How to choose the right tennis racket string

Few factors have a greater impact on your tennis game than your choice of string. To find the right tennis string, you must weigh a number of factors. Read below to help you decide.

• Tennis strings are made in a range of materials, each with their own special properties.
• The classic material, gut, is still one of the most prized. Made from actual cow gut, it is highly elastic, providing a highly controlled serve and maintaining its tension over a long period. However, gut is the most expensive material and breaks easily, making it a serious investment.
• At the other end of the spectrum, nylon is the least expensive material, and also the most popular, especially for beginners and casual players. Nylon has a crisp feel, and is easy on the arms as well. Its durability and tension are both adequate.
• If strength is a priority, polyester and Kevlar are the most durable strings on the market. They provide a high degree of power and accuracy, and also hold their tension for a long time. However, their hard hits make for a less comfortable game.
• Second only to gut in terms of its expense, multifilament strings use many thin filaments braided together. This provides a more even distribution of force, for gentler, more comfortable hits. They do fray over time, but that's more of an aesthetic issue, and it doesn't affect gameplay.

• Tennis strings come in a range of thicknesses, or gauges. Thinner strings provide a nimbler, more responsive game, giving the ball greater spin and providing an overall more pleasant feel.
• However, they are more likely to snap, and they may not be appropriate for players who hit hard.

• It's possible to use two different strings on a single racket, thus combining the best qualities of both. This can involve different materials, different gauges, even different tensions. Generally, the main string will determine the overall feel and playability of the racket, and so it should reflect the player's most valued qualities. Then, the cross string can be used to modify some of the main string's less pleasant effects.
• For example, if strength is most important, choose a Kevlar main string - but then ease some of the harshness of Kevlar with a smoother multifilament cross string.