Tennis String Tension

The Ultimate Players Guide + Video

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By Jon Crim
TennisCompanion

For many players, string tension is an overlooked aspect of their tennis racquet. However, the tension at which a player strings their racquet can significantly impact performance and serve as an excellent fine-tuning mechanism for playing your best tennis.

Gaining an understanding of string tension allows savvy players to identify a tension that feels right to enhance their game and even help with other factors, such as arm injuries and match-day nerves.

Article Contents

Tension Explained + Video

Tension Ranges

Low vs. High Tension

String Tension & Topspin

String Tension & Durability

Finding the Right Tension

Tension Loss Considerations

Tension for Varied Conditions

Tension & Types of String

Tension for Arm Injuries

Stringing Mulitple Racquets

Pro String Tensions

String Tension Tools

String Tension Guide

Wrapping Up

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Tennis String Tension Explained

Tennis String Tension Explained: Pulling Tension on a Stringing Machine

Tension is a measure of the force pulled by a stringing machine when installing strings, typically expressed in pounds or kilograms.

When you have your tennis racquet strung or string it yourself, a specific tension is applied to the string by a machine. More accurately referred to as reference tension, this is a measure of weight being applied to the string as it’s pulled, which we can express in kilograms or pounds.

Before a racquet technician installs strings, they’ll set their machine to the client’s desired tension. Then, as they weave the strings through the frame, the machine will pull the string to the appropriate tension.

It’s worth noting that while a machine will pull a string to the pre-determined reference tension, the finished product’s actual tension will differ and typically be slightly lower due to the installation process.

For example, a technician will install the main strings on a racquet first, so there isn’t any friction of the cross strings when pulling the string to the desired tension. However, after installing the main strings, the cross strings must weave through the main strings, which imparts friction and impacts the final or actual tension.

If you’re trying to decide on a tension, there’s no right or wrong answer as it’s a personal preference. However, the information we cover in this guide will help you determine an ideal tension that will ensure you get the most out of your racquet and perform your best on the court.

String Tension Video

Below you’ll find my video on the topic, which serves as an excellent companion to this guide.

For quick reference, here are timestamps to the different sections of the video so you can quickly jump around.

0:24 – Tension Explained
0:57 – Tension Ranges
1:45 – Low vs. High Tension
2:54 – Tension & Topspin
3:29 – Tension & Durability
3:58 – Finding the Right Tension
4:42 – Tension Loss
5:17 – Types of String & Tension
5:50 – Tension & Comfort
6:17 – Tools (Tester & Calibrator)
6:59 – Wrapping Up

The following sections will closely mirror the above video outline, but you’ll also find some extra content like pro string tensions that we haven’t included in the video.

Tension Ranges

Tennis String Tension Ranges & Recommended Ranges

Most tennis racquets come with a recommended tension range determined by the manufacturer for optimal performance, which serves two purposes.

First, it’s the range the manufacturer has determined the racquet performs its best. However, this range is also important beyond performance because it considers the frame’s strength to ensure it doesn’t break under pressure.

Helpful Tip
The tension you choose to string your racquet is up to you as these are purely recommendations, but it’s worth noting you may void its warranty if your string tension is determined to have caused your racquet to break.

At a high level, the recommended tensions ranges across most racquets will start as low as 18.14 kilograms or 40 pounds and end around 30.84 kilograms or 68 pounds.

However, while this feels like a rather large spread, each racquet’s range will typically span roughly 5 to 15 pounds. Here’s a selection of popular racquets and the recommend tension ranges for reference:

Racquet	Tension Range
Babolat Pure Strike 100	22-26 kg / 50-59 lb
Babolat Pure Aero	22-26 kg / 50-59 lb
Babolat Pure Drive	22-26 kg / 50-59 lb
Wilson Pro Staff RF97	22-27 kg / 50-60 lb
Wilson Clash 100	21-26 kg / 48-58 lb
Head Gravity Pro	21-25 kg / 48-57 lb
Yonex EZONE 98 (305g)	20-27 kg / 45-60 lb

You may also find some of the tennis strings you purchase offer a recommended tension range. For example, Babolat’s RPM Blast recommends 48 – 66 lbs or 22 – 30 kg, a rough guide for understanding where they have determined the string performs its best.

Lower vs. Higher String Tension

When stringing tennis racquets, a common question that surfaces for players is whether they should string with a higher or lower tension and what impact the change will have on their racquet’s performance.

The simple answer is that lower tensions will provide you with more power, while higher tensions will give you more control.

However, there’s a bit more to the equation, and it has to do with stringed stiffness, which tension influences. As we cover this topic, let’s assume all other factors are equal.

Low String Tension

Tennis String Tension Low Tension Equals High Trajectory and More Depth

A lower tension will result in more power because of a decrease in the stringbed stiffness, which impacts the trajectory or direction of the ball as it leaves your strings.

It turns out that the flight path of a stiffer stringbed is higher, so the ball flies further and lands deeper in the court without a change in effort.

High String Tension

Tennis String Tension: High Tension Equals Low Trajectory & Less Depth

On the other hand, a higher tension will result in less power because of an increase in stringbed stiffness, which has the opposite impact on the ball’s trajectory as it leaves your strings.

More specifically, the ball’s flight path is lower, so the ball doesn’t fly as far and will land shorter in the court.

What doesn’t change with higher or lower tensions is the speed of the ball as it leaves your strings, which the tennis racquet and speed at which it’s strung impacts, as studies have shown.

Of course, that’s a lot to absorb, so it’s not surprising it’s common to suggest players string lose for power and tight for control, especially considering that’s how most players perceive changes in tension.

String Tension and Topspin

Tennis String Tension for Topspin & Polyester Strings

Often players will question which tension is best for topspin.

Unfortunately, to date, it’s not proven definitively through research whether or not higher or lower tensions increase topspin.

As a result, if spin a priority, I encourage players to focus their energy on their technique and racquet head speed, which has the greatest influence, while also considering the type of string they’re using.

Polyester tennis strings have the most significant impact on topspin due to the snapback effect of the string as a ball brushes against them. Furthermore, a lower tension for polyester strings may help improve the ability of a string to snap back and subsequently deliver more spin.

For this reason, many players use lower-powered polys. Not only do they have topspin enhancing qualities, but more importantly, they allow the player to swing harder to increase spin.

String Tension & Durability

Tennis String Tension: Durability & String Notches

Another common and hotly debated question is whether higher or lower tensions increase the durability of a string.

Like topspin, the jury is still out on tension and durability, with many professionals believing that lower tensions allow the strings to move more frequently and saw into each other to cause breakage. Conversely, others believe that higher tensions cause increased friction when the strings move, which leads to strings breaking more quickly.

While there is no definitive answer, our recommendation is to lower your string tension to increase durability. From our experience, strings at higher tensions move plenty, which, combined with increased friction, leads to earlier breakage than lower tensions.

However, like topspin, if you’re searching for durability, our primary recommendation would be to consider other variables. For example, the type of string, along with the string’s gauge or thickness, will have a more tangible impact than modifying tension.

Finding the Right Tension

Babolat Aero 2019 Recommended String Tension Ranges

When you’re stringing a racquet for the first time, it doesn’t have to be a guessing game. First, start with the tension range recommended by the racquet’s manufacturer.

You can typically find these numbers printed directly on the frame – check the inside of your tennis racquet’s throat or the inner edge of the frame’s head as a starting point. Manufacturers will test their racquets with real players to determine an appropriate range.

The best thing you can do the first time around when stringing a new racquet is splitting the difference and starting with a tension right in the middle of the manufacturer’s recommendation.

For example, if your racquet says the recommended string tension is 55 to 60 pounds, start with 58 pounds. Then, based on the racquet’s performance, you can adjust up or down to your preference.

It may take a few attempts to dial in your preferred tension, but if you start in the middle, you should be able to nail it down pretty quickly. If you have more than one racquet, you can have each strung at different tensions to compare them side-by-side.

Helpful Tip
It’s worth noting that there are no rules in tennis that specify acceptable tension ranges. Instead, this is entirely up to the player to determine based on personal preference.

As you work to find the right string tension, we recommend that you stick with the same string as you make adjustments.

Different types of strings can have a dramatically different feel and performance at various tensions. Therefore, it’s best to stick with a single string until you find a tension you enjoy.

If you eventually move to a new string, you may need to adjust to your tension to accommodate the change.

Testing with Two Racquets

If you have two of the same racquet, I’d recommend you string them both fresh at different tensions so you can compare how they feel in real-time.

Of course, if you don’t have two of the same racquets, you can test two different tensions back to back. However, I’d encourage you to restring with the new tension sooner than you might typically restring, i.e., after one or two weeks of hitting with one tension, cut the strings out and switch to the new tension so that you can get the closest possible comparison.

Best String Tension

Many players ask what the best string tension is for their racquet, which is entirely understandable. However, although we can provide general recommendations, what’s best is ultimately player-specific.

Recognizing this, we’d encourage you to use this resource to understand how to think about tension, which you can then use to identify the best tension for your racquet, strings, and desired performance characteristics.

Although it will take a bit of effort upfront to learn the general concepts, you’ll benefit from the knowledge for years to come and be better equipped to adjust tension to fine-tune your racquet.

If you’re looking for more specific tension recommendations, don’t forget to check out our guide toward the end of this article.

Word of Caution

Often, players looking for more control or power will attempt to adjust their string tension to achieve a more pronounced effect. However, while it’s correct that tension will change these variables, there’s a diminishing return on overall performance. As a result, you’ll likely end up with adverse side effects, so it’s worth evaluating other factors.

For instance, a player would benefit from improving their technique, fitness, and selection of string or racquet to substantially increase control or power.

With that said, you should think of string tension as more as a fine-tuning mechanism to get the most out of your racquet, string, and, more importantly, the talent that you’ve developed through practice.

Tension Loss Considerations

Tennis String Tension Loss Considerations

After you string your racquet, it will begin to lose tension. In fact, strings can lose up to 10% of their tension within 24 hours.

To prevent this, some players will ask their racquet technicians to pre-stretch their tennis strings. Before installing strings, the stringer gently stretches them manually or uses a pre-stretch feature available on many electronic stringing machines, so they don’t have much initial tension loss.

Furthermore, each type of string loses tension at different rates, and some strings are better at holding their tension. For example, natural gut and multifilament strings tend to do a terrific job maintaining their tension, while polyester strings typically don’t.

As you choose a tennis string, it’s good to be aware of these qualities because they can impact the performance of your racquet and, subsequently, the frequency at which you restring.

String Tension for Varied Conditions

As a player’s skill level improves and they compete at higher levels, string tension becomes more crucial and nuanced.

Beyond finding an ideal tension, players will fine-tune their tension according to the conditions for optimal performance. Typically, this happens during practice leading up to a match where the players will have a good sense of what to expect.

Keep in mind that the tension changes for the following conditions are usually minor, i.e., 1-2 lbs (.5-1 kg).

Temperature

If you live in an area where the seasons are prominent, and the weather changes substantially throughout the year, you’ve likely experienced playing in warm and cool temperatures.

If so, you’ve likely experienced how the ball is a bit more lively during a hot day, while it can feel almost dead on a cold day. To accommodate, some players will adjust their tension up slightly during warmer conditions for more control and decrease tension on cooler days for added power.

Humidity

During warm, dry conditions, a tennis ball will fly through the air with little resistance, which speeds up play. However, higher humidity puts extra drag on the ball and slows down pay. Tennis balls can even hold moisture from the air and sweat from players.

Once again, some players sometimes will increase tension during drier conditions to improve control, while they may decrease tension slightly to increase power. As you’d expect, temperature and humidity go hand in hand. Hence, players have to feel out the conditions to determine how best to adjust tension for the current or expected conditions.

Surface

Each court surface plays slightly different, with grass being the fastest being grass, hard courts falling in the middle of the spectrum, and clay courts playing the slowest.

Once again, players will adjust their tension accordingly. When playing on faster surfaces like grass, players might increase tension for a bit of added control. However, on a slower surface like clay, where the ball also tends to retain a bit of debris, players tend to drop tension a few pounds to increase power a bit.

Altitude or Elevation

Last but not least, altitude can also influence the tension a player selects. At higher elevations, tennis balls are bouncier, hence the reason for high altitude balls. However, players still often feel like the balls have more pop because the air is thinner and the humidity lower.

When a player returns to a lower altitude, they’ll drop their tension back again to accommodate the conditions.

Types of Strings and Tension

Different types of tennis strings feature different materials and construction and, as a result, can exhibit dramatically different feel at the same tension. In other words, a tension that works for one string may be a poor choice for another.

For example, if you were to string your racquet at 60 pounds with a nylon multifilament and then switch to a polyester string and use the same tension, you’d most likely be disappointed in performance because polyesters tend to work better at lower tensions.

Let’s do a quick review of the different types of strings with our favorite picks in each category.

Natural Gut

Tennis String Tension for Natural Gut

Some of the most expensive strings on the market, natural gut strings are made from cow intestine and feature excellent power, comfort, and feel. Due to their elasticity, they do a fantastic job maintaining tension and perform exceptionally well at higher tensions.

Frequently, players that move to natural gut from synthetic materials will be inclined to string at slightly higher tensions for more control.

Natural Gut Examples

Babolat VS Touch

Wilson Natural Guth

Synthetic Gut

Tennis String Tension for Synthetic Gut

Typically made from nylon, synthetic gut strings are a cost-effective choice for a wide range of players and offer average all-around performance. In addition, synthetic gut strings perform well at various string tensions, depending on player preference.

Synthetic Gut Examples

Prince Synthetic Gut

Gosen OG Sheep Micro

Multifilament

Tennis String Tension for Multifilament

Multifilament tennis strings seek to replicate the performance of natural gut by weaving thousands of fibers together. As a result, they feature similar characteristics, including power, comfort, and feel.

Multifilaments perform well at mid to upper range tensions, with many players stringing slightly higher due to their higher power.

Multifilament Examples

Wilson NXT

Tecnifibre X-One Biphase

Polyester

Tennis String Tension for Polyester

A popular string in today’s modern game of tennis, polyester tennis strings are stiff, lower-powered, and enhance topspin. Due to their monofilament construction, they also offer excellent durability.

Most players will reduce the tension of polyester strings to increase the snapback effect and comfort while allowing them to swing faster to generate added topspin.

I’ve found roughly a 10% drop when moving from synthetic gut or a multifilament to work well as a starting point. However, you’ll want to continue experimenting after the initial reduction in tension to find out what works best for you.

Polyester Examples

Luxilon ALU Power

Babolat RPM Blast

Kevlar

Tennis String Tension for Polyester

Although not as popular as they once were, Kevlar strings are highly durable yet offer a very stiff feel. As a result, if you experiment with one of the few Kevlar strings still available, you may want to lower the tension to offset the stiffness.

Typically, when you find Kevlar strings, manufacturers will pair them with a softer string as part of a hybrid setup.

Kevlar Examples

Prince Classic Problend w/ Duraflex

Ashaway Crossfire Plus

Hybrid

Tennis String Tension for Hybrid Stringing

When you combine any two sets of tennis string, one set for the mains and another for the crosses, it’s called a hybrid. Popular hybrids include natural gut or multifilament combined with polyester.

It’s common for players to opt for varying tensions for each of the strings, with the poly typically featuring a slightly lower tension of 2 to 3 kilograms or pounds.

Hybrid Examples

Wilsons Champions Choice

Wilsons Duo Power

Best String Tension for Comfort & Arm Injuries

Tennis String Tension for Comfort and Arm Injuries Like Tennis Elbow

Frequently, players with arm injuries will benefit from reducing the tension of their strings to create a softer, more forgiving string bed. The result will help reduce the stiffness associated with higher tensions, which will ultimately be more forgiving for a player’s arm.

Of course, you’ll have to keep in mind how the tension drop will influence power or the depth of your shot, as we’ve covered, but it’s one avenue you can take for improving comfort.

However, if you suffer from an injury such as tennis elbow, don’t stop at string tension. It can also be worth evaluating your string selection, type of racquet (including its weight), and grip size to achieve the highest comfort level. Moreover, you’ll also want to make sure you restring your racquet more frequently because as comfort-oriented strings go dead, they’ll lose these qualities.

Some of the top strings for comfort are natural gut, like Babolat VS Touch and Wilson Natural Gut mentioned above. However, the higher price and lack of durability tend to price most players out of using them.

The good news is that multifilaments offer comparable and sometimes better comfort, as is the case with Prince Premier Touch. Both Wilson NXT and Tecnifibre X-One Biphase covered in the previous section are also two great options.

Stringing Multiple Racquets at Various Tensions

Tennis String Tension Multiple Racquets at Various Tensions

It’s common for players who compete at higher levels to carry three or more racquets with at least one racquet strung at a higher tension. While this may seem like a luxury to a casual player, there’s sound logic.

First, if you break a string, you want to have at least one additional backup at the same tension to continue play. However, many players will keep one or more racquets strung a few kilograms or pounds tighter for added control. Some of the pros carry upwards of ten freshly strung tennis racquets with them to every match.

In competitive situations, players will often overhit. The excitement of the match, nerves, and determination to win can make players tighten up or get overly excited and subsequently miss their shots by a small margin.

In this case, it can be beneficial to have a racquet strung tighter to regain control. When you’re hitting a few feet long or wide, a minor change in tension can be the difference a player needs.

String Tension and the Pros

Tennis String Tension and the Pros Andy Murray

Despite string tension being highly personalized, many players are keen to learn how the pros string their frames.

To that end, here’s a selection of players that draw a lot of curiosity. A few things to keep in mind when reviewing these:

Most pros will vary their tension slightly based on the conditions, i.e., a dry vs. humid climate or higher vs. lower altitudes.
Similarly, while pro model racquets, like Federer’s Wilson Pro Staff RF97, are available for purchase, they will feature additional customizations that cater to their game for optimal performance and ultimately influence the tension they string their racquet.

Roger Federer

Racquet	Wilson Pro Staff RF97
String	Hybrid
Mains	Wilson Natural Gut 16
Crosses	Luxilon ALU Power Rough 17
Tension	M: 27 kg / 59.5 lbs C: 25.5 kg / 56.2 lbs

Rafael Nadal

Racquet	Babolat Pure Aero 2019
String	Polyester
Mains	Babolat RPM Blast 15
Crosses	Babolat RPM Blast 15
Tension	25 kg / 55.1 lbs

Novak Djokovic

Racquet	Head Graphene 360 Speed Pro
String	Hybrid
Mains	Babolat VS Team Natural Gut
Crosses	Luxilon ALU Power Rough
Tension	M: 26.8 kg / 59 lbs C: 25.4 kg / 56 lbs

Andy Murray

Racquet	Head Graphene 360 Radical Pro
String	Hybrid
Mains	Luxilon ALU Power 16L
Crosses	Babolat VS Touch 17
Tension	28 kg / 62 lbs

Nick Kyrgios

Racquet	Yonex EZONE Xi 98
String	Polyester
Mains	Yonex Poly Tour Pro 125
Crosses	Yonex Poly Tour Pro 125
Tension	23.1 kg / 51 lbs

Gael Monfils

Racquet	Wilson Ultra Tour 97
String	Polyester
Mains	Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power
Crosses	Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power
Tension	M: 25.9 kg / 57 lbs / C: 25 kg / 55lbs

Milos Raonic

Racquet	Wilson Blade 98 18×20 v7
String	Polyester
Mains	Luxilon M2
Crosses	Luxilon M2
Tension	M: 20 kg / 44 lbs / C: 20.9 kg / 46lbs

Matteo Berrettini

Racquet	Head TGK 219
String	Polyester
Mains	Signum Pro Firestorm 125
Crosses	Signum Pro Firestorm 125
Tension	27 kg / 59.5 lbs

Kei Nishikori

Racquet	Wilson Ultra 95 Countervail
String	Hybrid
Mains	Wilson Natural Gut 16
Crosses	Babolat VS Touch 17
Tension	28 kg / 62 lbs

Juan Martin del Potro

Racquet	Wilson Burn FST 95
String	Polyester
Mains	Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power
Crosses	Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power
Tension	28 kg / 62lbs

Diego Schwartzman

Racquet	HEAD TGT 260.2 XL
String	Polyester
Mains	Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power
Crosses	Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power
Tension	22.3 kg / 50lbs

Jack Sock

Racquet	Babolat Pure Aero VS
String	Polyester Hybrid
Mains	Luxilon ALU Power Rough 17
Crosses	Luxilon ALU Power Rough 15
Tension	M: 15.9 kg / 35 lbs C: 15.9 kg / 35 lbs

John Isner

Racquet	Prince Textreme Warrior 100
String	Polyester
Mains	Tecnifibre Pro RedCode
Crosses	Tecnifibre Pro RedCode
Tension	28 kg / 62 lbs

Serena Williams

Racquet	Wilson Blade 104
String	Hybrid
Mains	Wilson Natural Gut
Crosses	Luxilon 4G
Tension	29.9 kg / 66 lbs

Venus Williams

Racquet	Wilson Blade 104
String	Hybrid
Mains	Wilson Natural Gut
Crosses	Luxilon 4G
Tension	29.9 kg / 66 lbs

Ashleigh Barty

Racquet	HEAD Gravity Pro
String	Polyester
Mains	Head Hawk Touch
Crosses	Head Hawk Touch
Tension	M: 20.9 kg / 46 lbs / C: 20kg / 44 lbs

Simona Halep

Racquet	Wilson Steam 99
String	Polyester
Mains	Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power
Crosses	Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power
Tension	M: 25 kg / 55 lbs / C: 24 kg / 53 lbs

Garbine Muguruza

Racquet	Babolat Pure Drive 2012
String	Polyester
Mains	Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power
Crosses	Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power
Tension	27.2 kg / 60 lbs

Maria Sharapova

Racquet	Head Graphene 360 Instinct MP
String	Hybrid
Mains	Babolat VS Team
Crosses	Babolat RPM Blast
Tension	28.1 kg / 62 lbs

Caroline Wozniacki

Racquet	Babolat Aero Pro 2019
String	Hybrid
Mains	Babolat Revenge
Crosses	Babolat VS Team
Tension	25.9 kg / 57 lbs

String Tension Tools

Two common tools to help with string tension measurement are calibrators and tension test tools.

Tension Calibrators

Tennis String Tension Calibrator

Tension calibrators are simple spring-loaded devices that help racquet technicians ensure their machine is pulling tension accurately.

A stringing technician clamps one end of the calibrator to the machine and then pulls tension, which provides a reading for comparison to the machine’s tension setting.

Depending on the difference reported by the calibrator and the machine’s settings, a stringer can dial in their stringer.

Tension Testers

Tennis String Tension Tester

Players may want to use a tension tester to measure tension loss over time and help determine when it’s time to restring.

You simply measure the tension of your strings as soon as possible after stringing and then continue measuring it periodically until the frame has lost roughly 10-15 pounds of tension.

Helpful Tip
The 10-15 pound threshold can be adjusted based on your preference after using a tension tester for a while.

It’s worth noting that the tension shown by your tester will not match the reference tension you asked your stringer to use as a racquet’s final tension will always differ.

Tension testers aren’t highly accurate devices. Instead, they help gauge relative tension over time as a reference point to determine when to restring.

Here’s a selection of popular tension calibration and testing tools you might want to check out.

String Tension Tools

Gamma tension calibrator

Pro’s Pro tension calibrator

Tourna string tension tester

Gamma string tension tester

ERT 300 Tenniscomputer Tension Tester

MSV MINISTT Electronic Tension Tester

Tennis String Tension Guide

Tennis String Tension Guide and Recommendations

Hopefully, the information contained in this resource has helped lay a foundation for better understanding tennis string tension while guiding you to select a tension confidently for your racquet.

With that said, we recognize the information we’ve covered can be overwhelming, so in this section, we’ve provided generalized recommendations you can use as a starting point based on the type of string you’re using, your experience level, and performance goals.

Tension By Type of String

One thing you’ll notice is softer strings, including natural gut and nylon synthetic gut, and multifilaments have higher tension ranges. In comparison, stiffer strings like polyester and kevlar are lower to improve comfort.

Type of String	Tension Range
Natural Gut	50-65 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
Synthetic Gut	50-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
Multifilament	50-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
Polyester	35-55 lbs (15.9-24.9 kg)
Kevlar	40-55 lbs (18.1-24.9 kg)
Hybrid	45-55 lbs (20.4-24.9 kg)

Don’t forget that the type of string you choose also influences power, i.e., a multifilament strung at the same tension as polyester will offer more power.

Tension by Performance Characteristic

As a general rule of thumb, we recommend players string loose for power and tight for control. Below, you’ll find we’ve broken apart the broader tension ranges to align with these performance characteristics.

Type of String	Power Tension	Control Tension
Natural Gut	50-55 lbs (22.7-24.9 kg)	56-65 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
Synthetic Gut	50-55 lbs (22.7-24.9 kg)	56-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
Multifilament	50-55 lbs (22.7-24.9 kg)	56-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
Polyester	35-49 lbs (15.9-22.2 kg)	50-55 lbs (22.7-24.9 kg)
Kevlar	40-49 lbs (18.1-22.2 kg)	50-55 lbs (22.7-24.9 kg)
Hybrid	45-49 lbs (20.4-22.2 kg)	50-57 lbs (22.7-25.9 kg)

Tension for Power by Skill Level

As a player’s skill level and ability to produce racquet head speed increases, their ability to generate power on their own will improve.

With this in mind, you’ll notice tensions for power are lower for beginners who can use the extra pace and higher for advanced players who tend to generate velocity on their own.

Type of String	Beginner	Intermediate	Advanced
Natural Gut	50-51 lbs (22.7-23.1 kg)	52-53 lbs (23.6-24 kg)	54-5 lbs (24.5-24.9 kg)
Synthetic Gut	50-51 lbs (22.7-23.1 kg)	52-53 lbs (23.6-24 kg)	54-55 lbs (24.5-24.9 kg)
Multifilament	50-51 lbs (22.7-23.1 kg)	52-53 lbs (23.6-24 kg)	54-55 lbs (24.5-24.9 kg)
Polyester	44-45 lbs (20-20.4 kg)	46-47 lbs (21-21.3 kg)	48-49 lbs (21.8-22.2 kg)
Kevlar	44-45 lbs (20-20.4 kg)	46-47 lbs (21-21.3 kg)	48-49 lbs (21.8-22.2 kg)
Hybrid	46-47 lbs (21-21.3 kg)	48-49 lbs (21.8-22.2 kg)	50-51 lbs (22.7-23.1 kg)

Tension for Control by Skill Level

As a player’s skill level improves, their technique and gear will generally allow them to handle higher tensions for added control better.

Beginners will also benefit from higher tension for enhancing control but should avoid stringing too tight to prevent a reduction in comfort.

Type of String	Beginner	Intermediate	Advanced
Natural Gut	55-56 lbs (24.9-22.7 kg)	57-58 lbs (25.9-26.3 kg)	59-60 lbs (26.8-27.2 kg)
Synthetic Gut	55-56 lbs(24.9-22.7 kg)	57-58 lbs (25.9-26.3 kg)	59-60 lbs (26.8-27.2 kg)
Multifilament	55-56 lbs (24.9-22.7 kg)	57-58 lbs (25.9-26.3 kg)	59-60 lbs (26.8-27.2 kg)
Polyester	50-51 lbs (22.7-23.1 kg)	52-53 lbs (23.6-24 kg)	54-55 lbs (24.5-25 kg)
Kevlar	50-51 lbs (22.7-23.1 kg)	52-53 lbs (23.6-24 kg)	54-55 lbs (24.5-25 kg)
Hybrid	50-51 lbs (22.7-23.1 kg)	52-53 lbs (23.6-24 kg)	54-55 lbs (24.5-25 kg)

Tension Guide for Popular Racquets

Every racquet comes with a recommended tension, so we’ve gathered some of the most popular models for quick reference.

Babolat

Racquet	Tension Range
Babolat Pure Aero 2019 (all racquets)	50-59 lbs (22.7-26.8 kg)
Babolat Pure Drive 2021 (all racquets)	50-59 lbs (22.7-26.8 kg)
Babolat Pure Strike Gen 3 (all racquets)	50-59 lbs (22.7-26.8 kg)

Dunlop

Racquet	Tension Range
Dunlop CX (all but 400 & 200 OS)	45-65 lbs (20.4-29.5 kg)
Dunlop CX 400 & 200 OS	40-60 lbs (18.1-27.2 kg)
Dunlop FX (all but 700)	45-65 lbs (20.4-29.5 kg)
Dunlop FX 700	40-60 lbs (18.1-27.2 kg)
Dunlop SX (all but 600)	45-65 lbs (20.4-29.5 kg)
Dunlop SX 600	40-60 lbs (18.1-27.2 kg)

Head

Racquet	Tension Range
Head Graphene 360+ Prestige (all racquets)	48-57 lbs (21.8-25.9 kg)
Head Graphene 360+ Speed (all racquets)	48-57 lbs (21.8-25.9 kg)
Head Gravity (all racquets)	48-57 lbs (21.8-25.9 kg)
Head Radical 2021 (all racquets)	48-57 lbs (21.8-25.9 kg)
Head Graphene 360+ Extreme (all but Tour)	52-62 lbs (23.6-28.1 kg)
Head Graphene 360+ Extreme Tour	48-57 lbs (21.8-25.9 kg)
Head Graphene 360+ Instinct (all but PWR)	48-57 lbs (21.8-25.9 kg)
Head Graphene 360+ Instinct PWR	52-62 lbs (23.6-28.1 kg)

Prince

Racquet	Tension Range
Prince Chrome 100 300g	50-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
Prince Phantom 97P	48-58 lbs (21.8-26.3 kg)
Prince Phantom 100P	45-55 lbs (20.4-25 kg)
Prince Phantom 100X 305g, 290g, 18×20	45-55 lbs (20.4-25 kg)
Prince Phantom O3 100X	45-55 lbs (20.4-25 kg)
Prince Phantom 93P (18×20), (14×18)	45-55 lbs (20.4-25 kg)
Prince Phantom 100G, 100G LB, 107G	45-55 lbs (20.4-25 kg)
Prince Ripstick 100 280g, 300g	50-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
Prince Synergy 98	50-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
Prince Textreme Tour 95, 100P	45-55 lbs (20.4-25 kg)
Prince Textreme Tour 100L 260g, 290g, 310g	48-58 lbs (21.8-26.3 kg)
Prince Textreme Warrior 100	50-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
Prince Textreme Warrior 100T	53-63 lbs (24-28.6 kg)
Prince Twistpower X97 Tour, X100	45-55 lbs (20.4-25 kg)
Prince Warrior 100 300g, 107	50-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)

Tecnifibre

Racquet	Tension Range
Tecnifibre TFight (all but 305 RS)	49-55 lbs (22.2-25 kg)
Tecnifibre TFight 305 RS	50-55 lbs (22.7-25 kg)
Tecnifibre TF40 305 & 315	49-55 lbs (22.2-25 kg)
Tecnifibre TFlash (all racquets)	49-55 lbs (22.2-25 kg)

Volkl

Racquet	Tension Range
Volkl V-Cell (all but 2 & 4)	45-65 lb (20.4-29.5 kg)
Volkl V-Cell 2 & 4	46-60 lbs (20.9-27.2 kg)
Volk V-Feel (all but 1, 2, 3)	50-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
Volk V-Feel 1	48-58 lbs (21.8-26.3 kg)
Volk V-Feel 2 & 3	46-60 lbs (20.9-27.2 kg)

Wilson

Racquet	Tension Range
Wilson Blade v7 (all racquets)	50-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
Wilson Clash (all racquets)	50-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
Wilson Pro Staff v13 (all racquets)	50-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
Wilson Ultra 100UL v3	47-57 lbs (21.3-25.9 kg)
Wilson Ultra 108 v3 v3	53-63 lbs (24-28.6 kg)
Wilson Ultra v3 (all but 100UL & 108)	50-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)

Wrapping Up

Often overlooked, tennis string tension can be a powerful tool for the savvy tennis player and wreak havoc on the game of players who aren’t paying attention to their strings.

Take control of your string tension to maximize your performance and gain an edge over a less prepared player.

Have questions about string tension? Feel free to add your comments below. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have!

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19 replies

Richard Lucas says:
April 19, 2014 at 2:03 am
I have just ordered my first stringing machine. This article has provided some useful information. Thanks, Rick Lucas
Reply
TennisCompanion says:
May 2, 2014 at 7:10 pm
Hey Rick,
That’s awesome to hear! Nothing beats having your own stringer, you’re going to have a ton of fun with it :)
If you don’t mind me asking, which stringer did you order?
One of my favorites… stringing, watching tennis on TV and drinking a nice cold beverage. Can’t beat it. I’m glad you found some of the information helpful and would love to hear how things work out with the new machine.
All the best,
Jon
Reply
Pallavi says:
August 4, 2014 at 8:16 pm
Hi
I found your article very useful. My son who is 14, years old plays with 57 lbs tension 300 GMs rpm blast strings on babolat pure drive French open….now he wants to switch to another racquet.. He plays flat and is in between intermediate to advanced player. Any suggestions on which other racquet and what strings? Thanks in advance
Pallavi
Reply
TennisCompanion says:
August 5, 2014 at 5:24 am
Hey Pallavi,
Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment. Here are a few questions that would help me provide a more useful answer:
Why does your son want to switch?
What are his favorite parts about his existing racquet?
What does your son dislike about his existing racquet?
What aspects of his game is he looking to improve through the purchase of a new racquet?
Can you add any more detail around his style of play, i.e. he mostly hangs at the baseline, loves to come to net, etc…?
What kind of strings is he currently using and what does he like/dislike about them?
Looking forward to your reply.
All the best,
Jon
Reply
- Pallavi says:
  September 29, 2014 at 4:45 am
  Hi,
  I am extremely sorry for not looking up for your reply.
  1 His current babolat aero drive is 305 GMs….he is finding it a bit heavy. He tried a Wilson blade and pro staff and found it much more comfortable than babolat.
  He wants to have more control than what babolat gives. The strings are pro hurricane tension 60. He is looking for a light weight racquet with more control. His game is predominantly baseline, but does play good game even at the net. The strings do feel dead after just a day of being strung. He liked the feel of Wilson but is unable to choose. Once he played with a head light weight and felt good about it too. His current babolat racquet is kind of heavy for his age and is looking to switch for more control. I hope I answered your qs.
  Pl guide me . I ll keep checking your site more often now.
  Thanks
  Pallavi
  Reply
  - TennisCompanion says:
    October 5, 2014 at 5:54 am
    Hey Pallavi,
    Thanks for getting back to me! I’d love to provide you with a more detailed comparison of the tennis racquets that your son has been using as well as some suggestions for new racquets he might want to try.
    To help with this could you please provide links to the exact versions of the following tennis racquets that your son has used:
    Babolat Aero Drive
    Wilson Blade
    Wilson Pro Staff
    Each of these racquets have different variations with unique specifications, so in order to provide you with the best information it would be helpful for you to tell me the exact racquets your son has used.
    Just head on over to your favorite online retailer and then include the links to the racquets in your reply.
    I look forward to learning more!
    All the best,
    Jon
    Reply
Michael says:
January 22, 2015 at 6:12 am
sir, i need job. And i want to try other company. I am a racquet stringer here in dubai. Do you know where i can find good company and i can use my work experience here. Im have 6yrs work experience as a racquet stringer.. Please help me..thank you..
Reply
- TennisCompanion says:
  January 22, 2015 at 7:44 pm
  Hi Michael,
  Great to hear from you!
  I’m don’t personally know a club or company that I can recommend. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Dubai and getting to know some of the locals.
  However, it would likely be worth trying a few searches online to see if you can come up with an opportunity for yourself – here are a few ideas to help get you started:
  – tennis club
  – tennis company
  – tennis academy
  Hopefully, if you check a few of these out, they’d turn up something for you. Best of luck in your search – let me know if I can help with anything else.
  All the best,
  Jon
  Reply
Sam says:
February 9, 2015 at 4:59 pm
Hi, I am 15 years old, I weigh around 60kg, skinny build, I just purchased an RF97 signature racquet, I actually don’t find the racquet that heavy as is does al the work for me haha, the strings on it feel ok, but I’m looking for slightly more power in the strings, as I play with some hard hitters..,so I’m guessing I’ll have to go lower tension? Do the strings with lower tension go tighter or looser? I once here’d that tighter strings have more power, but I could be wrong,
Thank you! :)
Reply
- Sam says:
  February 9, 2015 at 5:08 pm
  I might also add, that this racquet had loads of power.. But when balls come flying at you, FAST.. I’m in trouble haha, I’m a wear that it could be my strength, but if I could get different tension or strings and hit or return back hard serves/shots, I’ll be a happy person :) thanks again !
  Reply
- TennisCompanion says:
  February 9, 2015 at 7:22 pm
  Hi Sam,
  Thanks for stopping by and for the great question.
  All things considered equal, lower tension will yield higher power but don’t forget along with that comes less control, so it’s usually a tradeoff. On the other hand, higher tension will produce less power and more control. If you’re looking for a bit more pop, then you can definitely play with adjusting the tension. However, another option would be to consider a different type of string. For example, multifilament strings tend to deliver higher end power so if you play with an inexpensive natural gut or polys then it may be worth investigating.
  If you’d like, I’d be happy to make some recommendations. Just let me know what type of strings you’re currently using.
  All the best,
  Jon
  Reply
Ujjwalr06 says:
August 13, 2016 at 2:07 am
Hi,
I am purchasing a new racket wilson juice blx 100…can you tell me the best optimal tension of that raquet. Tension are from 53-63 lbs..I AM A HARD HITTER AND ULTIMATE smasher and a fair backhand
Reply
- TennisCompanion says:
  August 13, 2016 at 5:22 pm
  Hi there! Thanks for your stopping by and for sharing your question. You are correct, the recommended string tension for the Wilson BLX Juice 100 is from 53-63 lbs, however when it comes to which tension you should use it all comes back to personal preference. For example, you described yourself as a hard hitter. If that’s the case I’d be curious to learn whether or not you’re looking to reign in and control your power or if you really enjoy hitting hard and want to maintain as much power as possible.
  If you were looking for more control I might suggest you try a tension at the upper end of the recommended stringing tension such as 61-63 lbs. Of course, if you enjoy the power and don’t have a problem with controlling the ball then you might look at stringing the racquet at the lower end of the recommended tension, perhaps 55-57.
  The key is to have an initial goal in mind with your string tension and then try a tension that you’d expect to match your needs and adjust from there. It definitely takes some trial and error to find an ideal tension. Here’s a little chart for how I would look at the recommended string tension for your tennis racquet:
  [Power] 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63 [Control]
  Of course, if you have any follow-up questions please don’t hesitate to ask!
  ~All the best, Jon
  Reply
  - Ron says:
    September 14, 2016 at 1:36 pm
    Isn’t Control and Power reversed on your chart?
    Reply
    - TennisCompanion says:
      October 12, 2016 at 5:15 am
      Whoops! Thanks for the catch, Ron. Just updated.
      ~ All the best, Jon
      Reply
Mrugesh says:
October 12, 2016 at 1:15 am
I think Control and Power are wrongly placed in above chart.
Reply
- TennisCompanion says:
  October 12, 2016 at 5:16 am
  Hi there Mrugesh! Looks like you and Ron both have a great eye :) Thanks for mentioning. I just updated the chart in one of my previous comments.
  ~ All the best, Jon
  Reply
Thanirs says:
August 3, 2020 at 1:16 pm
Great video! I play with a 2nd gen Pure Strike 98 16×19 and love the racket. I had it strung with Luxilon Element at mid-point tension. I find it comfortable and have no issues/concerns. I am considering buying a 2nd racket (as a backup and to have an extra one) and considering the 3rd gen Pure Strike 98 16×19. I was trying the demo and it came with Head Velocity and I found that my backhands are going deeper (good) but my forehands are going long (bad). This makes sense as this is a multifilament string with more power even though both rackets are similar in terms of weight etc. I am now ready to purchase the 3rd gen Pure Strike but a little confused about the string choice. I am leaning towards choosing same string i.e., Element but lower tension to compare? My style of play is top spin forehand, prefers to come to the net (although I am not a great volleyer) and two-handed backhand. Thanks for any suggestions.
Reply
- TennisCompanion says:
  August 4, 2020 at 6:04 am
  Hi Thanirs,
  Thanks for your feedback and for taking the time to ask a question.
  Since you enjoy your current string, my recommendation would be to stick with Luxilon Element as your first string for the new Babolat Pure Strike you’re planning to buy.
  There’s no doubt that the latest generation will feel different, but maintaining the same tension from the 2nd generation to the 3rd generation will allow you to better identify differences in feel, which you can then use to inform your decision to change the tension, keep it the same, or possibly even consider a new string altogether.
  I hope that helps!
  All the best,
  Jon
  Reply

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Tennis String Tension

Article Contents

New to TennisCompanion?

Tennis String Tension Explained

String Tension Video

Tension Ranges

Lower vs. Higher String Tension

Low String Tension

High String Tension

String Tension and Topspin

String Tension & Durability

Finding the Right Tension

Testing with Two Racquets

Best String Tension

Word of Caution

Tension Loss Considerations

String Tension for Varied Conditions

Temperature

Humidity

Surface

Altitude or Elevation

Types of Strings and Tension

Synthetic Gut

Multifilament

Polyester

Kevlar

Hybrid

Best String Tension for Comfort & Arm Injuries

Stringing Multiple Racquets at Various Tensions

String Tension and the Pros

Roger Federer

Rafael Nadal

Novak Djokovic

Andy Murray

Nick Kyrgios

Gael Monfils

Milos Raonic

Matteo Berrettini

Kei Nishikori

Juan Martin del Potro

Diego Schwartzman

Jack Sock

John Isner

Serena Williams

Venus Williams

Ashleigh Barty

Simona Halep

Garbine Muguruza

Maria Sharapova

Caroline Wozniacki

String Tension Tools

Tension Calibrators

Tension Testers

Tennis String Tension Guide

Tension By Type of String

Tension by Performance Characteristic

Tension for Power by Skill Level

Tension Guide for Popular Racquets

Babolat

Dunlop

Head

Prince

Tecnifibre

Volkl

Wilson

Wrapping Up

Play Better Tennis

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