brand coming to mind. The popularity among professional and competitive tennis players speaks volumes regarding what this string brings to the table.

Luxilon ALU Power defines what modern players expect from a polyester tennis string in terms of control, spin, and durability.

A fun development for this time-tested polyester is a slew of new colors available for purchase, which include blue, green, red, and lime.

Let’s take a look at some of the features that make Luxilon ALU Power so popular, especially among intermediate to advanced tennis players.

Why We Love It

Control

Without a doubt, Luxilon ALU Power delivers fantastic control without sacrificing great touch and feel, which can often be a drawback of other polyester tennis strings.

In particular, intermediate to advanced players will love the fact that you can take massive cuts at the ball without sacrificing control – you’ll know exactly where the ball is going.

However, Luxilon ALU Power still retains a liveliness to the extent that the string doesn’t feel underpowered or dull.

Spin

Luxilon ALU Power also delivers excellent access to spin.

True to most polyester strings, the lower power allows players to accelerate their racquet head faster to generate added spin without being afraid of sending the ball long.

Durability

Luxilon ALU Power does not disappoint when it comes to durability, one of the polyester category of strings’ trademark features.

In fact, Luxilon ALU Power stands out because it’s hard to break, but it also does an excellent job maintaining tension, which helps extend the overall life of the strings.

Tradeoffs

When it comes to polyester tennis strings, the tradeoffs are generally low power and comfort. In some ways, it’s merely the cost of the spin, control, and feel that this category of strings delivers, and ALU power is no exception to these rules.

Luxilon ALU Power Ratings

Power 6.2

Spin 8.9

Control 9.1

Touch 9.5

Comfort 7.5

Durability 9.6

Playability Duration 8.4

Movement 9.5

Overall 8.59

Gauge & Color Variations

15
16L
16L Blue, Green, Red, Lime

Alternatives to Luxilon ALU Power

When it comes to Luxilon ALU Power alternatives, our favorite place to look is among the line of Luxilon strings. From Luxilon ALU Power Rough to ALU Power Spin, ALU Power Soft, ALU Power Fluoro, and ALU Power Feel, among others, they’ve taken their most popular string and morphed it to suit a wide variety of preferences.

However, if you’re looking outside of the Luxilon family of strings, then we’d recommend you check out Babolat RPM Blast, Babolat Pro Hurricane, Wilson Revolve, and the incredibly affordable Volkl Cyclone for more of the polyester goodness that you’ll find with Luxilon.

Last but not least, Tecnifibire has two polyester strings worth evaluating: Tecnifibire Pro Red Code and Tecnifibire Black Code 4S.

Synthetic Gut

On the lower end of the performance spectrum, synthetic gut tennis strings provide players with access to a quality product without the higher price tag associated with natural gut, multifilament, and polyester strings.

The result tends to be an economical string that performs reasonably well all around without the enhanced features associated with other types, i.e., the extra comfort available through many multifilaments or control familiar with polyester.

If anything, synthetic gut strings will tend to err on the side of durability, which is a great feature for players looking for an affordable option because they’ll also last, which adds to their value.

This year, we’re awarding the best synthetic gut tennis strings to Prince Synthetic Gut, a classic string that offers comfort and reasonable power at a wallet-friendly price.

Prince Synthetic Gut

Prince Synthetic Gut - Synthetic Gut

For years, Prince Synthetic Gut has provided recreational players of all ages and levels with a time-tested string that delivers all-around playability at an unbeatable price.

While it doesn’t provide the unique strengths of other string categories, Prince Synthetic Gut is a superbly economical choice that will continue to satisfy the needs of players around the world. Plus, it comes in more colors than you can shake a stick at, which is particularly fun for younger players for whom string performance isn’t a priority.

Can’t decide which color to buy? As we usher in 2020, players now have the choice to purchase their latest evolution, dubbed Prism, which is the same great string in a rainbow of colors.

Why We Love It

Value

When it comes to the synthetic gut family of tennis strings, it’s all about value, and Price Synthetic Gut delivers with a price point under $5 per set.

While you won’t get access to some of the higher-end features available with natural gut, multifilament, or polyester strings, you should find that these strings are great all-around performers for the price.

Tradeoffs

Prince Synthetic Gut isn’t a particularly high scorer in any single category, but we find it lacks the most in the durability, control, and feel categories. Generally, we see this as a terrific option for beginners who won’t have the technique and skill-set to notice a significant difference between strings.

Prince Synthetic Gut Ratings

Power 7.7

Spin 7.3

Control 7.2

Touch 7.0

Comfort 8.3

Durability 5.8

Playability Duration 7.6

Movement 6.0

Overall 7.13

Gauge & Color Variations

16: Prism (rainbow-colored)
16: black, gold, silver, blue, purple, red, pink, orange, yellow, green, white
17: black, gold, red, pink, orange, green, white

Alternatives to Prince Synthetic Gut

There are quite a few alternatives to Prince Synthetic Gut. However, a near equivalent and one we highly appreciate is Gosen’s OG-Sheep Micro, which is even more affordable and is another fantastic synthetic gut option.

Two others we’d recommend is Ashaway Synthetic Gut, which we find is a bit more durable, and Wilson Synthetic Gut Power.

Hybrid

One of the challenges that players have faced over the years is that strings come with distinct pros and cons. For example, many players will find multifilaments to be too powerful and lacking in the spin department, while polyesters tend to be harsh on the arm.

To make up for the pros and cons associated with different string types, players began to combine strings (one set for the mains and another for the crosses) to get the best of both worlds, and it’s become a highly popularized approach.

While any two strings can be combined to form a hybrid, we found Wilson Champions Choice to be the best prepackaged hybrid.

With it, you’ll get Wilson’s Natural Gut coupled with Luxilon ALU Power Rough polyester to strike a delightful balance between comfort, power, spin, control, and feel.

Wilson Champions Choice Hybrid

Wilson Champion Choice - Hybrid

If there’s any defining characteristic of this hybrid string set, it’s the fact that it’s the choice of the game’s greatest player – Roger Federer. Of course, beyond the name recognition, the combination of two remarkable strings (and brands) blended as a hybrid provides a unique balance to suit a wide range of players.

As a reminder, the characteristics of the string used for the mains will dominate the feel of the strings. If you’re going for durability and control, we’d recommend stringing the Luxilon in the mains, while a gentle feel and increased playability can be found by using Wilson’s natural gut in the mains.

While it’s different for every player, we found the natural gut in the mains to serve as the ideal setup with the string set.

Why We Love It

Power

With Wilson’s Natural Gut in the mains, Wilson Champions Choice delivers more than enough power while not being overbearing.

Comfort

For players looking for excellent spin potential along with comfort, we find it hard to beat this combination. While you can undoubtedly get more comfort with a full bed of natural gut, the tradeoff with spin and control is frequently too much.

However, this hybrid delivers it all.

Balance

The best part about hybrid string setups is you can combine the best of two worlds in natural gut and polyester tennis strings. As a result, you get a blend of each string category’s features, which provides players with a balance that only a hybrid setup can offer.

Tradeoffs

One can argue that hybrid stringing with natural gut and polyester is a double-edged sword. While you get a blend of characteristics, you don’t get all the benefits of either string type, and you end up meeting somewhere in the middle. For many players, this is a dream scenario. However, it may leave others wanting.

In particular, we believe players used to full polyester string setups may find Wilson Champions Choice a bit too high-powered and slightly lacking in the spin and control departments. Ultimately, it’s a matter of preference.

Wilson Champions Choice Hybrid Ratings

Power 8.7

Spin 8.5

Control 9.3

Touch 9.3

Comfort 8.7

Durability 8.0

Playability Duration 8.4

Movement 8.2

Overall 8.64

Gauge & Color Variations

Alternatives to Wilson Champions Choice Hybrid

For many, the price of this string set is a bit too rich. With that in mind, we’d recommend players check out Wilson Control Duo Hybrid, which is a combination of Wilson NXT Tour and Luxilon ALU Power.

Additional hybrid strings we’d recommend are Bobalat Hybrid RPM Blast + VS Gut and the more affordable KLIP X-Plosive Gut/Poly Hybrid.

Of course, keep in mind that the possibilities are endless, as you can combine any two strings to form your own hybrid setup.

Topspin

With players like Rafel Nadal on tour, one of the most sought-after attributes for tennis players is the ability to generate massive topspin.

If you’re looking to follow suit, then there’s no doubt that polyester tennis strings are a fantastic choice. Their slick surface and ability to snap back into place are a dynamic combination to help you generate maximum spin.

However, with more than a handful of polyester strings on the market, one string stands out as the best tennis string for topspin, and that’s Babolat RPM Blast.

Babolat RPM Blast

Babolat RPM Blast - Topspin

Babolat RPM Blast takes topspin to the max. First, as a polyester tennis string, the strings are slick and quickly snap back into place upon contact, helping to generate topspin.

However, this string set goes a step further, with a unique octagonal shape that helps grab the ball and increase the potential for spin that is second to none.

A unique attribute of Babolat RPM Blast is that it’s surprisingly comfortable to play with for a polyester tennis string, which makes it a terrific option for anyone looking to test the waters with a poly to help push their topspin to the next level.

Why We Love It

Spin

It should come as no surprise that our favorite feature with Babolat RPM Blast is its ability to help maximize spin. Hitting forehands and backhands from the back of the court was a joy, as the ball would propel itself off our strings with a level of topspin that’s possible only with a polyester.

Control

The combination of spin and low power of RPM Blast allowed us to take full swings and huge cuts at the ball. The topspin allowed us to clear the net with confidence that the ball would dip back into the court, and we never felt we had to worry about the ball sailing long. Together, these attributes gave us a strong sense of control, which allowed us to dictate points and move players side to side.

Durability

While durability isn’t always the most exciting feature of a tennis string, Babolat RPM Blast delivers in this category and is a string you can count on to stand up to a beating and last. Most players will find they’ll cut the strings out to replace before breaking them.

Tradeoffs

As you might expect from a poly, the most significant tradeoff with Babolat RPM Blast is its lower power and comfort relative to other types of strings. While the low power is part of what makes this string fantastic, it does have the potential to leave some players longing for more.

From a comfort standpoint, there’s no doubt this string is a cut above other polyesters. However, it’s nowhere near the comfort delivered by gut or multifilaments, which players will want to consider before taking the leap.

Babolat RPM Blast Ratings

Power 4.5

Spin 9.9

Control 9.2

Touch 8.4

Comfort 6.4

Durability 9.2

Playability Duration 7.8

Movement 9.4

Overall 8.10

Gauge & Color Variations

Alternatives to Babolat RPM Blast

When it comes to topspin, there are plenty of options. However, our favorite alternatives include Luxilon Alu Power Spin and Diadem Solstice Power.

We give Alu Power Spin the edge as it delivers a more well-rounded experience, but Solstice Power packs some serious topspin with its six-pointed star shape and is another great option to check out.

If you’re looking to experiment with a less expensive polyester, then Prince Diablo Prism is well worth looking into.

Control

As the game of tennis has evolved with stronger players and more aggressive styles of play, the ability to control the ball has become increasingly important.

Whether you’re looking to tone down the power of a stiffer frame or you want to avoid overhitting to keep the ball in play, a control-oriented string might be a great option.

The low power associated with polyester tennis strings makes them a perfect fit for control. However, not all polyester is created equal. In this case, we’re naming Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour, the best tennis string for control.

Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour

Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour - Control

What sets Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour apart from the rest is that it’s ultra-firm and low powered, which allows you to take huge cuts at the ball to generate topspin and feel confident with your placement.

Similar to Babolat’s RPM Blast, Pro Hurricane Tour is a polyester tennis string and octagon-shaped, so there’s a tremendous grip on the ball combined with the trademark ability of a great polyester to snap back into place to generate topspin.

Add to that a firm stringbed that provides a consistent response and low power, and you have a lethal combination for controlling the ball even when you turn up the heat.

Why We Love It

Control

There are a lot of similarities between RPM Blast. However, we give Pro Hurricane Tour the edge in the control department because the strings stay put and provide a consistent response. A big part of what produces a string with a greater sense of control is knowing what to expect every time the ball leaves the stringbed. Ultimately, that’s what puts Pro Hurricane Tour at the top of its class.

Spin

Another area where players gain a sense of control is through topspin, which allows you to swing through the ball and have confidence it’s going to clear the net and drop back into the court. As a result, it’s no surprise that Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour performs terrifically in this category. That aids in the sense of control and confidence you have when swinging through the ball.

Durability

Last, but certainly not least, you’ll find Hurricane Pro Tour is a leader when it comes to durability in the polyester space, so you can count on the string to last.

Tradeoffs

Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour is a firm tennis string, so it’s not exactly the most comfortable or arm-friendly string out there. Another side effect of the firm feel is a lower sense of touch, which isn’t the string’s strength.

Outside of that, the string is very low powered. All in all, while it’s a fantastic tennis string, it requires players to have solid technique to take advantage of everything it has to offer.

Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour Ratings

Power 4.2

Spin 9.0

Control 9.8

Touch 8.1

Comfort 6.0

Durability 9.5

Playability Duration 7.7

Movement 9.5

Overall 7.98

Gauge & Color Variations

Alternatives to Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour

If you’re looking to test drive a polyester that delivers plenty of control, then we’d recommend checking out Luxilon Alu Power and Babolat’s RPM Blast.

Luxilon delivers all around as a great alternative with tons of control, while Babolat’s RPM Blast is quite similar to Pro Hurricane Tour with a slightly more forgiving stringbed and stronger emphasis on topspin.

Another option that delivers exceptional control is Wilson’s Revolve Spin. Plus, it’s less expensive than the others mentioned.

Power

Unfortunately, we’re not all built with the strength to turn up the heat when we’d like. Perhaps you’re looking to hit a bigger serve or groundstrokes, or maybe you’d like to add a little pop to a more flexible, control-oriented tennis racquet.

If so, a string that naturally brings more power to your shots can be a great option, and Tecnifibre X-One Biphase delivers precisely that as the best tennis string for power.

Tecnifibre X-One Biphase

Tecnifibre X-One Biphase - Power

As a multifilament tennis string, Tecnifibre X-One Biphase is a technological powerhouse with features like PU 400 and Elastyl that help deliver more power with ease.

It’s also an incredibly comfortable string to play with, which makes it an excellent choice for players with tennis elbow as well as an exceptional option for use as part of a hybrid string setup along with a more control-oriented, spin-friendly polyester.

Why We Love It

Power

Technifibre X-One Biphase packs a punch and delivers power as a standout feature. From serving to volleys and everything in between, players will find the ball jumps off the strings. In fact, players may find they need to tweak the tension to find the sweet spot between balance and control.

Comfort

Generally, multifilaments and the thousands of fibers that make up this family of strings provide for an arm-friendly hitting experience. However, X-One Biphase really stands out as an ultra-comfortable string that does a great job at absorbing shock and reducing the impact on your arm without losing the liveliness that makes this string a crowd favorite.

Feel

While powerful, Tecnifibre gets the ingredients right with a string that also delivers excellent feel and touch that we enjoyed from all areas of the court but really stood out to us at the net.

Tradeoffs

The main tradeoff you’re going to make with Tecnifibre X-One Biphase is with spin. As a multifilament, it doesn’t have the natural ability to snap back into place, which aids in generating topspin.

Also, compared with a polyester tennis string, some players may find that X-One Biphase is a bit overpowering, which materializes in feeling like it’s a bit harder to control the ball.

Lastly, while the playability duration or the lifespan of the strings is strong, the durability of the strings may be an issue for chronic string breakers.

Tecnifibre X-One Biphase Ratings

Power 9.2

Spin 6.8

Control 7.5

Touch 8.6

Comfort 8.7

Durability 7.5

Playability Duration 8.8

Movement 8.7

Overall 8.2

Variations

16: natural, red
17: natural, red
18: natural, red

Alternatives to Tecnifibre X-One Biphase

If your number one goal is power, then you might consider natural gut as an option. Unfortunately, the price of natural gut is often cost-prohibitive for the vast majority of players, so it’s not our first recommendation.

Two strings that we’d recommend checking out are Tecnifibre’s NRG2 and Babolat’s Origin, which will deliver a bit more control. Both are multifilaments with similar playing characteristics to X-One Biphase.

Of course, while Wilson NXT doesn’t deliver quite the punch of the aforementioned strings, it’s a strong contender and our pick for the best multifilament.

Durability

If you’re a big hitter who frequently breaks strings or you’re looking to extend the life of each restring, then you’re going to want a durable string that lasts. After all, restringing too often can become an expensive habit.

Once again, polyester strings enter as the leader in durability due to their solid monofilament construction and slick surface that wards off notching.

While you’ll find most polyester tennis strings are considerably more durable than natural gut, multifilament, or synthetic gut tennis strings, the best durable string for 2020 is Luxilon Big Banger Ace.

Luxilon Big Banger Ace

Luxilon Big Banger Ace - Durability

Luxilon Big Banger Ace is a slightly less popular tennis string in the uber-popular Luxilon family. As with most polyester tennis strings, you’ll get plenty of spin, control, and feel.

However, perhaps most impressive is the durability of Luxilon Big Banger Ace at its thin 18-gauge thickness. Generally, at this thin gauge strings become significantly more susceptible to breakage, especially if you’re hitting with a lot of topspin, but these strings stood up to the task.

Why We Love It

Durability

If you’re a heavy hitter who likes the extra spin and feel that a thinner gauge string provides but can’t typically afford to go to thin because you easily break strings, then look no further than Luxilon Big Banger Ace. It’s one of the most durable strings out there.

Spin

With its thinner 18-gauge and polyester makeup, Luxilon Big Banger Ace delivers fantastic access to spin. We particularly enjoyed the heavy topspin we were able to produce on our groundstrokes but also found it helped provide tons of spin on our kick serve, which helped the ball leap off the court and well out of most player strike zones.

Control

When a string provides a great balance between spin and feel in a low-powered package, you frequently end up with excellent control. Luxilon Big Banger Ace delivers on this front, which helped us move our opponents around and dictate points.

Tradeoffs

To get access to some of our favorite attributes this string provides, you’re going to need to give up in a few other areas. More specifically, Luxilon Big Banger Ace is a lower-powered tennis string. While it offers above-average comfort compared with some polys, it is far from the most comfortable string on the market.

Luxilon Big Banger Ace Ratings

Power 5.1

Spin 8.9

Control 8.8

Touch 8.6

Comfort 7.0

Durability 9.5

Playability Duration 7.9

Movement 9.5

Overall 8.16

Variations

18
TiMO 18
TiMO 17L

Alternatives to Luxilon Big Banger Ace

If you’re looking for another durable string in the Luxilon line, then Luxilon ALU Power is another fantastic option to consider and our selection for the best polyester tennis string.

Beyond that, Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour, our choice for the best control-oriented tennis string, is another solid option.

We’d also recommend you check out Tecnifibre ATP Razor Code, which is a highly durable poly that also packs tons of topspin. The big difference between all of these three alternatives is that they come in more than one gauge, offering up a few different options.

Lastly, if you’re looking for maximum durability, you may consider checking out Ashaway’s Crossfire Kevlar strings. They’re super durable but come with the drawback of being extremely low on comfort, which is why we’re more inclined to recommend polyester.

Comfort

One of the most common injuries in our sport is tennis elbow. If you’ve ever experienced it yourself, you’ll know how painful it can be and how it can sideline a player from playing the game they love.

Luckily for us, string manufacturers have continued to develop products that aim to ward off the harsh vibrations that can result from playing tennis.

In this category, we’ve selected the multifilament Prince Premier Touch as the best comfort-oriented tennis string.

Prince Premier Touch

Prince Premier Touch - Comfort

As a multifilament, Prince Premier Touch combines thousands of individual fibers to build a string that resembles the makeup of natural gut.

However, Prince took things a step further than most multifilaments and use a spiraled ribbon construction to more closely match the serosa fibers used in a true natural gut.

The result is the softest multifilament we’ve ever tested, which all but matches the comfort of the best natural gut on the market and is the perfect option for players for whom comfort may be at the very top of their list of priorities.

Why We Love It

Comfort

We can’t speak highly enough of the comfort that this string offers, so it’s a no-brainer for players who require strength in this attribute and are willing to sacrifice in some other area. Another option for players who do want to strike a balance is to consider Prince Premier Touch as part of a hybrid string setup.

Power

Prince Premier Touch also packs a highly respectable level of power. Even at a higher tension, the ball leaps from the strings. Players who hit with a lot of topspin may find the string lacks control if they’re used to a stiffer, control-oriented tennis string.

Tradeoffs

As with all tennis strings, there’s always a tradeoff, and Prince Premier Touch is no exception. The areas where we feel like the string gives up the most are the spin, control, and feel departments.

Relative to other tennis strings, we found we had to work significantly harder to generate topspin, and even our best efforts left us wanting. Combine that with the ultra-soft stringbed that lacked feel, and we felt like the string kept us on our toes because it just wasn’t as effortless to control and direct the ball with the precision.

Prince Premier Touch Ratings

Power 89

Spin 50

Control 68

Touch 71

Comfort 95

Durability 68

Playability Duration 76

Movement 62

Overall 7.24

Variations

Alternatives to Prince Premier Touch

If you’re looking for an arm-friendly tennis string that’s high on comfort and you can afford the higher price tag, we’d recommend you check out a natural gut-like Babolat VS or Wilson’s Natural Gut.

However, there are plenty of other tennis strings worth checking out. A few that we’d recommend looking into are Babolat Origin, Wilson NXT, Tecnifibre NRG2, and Head Reflex MLT.

In fact, unless maximum comfort is a must for you, then we’d encourage you to explore some of these alternatives, which will provide exceptional comfort but dramatically better overall performance.

Conclusion

There you have it – our top 10 picks of the best tennis strings in 2020, which have been updated from our selections in 2019. What many players will find is that “best” is relative and subject to personal preference. Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed our list, or at the very least, it helped point you in the right direction.

What are your picks for the top tennis strings? Do you agree with our selection? We’d love for you to share in the comments below.

Home > Gear > Strings > Best Tennis Strings 2020

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2 replies

Tony says:
February 6, 2020 at 11:50 am
Have you tried Mantis Comfort Synthetic or Gosen Tour 3? Because I want to know if is worth using them. Thanks
Reply
- TennisCompanion says:
  February 6, 2020 at 1:37 pm
  Hi Tony,
  Thanks for dropping by. I’ve played with Mantis Comfort Synthetic, but haven’t experienced Gosen Tour 3.
  It was several years ago, but from what I recall, I enjoyed my hit with Mantis. It was a soft multifilament with moderate power and good all-around performance.
  I haven’t heard Mantis mentioned in quite a while. Out of curiosity, what turned you on to those strings?
  I hope that helps!
  All the best,
  Jon
  Reply

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