1. How often should I get my tennis racquet restrung?
As a general rule of thumb, you should restring your racquet as many times per year as you play per week. For example, if you play twice a week, you should restring at least twice a year. However, strings lose tension and elasticity over time even if they do not break. If you want optimal performance and arm comfort, I recommend refreshing your strings every 30 hours of play or every 3 months, whichever comes first.
2. My strings haven’t broken yet. Do I still need a restring?
Yes. Strings go "dead" long before they actually snap. Over time, string materials lose their resilience and tension, resulting in a "mushy" feel, a massive drop in control, and less depth on your shots. Playing with dead strings also forces you to swing harder, which can significantly increase your risk of developing tennis elbow.
3. What is the turnaround time for a restringing job?
My standard turnaround time is 24 - 48 hours from the time you drop off your racquet. If you need your racquet sooner for an upcoming match, I can usually get it done sooner for you.
4. How do I know what string tension to choose?
Tension is a personal preference that fundamentally alters how your racquet performs. Every racquet has a manufacturer-recommended tension range printed directly on the frame. As a basic rule:
- Lower Tension (e.g., 48–53 lbs): Provides more power, a softer feel, and added comfort.
- Higher Tension (e.g., 55–60 lbs): Provides more control and precision, but feels much stiffer on the arm.
5. What are the differences between Polyester, Multifilament, and Synthetic Gut?
The right string depends heavily on your skill level and style of play:
- Synthetic Gut: The baseline option. It is budget-friendly, offers balanced playability, and is ideal for recreational players.
- Multifilament: Premium nylon strings that mimic natural gut. They are incredibly soft, highly elastic, and provide excellent power and comfort.
- Polyester (Poly): Stiff, durable strings designed for advanced players with fast swing speeds. They offer maximum control and heavy spin but lose tension quickly and are tough on the arm.
6. What do you recommend for players suffering from tennis elbow?
If you are dealing with lingering arm or shoulder pain, you should strictly avoid full polyester string setups, which send harsh shockwaves down your forearm. I highly recommend a very plush, shock-absorbing multifilament string or natural gut strung at a lower to mid-range tension. Alternatively, a hybrid setup combining a softer string can offer a great middle ground.
7. Can I bring my own string for you to install?
Absolutely. If you have a specific reel or set of string that you prefer, you can drop it off along with your racquet. I will charge a flat $25, labor-only stringing fee to mount and restring your frame.
8. What is a "hybrid" string setup?
A hybrid setup involves using one type of string for the main (vertical) strings and a different type for the cross (horizontal) strings. This allows you to blend the benefits of two materials. For example, putting polyester in the mains for spin and a multifilament in the crosses for comfort is a very popular way to get durability without hurting your arm.
9. Do I need to buy strings from the same brand as my racquet?
No, not at all. Mixing brands is completely standard practice in tennis. You can freely use any brand of string (such as Luxilon, Babolat, Yonex, or Solinco) in any brand of racquet frame.
10. Does string gauge (thickness) matter?
Yes, string thickness radically changes performance. Gauges typically range from 15 (thickest) to 18 (thinnest):
- Thinner Gauges (17, 18): Offer superior feel, more comfort, and increased spin potential, but they snap much faster.
- Thicker Gauges (15, 16): Provide maximum durability and resist notched friction, but they feel noticeably stiffer.
11. Do you replace grommets, bumper guards, and grips?
I do not stock and grommets/bumper guards, however we can order a set and replace when they get it. I do stock replacement grips.
12. What kind of stringing machine do you use?
I use a Wilson Baiardo professional-grade, regularly calibrated electronic constant-pull stringing machine. Electronic constant-pull machines are the gold standard for accuracy and consistency, ensuring that if you ask for 52 lbs of tension, you get exactly 52 lbs across the entire string bed.
13. How do I get my racquet to you?
Text, call or email me to get started and we can arrange a drop off time. 585-370-6091, Brad123T@gmail.com