As a tennis player, one of the most common questions you are bound to ask is this – how frequently should I restring my tennis racquet?
The honest answer to this varies from player to player and depends on a plethora of factors. From playing level to budget, competitiveness, frequency of play, and the ‘feel’ of the racquet, many things go into deciding the right time to restring.
That said, it is not rocket science to figure out when you need to replace the tennis racquet strings.
To help you with the same, we have prepared this comprehensive guide that addresses the ins and outs of restringing tennis racquets.
Why is Restringing Important?
Many beginners start under the impression that tennis racquet strings are to be replaced only when they have broken. Now, this may be fine for casual players who hit the courts a few times a year.
But if you are serious about the sport, then you will definitely benefit from restringing your racquets in a timely fashion.
Mentioned below are the few reasons why you should restring your racquets frequently. Alternatively you can also read our piece on the factors to consider while restringing a tennis racquet here.
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Loss of Tension
One thing that you should know about tennis racquets is this – the strings will lose tension over time. It is inevitable; it is only natural. In fact, the strings start to lose tension immediately after they leave the stringing machine.
In many cases, strings can lose up to 10 percent of their total tension within the first 24 hours after stringing. The more you use the racquet thereafter, the more tension it will lose.
To put it in a different analogy, think of it as buying a brand new bike. The moment you take it out of the shop, it loses its original value and will continue to do so with every mile. The same holds good for the tension in tennis racquets too.
This loss in tension over time translates into a directly proportional loss in the player’s ability to control the ball.
In other words, it will become difficult for you to hit the ball with accuracy and precision if you continue to use the same string-racquet over time. When that happens, it’s time to replace the strings.
Loss in Performance Characteristics
As tennis strings lose tension and go dead, they will also lose their key performance characteristics. Whether it is topspin, power, pace, or depth, with time, these traits will go for a toss as the tension in the string deteriorates.
For instance, if you have bought a particular racquet purely for the topspin, then you may notice that with time if left unattended, your topspins may not be the same as they were when the racquet was brand new.
We are going to explore this in detail in the next sections.
Change in Playing Techniques
A cardinal sin in tennis is to adjust your playing techniques just because you lose the tension in your tennis racquets. If you are a casual player, this may still be acceptable. But if you are serious about the game, this is a big no-no.
This compensation can prove to be disastrous in the long run, especially when you inevitably have to change the racquet after the strings have completely worn out.
When this happens, you will find yourself playing bad shots with a brand new racquet, leading you to revise and re-adapt your techniques. The easy way out of this – keep a close eye on your tennis racquets and restring them consistently.
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When is the Right Time to Change the Strings in your Tennis Racquet?
A few indicators can help you decide when you need to replace the tennis strings in your racquet. We can categorise them into visual indicators or feel indicators.
The first one is more about looking at the racquet strings and then determining the best course of action. The latter has got to do with playing tennis itself, where you feel that you are not able to get your shots right.
Either way, if your racquet falls under any of these categories, then you may want to consider restringing.
Notched Strings
Notching occurs when strings rub together and produce friction when in contact with the ball. It is quite natural and is to be expected.
Over time, you will start to notice grooves or notches at the intersection of the strings, most likely in the middle of the racquet, which sees most contact with the ball.
The more you play, the deeper these grooves will get and will cut through the string. When these cuts or grooves are close to breaking the string, then you know it is the right time to get fresh strings for your racquets!
Frayed Strings
Tennis strings made of materials like the natural gut, multifilament, or kevlar are composed of tiny fibres. Over time, these strings will fray and wear out. Once again, this is a natural part of the order in tennis racquets with these types of strings.
In many cases, fraying may be accelerated by humidity or moisture. Over time, repeated fraying will reduce the gauge of the string to the point where it will break. When this happens, restringing is the way to go.
Keep in mind that not all strings are subjected to fraying. For instance, polyester strings will not fray because they feature a single-filament make.
Loss in Control
As strings wear out over time and lose tension, chances are your game will be impacted accordingly. It may be subtle at first and you may chalk it up to a bad day on the court.
But you should be on the lookout for the fact that it may not be you, it’s your tennis racquet! Common tell-tale signs include:
- Unforced errors
- Erratic performance
- Loss striking in power, which happens over time as strings lose their resilience
- Hitting the ball long
- Unable to get the topspin right or
- Simply not able to place the shots correctly
- Feeling discomfort in arm/uncomfortable hitting experience
All of these may be a part of the routine for a beginner, but if these persist over time, or if your game has suddenly gone down and you find yourself hitting more of these, then you might want to take a close look at your tennis racquet strings.
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A Rule of Thumb for Restringing Tennis Racquets
There is a general principle that can be applied when answering the question of when to restring your tennis racquets. It goes something like,
“You should replace strings in your racquet per year as often as you play tennis per week.” As per this norm, if you play tennis thrice a week, then you would ideally restring your racquet thrice a year.
But what if you play thrice a week, but it is an action-packed, long and intense game of tennis? Undoubtedly, the wear and loss rate in tension will be faster than other players who are just there for recreational purposes. In this case, the rule is no longer applicable.
Of course, this outdated rule of thumb does not take into account the key aspects of the game like the frequency and duration of the play, level of competitiveness, style of play, comfort, among other things.
With that in mind, let us understand these factors in detail.
Frequency/Duration of the Game
While the aforementioned rule of thumb may be a bit misleading, we can take the one below at face value:
“The more you play, the more frequently you should restring.” This stands to reason; after all, your racquets will wear out and the strings will lose their tension with every shot you play on the court. If you are a frequent player of the game, then logically speaking, your racquets should be restrung accordingly.
Playing Style
If you prefer baseline play, that is, hitting long shots, then you will need to restring your racquets rather sooner than later. After all, you are hitting with more power, and the strings will take a lot more beating.
Conversely, if you are more of a net player, that is, you prefer approaching the net often and are comfortable with soft, drop shots, then you might not need to restring your racquet that often.
Competitiveness
This one is undoubtedly one of the most critical factors. We can classify competitiveness into three levels – beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Consequently, each of these three levels will have its own restringing criteria.
- Beginner: A beginner would be someone who plays once or twice a month. The person is brand new to the game and is just becoming familiar with the nuances of the sport. The racquet is not likely to incur a lot of wear and tear and hence, the recommended restringing frequency is every three months.
- Intermediate: An intermediate player would be someone who has been playing the game for a few years now. He/she may participate in occasional regional tournaments and is certainly taking the sport a lot more seriously. For these players, who most likely play the game a few times a week, restringing the racquet every month may be a good idea.
- Advanced: These are pros who are looking to build a tennis career. Tennis is their full-time passion – we are talking about playing in college tournaments, professional tours, rigorous training, et cetera. Most likely, they will break the string every other week or so. For these players, the best rule would be this – restring when you break it. Players who fall under this category may also want to ensure that their strings are in order when they are about to compete in a tournament or a league.
Environment and Surrounding Conditions
Depending on the type of string your tennis racquet is equipped with, the environmental conditions may play a role in how quickly (or slowly) they wear out.
For instance, natural gut strings are more prone to absorbing moisture so playing in humid conditions can result in more challenging maintenance. Similarly, polyester strings, which may not be that prone to moisture or humidity, will lose their elasticity in excessive heat and sun.
So, depending on where you live, you will need to be mindful of how the conditions around you – humidity, temperature, moisture, heat, or cold – will impact the material of your tennis string.
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How Much Does it Cost to Restring Tennis Racquet?
This one depends primarily on the type of tennis string you choose, in addition to the labour costs.
Beginners may invest in lower-priced strings with basic features, whereas the experts and professionals will most likely go for the high-quality, premium strings. The price range varies from $5 – $50 and even more. As for the cost of labour, it may be anywhere around $10 – $30. If it is a vendor who solely specialises in restringing tennis racquets, the cost may be higher.
So, all in all, you can expect to spend anywhere between $15 to $100 every time you restring your tennis racquet.
Read our extensive guide on restringing costs for tennis racquets here.
Parting Thoughts
By now, it is quite evident that tennis racquets ought to be restrung depending on the frequency of play, the tension in the strings, playing style, and competitiveness. While there is not a definite rule for the same, we recommend you keep a close eye on the strings and look out for the various elements we described above.
All in all, if you feel that your shots are no longer as refined as they used to be, or if you feel you’re losing striking power or can see the signs of wear and tear on the gut, then it’s a good time to get a new set of strings!