Stringing & Grip Replacements

THE OLD RULE OF THUMB HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO RE-STRING YOUR TENNIS RACKET AS MANY TIMES A YEAR AS YOU PLAY IN ONE WEEK. HERE'S A MORE IN-DEPTH EXPLANATION: 

 

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I RE-STRING MY RACQUET?

Your strings can impact your performance just as much as the racket you use. If you think of your racket as your car and the strings as the engine, you would have a re-stringing schedule just like you would have an oil change maintenance schedule for your car. The old rule of thumb has always been to re-string your tennis racket as many times a year as you play in one week (Ex: If you play once a week, you re-string once per year). That model doesn’t take into account players who are playing less than once a week, and most importantly, it’s not frequent enough. As a starting point, here’s a baseline guide with the minimum number of times you should re-string your racquet within a year:

 

 

a chart showing racket stringing frequency

 

 

WHAT OTHER FACTORS SHOULD I CONSIDER FOR RE-STRINGING?

From the environment to how you play the game, there are so many variables that impact how often you should restring your racket.

 

TENSION LOSS

  • Strings begin losing tension the moment your racket is taken off the stringing machine.
  • As tension drops, you lose control and the ability to generate as much topspin - especially if you play with a poly.
  • In general, poly strings lose tension quicker than multifilament strings. They would require more frequent re-stringing.

 

ARM/ELBOW COMFORT LEVEL

  • Strings lose their resilience over time, creating a stiff or dead feeling that can be harsh on your arm.
  • A freshly strung racquet will absorb the shock better upon contact, providing more comfort.
  • This is especially important if you have elbow or arm issues, in which case you should consider re-stringing more often

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

  • Natural gut absorbs moisture quicker in humid environments.
  • Poly strings wear out even quicker when exposed to excessive heat or sun.
  • On top of re-stringing, a tennis bag with Thermoguard lining will better protect the racquet and strings by better controlling the environment.

 

STYLE OF PLAY

  • Strings will wear out faster if you play more aggressively, use more spin, and/or primarily hit from the baseline.

 

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO RESTRING MY TENNIS RACKET?

 

VISUAL INDICATORS YOU'RE OVERDUE TO RE-STRING:

 

NOTCHING

  • Strings rub together as you hit the ball, creating friction.

  • This leads to grooves at the intersection of the strings in the middle of the racquet.

 

FRAYING

  • Natural gut and multifilament strings are comprised of tiny fibers that eventually break down.
  • Poly strings are a single filament, so they will not fray.

 

I AM BREAKING TENNIS RACKET STRINGS TOO OFTEN. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

 

GAUGE OPTIONS

  • The thicker the gauge, the more durable it will be.

SWITCH TO HYBRID STRING

  • If you’re playing with a multifilament string, consider switching to a poly string in the mains or crosses for more durability.

SWITCH TO POLYESTER (MONOFILAMENT) STRING

  • Poly strings provide excellent durability since they are made of a single filament.
  • However, they also lose tension quicker. This can require more frequent re-stringing for consistent performance.
  • If you have arm/elbow issues, this may not be the best option due to its stiffer feeling.

 

Tip: As the performance of the string changes, you continually adjust your technique - whether you notice it or not. It can become frustrating to constantly overcompensate when the strings are no longer performing as they should. If you’re an avid player or competing in tournaments and looking for more consistent performance, you will want to consider re-stringing on a more regular basis.