Composite. Regarding performance, here are the most common characteristics that players seek out when researching new strings. If you suffer from tennis elbow or any other arm injury, youll likely appreciate their ability to reduce shock and vibration. Rather than introducing a watered-down version of their flagship string, they managed to retain the essential control and spin youd expect from a poly with above-average comfort thats easier on a players arm. Opinions vary, but many say they offer better quality and playability than traditional monofilament nylon strings. Best for Spin: Babolat RPM Blast. Dunlop Explosive Bite Price: $17/set; $230/reel Gauges: 16, 17. The types of string that you will want to consider are Polyester, natural gut, synthetic gut, multifilament, and hybrid. But this premium monofilament delivers more comfort . Deutsch . Its also worth noting that a hybrid can consist of two gauges of the same string it doesnt have to be two entirely different types. Although theres nothing fundamentally wrong with this approach, its helpful to recognize that the lifespan, or playability duration of your strings, is generally far shorter than the time it takes to break them. Players might also consider string savers to extend this strings life. Join a growing community of tennis enthusiasts and sign up for our monthly email. This string is made of a single filament (extrusion process). Kirschbaum Super Smash 17 String. Traditionally monofilament strings offer benefits to control and durability. Best for Control: Solinco Hyper-G. This post was written by the Tennis Department staff. Another dependable option if youre looking for a thinner gauge poly that doesnt break easily is Luxilon Big Banger Ace. Luxilon ALU Power delivers outstanding control without sacrificing reliable touch and feel, often a drawback of other polyester tennis strings. Its an excellent string and comparable to Babolats, delivering similar specs overall. You will also find half-gauge tennis string labeled with an L after the numbers (15L, 16L, 17L). The Top 12 Best Tennis Strings (2023 Buyers Guide). For example, if your racquets tension range is 50-60 pounds, ask your stinger to string your racquet at 55 pounds. Rarely is it a one-and-done scenario to figure out what works best, and while paying for restringing isnt cheap, its a sound investment for players who are serious about their game. Sign up for our email newsletter and find us on your favorite social media. It was a soft multifilament with moderate power and good all-around performance. Price: $$. Its worth noting that the comfort associated with softer polys is relative to the classic stiffness of a typical polyester. #11. Even at a higher tension, the ball quickly rebounds from the strings. After you selected a tennis string, you're almost across the finish line, but there are a few more things to keep in mind, starting with tension. With that in mind, my top pick for the best soft polyester tennis string is Solinco Hyper-G Soft. There are many fantastic polyester strings, but they sometimes have lower durability than expected. In response, many string manufacturers have introduced updated formulations of their polyester strings with a softer feel thats easier on a players arm, delivering a more comfortable response. However, a near equivalent and one I often recommend is Gosens OG-Sheep Micro, which is even more affordable. Instead, its a polyamide, belonging to the same family of synthetic materials as nylon and aramids. Material: Syntethic Multifilament. Other options worth checking out are Gamma TNT2 Touch and Babolat Xcel, which are more durable and play with extra control. However, Prince takes things further than most multifilaments, using a spiraled ribbon construction to mimic the serosa fibers in an authentic natural gut more closely. Beginners and recreational players If youre looking for a comfortable string that provides some easy power, we recommend an inexpensive, all-around performance string like the Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex or the Wilson Synthetic Gut Power. alternative. If youre a beginner or intermediate player, youll most likely just use the strings that came with their racquet. 4. However, its important to note that with each string Ive selected, there will often be tradeoffs in performance. One of the most common scenarios that competitive tennis players face is overheating. Theyre super durable but have the drawback of being extremely low on comfort, feel, and spin, which is why Im more inclined to recommend polyester. 1) Tension. If youre looking for maximum durability, consider checking out Ashaways Crossfire Kevlar strings. Perhaps youre looking to hit a bigger serve or groundstrokes, or youd like to add a little pop to a more flexible, control-oriented tennis racquet. My pick for the best synthetic gut tennis string, which I cover in greater detail in this guide, is Prince Synthetic Gut. With that in mind, dont underestimate the value of experimenting to find the right set of strings. Although Solinco Hyper-G is a terrific option for control, several others deliver fantastic performance. Over time, this approach of hybrid stringing became popular for players of all levels. The main factors that you will want to consider are power, spin, comfort, control, touch, string movement, playability duration, and . Thinner strings bite into the ball, which will give the player a little bit more control. Often overlooked or undervalued, tennis strings are as crucial as the frame you choose, delivering a substantial portion of your racquets performance when they come in contact with a ball. Some tennis strings return significantly more energy when striking a ball, making it easier to generate pace. A good string gauge to start with as a beginner is 16. Finally, if you want to enhance the durability of any strings, give string savers a try. Tecnifibre X-One Biphase packs a punch and delivers power as a standout feature. Hyper-G is square-shaped, so it has four edges for embedding into and gripping the ball. When it comes to maxing out topspin, there are plenty of options. Polyester tennis strings are some of the best-selling. Luxilon Natural Gut in 1.30 in Mains with Tecnifibre MultiFeel Black 1.30 in crosses 52/50 LBs. HEAD Hawk Touch Tennis String. OUR HISTORY 145 YEARS YOUNG. For example, I adjust and add to my suggestions based on new reviews. 2 The Different String Types. A 16 gauge for one company might be a 16L (L stands for "light," which basically means it's halfway between two gauges, think of a 16L as a 16.5) for another. While you can undoubtedly achieve more comfort with a full bed of natural gut, the tradeoff with spin and control is significant. Some sets of strings, such as Wilsons Champions Choice, my pick for the best-prepackaged hybrid, include two different types of strings. #5. Solinco Confidential delivers on this front, which helped me to dictate points. A higher touch rating will help a player execute with more precision and greater control over the ball. Once you play with your racquet strung at that tension, youll start to develop a baseline for its performance that you can use to make adjustments. 3 How Do Tennis Strings Affect Your Game. English Franais Deutsch Italiano Espaol. Regardless of a strings rating, players can generate topspin with any string. When it comes to the synthetic gut family of tennis strings, its all about value, and Prince Synthetic Gut delivers with an excellent price point. The best part about hybrid string setups is combining the best of two worlds in natural gut and polyester tennis strings. From enhancing spin to improving comfort, power, or control, you can achieve a range of advantages, especially when combined with the optimal tension and guage or thickness for your needs. Helpful Tip All else equal, a thicker string will be more durable and offer less spin potential, while a thinner option will be less durable and provide more spin potential. After a few hours on the court, its easy to notice how much more forgiving this string is on your arm. How to Plan an Effective Table Tennis Training Session. 5. We don't recommend going over 60Ibs unless you want an injury. However, this strings unique because it also plays super crisp and doesnt lose its plush feel at higher tensions. Furthermore, its a stiffer poly and nowhere near what players will find with gut or multifilaments from a comfort standpoint. More control often comes at the expense of other playability features like power, spin, and comfort. Try it at a lower tension like 45-51 lbs. A softer string will absorb more of the impact of the ball and be more comfortable on your arm. For years, Prince Synthetic Gut has provided recreational players of all ages and levels with a time-tested string that delivers all-around playability at an unbeatable price. In other words, if you play 1-to-2 times per week, you should . The capacity for a set of strings to limit wear and tear from hitting, moisture, debris, and changes in temperature, which can lead to breakage or reduce the lifespan of a string, represents durability. True to that claim, NXT is easy on the arm but doesnt sacrifice the response and playability that players demand. However, a players racquet and strings also have an impact, with some strings providing players with more potential for generating topspin than others. Create a free account and explore my latest videos below. Is the Diadem Elevate Tennis Racquet Right for You? To compensate, I recommend you use the 16 gauge to help extend its life. Premium Polyesters. Hands down, natural gut is the most powerful string on the market, and Babolats VS Touch stands at the head of its class. A combination of low string-on-string friction and high ball-on-string friction allows for maximum spin potential. Best Budget: Wilson Synthetic Gut Power Tennis String. Without question, Luxilon ALU Power exemplifies what modern players expect from a poly in terms of control, spin, and durability. This 'softening' effect is more pronounced than what can be obtained by using a nylon based solid-core string in the crosses. However, this huge diversity of string options also means that with a bit of research, you can find a string with the right features for the perfect fit for your racquet, style, and level of play. ipems army Fully new/never used Babolat Pure Strike 16x19 Tennis Racket in White Red Black. Compared to the Wilson NXT, it may also be a bit more durable. However, if youre looking outside the Luxilon family of strings, I recommend you check out the following strings. To the surprise of many players, manufacturers create natural gut tennis strings by weaving together several strands of cow intestine. Its often tempting for beginners to use polyester tennis strings because theyre popular among professional tennis players. While youll find most polyester tennis strings are considerably more durable than natural gut, multifilament, or synthetic gut, my selection of the best durable string for 2023 is Solinco Confidential. 138. Both are multifilaments with similar playing characteristics to X-One Biphase. If youre new to tennis or a parent helping guide your child, you may be concerned about whether or not your strings are adequate, which is an excellent consideration that Im happy youre investigating. T = Top of Frame. Our recommendation: Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex is perfect for the average tennis player looking for a low-cost, comfortable string that offers an adequate mix of power, spin, and control. As a closing thought, remember that it usually takes players a few tries to find a string they love. Theres no doubt that Wilson NXT is a long-standing leader in the multifilament space with a solid following and a proven track record. Unfortunately, ALU power is no exception to these rules. Furthermore, the differences from one string to the next are harder to detect and appreciate when you first learn to play tennis, so theres no reason to overinvest your hard-earned money early on. It's simply a shaped version of the ALU Power, and maintains the same incredible precision and feel for which it's known. Color: Silver or Blue. Due to its amazing performance and best hybrid string steup, many players recommend it as the best tennis strings for Wilson. Besides the reasonable price, I especially appreciate the range of KLIP options available, making it an excellent starting point for players venturing into the world of gut. Dominic Thiem uses this racket on tour. 5 Point Friday Once youve found a new string to try and settled on a guage, youll need to decide on an ideal tension. Nylon strings are often the string of choice for beginners and intermediate players, since they are softer, more comfortable, and provide more easy power than polyester or co-poly strings. 8 offers from $12.00. These strings are inexpensive and well-rounded without the enhanced features associated with other types, i.e., the extra comfort available through many multifilaments or control and spin familiar with polyester. In general, strings that are more playable tend to be less durable, and vice versa. The most common materials are synthetic gut, multifilament, and monofilament. 3. Not only is it relatively hard to break, but it also does an excellent job maintaining tension, which helps extend the strings overall life. If you're shopping for strings online then you will see each string has a number with it, this is usually between 15 and 20 with the most common being 16, 17 and 18. Babolat RPM Blast 17, String. Like nearly all multifilaments, it doesnt have the natural ability to snap back into place, an attribute that aids in generating topspin. Head Rip Control is one of the more comfortable control-oriented strings. This could be because they added an extra layer to the string to make it last longer. With that in mind, I recommend players check out Wilsons Control Duo Hybrid, a combination of Wilson NXT Tour and Luxilon ALU Power. As a general rule of thumb, you can double the number of times you play per week to come up with the minimum number of times you should restring your racquet per year. Home > Gear > Strings > Best Tennis Strings, Improve your game alongside our community of tennis players. Thanks for reading, and we hope the information in this post has been helpful. With that kind of powerful racquet, a full bed of poly might be best to control it and add spin. The very soft multi-filament crosses effectively moderate the sometimes undesirable co-polyesters' stiffness. To help you find a string youll love, Ive carefully selected my picks of the best tennis strings for 2023, all of which Ive playtested and reviewed to ensure they reliably deliver the playing characteristics you desire. Here is the short and summerized advice -. Determine a recommended tennis string tension within the racquets range based on your skill level, degree of arm trouble, and preference for power or control. It offers great precision in a softer string thats easier on the arm. This means you can string your racquet tight to improve control, without losing power (rebound efficiency). In this regard, polyester tennis strings are excellent low-powered options that make them an ideal fit for players seeking control. The ball propels itself off my strings with impressive action and ease. I hope you enjoy the resources. $16.00. When pecking, consider pausing the retraction after a very slight retract-say 0. Below youll find my picks of the best tennis strings for 2023. If a string is a candidate for multiple categories, Ill only elect it for the one where it performs best. However, for a better understanding of when to restring, there are several factors Id encourage you to consider, including: I speak to each of these in my dedicated guide on restringing, which Id encourage you to explore if youd like to learn more. If youve struggled with arm injuries and youre looking for a string that delivers control, youll likely want to steer clear of polyesters or, at a minimum, string it as a hybrid in the crosses. The Solinco Hyper-G is an exceptionally high quality tennis string, best suited for intermediate and advanced players looking for tons of control and spin. While it doesnt provide the unique strengths of other string categories, Prince Synthetic Gut is a cost-effective choice that will continue to satisfy players worldwide. One of Wilson NXTs standout features is its power, which it delivers through the combined effort of 1,600 individual microfibers. Conventional wisdom evolved to matching string replacement over the course of a year with the amount of times played in a week. Best Seller. Have you tried Mantis Comfort Synthetic or Gosen Tour 3? Helpful Tip As far as tennis strings go,natural gut is some of the best (and priciest) on the market, and up until the 90s, most players considered it the gold standard, used by virtually all professionals. At the same time, youll find a softer feel and increased playability by using Wilsons natural gut in the mains. As a result, theyre not as forgiving as a multifilament or natural gut, so if comfort is a top priority, soft polys will likely be too harsh for your needs.