What String Tension Should I Use In My Tennis Racket?

What String Tension Should I Use in My Tennis Racket?

The string tension on your tennis racket is just as important as the type of string you use. Learn how to choose the right string tension with Wilson.

Tennis is a precise sport and mastering it starts with your racket. From learning how to choose the right tennis string to how to change your overgrip properly, Wilson is your guide to making sure your racket is tailored specifically to you and your style of play.

String tension, or how tight the strings are pulled in the frame of the racket, is just as important as the type of string you use. Determing the right string tension can seem complicated, but we've narrowed it down to three easy steps - determine your string material, decide which benefits you're looking for, and assess your level of play. These steps build on one another, so be sure to follow them to determine the best string tension for your tennis racket.

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Step 1 - Determine Your String Material

Are you using nylon/gut string, polyester string, or a hybrid of half and half? In general, beginners should play with nylon strings (or natural gut if you don’t mind spending the money), intermediate players can start to blend with hybrids, and advanced players can take the court with a full bed of polyester.

When it comes to tension, the general rule is to string elastic materials like nylon or natural gut around 50 - 60lbs, which we’ll use as our base recommended tension. If you're using a stiffer string material like polyester, we’d recommend stringing looser to avoid arm injuries.

The first time you get your racket strung, you should aim for these string tensions:

• Nylon/Gut: 50 - 60lbs (22.5 - 27kg)
• Hybrid: 46 - 56lbs (21 - 25.5kg)
  • Because polyester is a stiffer material, string 2lbs (1kg) looser than nylon
  • Example: Poly at 51lbs (23kg), Nylon at 53lbs (24kg)
• Polyester: 44 - 54lbs (20 - 24.5kg)

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Step 2 - Decide Which Benefits You're Looking to Get From Your String

Do you want your strings to provide more power or more control? The higher your string tension, the more control you’ll have on your shots. The looser your string tension, the more power you'll get on each shot.

Typically, beginner players with slower racket-head speeds want their strings to add more power to their shots, while advanced players with faster racket-head speeds want their strings to provide more control over their shots.

Here are our recommended tensions adjusted for the choice between power and control:

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Step 3 - Asses Your Level of Play

Are you a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player? Determining your level of play is the final step in choosing the right string tension. For true beginners, check out our beginners guide to tennis for everything you need to know to get started.

Here are our recommended tension ranges again, narrowed down even further for each playing level.

• Nylon/Gut: 50 - 60lbs (22.5 - 27kg)
  • Power: 50 - 55lbs (22.5 - 25kg)
  • Control: 56 - 60lbs (25.5 - 27kg)
• Hybrid: 46 - 56lbs (21 - 25.5kg) - string 2lbs (1kg) looser for polyester than nylon
  • Power: 46 - 51lbs (21 - 23kg)
  • Control: 52 - 56lbs (23.5 - 25.5kg)
• Polyester: 44 - 54lbs (20 - 24.5kg)
  • Power: 44 - 49lbs (20 - 22kg)
  • Control: 50 - 54lbs (22.5 - 24.5kg)
• Nylon/Gut: 50 - 60lbs (22.5 - 27kg)
  • Power: 50 - 55lbs (22.5 - 25kg)
    • Beginner: 54 - 55lbs (24.5 - 25kg)
    • Intermediate: 52 - 53lbs (23.5 - 24kg)
    • Advanced: 50 - 51lbs (22.5 - 23kg)
  • Control: 56 - 60lbs (25.5- 2 7kg)
    • Beginner: 59 - 60lbs (26.75 - 27.25kg)
    • Intermediate: 57 - 58lbs (26 - 26.5kg)
    • Advanced: 55 - 56lbs (25 - 25.5kg)
• Hybrid: 46 - 56lbs (21 - 25.5kg) - string 2lbs (1kg) looser for polyester than nylon
  • Power: 46 - 51lbs (21 - 23kg)
    • Beginner: 50 - 51lbs (22.5 - 23kg)
    • Intermediate: 48 - 49lbs (21.75 - 22kg)
    • Advanced: 46 - 47lbs (21 - 21.5kg)
  • Control: 52 - 56lbs (23.5 - 25.5kg)
    • Beginner: 55 - 56lbs (25 - 25.5kg)
    • Intermediate: 53 - 54lbs (24 - 24.5kg)
    • Advanced: 52lbs (23.5kg)
• Polyester: 44 - 54lbs (20 - 24.5kg)
  • Power: 44 - 49lbs (20 - 22kg)
    • Beginner: 44 - 45lbs (20 - 20.5kg)
    • Intermediate: 46 - 47lbs (21 - 21.5kg)
    • Advanced: 48 - 49lbs (21.75 - 22kg)
  • Control: 50 - 54lbs (22.5 - 24.5kg)
    • Beginner: 50lbs (22.5kg)
    • Intermediate: 51 - 52lbs (23 - 23.5kg)
    • Advanced: 53 - 54lbs (24 - 24.5kg)

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While we hope this helps, we know choosing string tension is a complicated process. If you’re still unsure, ask your coach for a recommendation, or shoot our string experts a message on their Instagram, @luxilontennis. They’re always happy to help!

Updated May 9, 2024

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