How Can I Stiffen My Tennis Racket?

Stiff rackets have larger sweet spots on the head.

A stiff tennis racket is more powerful than a racket that has more flexibility, and it absorbs more of the shock so that your wrist and arm incur less impact from the tennis ball. When it comes to selecting a suitable tennis racket, consider the weight and stiffness of the racket. A heavy racket with stiff strings will give you a powerful stroke as the racket connects with the ball. If your current racket is not as stiff as you'd like, then stiffen the strings yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Large gauge string
• Wire cutters
• Tennis stringing machine

Instructions

1. Look for tennis racket strings with a larger gauge than what you currently have. The larger the gauge, the stiffer the racket strings. A firm string gauge for more tension falls between 1.20 mm and 1.40 mm, or 15 gauge to 18 gauge.

2. Cut the old strings out of the tennis racket with wire cutters. Remove the strings from the frame of the racket to prepare for restringing.

3. Restring the tennis racket with the larger gauge strings and a tennis racket stringing machine. A tennis professional can recommend a professional stringing machine.

Tips & Warnings

• Read the directions of the stringing machine carefully and follow them step by step to make sure you do not accidentally damage the racket frame in the process.

References

• Tennis Warehouse: Racquet & String Terms
• Courtside Sports: Tennis Racquets