Advantage Stringing © 2009
About strings and making a good string selection
When starting out in tennis, you think, a string's a string. Right? Well, as you develop your game, you realize that a string can make a difference in your game. Type of string, tension, gauge and how they're installed all make a difference in how the your strings perform.
Here's a guide to selecting the right string for you and your game. When selecting a string, several factors need to be considered.
String Gauge
There are several sizes of strings and they're measured as the gauge (how thin or thick it is). The lower the gauge, the thicker the gauge. Generally, a thinner string improves playability but decreases durability. They usually range from a 15 gauge to an 19 gauge. I have found that a 16 gauge usually provides the best combination of playability and durability. There are some who believe that a thinner string provides additional spin but some studies have shown that it is really the technique of the player that determines spin.
Playability
This is mostly subjective depending on the individual player. One player may love a particular string while another hates it. The best idea is to find a type of string that works best for you and then hone in on a particular one. This is done by trial and error and the advice of others. Things such as the material used, construction and thickness of a string determines "playability". Most good players agree that the most playable string is natural gut. That's because of its resiliency (ability to "snap back" after impact). However, it's the most expensive string and some care must be kept to keep it from breaking. I stock a great Babolat Tonic+ natural gut string that is not as expensive as others but still provides excellent playability.
Durability
As the name implies, this is the measure of how long your string will last. Keep in mind that durability has a lot to do with a player's style as the string itself. Someone that hits the ball flat vs. heavy topspin will see their string last longer. Thicker strings are generally more durable but you usually sacrifice some playability. An excellent durability string is the Gosen OG Micro Sheep 16 gauge syn gut. This particular string is also the lowest cost string I carry. String breakers need to stay with a thicker gauge or a poly/kevlar type of string unless they prefer to have maximum playability and are willing to re-string often.
Tension
Many players don't understand how tension can help or hurt their game. Generally, lower tensions provides more power and higher tensions provide more control. If you are a beginner, that doesn't mean that you should string at high tensions. If you hit off center often, you may enjoy a softer stringbed (meaning a lower tension). This is a personal preference and is obtained by trial and error. Also, your stringer should be able to help guide you in selecting the right tension for your game. Every racquet comes with a recommended tension range. This is a great place to start, if you just don't know where else to start.
Player Style
As mentioned earlier, player style helps determine string need. If you are a player that hits the ball flat, you can go to a thinner string to maximize playability because you are less likely to break a string. Big hitters/topspiners may need to stay with a thicker string, a synthetic, kevlar or poly hybrid to help with string breakage. In determining your string needs, keep your playing style in mind.
String Types
Back in the "good ole days", there were only a few string choices - natural gut and a few different nylons. Well, the times have changed and there are literally hundreds of different strings in which to choose. Nylons, Natural Gut, Polyester and Kevlar are the string choices now. Here's a guide to help you learn about these different string types.
Nylon
The most popular type of string available and used, this type has been around for many years. The vast majority of strings manufactured today are some type of nylon. These types of string offer a good combination of playability and durability. Advantage Stringing offers an excellent group of nylon strings - Prince Synthetic Gut and Gosen OG Sheep Micro, among several others. These strings are generally easy on the arm with excellent feel.
Natural Gut
This is the standard in playability and feel. Once you play with gut, you'll never want to go back! Many players feel that there is greater "cupping" (the feeling that the ball stays on the string longer) and more spin than from any other string. Yes, it's actually made from animal intestines and generally it's made from cows. It's more costly, but if you can afford it, you'll wonder why you didn't start earlier. One lower cost option is to hybrid it with a lower cost string. This way, you can get the best of both worlds - feel and playability from gut and the lower cost from a nylon or poly (see below). I carry a great lower cost alternative - Babolat Tonic+ Natural Gut. The only differences (from the full price VS gut) is slightly less consistency in gauging and minor cosmetic blemishes.
Polyester
This is a relatively new string (1990's) and it has risen in popularity due to many professional players using it - either a full job or a hybrid with gut or a nylon. This string is very durable and great for string breakers. These strings do not move during play so you'll never have to "fix" your strings between points. The stringbed usually feels "dead" but this is great for bigger hitters because they are usually looking for control and not power - that, they already have. If you have a big swing and/or generate lots of spin, these types of strings may be just what you need. This is NOT RECOMMENDED for beginners or players with arm injuries as these are harder on the arm than nylons or natural gut. I carry 2 poly strings, Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power and Unique Tourna Poly Big Hitter. The Luxilon is one of the most popular strings on the pro tour with good reason. Great control with massive amounts of spin potential. The Unique brand is a lower cost alternative that compares very favorable to the Luxilon at half the cost.
Multifilament
These are actually a nylon string but they have a different construction. They are bundles of fibers wrapped around each other, similar to natural gut construction. These types of strings are very comfortable and will have a tendency to fray. Again, this is similar to natural gut. As you can tell, this type of string is a good alternative to natural gut but without the high cost. Also, these are a very comfortable string so players with arm problems like them. I carry an excellent multifilament, the Wilson Sensation. This is a very well-known and respected string played by many good players.
Kevlar
Yeah. It's the same type of stuff that bullet-proof vest are made of. This is an incredibly durable and stiff string but it can be very hard on your arm. This can be combined with a nylon or even natural gut to reduce the shock to your arm. The tension normally used needs to be reduced by 10% or more to compensate for the stiffness. The benefit of this string is the dead stringbed (similar to Poly strings) and fantastic durabilty. These are NOT RECOMMENDED for beginners or players with arm problems. Currently, I do not carry any Kevlar strings but they can be ordered.
There you have it, a guide for selecting the right string for you. The best way is to discuss it with your stringer and trial and error! Please contact me if you have any questions about strings or the stringing process. Let my experience help you determine the best string for your game.
When starting out in tennis, you think, a string's a string. Right? Well, as you develop your game, you realize that a string can make a difference in your game. Type of string, tension, gauge and how they're installed all make a difference in how the your strings perform.
Here's a guide to selecting the right string for you and your game. When selecting a string, several factors need to be considered.
String Gauge
There are several sizes of strings and they're measured as the gauge (how thin or thick it is). The lower the gauge, the thicker the gauge. Generally, a thinner string improves playability but decreases durability. They usually range from a 15 gauge to an 19 gauge. I have found that a 16 gauge usually provides the best combination of playability and durability. There are some who believe that a thinner string provides additional spin but some studies have shown that it is really the technique of the player that determines spin.
Playability
This is mostly subjective depending on the individual player. One player may love a particular string while another hates it. The best idea is to find a type of string that works best for you and then hone in on a particular one. This is done by trial and error and the advice of others. Things such as the material used, construction and thickness of a string determines "playability". Most good players agree that the most playable string is natural gut. That's because of its resiliency (ability to "snap back" after impact). However, it's the most expensive string and some care must be kept to keep it from breaking. I stock a great Babolat Tonic+ natural gut string that is not as expensive as others but still provides excellent playability.
Durability
As the name implies, this is the measure of how long your string will last. Keep in mind that durability has a lot to do with a player's style as the string itself. Someone that hits the ball flat vs. heavy topspin will see their string last longer. Thicker strings are generally more durable but you usually sacrifice some playability. An excellent durability string is the Gosen OG Micro Sheep 16 gauge syn gut. This particular string is also the lowest cost string I carry. String breakers need to stay with a thicker gauge or a poly/kevlar type of string unless they prefer to have maximum playability and are willing to re-string often.
Tension
Many players don't understand how tension can help or hurt their game. Generally, lower tensions provides more power and higher tensions provide more control. If you are a beginner, that doesn't mean that you should string at high tensions. If you hit off center often, you may enjoy a softer stringbed (meaning a lower tension). This is a personal preference and is obtained by trial and error. Also, your stringer should be able to help guide you in selecting the right tension for your game. Every racquet comes with a recommended tension range. This is a great place to start, if you just don't know where else to start.
Player Style
As mentioned earlier, player style helps determine string need. If you are a player that hits the ball flat, you can go to a thinner string to maximize playability because you are less likely to break a string. Big hitters/topspiners may need to stay with a thicker string, a synthetic, kevlar or poly hybrid to help with string breakage. In determining your string needs, keep your playing style in mind.
String Types
Back in the "good ole days", there were only a few string choices - natural gut and a few different nylons. Well, the times have changed and there are literally hundreds of different strings in which to choose. Nylons, Natural Gut, Polyester and Kevlar are the string choices now. Here's a guide to help you learn about these different string types.
Nylon
The most popular type of string available and used, this type has been around for many years. The vast majority of strings manufactured today are some type of nylon. These types of string offer a good combination of playability and durability. Advantage Stringing offers an excellent group of nylon strings - Prince Synthetic Gut and Gosen OG Sheep Micro, among several others. These strings are generally easy on the arm with excellent feel.
Natural Gut
This is the standard in playability and feel. Once you play with gut, you'll never want to go back! Many players feel that there is greater "cupping" (the feeling that the ball stays on the string longer) and more spin than from any other string. Yes, it's actually made from animal intestines and generally it's made from cows. It's more costly, but if you can afford it, you'll wonder why you didn't start earlier. One lower cost option is to hybrid it with a lower cost string. This way, you can get the best of both worlds - feel and playability from gut and the lower cost from a nylon or poly (see below). I carry a great lower cost alternative - Babolat Tonic+ Natural Gut. The only differences (from the full price VS gut) is slightly less consistency in gauging and minor cosmetic blemishes.
Polyester
This is a relatively new string (1990's) and it has risen in popularity due to many professional players using it - either a full job or a hybrid with gut or a nylon. This string is very durable and great for string breakers. These strings do not move during play so you'll never have to "fix" your strings between points. The stringbed usually feels "dead" but this is great for bigger hitters because they are usually looking for control and not power - that, they already have. If you have a big swing and/or generate lots of spin, these types of strings may be just what you need. This is NOT RECOMMENDED for beginners or players with arm injuries as these are harder on the arm than nylons or natural gut. I carry 2 poly strings, Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power and Unique Tourna Poly Big Hitter. The Luxilon is one of the most popular strings on the pro tour with good reason. Great control with massive amounts of spin potential. The Unique brand is a lower cost alternative that compares very favorable to the Luxilon at half the cost.
Multifilament
These are actually a nylon string but they have a different construction. They are bundles of fibers wrapped around each other, similar to natural gut construction. These types of strings are very comfortable and will have a tendency to fray. Again, this is similar to natural gut. As you can tell, this type of string is a good alternative to natural gut but without the high cost. Also, these are a very comfortable string so players with arm problems like them. I carry an excellent multifilament, the Wilson Sensation. This is a very well-known and respected string played by many good players.
Kevlar
Yeah. It's the same type of stuff that bullet-proof vest are made of. This is an incredibly durable and stiff string but it can be very hard on your arm. This can be combined with a nylon or even natural gut to reduce the shock to your arm. The tension normally used needs to be reduced by 10% or more to compensate for the stiffness. The benefit of this string is the dead stringbed (similar to Poly strings) and fantastic durabilty. These are NOT RECOMMENDED for beginners or players with arm problems. Currently, I do not carry any Kevlar strings but they can be ordered.
There you have it, a guide for selecting the right string for you. The best way is to discuss it with your stringer and trial and error! Please contact me if you have any questions about strings or the stringing process. Let my experience help you determine the best string for your game.
