
Step 1: Pick a Type of String
When you’re shopping for tennis strings, the first step will be to decide between the two major categories of string: natural gut and synthetic.
As you may have guessed by the names, natural gut strings come from organic fibers, while synthetic come from artificial materials.
The most common materials used to make synthetic strings are nylon and polyester. You’ll also find a small selection of strings made with Kevlar, but they’re not as popular as they once were.
Natural Gut Tennis Strings
Natural gut strings are more expensive than synthetic, which makes them a less attractive choice for the vast majority of players.
This type of string has been around since the 1870s when Pierre Babolat first began creating them from sheep gut. These days, modern natural gut strings are made with cow intestine.
The molecular structure of natural gut strings gives them exceptional elasticity, especially compared to most synthetic strings, which results in excellent power, comfort, and feel.
For some, choosing natural gut strings might sound like a no-brainer, but they do come with drawbacks, including durability and high cost.
Pros
- Power
- Comfort
- Feel
- Tension stability
Cons
Recommendation
Natural gut strings are an excellent choice for experienced players looking for a high-end string that offers terrific performance and aren’t overly concerned with the durability of their strings.
On the other hand, if you’re a beginner, play casually or infrequently, or are on a tight budget, then these strings are unlikely to be a good fit. As a beginner or casual tennis player, you’ll be hard-pressed to detect the nuanced difference compared to their synthetic counterparts, so you might as well save yourself the cash.
Synthetic Tennis Strings
Synthetic strings offer a wide variety to choose from and are the ideal choice for most tennis players. However, not all strings in this category are created equal, and each comes with pros and cons.
If you opt for synthetic strings, you’ll have a few different options available to you. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular.
Synthetic Gut
Synthetic gut is an affordable group of nylon strings that are popular among beginner, intermediate, and recreational players. If you buy a pre-strung racquet off the shelf, it will usually come with nylon strings installed.
Most nylon strings feature a larger solid core construction with smaller outer wraps. The quality of nylon, exact construction, bonding agents, and coatings are some of the factors that result in a wide range of prices.
Pros
- Price
- Moderate all-around performance
Cons
Recommendation
Synthetic gut strings are an excellent option for beginners and intermediate players due to their low cost and all-around performance. They’re also a solid option for casual or recreational players that aren’t overly concerned with string performance.
Polyester Strings
Polyester strings, or polys, have become one of the most popular choices on the pro tour, and you’ll find more options in this string category than any other.
These low powered strings are durable and stiff, which allows players to swing faster and generate more topspin without a loss in control. Moreover, when struck with enough force, the strings deform and then snap back into place, which helps further enhance topspin.
Unfortunately, the stiff nature of these strings results in one of their biggest downsides, and that’s comfort. Another pitfall is that they don’t do a great job of maintaining tension and require frequent replacement.
Pros
Cons
- Comfort
- Feel
- Tension stability
Recommendation
Polyester strings are ideal for intermediate to advanced players who have the skill and technique required to generate sufficient racquet head speed to take advantage of their befits. If you have a history of arm injuries, you’ll want to stay away from them.
Multifilament Strings
Manufacturers create multifilament strings by wrapping ultra-small nylon fibers together to make a single string. Due to their construction, they tend to hold their tension better than synthetic gut while seeking to mimic the power, comfort, and feel of natural gut.
Like polyester, what makes them great also leads to their downsides in that they can be overpowering or harder to control, while also lacking in topspin that many players desire.
Pros
- Power
- Comfort
- Feel
- Durability
Cons
Recommendation
Multifilament strings are perfect for thriving beginners as well as intermediate and advanced tennis players looking for a high-powered string that provides excellent feel at a reasonable price. If you have a history of arm injuries, you’ll appreciate the comfort these strings offer.
Kevlar Strings
Kevlar strings use aramid fibers in their construction and are the stiffest and most durable available. If you have a history of breaking strings frequently, they make a great option.
However, because of their harsh feel, they come with the highest risk of causing arm injuries and, as a result, are the least popular.
Pros
- Durability
- Control
- Tension stability
Cons
Recommendation
If you’re a chronic string breaker that doesn’t have a history of arm injuries or discomfort, then you may want to experiment with Kevlar to increase the life of your strings.
However, we’d recommend you combine them with a softer synthetic gut or multifilament as part of a hybrid string setup where you install one type in the mains and another in the crosses (more on this to follow).
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