Equipment · Strings
Natural gut strings: why choose this tennis string?
Natural gut strings, made from cow intestine, remain the benchmark for comfort, power and feel, and they hold their tension better than any other string. The drawbacks: a high price, a shorter lifespan than synthetics and great sensitivity to moisture. They mainly suit experienced players and sensitive arms, often as the mains of a hybrid.
Key takeaways
- Material: natural gut is made from cow small intestine, a highly elastic organic material.
- Strengths: outstanding comfort, power, feel and the best tension maintenance of any string.
- Drawbacks: one of the most expensive strings, less durable, sensitive to moisture.
- Tension: around 24 to 26 kg (53 to 57 lb) for a comfort / control balance, about 22 kg (48 lb) for more power.
- Cheaper alternative: multifilament, the closest in feel.
What are natural gut strings?
Natural gut strings are made from cow intestine, specifically the small intestine. This organic material, processed through a long and precise method, gives them an elasticity, softness and responsiveness that no synthetic fully matches.
It is the oldest kind of string: before synthetic materials arrived, it was one of the only options. Today it is still prized by players looking for exceptional touch, and several tour players use it in the mains of a hybrid, as you can see in our article on pro players’ strings.
Why choose natural gut strings?
Superior comfort
This is its main strength. Gut feels very soft at impact, much more so than polyester and even most multifilaments. It is ideal for players prone to arm pain such as tennis elbow.
Natural power
Gut stores energy at impact and returns it to the ball: you get depth without forcing, while keeping control. A favourite of attacking players.
The best tension maintenance
An often overlooked point: natural gut holds its tension longer than any other string. Your feel stays consistent session after session, whereas polyester relaxes quickly.
What are the drawbacks of natural gut?
- Lower durability: it breaks sooner than polyester, especially for heavy topspin players. If you break strings often, the bill adds up quickly.
- High cost: it is one of the most expensive strings on the market, because of its complex manufacturing process and natural material.
- Sensitivity to moisture: water degrades its performance and lifespan. Avoid playing in the rain or on damp courts with gut.
| Criterion | Natural gut | Multifilament | Polyester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Excellent | Very good | Low |
| Power | Excellent | Very good | Average |
| Tension maintenance | Excellent | Good | Low |
| Durability | Low | Average | Very good |
| Moisture resistance | Low | Good | Very good |
| Price | High | Medium | Varies |
Are natural gut strings right for you?
Gut is ideal for three profiles:
- Players looking for maximum comfort: arm pain, a need to reduce vibration. See also our article on racquets and tennis elbow.
- Players looking for power who want to keep control.
- Regular players who want consistency: gut keeps its properties over many sessions.
For a beginner or occasional player, on the other hand, the difference from a good synthetic is too subtle to justify the price: lessons are a better investment. If you break strings often, the answer is a hybrid: gut mains with polyester crosses (or the reverse). It is the most common compromise among competitors, explained in our guide to hybrid strings.
AdultsFull daysAll levelsPerformance Camp AdultA week of intensive tennis, 4 players per coach: technique, match play, physical and mental training.DISCOVER Which tension, and how to look after natural gut
In general, a tension around 24 to 26 kg (53 to 57 lb) gives a good balance of comfort and control. For maximum power, you can go down to about 22 kg (48 lb). For the general logic, see our guide to tennis string tension.
- Use a waterproof cover when carrying your racquet, especially in damp weather.
- Avoid extreme temperatures: do not leave the racquet in a car in the sun or in the cold; store it at room temperature.
- Choose a gut with a protective coating: it resists moisture and wear better without losing its qualities.
- Put the gut away when it rains: keep a racquet strung with synthetic for wet conditions.
How should you test natural gut before switching?
- Start with a hybrid: gut in the mains and polyester in the crosses, to discover the feel without changing everything at once.
- Keep a reference racquet strung with your usual string, and alternate between the two over several sessions.
- Write down your impressions on comfort, depth control and tension retention over the days.
- Judge over several weeks, not one practice: gut stretches, then settles.
Equipment should serve your game, not the other way round: it is a principle of the Mouratoglou Method. At the Mouratoglou Academy on the French Riviera, coaches also look at the racquet and strings when a player complains about their arm. To complete your set-up, read our guides on restringing your racquet and where to put a dampener.
Frequently asked questions
Is natural gut suitable for beginners?
It is comfortable, but rarely the best choice for a beginner: it is expensive, wears quickly and its superior feel is hard to notice early on. A nylon or multifilament will do the job very well.
What tension should natural gut be strung at?
Around 24 to 26 kg (53 to 57 lb) for a good balance of comfort and control. For more power, you can go down to about 22 kg (48 lb). Because gut holds its tension well, your chosen setting stays stable for longer.
What is natural gut made from?
From cow small intestine. The material is chosen for its elasticity, softness and responsiveness. Its complex manufacturing partly explains why it costs more than synthetics.
Which string is closest to natural gut?
Multifilament. Made of thousands of micro-fibres, usually nylon, it mimics the elasticity and soft feel of gut at a more affordable price, and copes better with moisture. It holds tension slightly less well. See our multifilament string explainer.
Is natural gut suitable for junior players?
For a child who rarely breaks strings, gut or a multifilament gives valuable comfort to a growing arm. For a teenager who hits hard with heavy spin, the cost quickly adds up: a hybrid is often the right compromise. On the Performance Camp Junior, at the Mouratoglou Academy on the French Riviera (Biot, near Nice), coaches can advise on suitable equipment.
