As we seek for the best strings to have on our racquets, it’s relevant to know how often to change it. It’s a concern most players have even when they’re trying a string they’ve just strung. How far can this string take me? Almost every player asks this question.
Just as you look out for the string properties that will give you the best performance, so should you keep track of it anytime you play. That’s the most effective way around it especially when you play regularly. But what if you’re not a regular player? You’ll find out soon by the time you’re at the bottom of this article.
Changing your string will depend on a number of factors which are mostly influenced by you. In this post, I will guide you through the indicators that inform you that – “change me” and why it’s necessary to restring your tennis racquet often.
Why the Need to Change Your String?
Tennis string, like any other product, cannot retain its original properties over a period of use. Its deterioration is initialized at the point of stringing and on the first usage on the court. That’s the more reason why the Pros change their strings after every game. That’s not you and I, right?
The moment the string is strung, its tension and elasticity begin to reduce. And string’s tension is a determinant on how much power one can generate and control you can have on the ball. So, when these are set on the decrease as you play, your performance reduces. Instead of maximizing your playing style, you begin to cash into other techniques that will enable you to offset the lost properties of the string.
Consequently, it translates to other effects like injuries and having to put in much energy than your usual style of play. At worst case, you break your racquet and that becomes an additional cost. It’s therefore, relevant to change your string when you notice a significant change in its performance.
The Old Wisdom for Restring – “Rule of Thumb”
Well, there’s this general rule that goes: you should restring the racquet as many times in a year as you use it in a week. This implies that if you play once in a week, replace it once a year if you play thrice in a week, restring it at least every four months and so on. This rule may be a starting point but definitely not an absolute guide for everybody. Aggressive and big hitters might even restring many times than what this rule says.
However, this may work for others but not everyone because there are several variables that go into the decision of changing your string. This includes; the level of the player, your style of play, the type of string you use, your initial string tension, how you keep your racquet between uses and others.
In reality, some string materials do quite well that you can play even years before restringing. Like me, I restring when I feel that my string is not giving me the performance I need or when my string breaks. So, my recommended guide is that you restring your racquet when the string breaks or when you’re not happy with your string’s performance – period!
Some “Change Me” Indicators
Restringing of a racquet is usually an exercise of less concern to players at beginner level except for the obvious case of string break. At that stage, you tend to focus more on the fundamentals of play and nothing else. It takes a while for beginner players to be sensitive to the following indicators that I have observed. But intermediate and advanced players, know their racquets well to be able to notice a change in performance during play.
Change in string appearance: It’s the easy-to-know indicator since that’s observed with the eye when the string starts to fray during play. It occurs by the constant hitting and rubbing of the ball on the string surface. When you observe that, then it’s a warning shot that your string is giving you. The fraying of string can be facilitated by improper storage of racquet and wide variations of temperature and humidity. So, you’ve got take good care of your racquet.
Diminished control level: The best feeling a player can have is to be in control of his or her game. And you can get that when the tension of your string is high. With that, you can place your shots at calculated angles that you project the balls. That makes you feel you’re on top of the game.
However, disappointment sets in when your string can no longer provide you with that needed tension. Your shots wouldn’t drop at the exact point you would want to send it. When it’s obviously not from the wind or any particular cause, then you have all the reason to believe that it’s your string which is failing you. If you find yourself in that frustration, then it’s an alert that restring has to be done.
Enforced spin generation: At a point where you put in more manpower to produce similar spins like when you first strung your racquet is an indicator for you to assess your racquet for restringing. When your strings become loose, duration of ball contact is extended which affect the amount of spin you generate. This translates into the momentum that your spins carry. The momentum reduces and that your balls reach the opponent as loosed ones.
Loss of playability: When the string loses tension and goes dead over time, you lose power as well as feel. The ability of your strings to snap back after hitting the ball reduces and eventually goes dead. As a result, vibrations upon impact which is supposed to be absorbed by the string is then translated into your arms causing discomfort.
Consequently, it leads to pain to your arms and you can no longer go further in the game. I don’t think you would regularly want to be reminded to restring by this gesture.
Final Thoughts
Regular restringing is a good habit to practice but it should be performance driven. Apart from string breakage, the need to restring should be based on how happy you’re with the string’s output. Other than that, general rules cannot be an absolute solution to your restring routine. The frequency of restringing varies for every player but never forget its relevance to yourself.
Your questions are welcomed or you can share how frequently you restring your racquet in the comment section below and I will be glad to connect with you. In case you want to restring and you’re confused about how to get a better string that will fit your racquet, click here.
Thanks for the clarification. I’ve just started tennis lessons because I’m a huge fan of tennis but never tried it out up until 2 weeks ago so I’m glad I come across this article. I always thought if a string was broken we should get it fixed asap, however, as you say as a beginner this is not a big problem and I should focus more on the fundamentals so that is what I plan on doing. Thanks!
We were all once a beginner but constant practice and evaluated experience will mold your playing style. Being a beginner it will be good for you to train yourself alongside the fundamentals to know when your string needs to be replaced. You’re welcome, Brandon. All the best too in your lessons.
Great info Derrick. My family and friends occasionally play tennis for fun and exercise and we enjoy it a lot. I never thought about replacing strings and this article is a good guide to when to replace it. I’ll share this article with my father too since he is a more advanced player than us.
I would appreciate it a lot. Restringing is something that is ignored(except for string breakage) by most players especially recreational players.
WOW I never even knew you had to restring! I would have just gone out and bought a new one when the old one was worn out! But I’m a total novice on this subject. This is something that needs to be taught up front! correct?
In a way, yes but you get to learn most of them with time by experience.
Thanks for the tips, Derrick! My daughter and I keep meaning to get ours restrung. I wasn’t sure when it was time other than it “felt” like it was time. Thanks for the great tips. Any suggestions on tension level or type of strings for the casual player?
Thanks!
You’re welcome, Jen.
Tension level is a matter of personal preference. Normally, you would experiment and settle on one that works for you. So, start from the middle value of the recommended tension range on your racquet. As a casual player, I think a string that will pose no harm to your arm will be better. Natural gut like Babolat VS Touch will be ideal for you.
From my long ago tennis days, I know what you mean about the strings telling me they need to retire.
One question. What if you slacken the strings after each game and then retighten for the next one. Does this add to string fatigue failure?
Hello Helen,
That sounds like a nice plan and I’m wondering how long you can keep doing that. Yh, it speeds up the string’s failure. The elasticity of the string reduces with time so re-tightening will push it to its limit in a short time. And when that happens, it breaks.