Once you've chosen your ideal racket, you may notice it comes unstrung without strings. While seeing all the available string options may seem daunting at first, we're here to help guide you through the selection process!

When deciding on strings, there are 3 key factors you should consider:

1. Your Playing Style
2. Material and Gauge
3. Price Point
   

Playing Style

Think about which of the following best reflects your playing style and what you're looking to achieve: power, control, comfort, or spin.

Power

Definition: How quickly the ball leaves the string bed upon impact.

Best for:

• Beginners who may lack technique to generate their own power
• Junior players still developing physically and technically

String Materials: Natural/synthetic gut and nylon (multifilament)

Recommended Products:

• YONEX REXIS SERIES
• BABOLAT XCEL SERIES

Control

Definition: How long the ball stays in contact with the string bed ("dwell time").

Best for:

• Players who can produce their own power and want to prioritize control
• Advanced players focusing on precise shot placement

String Materials: Polyester (monofilament)

Recommended Products:

• YONEX POLYTOUR REV SERIES
• YONEX STRIKE SERIES
• BABOLAT RPM SERIES

Comfort

Definition: Amount of shock and vibration you feel upon ball impact.

Best for:

• Senior players
• Players prone to injury
• Players recovering from existing injuries

String Materials: Natural gut or nylon

Recommended Products:

• YONEX REXIS COMFORT

Spin

Definition: Rotations generated by the string upon contact with the ball.

Best for:

• Competitive players who use spin to create heavy balls
• Players who want to make it harder for opponents to attack

String Materials: Polyester

Recommended Products:

Material and Gauge

String Materials

Modern tennis strings are made from one of three materials:

• Natural/Synthetic Gut
• Nylon (Multifilament)
• Polyester/Co-Polyester (Monofilament)

Recommendations by Skill Level:

• Beginner to Intermediate: Gut or nylon strings for power and comfort
• Advanced: Polyester strings for control due to their stiffer construction

Gauge (String Thickness)

• Thicker strings: More durability and control
• Thinner strings: More power and comfort

Common Gauges:

Note: As gauge gets thinner, touch and feel increase, but durability decreases.

String Tension Guide

String tension refers to how tight or loose the strings are pulled, typically measured in kilograms or pounds. Your ideal tension depends on three factors:

1. String Material

• Nylon and Natural Gut: More elastic
• Polyester: Stiffer (use lower tension to minimize arm injury risk)

Recommended Tension Ranges:

• Polyester: 46-56 lbs
• Nylon/Natural Gut: 50-60 lbs

For Elbow Pain Prevention:

• Polyester: 44-50 lbs
• Nylon/Natural Gut: 50-53 lbs

2. Type of Assistance Needed

• Higher Tension: More control
• Lower Tension: More power

General Guidelines:

• Beginners: Need more power (slower swing speeds)
• Advanced Players: Want more control (faster swing speeds)

3. Skill Level

For Nylon and Natural/Synthetic Gut Strings:

• Beginners: Use tension at the end of the range
• Intermediate: Use tension in the middle of the range
• Advanced: Use tension at the beginning of the range

Example - Nylon Strings for Power:

• Base Range: 50-60 lbs
• Power Range: 50-55 lbs (first half)
• Beginner: 54-55 lbs
• Intermediate: 52-53 lbs
• Advanced: 50-51 lbs

For Polyester Strings:

• Beginners: Use tension at the start of the range
• Intermediate: Use tension in the middle of the range
• Advanced: Use tension at the end of the range

Example - Polyester Strings for Power:

• Base Range: 46-56 lbs
• Power Range: 46-51 lbs (first half)
• Beginner: 46-47 lbs
• Intermediate: 48-49 lbs
• Advanced: 50-51 lbs

Final Recommendations

This guide provides our recommendations for different player types, but remember that personal preference matters most. It's perfectly fine to:

• Choose strings based on your budget
• Try different options to find what works for you
• Use whatever string and tension you enjoy (as long as your racket can handle it and it doesn't cause injury)

Still Unsure?

If you're still uncertain about what string to choose after reading this guide:

• Email us: shop@yumo.ca - we'll gladly assist you further
• Ask your coach: They know your game and can provide personalized recommendations

Remember: These are recommendations from Yumo Pro Shop. Feel free to experiment and find what works best for your game!