Racket Stringing

Alex is the official racket stringer for the TCYU. All club members are entitled to Alex’s racket stringing service at a special discounted price.

String Options ($20 / Racket including String):

1. 16 Gauge Wilson Sensation Syn Gut – Upside: Soft, comfortable, elastic string suitable for all players, whether novice, intermediate or advanced. Sensation has a nice feel which makes it good for spin and control while offering an overall sense of playability for a variety of shots/styles. It is also easy on the elbow/wrist. Downside: This string has a tendency to break faster and lose tension more rapidly.

2. 17 Gauge Head Ultra Tour Poly – Upside: Ultra tour is a durable poly string for intermediate to advanced players. Overall stiffness in the string provides the player with the capability of hitting the ball harder. The string retains tension well and lasts long. Downside: The string has minimal feel which reduces the amount of control and spin the player has while hitting. The string is designed for players who hit hard making it more challenging to adapt different styles of play. Stiffness in string makes it more likely to cause wrist, elbow or shoulder injuries. Not recommended for players who are prone to injury.

3. Ultra Tour/Sensation Hybrid – Upside: Mix of both strings allows for a combination of spin/control and durability/power. Recommended for intermediate to advanced players with developed strokes. Downside: The string bed is primarily poly which creates a feeling of stiffness. This will cut back on the benefits of the syn gut because it is harder for the player to feel the ball. Players who have a short swing will not enjoy this string at all.

*Special* String Options ($30 / Racket including String):

1. 16 Gauge Head Fibergel - Upside: Very soft string that provides a smooth feeling during play. Soft on the arm and wrist. Great string for a recreational player. Pairs nicely with a poly in a hybrid pattern. Downside: Breaks rapidly.

2. 16 Gauge Babolat Powergy - Upside: Powergy provides a combination of power and comfort in a durable multi-layered nylon string. It is a nice step between a typical syn gut and a polyester string. Downside - Not as durable as poly string, not as soft as most syn gut.

3. 17 Gauge Babolat Pro Hurricane - Upside: Durable poly string, one of the best selling strings in the market, the go-to choice for many professional tennis players. Downside: May cause injury to arm or wrist.

4. 17 Gauge Head Sonic Pro Black - Upside: Sonic Pro is the Head version of Babolat RPM, it is a super durable co-polyester string that provides excellent spin potential, black finish to string looks cool. Downside: Difficult to string with, may cause discomfort to injury prone players.

Q: Why should I restring my racket?
A: Fresh strings create an overall better tennis experience for the player. New strings will enhance a player’s shot making ability and compliment their racket. You will actually play better with new strings because the strings will do what you want them to. This creates a sense of reliability and consistency in your game. Strings will naturally lose their tension and playing characteristics over time which will cause unpredictability during play. It is most common for your strings to become loose as time goes on. If they are too loose, you will have less control of the ball and it will fly out more often. This leads to frustration and loss of confidence for the player.

Q: How often should I restring my racket?
A: If you are a string “breaker” you should restring as often as your strings break. If you are a regular player, the following rule is recommended: The amount of times you play per week should be equivalent to the amount of times you restring your racket in a season. I.e. if you play twice a week, you should restring twice in the season. Also, if you notice that your strings are either too loose, have hardened or are unraveling, it’s time to change.

Q: What tension should I string at?
A: If you don’t know what tension you prefer, most rackets come with a recommended stringing range. It is usually between 55-65 pounds and can be found on the inner throat on the racket. Having a lower string tension creates more elasticity in the string, which allows for a more powerful shot but offers less control. Having a higher string tension tightens the strings, making them less elastic. A higher tension will provide more control but less power. Finding the right tension for you is all about testing different weights with a variety of shots, it all comes down to what you like to feel while hitting. Even on the professional level, there is no golden rule for tension. Some players, such as Roger Federer, are known to string extremely low, in the 40-50 pound range. While others, such as Pete Sampras, were above 90 pounds.