Equipment · Strings
Tennis racquet strings: a complete guide to choosing
Tennis racquet strings are the only part of the racquet that touches the ball: they set your power, control, spin and how much shock reaches your arm. To choose, answer three questions: which material (natural gut or synthetic), which construction (monofilament, multifilament or hybrid) and which tension. A club player is almost always better served by a multifilament or soft nylon than by a tour-level polyester.
Key takeaways
- Two families: natural gut (made from cow intestine) and synthetic strings (nylon, polyester, Kevlar).
- Monofilament or multifilament: a monofilament, usually polyester, favours control, spin and durability; a multifilament favours comfort and power.
- Comfort first: the stiffer the string, the more vibration reaches your arm. Polyester and Kevlar are for strong arms and big hitters.
- A hybrid combines two strings, one for the mains and one for the crosses, to get the best of both.
- Strings wear out even without breaking: they lose tension and need replacing regularly.
Why do tennis racquet strings matter so much?
The strings are what actually meet the ball. They shape your feel, accuracy, power and spin, and also how much stress goes into the joints and muscles of your arm. Experienced players know that the string choice matters as much as the racquet itself. For the frame, see our guide to choosing a tennis racquet.
Beginners tend to underestimate strings, or do not realise that they deteriorate over time. Even if they never break, they lose tension and liveliness, so they need replacing at regular intervals. We explain how often in our article on restringing your racquet.
There are hundreds of strings on the market, but they all fall into two categories: natural gut and synthetic strings. Among synthetics, the construction (one solid fibre or thousands of micro-fibres) makes the biggest difference.
Natural gut: the benchmark for feel
Many people are surprised to learn that natural gut is made from cow intestine. Yet it is widely considered one of the best strings there is, and players such as Roger Federer have favoured it. Its high elasticity gives outstanding power, comfort and feel, and it holds its tension better than any synthetic.
The downsides: it is expensive, sensitive to moisture and does not last as long as a synthetic, especially for heavy topspin players. For a beginner or occasional player, the difference from a good synthetic is too subtle to justify the price: you will gain far more by working on your technique. For an experienced competitor who looks after it, though, it is an excellent choice. Read more in our article on natural gut strings.
Nylon, polyester, Kevlar: how good are synthetic strings?
Manufacturers control both the materials and the process for synthetics, so they can design strings for comfort, durability, power or spin. Three base materials dominate.
Nylon: the most common
Nylon is the most popular synthetic material. Most “synthetic gut” strings and multifilaments are nylon: the quality of the nylon and the way it is built make the difference. Soft, comfortable and affordable, it suits beginners and recreational players. See our article on nylon strings.
Polyester: control and spin
Polyester is usually a monofilament: a single uniform fibre, often with a thin coating to reduce friction. It gives plenty of control and makes topspin easier, but it is stiff and loses tension faster. It is the string of most competitive players. Details in our guide to polyester strings.
Kevlar: maximum durability
Kevlar is the most durable and the stiffest string there is. It is mainly used by players who break strings constantly, almost always in a hybrid with a softer string to tame the stiffness. Read our article on Kevlar strings.
| Material | Comfort | Power | Control and spin | Durability | Who for? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gut | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Low, sensitive to moisture | Experienced competitors, sensitive arms, bigger budgets |
| Nylon (synthetic gut) | Good | Good | Average | Average | Beginners, recreational players, tight budgets |
| Multifilament (nylon) | Very good | Very good | Average | Average to low | Sensitive arms, players after power and touch |
| Polyester (monofilament) | Low | Average | Excellent | Very good (but loses tension quickly) | Competitive players, big hitters, topspin game |
| Kevlar | Very low | Low | Good control, little spin | Maximum | Chronic string breakers, in a hybrid only |
Monofilament, multifilament, textured, hybrid: which construction?
Beyond the material, the way a string is built completely changes how it plays.
- Monofilament: a single, solid fibre, usually polyester, generally with a thin protective coating. Aim: control and spin.
- Multifilament: hundreds or thousands of micro-fibres (nylon or polyamide) bundled together. Livelier, less stiff and far more comfortable. See our multifilament string explainer.
- Textured: a monofilament whose shape or surface has been worked (shaped profile, rough coating) to grip the ball more. Babolat RPM Blast Rough is one example.
- Composite: a mix of different materials in a single string to achieve specific properties. It is a manufacturing method more than a construction type.
- Hybrid: one string for the mains (vertical strings), another for the crosses (horizontal strings).
Hybrid stringing, a favourite on tour
There are two main hybrid families. With gut or multifilament in the mains and polyester in the crosses, you favour comfort, liveliness and feel: the set-up long used by Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. With polyester in the mains and a soft string in the crosses, the emphasis shifts to control and durability. To choose and set both tensions, read our guide to hybrid strings.
How to choose tennis strings for your profile
There is no “best string” in absolute terms. Decide according to your playing style and what your game lacks. Keep four criteria in mind: spin, control, comfort and durability. The choice also depends on the racquet (head size, string pattern, frame stiffness) and above all on tension.
- You are a beginner or play once or twice a week: nylon or multifilament, at a moderate tension. Comfort, easy power, sensible price.
- Your elbow or wrist hurts: multifilament or natural gut, at a fairly low tension. Avoid full polyester. See also our article on racquets and tennis elbow.
- You hit hard with lots of topspin: polyester (or co-polyester), at a slightly lower tension to offset its stiffness.
- You break strings every week: a thicker polyester, a hybrid with polyester mains, or even Kevlar in a hybrid if your arm can take it.
- You want the best of both worlds: a hybrid of polyester with multifilament or gut.
What about the pros? Almost all of them use polyester or a hybrid, at very personal tensions. Their set-ups are listed in our article on professional players’ strings, but they are not a template to copy: a club player has neither the racquet-head speed nor the physical preparation of a tour player.
On a camp at the Mouratoglou Academy on the French Riviera (Biot, near Nice), string choice is one of the settings coaches can adjust after a few sessions: the Mouratoglou Method individualises equipment too. Our guide on when to restring your racquet helps you keep a consistent feel. Discover our camps.
AdultsFull daysAll levelsPerformance Camp AdultA week of intensive tennis, 4 players per coach: technique, match play, physical and mental training.DISCOVER Frequently asked questions
Which tennis racquet strings should a beginner choose?
A nylon (synthetic gut) or a multifilament, strung at a moderate tension. These strings are soft, kind to the arm and give power without effort. Natural gut and polyester are not useful at this stage: the difference in feel is too fine for a beginner.
What is the difference between monofilament and multifilament strings?
A monofilament is a single fibre, usually polyester: it offers control, spin and durability, but it is stiff. A multifilament bundles thousands of micro-fibres: it is softer, more comfortable and more powerful, but wears faster. The best way to decide is to try both.
Do professional players use natural gut?
A few do, but most play with polyester or a hybrid. Natural gut is mainly used in the mains, paired with polyester crosses, to keep the feel while adding control.
Does a higher tension give more power?
No, the opposite. A higher tension makes the string bed stiffer: you gain control but lose power and comfort. A lower tension returns more energy to the ball.
Which strings should you choose when playing a lot on a camp or in tournaments?
A durable, stable string: a soft polyester for a heavy topspin hitter, a multifilament or hybrid to protect the arm. Most important of all, arrive with two racquets strung identically and recently. On the Performance Camp Adult, several hours of play a day quickly expose tired strings.
