Choosing the Right Tennis String: A No-Nonsense Guide

Walk into any tennis shop and you will find a wall of strings with names that sound like military hardware. Alu Power. Luxilon. Babolat RPM. Black Widow. It is easy to get lost.

The truth is, most players do not need the most expensive string on the shelf. They need the right string for how they actually play. Here is how to cut through the noise.

The Three Main String Categories

Every tennis string falls into one of three families. Everything else is a variation on these.

Polyester (Co-Poly)

Polyester strings are stiff, durable, and give you maximum control and spin. They are what most professional players use, and they have become the default for competitive recreational players over the last 20 years.

Best for: Players with fast, full swings who generate their own pace. If you take big cuts at the ball and want to keep it in the court, poly gives you the control to do that.

The catch: Polyester is hard on your arm. The stiffness that gives you control also transmits more shock on off-center hits. Players with elbow or shoulder issues should be careful. And poly goes dead fast — after 15–20 hours of play, the tension is gone even if the string has not broken.

Common examples: Luxilon Alu Power, Babolat RPM Blast, Solinco Tour Bite.

Multifilament

Multifilament strings are made from hundreds of tiny fibers twisted together, which gives them a soft, arm-friendly feel that mimics natural gut at a lower price point.

Best for: Players who want comfort and feel, especially those with arm problems or players who do not generate a lot of their own pace. Multifilament strings are also a great choice for beginners who are still developing their swing.

The catch: They do not last as long as polyester and can fray or break faster for players who hit with heavy topspin.

Common examples: Wilson NXT, Tecnifibre X-One Biphase, Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex.

Natural Gut

Natural gut is the oldest string material and still the best in terms of feel, tension maintenance, and playability. It is made from cow intestine (yes, really) and nothing synthetic has fully replicated its properties.

Best for: Players who want the best possible feel and are willing to pay for it. Natural gut is also the most arm-friendly string available, which makes it a legitimate option for players managing chronic arm pain.

The catch: It is expensive — typically $40–$60 for the string alone — and it does not hold up well in wet conditions. Most players who use natural gut put it in a hybrid setup.

The Hybrid Option

A hybrid string job uses two different strings: typically a polyester main (the vertical strings) and a natural gut or multifilament cross (the horizontal strings).

This is what many professional players use. You get the spin and control of poly in the mains, with the comfort and feel of gut or multifilament in the crosses. It is a genuine best-of-both-worlds setup for players who want performance without destroying their arm.

At Devil Dog Tennis, our Devil Dog Premium package is built around this concept — premium string, deep clean, grommet check, and same-day service for $50.

What Tension Should You String At?

String type and tension work together. Here is the short version:

• Lower tension = more power, more comfort, larger sweet spot
• Higher tension = more control, more precision, less power

Most recreational players benefit from stringing in the middle of their racket's recommended range. If you are a big hitter who wants to keep the ball in, go toward the higher end. If you struggle to generate pace, go lower.

One thing worth knowing: polyester should generally be strung lower than multifilament or gut. Stringing poly at high tension makes it even stiffer and increases arm stress without giving you much additional control.

The Honest Answer for Most Players

If you are a recreational player who plays two to three times a week and does not have arm issues, a quality synthetic gut or entry-level multifilament is probably the right call. It is durable, comfortable, and affordable. You can restring regularly without breaking the bank.

If you are a competitive player with a fast swing and no arm problems, a co-poly string will give you the control and spin you are looking for. Just commit to restringing every 15–20 hours of play — do not wait for a break.

If you have arm issues, go multifilament or natural gut. No string is worth playing through pain.

Come Talk to Us

If you are not sure what string is right for you, bring your racket to Devil Dog Tennis in Indianapolis. We will look at your current setup, ask a few questions about how you play, and give you a straight recommendation — no upsell, no runaround.

Standard stringing starts at $20 plus string cost. Same-day service available. Veterans receive a 10% discount.