GUIDE TO STRING CHOICE

Choosing the right string is as critical as selecting the right racket. Strings are the engine of your racket, shaping every shot you play. The right setup can unlock more power, control, comfort or spin - fine-tuning your performance to match your game.

At Zx Racket Lab, we spcecialise in helping players make informed string choices. We understand that no two players are the same. Every game style, swing speed, and physical demand calls for a tailored approach to string selection. That’s why we work closely with you to identify the string type, gauge, and tension best suited to your needs — whether you’re a tour professional chasing marginal gains or a dedicated club player seeking consistency and comfort.

From natural gut to the latest co-polyesters, from hybrid setups to innovative proportional stringing techniques, our mission is to help you find the perfect balance of performance, durability, and feel.

Because when your strings are right, your game is right.

POLYESTER

The modern choice for control and spin.

Polyester strings are a monofilament design, extruded into a single, solid piece for durability and precision. They deliver exceptional control and spin potential, making them the preferred option for aggressive players with fast, full swings.

While polyester has traditionally been stiff and unforgiving, modern formulations have evolved to offer greater softness and improved arm-friendliness, without sacrificing performance. This balance has made them the go-to string family for intermediate, advanced, and professional players seeking consistency under pressure.

The trade-off: polyester strings have a shorter tension life and should be restrung more frequently to maintain peak performance. When fresh, however, they provide unmatched confidence in controlling the ball, allowing you to dictate rallies with spin and precision.

📌 Quick Reference: Polyester Strings

Ideal for: Intermediate to advanced players with fast, full swings
Strengths: Control, spin, durability under heavy hitting
Trade-offs: Lower power and comfort; tension loss over time
Pro Tip: Restring regularly to keep performance sharp

MULTIFILAMENT

Modern comfort with ntural gut performance.

Multifilament strings are constructed from hundreds of microfilaments, usually nylon, bound together with advanced resins. This design delivers outstanding power, comfort, and feel, closely mimicking the performance of natural gut at a more accessible price point.

They are especially well-suited for players seeking arm protection or recovering from injury, as the softer construction absorbs shock and reduces strain. Multifilaments also provide excellent elasticity and responsiveness when freshly strung, giving players easy access to depth and pace.

The trade-off: they are less durable than polyester strings and tend to lose tension more quickly, requiring more frequent restringing to maintain peak performance.

📌 Quick Reference: Multifilament Strings

Ideal for: Players seeking comfort, power, and arm-friendliness
Strengths: Comfort, easy power, soft feel, gut-like response
Trade-offs: Shorter durability; faster tension loss than natural gut
Pro Tip: Perfect choice for juniors, club players, or anyone with arm concerns

SYNTHETIC GUT

Balanced performance at exceptional value.

Synthetic gut strings are typically built with a solid nylon core wrapped in one or more layers of smaller filaments. This construction offers a reliable blend of playability, feel, and tension maintenance, making it one of the most versatile and widely used string types.

Modern synthetic guts have evolved to provide improved response and comfort, giving players an all-around option that performs well across different styles of play. While they may not match the extreme durability of polyester or the luxurious feel of natural gut, they remain a cost-effective, dependable choice for recreational players and competitive juniors alike.

📌 Quick Reference: Synthetic Gut Strings

Ideal for: All-round players seeking value and versatility
Strengths: Affordable, balanced mix of power, feel, and control
Trade-offs: Less durability than polyester; less comfort than multifilament or gut
Pro Tip: A great starting point for players experimenting with string setups

NATURAL GUT

The ultimate in feel and performance.

Natural gut has long been considered the gold standard of tennis strings, prized for its unmatched tension maintenance, power, and feel. Crafted from natural fibres, it delivers a level of touch and responsiveness that no synthetic string can fully replicate — making it the choice of many top professionals as well as discerning club players.

Modern coatings have improved its durability and resistance to weather, but natural gut still requires care: avoid exposure to moisture or extreme heat to preserve its exceptional playability. Though it comes at a premium price, it rewards players with an experience that’s second to none.

📌 Quick Reference: Natural Gut Strings

Ideal for: Players of all levels seeking maximum feel, comfort, and power
Strengths: Best-in-class tension stability, comfort, and responsiveness
Trade-offs: Higher cost; less durable in extreme conditions
Pro Tip: Often paired with polyester in hybrid setups for the perfect blend of comfort and control

HYBRIDS

Custom combinations for tailored performance.

Hybrid setups combine two different string types or gauges in the same racket to create a customised balance of performance. Traditionally, stiff polyester strings are paired with softer natural gut or multifilament to deliver a mix of durability, spin, comfort, and power. This approach has become hugely popular as polyesters dominate the modern game.

At the professional level, hybrids have evolved further, with players blending different polyester strings — varying gauges, stiffness, or textures — to fine-tune their feel and response. The flexibility of hybrid stringing makes it an ideal solution for players who want to optimise every detail of their setup.

📌 Quick Reference: Hybrid Strings

Ideal for: Players seeking a customised balance of spin, control, and comfort
Strengths: Tailored performance, versatility, blends best qualities of different strings
Trade-offs: Can be more complex to select and maintain; requires expert guidance
Pro Tip: Try poly mains with gut or multifilament crosses for pro-tour feel with added comfort

TENSION

Finding the sweet spot between power and control.

Tension refers to the force applied to the strings during stringing, usually measured in pounds (lbs) or kilograms (kg). Most modern rackets are strung within a range of 30–65 lbs (14–30 kg), with the manufacturer’s recommended range printed on the frame near the throat.

Higher tensions (towards the top of the range) provide greater control and precision, but reduce power and make the stringbed feel stiffer.
Lower tensions (towards the bottom of the range) deliver more power and comfort, but with less control and stability.
Mid-range tensions strike a balance, offering a good starting point for most players.

It’s important to note that strings begin to lose tension immediately after installation — often by 10% or more in the first 24 hours — before stabilising for a period. As tension continues to drop, elasticity declines, meaning you’ll need to generate more of your own power to achieve the same results.

📌 Restringing Frequency: A Practical Guide

The traditional “rule of thumb” says: restring as many times per year as you play in one week. However, this is too infrequent for most players, especially those who play less than once a week. Instead, here’s a baseline minimum guide:

Frequent competitors (3–5 times a week): Every 3–6 weeks
Regular players (1–2 times a week): Every 8–12 weeks
Occasional players (<1 time a week): At least 3 times per year

Remember: you don’t need to wait until your strings break. For consistent performance, restring before your strings die.

👉 At Zx Racket Lab, we help players find their ideal tension based on style, racket type, and physical needs — and we make sure every restring feels exactly like the last.

GAUGES

Fine-tuning performance through thickness.

The gauge of a string refers to its thickness, typically measured in millimetres (mm) and/or gauge numbers (e.g. 15–19). The system works in reverse — the higher the gauge number, the thinner the string.

Thinner strings offer greater spin potential, feel, and power, as they bite into the ball more effectively.
Thicker strings deliver improved durability and control, standing up better to heavy hitting and frequent play.

Choosing the right gauge is about balancing performance with longevity. Many competitive players prefer thinner strings for their precision and responsiveness, while those seeking durability or playing with high string tension often lean toward thicker options.

📌 Quick Reference: String Gauges

Thicker strings (15–16 gauge / 1.35–1.30mm): Durability and control
Medium strings (16L–17 gauge / 1.28–1.25mm): Balanced performance
Thinner strings (17L–19 gauge / 1.23–1.10mm): Spin, feel, and power

👉At Zx Racket Lab, we guide players toward the gauge that best complements their style, string choice, and performance goals.

TENNIS ELBOW

Protecting your arm, preserving your game.

Tennis elbow is a common but serious condition that affects players of all ages and levels. Caused by overuse and strain of the forearm muscles and tendons, it can lead to persistent pain and, in some cases, force players away from the game they love.

The good news: with the right knowledge and equipment choices, tennis elbow can often be prevented, managed, or reduced. Factors such as string type, tension, grip size, and racket balance all play a key role in arm health, and careful adjustments can make a world of difference.

While we provide expert advice on equipment and preventative measures, it’s important to note that proper medical diagnosis and treatment should always be sought from a qualified doctor or physiotherapist.

📌 Quick Reference: Tennis Elbow & Equipment

Prevention: Softer strings (gut or multifilament), lower tensions, and correct grip sizing
Management: Hybrid stringing or customised setups to reduce shock and vibration
Treatment: Rest, professional medical guidance, and equipment adjustments where appropriate

👉 At Zx Racket Lab, we help players make smart equipment choices that support performance without compromising arm health.

WHAT IS TENNIS ELBOW

Understanding the condition behind the pain.

Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, occurs when the tendon that attaches to the outer part of the elbow (the lateral epicondyle of the humerus bone) becomes irritated, inflamed, or damaged. This leads to pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow, often radiating down into the forearm.

Although common among tennis players due to the repetitive nature of racket strokes, tennis elbow can affect anyone who regularly lifts or grips with the elbow — from athletes in other sports to people in everyday occupations.

Typical symptoms include:

Tenderness on the outer part of the elbow
Pain radiating into the forearm
Discomfort during movement, especially lifting or gripping
Relief overnight, with pain returning when stress is reapplied

Understanding these signs early is key to preventing the condition from worsening — and adjusting your equipment setup can play a big role in reducing strain.

👉 If you experience persistent symptoms, consult a doctor or physiotherapist. At Zx Racket Lab, we focus on the equipment side of prevention and support, helping reduce the risk through string, tension, and customisation choices.

HOW CAN I PREVENT TENNIS ELBOW

The most effective way to prevent tennis elbow starts with technique. Clean, efficient stroke mechanics - particularly on the backhand - reduce strain on the arm. Late contact or hitting off-balance forces the arm to absorb more of the workload instead of the torso and legs, putting unnecessary stress on the tendons around the elbow. Of course, if perfect timing were easy, we’d all play like Roger Federer…

To build resilience, strengthening the muscles around the forearm and elbow is highly recommended. Conditioning these areas helps them adapt to repeated strain and reduces the risk of flare-ups.

Equipment choice is equally important. Softer strings - especially natural gut - significantly reduce vibration transmitted through the frame into the arm. Flexible rackets with larger sweet spots, or slightly heavier frames that absorb more shock, also help protect against unnecessary stress. Together, these adjustments can dramatically lower the impact forces that trigger tennis elbow and keep you playing the game you love, pain-free.