Strings

The Right Tennis String
To be able to play tennis with a racket, it must be strung with a good tennis string.
There is a wide variety of tennis strings with different playing characteristics. Important properties include elasticity for ball acceleration, vibration damping for playing comfort, grip for spin control (effect, topspin) and durability. Although many physical properties (material, structure, diameter, color, surface etc.) can be modified during string manufacturing – thereby influencing playing characteristics – there are still fundamental differences among tennis strings.
At Tennis Factory Bopp you’ll find all strings from well-known brands such as Wilson, Babolat, Head, Technifibre, Prince and Yonex.
Frequency of String Replacement
When should you change your string? Of course, when it breaks or when its playability has noticeably deteriorated. Otherwise? A string loses 5–10% of its tension in the first 24 hours after stringing even without play. Afterwards it becomes a little “softer” during play. At some point it will feel equally firm – it has hardened but also lost its playing properties. It’s basically “dead.” A “dead” string cushions the ball less and may cause arm injuries. Players using textured strings (e.g. 4-sided) can also see the wear on the profile.
Playing Characteristics
Stringing often brings advantages and disadvantages. There are seven different playing characteristics that can’t all be at their ideal values simultaneously. They are determined by the string itself, its diameter and the string tension. The seven characteristics include power, control, spin, arm-friendliness, durability, tension stability and feel.

Natural Gut Strings
Natural gut strings are mostly made from cow intestine. Their power, feel, tension stability and arm comfort are unmatched. The only drawback is the high price, which is why they are mainly used by professionals or connoisseurs. (Called Natural Gut or NG, very high price).

Nylon Strings
Nylon strings have a core and a wrap. Due to this simple construction they are cheaper than most other strings. Depending on the complexity of the wrap, targeted playing properties – and thus price – increase. Nylon strings offer good durability and high power. They are ideal for juniors or as cross strings in a hybrid setup. (Called Synthetic Gut or SG, low price).

Monofilament Strings
Polyester strings are very simple in construction, consisting of a single polyester filament with a thin coating. Compared to nylon they are relatively stiff but more durable. Their major drawback is the early tension loss, making them more suitable for players with high string wear. (Prices range from low to very high).

Multifilament Strings
Multifilament strings are made from countless fine fibers with a resistant outer wrap. They aim to mimic the playing characteristics of natural gut as closely as possible. They are arm-friendly and provide good power. Multifilament strings are available with different playing characteristics. (Price somewhat higher than monofilament strings).

String Gauge
Available string gauges range from 1.10 mm to 1.40 mm. Thinner strings increase playability (power, spin, feel, arm comfort), thicker strings increase durability.

String Tension
String tension is a very important factor. Modern rackets and strings can be strung with much less weight than before. It’s always a trade-off between acceleration and control. A soft tension acts like a trampoline – high power but less predictable control. A hard tension behaves like a board – less power but more control. In summary: soft tension = more power, longer string life, better arm comfort. Hard tension = more control.
Note: The reference tension does not equal the actual stiffness. It only indicates the pulling force during stringing. The effective stiffness on the racket is lower and depends on factors such as racket head, machine, string and string pattern.
Different Tensions Between Mains and Crosses
A racket’s string bed stiffness is influenced by both tension and the interweaving of mains and crosses. The racket itself also matters: depending on the number of mains and crosses and the head size/shape, the same tension can result in different stiffness. By varying tension between mains and crosses one can balance the string bed or tailor playing characteristics. Most players string crosses 0.5–2 kg lighter than mains. For more spin, a lower cross tension helps mains slide more. For more control, or with a round head shape, equal or slightly higher cross tension may be better. Using different string materials for mains and crosses also affects tension. Manufacturers may recommend higher or lower tensions depending on the string.