What Tennis String Should I Use? – Walk into any tennis shop or scroll through an online retailer and you’ll be confronted with hundreds of tennis strings in every colour, gauge, and material imaginable. It’s one of the most overlooked decisions in tennis — yet the string you choose has a bigger impact on how your racket performs than almost anything else.
This guide cuts through the noise. Whether you’re a complete beginner picking up your first restring or a club player trying to solve a nagging arm problem, you’ll know exactly which string is right for you by the end.
The Four String Types — What They Are and Who They’re For
What Tennis String Should I Use? – Every tennis string falls into one of four categories. Each has a distinct feel, purpose, and price point.
1. Polyester (Poly)
Polyester is the dominant string on the professional tour and increasingly popular with club players. It’s stiff, durable, and gives you excellent control and spin — but it’s also the least comfortable string type, which makes it a poor choice for players with arm sensitivities.
Best for: Intermediate to advanced players with fast swing speeds who prioritise control and spin over comfort. Strong ball-strikers who break strings frequently.
Not ideal for: Beginners, senior players, or anyone with tennis elbow or wrist pain.
2. Multifilament
Multifilament strings are engineered to replicate the feel of natural gut at a more accessible price. They’re soft, powerful, and arm-friendly — a genuinely excellent all-round choice for the majority of recreational players.
Best for: Players returning from injury, beginners building their game, seniors, and anyone who wants a comfortable, lively string without spending on natural gut.
Not ideal for: Heavy topspin players who break strings regularly — multifilament won’t last as long as poly under aggressive hitting.
3. Natural Gut
Natural gut is the original high-performance string and still the benchmark for feel and comfort. It holds tension better than any synthetic alternative and delivers exceptional power and touch. The downsides are price (expect to pay significantly more per set) and lower durability in wet conditions — not ideal for British outdoor courts.
Best for: Advanced players who prioritise feel and arm health above all else. Often used as the main string in a hybrid setup with poly crosses.
Not ideal for: Budget-conscious players or those who regularly play outdoors in the rain.
4. Synthetic Gut
Synthetic gut is the entry-level option — affordable, consistent, and perfectly adequate for recreational players who restring infrequently. It won’t transform your game, but it does the job without breaking the bank.
Best for: Beginners, casual players who hit once or twice a week, and juniors who are still developing.
Matching String to Skill Level
What Tennis String Should I Use? – Your string choice should evolve as your game does.
Beginner: Start with a mid-range synthetic gut or multifilament. Focus on developing your swing — the string won’t hold you back at this stage and you don’t need to spend heavily.
Intermediate: This is where the choice gets interesting. If you’ve developed a full swing and want more spin and control, a softer poly (or a poly/multifilament hybrid) is worth exploring. If comfort is your priority, a quality multifilament remains the best all-round option.
Advanced: Most advanced players gravitate toward polyester or hybrid setups. The key variables at this level are gauge (thinner strings offer more bite and feel), tension, and the specific poly formulation — some prioritise spin, others control or comfort.
Playing Style and String Choice
What Tennis String Should I Use? – Playing Style and String Choice
Baseline grinder (heavy topspin): Polyester is your friend. It snaps back into position after contact, helping generate the spin that makes your balls kick off the court. Look for a co-poly with good snapback performance.
All-court player: A hybrid setup — poly mains for control and durability, multifilament or natural gut crosses for feel and power — gives you the best of both worlds.
Serve-and-volleyer or touch player: Natural gut or a premium multifilament will reward your feel-based game far more than a stiff poly.
Senior or recreational player: Comfort should be your priority. A quality multifilament at a mid-to-low tension (around 22–24 kg) will reduce shock through the arm and keep you playing longer.
Injury Concerns — What to Choose if You Have Tennis Elbow
What Tennis String Should I Use? – Tennis elbow is one of the most common complaints among UK club players, and the wrong string is often a major contributing factor.
If you’re dealing with elbow, wrist, or shoulder pain, here’s what to change:
- Avoid stiff polyester, especially at high tensions. The reduced string movement sends more shock directly through the frame into your arm.
- Switch to multifilament or natural gut. These strings deflect more on impact, absorbing shock before it reaches you.
- Drop your tension by 3–5 kg. Lower tension means the strings flex more, acting as a shock absorber.
- Consider a hybrid. Natural gut mains with a soft poly cross is one of the most arm-friendly setups available.
Many players are surprised to find that switching strings alone — without changing anything else about their technique or equipment — resolves their pain entirely.
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Ready to Find Your Perfect String?
What Tennis String Should I Use? – Still not sure which string is right for you? Use the ProStrung String Finder — answer a few quick questions about your game and we’ll match you to the best option from our range.
You can also browse our full selection of strings and stringing packages on the ProStrung Price List, where every string is listed with gauge, type, and full pricing.
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