Which String Type

Choosing a string is a bigger decision than most club players realise. The right one transforms how a racket feels. The wrong one leaves a lovely frame playing dead.

Three things to get right: what it's made of, how thick it is, and how tight it's strung. Here's how each one changes your game.

1. Material — what the string is made of

Three main families, plus hybrids and one poly-fusion.

Polyester ("poly")

Stiff, durable monofilament. Holds tension well and gives you spin and control. The trade-off is feel — poly is a firmer string that can feel harsh if you're arm-sensitive or if it's strung too tight.

Best for: players who break strings often, hit with heavy spin, or want maximum control on their shots. Advanced juniors and club-competitive adults live on poly.

Our polys: IceCode, Redcode, Blackcode, Razor Code.

Multifilament ("multi")

Hundreds of woven fibres bundled and coated. Softer, more like the natural gut the pros used before poly took over. Gives you comfort, power and a plusher feel on contact.

The trade-off is durability. A multi wears faster than a poly and loses tension quicker. If you play three times a week and hit the ball hard, expect to restring more often.

Best for: touch players, seniors, anyone with tennis elbow or wrist niggles, and improvers who want the ball to come off the strings easily.

Our multis: Synthetic Gut, Multifeel, TGV.

Hybrid

Poly on the main strings (the vertical ones — they take most of the work) and multi on the crosses. You get the control and durability of poly where it matters, and the comfort and power of multi where you feel it most.

Best for: intermediate-to-advanced players who want most of poly's benefits without the harshness. Roger Federer played a hybrid setup for years — that's the market it comes from.

Our hybrids: Redcode/Multifeel, Blackcode/Multifeel, Razor Code/Multifeel.

Poly-fusion

Duramix sits between the families — a blended construction that softens poly's edge without going full multi. A useful middle option if hybrids feel like too much of a commitment.

2. Gauge — how thick the string is

Measured in millimetres. Small numbers, big difference.

Thinner (1.20–1.25 mm) — more bite on the ball (spin), better feel, wears faster.
Thicker (1.30 mm+) — lasts longer, slightly less feel.

Most club players use 1.25 mm as a sensible middle ground. Heavy hitters and spin players go thinner. If you're getting through a set of strings every couple of weeks, going thicker will save you money without changing your game much.

3. Tension — how tight it's strung

Higher tension = more control, less power, harsher feel.
Lower tension = more power, softer feel, less control.

Standard club-player range: 52–55 lbs.

If you're not sure, start at 53 lbs and adjust from there. If the ball is flying long, go up two pounds. If your shots feel dead and you're muscling every ball in, go down two.

Poly strings are usually strung 2–3 lbs lower than multis because poly is a stiffer material — you don't need as much tension to get the same control.

What to pick if you…

Want more spin

Poly, thinner gauge (1.20–1.25 mm), around 50–53 lbs. IceCode, Redcode or Blackcode.

Want more power

Multi at a lower tension (50–52 lbs). Synthetic Gut or Multifeel.

Have (or want to avoid) tennis elbow

Multi or hybrid. Never full-bed poly. Multifeel or TGV, strung 52–54 lbs.

Break strings every couple of weeks

Poly, thicker gauge (1.30 mm+). Blackcode or Duramix.

Play once a week and just want the racket to feel nice

Synthetic Gut. Cheap, comfortable, does the job.

Play competitively and want tour-level control

Razor Code or a hybrid. This is what the level above you is using.

When to restring

Two rules of thumb.

The pro rule: restring as many times per year as you play per week. Play three times a week? Three restrings a year, minimum.
The break rule: the moment a string breaks, it's already been dead for weeks. Tension drops steadily from day one — you just don't notice until it snaps.

If you're serious about your game and you've been playing on the same strings for six months, they're the reason the ball isn't going where you want it. Not the racket. Not you.

Still not sure?

Tell us what you play — level, game style, current racket — and we'll recommend based on your game. We coach for a living. The spec sheet is just the starting point.