FAQ
Some of the most frequent questions and answers. If your question isn't here, don't hesitate to contact me!
There’s no simple answer to this really. Unless your string breaks, you’re unhappy with the performance or you get an injury then there’s no point getting it restrung. A general rule is that you should have your racket restrung per year, the amount of times you play per week. So if you play twice a week, then you should have a restring twice a year. Obviously this is a very rough guide as it depends on many factors such as arm or elbow problems, style of play, level of play etc.
How long is a piece of string?! This depends on any number of factors. If you mis-hit a ball or “shank” it, strings can break at virtually any time (usually somewhere round the edge of the racket). Also, it depends on the condition of your racket, particularly the grommets which are the holes round the frame the string is pulled through. After a time these become worn out and you’ll notice far more breakages round the edge of the frame. There are other obvious factors involved too – if you play for hours every day then your string will break quicker! I find that in the modern game players who use a lot of top spin tend to break strings far more quickly than players who hit the ball flat.
This really depends who you ask…club players, beginners and professionals all have different requirements. It wouldn’t be wise to put RPM Blast that Nadal uses in a beginners racket and likewise, Rafa would not be impressed with a basic synthetic gut, so it really depends on what level you play, if you have arm or elbow problems or your style of play. We have a wide range of string that hopefully suits everyone both in budget and practicality including you!
Tension ranges are usually from 50lbs to around 60lbs for tennis rackets. For squash it tends to be 25lbs to around 30lbs and for badminton from around 21lbs to 27lbs. Generally speaking the lower the tension, the more power you get and the higher the tension, the more control. I usually string in the early to mid 50’s in tennis rackets for a good balance of power and control but it really depends on how you play!
The gauge or thickness of the string is quite important, depending on what you want from your string. It’s generally regarded that thinner strings – around 1.20-1.25mm generate more power, feel and spin while thicker strings – around 1.30-1.35mm last longer. Although a thinner gauge may not last a long time, it can be easier on the arm if you have these problems.
How long is a piece of string?! This depends on any number of factors. If you mis-hit a ball or “shank” it, strings can break at virtually any time (usually somewhere round the edge of the racket). Also, it depends on the condition of your racket, particularly the grommets which are the holes round the frame the string is pulled through. After a time these become worn out and you’ll notice far more breakages round the edge of the frame. There are other obvious factors involved too – if you play for hours every day then your string will break quicker! I find that in the modern game players who use a lot of top spin tend to break strings far more quickly than players who hit the ball flat.