The Complete Guide to Tennis Racquet Stringing
Serving Aces
Your racquet is only half the story.
The other half is about 12 metres of string, woven by hand and pulled to an exact tension.
This is our complete guide to how stringing works, what you can choose, and how to get a setup that suits your game. It comes from a team that strings at the Australian Open.
We'll cover:
- How a racquet actually gets strung
- Mains, crosses and hybrids
- Tension, and how it changes over time
- Gauge and string pattern
- How often to restring
- What to tell your stringer
Quick answer: A stringer weaves the mains (top to bottom) and crosses (side to side), pulling each string to a set tension on a machine. Lower tension gives more power and comfort. Higher tension gives more control. Restring as many times a year as you play each week, and more often with polyester.
How a racquet gets strung
- The old strings come out. Cut carefully to take the load off the frame evenly.
- The frame is mounted on the machine, supported at several points so it can't distort.
- The mains go in first. These are the long strings running top to bottom. Each one is pulled to tension and clamped.
- Then the crosses are woven over and under the mains, one at a time, and tensioned.
- Tie-offs. Knots lock the strings in place at the end.
- Final checks. The stringbed is straightened, and a logo stencil can be added.
Machines hold the frame and pull an exact tension. Everything else is done by hand. That's why a good stringer matters as much as a good machine.
One-piece vs two-piece
A one-piece job uses a single length of string for mains and crosses.
A two-piece job uses separate lengths for the mains and the crosses. It's needed for hybrids, and many stringers prefer it for consistency.
Mains and crosses
The mains do most of the work. They move and snap back when you hit, which is where a lot of your spin comes from.
The crosses hold the mains in place and shape the feel.
That's why hybrids usually put the firmer string, often polyester, in the mains and a softer string in the crosses.
Tension explained
Tension is how tightly each string is pulled. In Australia you'll see it in pounds (lbs) or kilograms (kg). 50 lbs is about 22.7kg.
| Tension | What you'll feel |
|---|---|
| Lower | More power, more comfort, a bigger sweet spot. Slightly less control. |
| Higher | More control and a more precise feel. Less power, firmer on the arm. |
Start in the middle of the range printed on your frame. Then adjust a couple of pounds at a time.
Tension drops after stringing
All strings lose tension once they're in the racquet. Polyester loses noticeably more, and faster, than multifilament or natural gut.
So a poly that felt crisp on day one can feel dead within weeks, even though it hasn't broken.
Melbourne weather
Heat makes the ball fly and the strings feel livelier. Some players go a little tighter over summer.
Cold makes everything feel dead. A little looser in winter helps with power.
Tip from our stringers: If you play a lot over summer, keep your racquet out of a hot car. Heat speeds up tension loss.
Gauge
Gauge is string thickness. You'll see it in millimetres or as a number.
| Gauge | Approx. thickness | Plays like |
|---|---|---|
| 15L | about 1.35 to 1.38mm | Very durable, less feel |
| 16 | about 1.30mm | Durable all-rounder |
| 16L | about 1.25mm | A common middle ground |
| 17 | about 1.20 to 1.25mm | More spin and feel, less durable |
| 18 | about 1.15 to 1.20mm | Maximum feel and spin, breaks sooner |
If you break strings often, go thicker.
How your string pattern changes things
An open pattern like 16x19 lets the mains move more, which helps spin but can mean strings move out of place and wear sooner.
A dense pattern like 18x20 gives more control and tends to last longer.
Our racquet specs guide covers string patterns in more detail.
Choosing a string type
The short version:
- Polyester: spin and control, firm on the arm.
- Multifilament: soft, powerful, comfortable.
- Natural gut: the best feel and comfort, highest price.
- Synthetic gut: budget all-rounder.
- Hybrid: a mix, usually poly mains with soft crosses.
Our full guide to tennis strings compares each type. Sore arm? Read racquets and strings for tennis elbow. Shop tennis strings.
How often to restring
Restring as many times a year as you play each week. Play twice a week, restring twice a year.
With polyester, restring more often. It goes dead before it breaks.
Signs it's time:
- The strings keep sliding out of place
- The ball flies long for no reason
- The stringbed feels flat or dead
- There are deep notches where the strings cross
- Your arm starts to ache
What to tell your stringer
- How you play. Baseliner, all-court, doubles, how often.
- What you like or don't like about your current setup.
- Any arm or shoulder issues.
- Your current string and tension, if you know them.
If you're not sure, that's fine. A good stringer will recommend a starting point and adjust from there.
Get it strung in Moonee Ponds
Our team strings on Yonex Precision 9.0 machines, the same model used at the Australian Open. Most restrings are $40 to $60 including string and are usually ready the next day.
Read more about our racquet restringing service, or drop in at 644 Mt Alexander Rd.
Quick questions
What tension should I string my tennis racquet at?
Start in the middle of the range printed on your frame, often around 50 to 55 lbs. Go lower for more power and comfort, higher for more control.
What are mains and crosses in tennis strings?
Mains are the long strings running top to bottom. Crosses run side to side. Mains move more and drive spin. Crosses hold them in place.
Why does my racquet feel dead after a few weeks?
All strings lose tension over time, and polyester loses it fastest. If your strings feel flat, they're due for a restring even if they haven't broken.
How long does restringing take?
At Serving Aces, usually next day, and up to 3 days in busy periods.