Along with practical tips to inform your decision, insight into my rating process, and thoughtfully selected alternatives to expand your options, youll have everything necessary to confidently choose your next set. One of the most common injuries in our sport istennis elbow. If youve ever experienced it yourself, youll know how painful it can be and how it can sideline a player from enjoying the game they love. Cons. Luxilon ALU Power delivers outstanding control without sacrificing reliable touch and feel, often a drawback of other polyester tennis strings. Finally, its worth noting that this strings natural fibers will fray. The number one factor influencing spin is racquet head speed, or how fast a player swings their racquet. If you're a fan of natural gut but can't justify the cost, consider using string savers to extend its life and reduce the cost of restringing. We don't recommend going over 60Ibs unless you want an injury. This means you can string your racquet tight to improve control, without losing power (rebound efficiency). For reference, I play with a Head MGPP, strung with NRG2 16. But if youre looking to maximize control, precision, and accuracy, try a higher string tension. 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. Strings with high spin ratings enable players to create more topspin, while strings with low spin ratings will have less spin potential. If you are a beginner or intermediate player, its unlikely that you will be breaking strings or needing to replace them very often. Yesterday, I added one of my favorite polyester strings . Players taking advantage of hybrid stringing select two different strings to install in their racquet, one for the mains and another for the crosses. However, one of the strings unique attributes is that its performance doesnt degrade at higher tensions, which is a great way to rein in its built-in power for more control. One of the less expensive pre-selected hybrid stringing combinations on the market, the Volkl Psycho hybrid combines the popular Volkl Cyclone polyester string with the soft, powerful and forgiving Power Fibre 2 multifilament. For example, if topspin is your main priority, Im confident that my string selection will deliver that characteristic. We cover everything from improving your tennis game to the latest gear reviews. Its an excellent string with a long-standing positive reputation in the tennis community. Best for Control: Solinco Hyper-G. The perforated grip will also help to improve the grip on the racket and prevent your hand from slipping. 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. Another dependable option if youre looking for a thinner gauge poly that doesnt break easily is Luxilon Big Banger Ace. If youre a fan of natural gut but cant justify the cost, consider using string savers to extend its life and reduce the cost of restringing. Manufactured in the United States, the HAWK POWER TENNIS STRINGS are designed for high-performance players who want to add even more explosive power to their games. For example, I adjust and add to my suggestions based on new reviews. We have also reviewed some of the best strings for tennis rackets to make a choice easier for you. Thinner strings generally offer higher performance (more spin) but are not as durable thicker strings. 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. Unless you want an injury coming your way though, we wouldn't advise you to go over 60lbs. Many consider natural gut strings to be the best strings to provide maximum power without sacrificing control and spin. 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. Tourna Poly Big Hitter Black 7. For 2023, Ive awarded Babolat VS Touch as the best natural gut tennis string. The Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex is maybe the ideal starter string. Its perfect for players who want a good mix of comfort, control, spin, and power, but dont need exceptional quality in any one category. Unfortunately, natural gut is often cost-prohibitive for most players, so its not usually my first recommendation. 2 The Different String Types. Composite. This includes my recommendations for both racquets and strings and covers all levels and styles of play. The natural elastic fibers with Babolat VS Touch make for a string with unrivaled comfort. 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 you wont get access to some of the higher-end features available with natural gut, multifilament, or polyester strings, you should find that these strings are great all-around performers for the price. 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. Some tennis strings return significantly more energy when striking a ball, making it easier to generate pace. However, its important to note that with each string Ive selected, there will often be tradeoffs in performance. You can then adjust your requirement appropriately to even tighter or looser (towards the upper or lower end of the range). Finally, expect your preferences to change as your skills improve and your style of play evolves. Its worth noting that a players racquet and technique also influence comfort. However, Wilson NXT earns the label of the best multifilament for 2023. As a result, players should expect to have to restring more often. The result is a blend of string attributes. Polyester strings are a stiff string and tend to be harder on the arm. Once again, polyester strings enter as the durability leader due to their solid monofilament construction and slick surface that wards off notching. Buy Now. I hope you enjoy the resources. Its worth noting that the comfort associated with softer polys is relative to the classic stiffness of a typical polyester. The length of time a set of strings can maintain tension and quality play or performance is its playability duration. Because I want to know if is worth using them. Read our weekly recap of the 5 most interesting things we dig up in tennis. Polyester and Co-poly - for advanced players who break strings often. For many, the price of this string set is too high. Ive played with Mantis Comfort Synthetic, but havent experienced Gosen Tour 3. 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. The more the strings can grip the ball, the more spin they will generate. We would recommend picking a tension 1 or 2 lbs more than mid as rackets lose tension fairly quickly. English Franais Deutsch Italiano Espaol. Synthetic gut are multifilament nylon strings. Here are a few of my favorites. Furthermore, its a stiffer poly and nowhere near what players will find with gut or multifilaments from a comfort standpoint. Over the years, the string has also received slight upgrades and revisions to increase its durability and resistance to moisture, which historically are two pitfalls of many natural gut tennis strings. Read our full review of the Solinco Hyper-G tennis string. HEAD Hawk Touch Tennis String. With that in mind, I recommend beginners and children string their racquets with a well-rounded yet inexpensive synthetic gut for balanced performance when first getting involved with the sport. If youre a beginner to intermediate player, youll probably want to opt for softer (less stiff) strings that prioritize comfort and power over durability. With that in mind, here are a few quality alternatives to consider if youre looking for a string that meets these criteria. With that in mind, I hope my list of the best tennis strings for 2023 helped provide you with some options youd like to explore. Founded in 1875, in Lyon, France, Babolat is the oldest racquet sports company in the world.. Babolat products include racquets, strings, shoes, balls, shuttlecocks, bags, apparel, accessories, and are designed and developed to allow every . Once again, lowering the tension at which you string your racquet can also help to make your strings more comfortable. Stiffer strings offer less power, more control, and less shock absorption. How to Plan an Effective Table Tennis Training Session. 4 Top 5 Best Tennis Strings Review. Your email address will not be published. Although theres a lot you can learn by looking for outside opinions and feedback, you should focus on identifying a string that provides you with the characteristics that would best enhance your game as a priority. Wilson`s FortyFive frame technology . With that in mind, dont underestimate the value of experimenting to find the right set of strings. So if you play four times a week, then restring you racquet four times a year. Have fun out there! Theres no doubt that Wilson NXT is a long-standing leader in the multifilament space with a solid following and a proven track record. If youre going for durability and control, Id recommend stringing the Luxilon in the mains. Lastly, while the playability duration or the lifespan of the strings performance is impressive, the strings durability may be an issue for chronic string breakers. While I give Wilson NXT a slight edge, Technifibres X-One Biphase and NRG2 are borderline equivalents, and Id encourage you to check out all three. If youd like, you can click any of the following links to skip to that section of this article. There are numerous multifilament tennis strings on the market and more than a handful of terrific options. The spin and low power of RPM Blast allow me to take full swings and significant cuts at the ball, resulting in topspin that enables me to clear the net with confidence that the ball would dip back into the court, and I never feel I have to worry about the ball sailing long. One of Wilson NXTs standout features is its power, which it delivers through the combined effort of 1,600 individual microfibers. Join a growing community of tennis enthusiasts and sign up for our monthly email. Each of these strings delivers above-average comfort in this category. When a string provides an outstanding balance between spin and feel in a low-powered package, you end up with excellent control. Another solid pick would be Luxilons natural gut, which is a top performer as well. 1. A tennis string tension of 55 to 65 pounds is considered high. Although the low-powered performance of Solinco Hyper-G is well suited for intermediate to advanced players, many will find it swings the pendulum too far in this department. How powerful your strings are is a matter of personal preference. 1875: BABOLAT INVENTS TENNIS STRING And we've been innovating ever since. However, arguably the best part of its power is that its not overbearing. We therefore recommend that you choose a stiff string for the mains and a flexible string for the crosses. The middle of the recommended tension range is a good place to start on the quest for the perfect racquet tension. As the name suggests, composite tennis strings are manufactured with more than one material, including polyester, nylon, etc. They have a world-class selection, including Luxilon ALU Power Rough, ALU Power Spin, ALU Power Soft, 4G, and Element. Opinions vary, but many say they offer better quality and playability than traditional monofilament nylon strings. Our recommendation: Wilson Synthetic Gut Power is an excellent choice for recreational players who want an inexpensive, comfortable, and all-around adequate tennis string. String tension recommendations can be emailed with the touch of a button. Generally speaking, the higher the tension, you get more control but less power. That is, no set of strings delivers exceptional marks across the board. For example, if your racquets tension range is 50-60 pounds, ask your stinger to string your racquet at 55 pounds. Of course, if this isnt your first time stringing your racquet, you can use your previous tension as a baseline and adjust up, down, or keep it the same depending on how you felt it performed. These come with a higher price tag, but if its in your budget, they provide an unrivaled blend of comfort, power, and control. Its a useful measure because some strings are highly durable and resist breakage but require frequent replacement to preserve the quality of the strings performance. It's simply a shaped version of the ALU Power, and maintains the same incredible precision and feel for which it's known. alternative. Like nearly all multifilaments, it doesnt have the natural ability to snap back into place, an attribute that aids in generating topspin. These small plastic devices install between the cross sections of your strings to prevent wear and tear that leads to breakage. I keep populating the course with new content and added racquet suggestions for doubles players earlier this week. String tension is a measure of how tightly a stringer pulls your strings as they're attached to your racquet. On the other hand, a lower score for this attribute will make hitting finesse shots more challenging, thus requiring additional focus, attention, and innate feel. Here are the attributes I used in my selection process. Its often tempting for beginners to use polyester tennis strings because theyre popular among professional tennis players. 232. This means you wont need to replace them very often, and dont need strings that are especially durable. 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. The truth is, beyond restringing periodically, which is good practice, the strings you choose will have little impact on your performance and growth compared to learning the fundamentals and basic techniques. 1) Tension. Compared with a polyester tennis string, some players may find that X-One Biphase is overpowering, resulting in less control. Gamma Sports Live Wire Tennis Racket String Multifilament Series- Softer Cushioned Feel For Exceptional Power and Greater Control . This string is made of a single filament (extrusion process). If youre looking to follow suit, then theres no doubt that polyester tennis strings are a fantastic choice. However, a players racquet and strings also have an impact, with some strings providing players with more potential for generating topspin than others. 6. In particular, intermediate to advanced players will love that you can take big swings at the ball without sacrificing control, especially when combined with its ability to help generate spin. Head RIP Control Tennis Racket String 40' Set - 17 Gauge Multifilament Racquet String, Natural. When it comes to tennis strings, there are hundreds of options. Plus, it comes in a wide array of colors, which is fun for younger players where string performance isnt a priority. Thanks. Traditionally monofilament strings offer benefits to control and durability. This post was written by the Tennis Department staff. And its lower price tag makes it a great option for beginners and recreational players. Thinner strings bite into the ball, which will give the player a little bit more control. In general, this refers to how well connected you are to the ball.