What is the best kind of string on tennis racket?

Question

What is the best kind of string on tennis racket?

Answer 1

Be more specific. There are a lot of great strings for different desires so you question is too plain. If it is just playability then the others are correct but those strings snap like bugs.

Answer 2

Natural Gut strings are the best. The string technology has not matched nature when it comes to filament responsiveness yet. That is, natural gut strings generate more energy after being stretched, and they do so for longer than other strings... Their elasticity is more constant. So, after 1 hour of play they still pull back to their original form with energy (more power) while other types of strings start to lose elasticity and tension making you lose power and touch.

Saying that 18 gauge is the best is incorrect.

   That depends on the frame and the string pattern.  If your string pattern is too open (let's say 16x18) then 18gauge will be VERY bad (compared to the other alternatives) as the stress per string will be too uneven at times, and so the raquet will give the ball irregular spin depending on which part of the string bed made contact with the ball... resulting in less control...  However, if your raquet has a small head (let's say 90 sq inches like Roger) then the thicker strings are bad. They will increase air resistance and lose spin as the space between strings will be smaller... It'd be like trying to hit a ball with a piece of wood... (no bite, no spin) ----however, if the space between strings is too big like in oversize racquets for old people you lose spin too because there is less string be surface in contact with the ball, hence less bite.

Today's racquets are not designed for 18 gauge strings any more. 17 gauge is today's ideal. Bigger, thicker racquets such as Babolat Pure drive go better with 16 according to some.



18 gauge was best for wooden racquets... and if you made this same question 15 years ago, that would be the right answer 100%.

Answer 3

Nothing beats 18 gauge natural gut but that is hard to find and expensive.  There is a synthetic 18 gauge which is more durable.  I think you will have to experiment a bit with frames and string to see what works best with your game.

Answer 4

18 gauge