Stringing Basics
When a new racquet company sponsored the U.S. High School Tennis Association many years ago, executive director Steve Milano ordered two of the racquets available to association members.
Milano had one of the racquets strung at 55 lbs. and the other at 60 lbs, both with the same brand of strings. Although both were the same model racquet, Milano felt the racquet strung at the lower tension played as well or better than any racquet he had played with the past decade, while the racquet strung at the higher tension was almost unplayable for him.
Had Milano only been able to test the Wavex racquet strung at 60 lbs., he would have thought that the racquet was not suited for his game. As it turned out, the correct string tension allowed him to find a racquet that was, in fact, perfectly suited to his playing style.
Unfortunately, most players put most of their money and effort into selecting a racquet, then string it as an afterthought. You don’t hit the ball with the racquet – you hit it with the strings – and this is a key piece of information for your players to know.
When deciding on how to string a racquet, players should understand that a variety of factors affect how well a string performs, from the type of strings and racquet used to the strokes and frequency of play of the user.
Below are some do’s and don’t to consider when stringing your racquet.
Loose for Power, Tight for Control
If a gymnast were to bounce on a trampoline, then get off the trampoline and bounce off a concrete floor, which surface would propel the gymnast higher? The looser surface, of course. The same analogy holds true with strings.
Stringing a racquet at a lower tension (looser) provides more power, since the strings rebound more. Stringing a racquet tighter, therefore, will decrease power, but increase control.
This means that power players may wish to string their racquets tighter, since they don’t need power, while players without much power will want to string their racquets more loosely.
Those who want more topspin should note that as string tension increases, the area on a racquet which produces maximum topspin increases as the tension increases.
Bjorn Borg, a heavy topspinner, strung his racquets at more than 80 lbs. tension, while his arch-rival, John McEnroe, strung his in the 40s because of his incredible control.
A caution here is that racquets now come with a variety of stiffness ratings, and depending on a player’s strength, propensity for elbow or shoulder injuries, etc., a consultation with a professional racquet stringer is a good idea.
Lowering the tension on even stiff (more powerful) racquets is still a good idea because a lower tension increases the size of the sweet spot, giving a softer “feel,” according to Fred Romanus, Southeast Regional Sales Director for GAMMA Racquet Sports. While a tighter string job does provide more control, there is a harsher feel, especially on off-center shots.
Re-String When Necessary
Players should re-string their racquets before strings go “dead.” If you are a hard hitter or play many hours per week, your strings can lose elasticity and resilience, and you will need to use more effort to generate the same amount of pace you had when your strings were new, because the strings don’t rebound as much.
How often should you string your racquet?
The rule of thumb recommended by the U.S. Racquet Stringers Association is that a player should have his or her racquet re-strung the same number of times per year as they play per week. That means, if a player plays three times per week, they should have their racquet strung three times per year. Your players may be playing up to six times per week during the season, so this rule should be adjusted to take into account seasonal stringing variances.
Power players who play frequently should consider re-stringing at least every two months, recommends Romanus. “For players who hit mostly topspin, strings wearing out or going dead from play is not an issue,” he said.
Another important key to keeping the strings of a racquet at their peak condition is to keep the racquet out of extreme temperatures. Keeping a racquet in the trunk of a car is like keeping a racquet in an oven during the summer or a freezer during the winter.
Choosing Strings
Choose strings based on your style of play and budget
“At the high school level, I would stay with a basic synthetic, which give you the quality and playability most players need at an affordable cost,” said Romanus. For power players, Romanus recommends a 16- or 17-guage polyester string, which will last longer than a hybrid, and is more affordable, as well. “Players who hit with lots of topspin often use a hybrid string, with more durable main strings, because that is where they break their strings most often,” said Romanus.
While more expensive strings offer better playability, these string jobs can cost up to $40, depending on your area, and players and parents on a budget may not see a playability increase which justifies those prices, said Romanus.
Work with Your Stringer
If you can get the same person to string for your entire team, that stringer will be able to string correctly for each player, based on that player’s style of play, frequency, budget, etc.
A USRSA-certified stringer is your best bet, and will most likely take the time to examine your players’ entire racquet, including inspecting it for cracks, bad grommets, loose grip, etc.
Remember, you don’t hit the ball with the racquet, you hit it with the strings. Following these tips will ensure that your players step on to the court with the best equipment possible.
