How to Choose Tension for a Tennis Racquet

Restringing a tennis racquet is part of most tennis players' lives. The more often a person plays tennis, the more often they will break their strings, have to get their tennis racquet restrung. When you string a tennis racquet, you have to choose a tension. Here's how to choose tension for a tennis racquet.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A tennis racquet

1. 
   Synthetic gut is the cheapest type of string

   Choosing the proper tension in a tennis racquet can do many things to your tennis game. Different tensions have the ability to put more power on your shots, more spin, or give you a nice balance between the two. Also make sure you pick the proper strings. Many professionals and amateurs use natural gut (gut is another word for tennis string), or a combination of synthetic and natural gut. Since most stores carry standard synthetic gut, I recommend getting that since it is cheapest (unless you know exactly what kind of string you want to string your racquet with).

2. Now for tension. The lower the tension your tennis racquet is strung at, the more power you get, but you sacrifice spin. The higher the tension your tennis racquet is strung at, the more sping, but you may sacrifice some power. Depending on your style of play, you should try to pick a tension that works for you. For example, if you like to hit with a lot of topspin on a tennis forehand, then you should get a higher tension when you string your tennis racquet.

3. Now for number values. The general balance point for restringing a tennis racquet is 60 pounds of tension. Between 55-60 pounds will give you more power, but less spin. Between 60-65 pounds of tension will give your more spin, but less power. Try not to go above 65 pounds or below 55 pounds, though most tennis racquets have tension limits written on the frame. Hopefully these tips will help you choose the proper tension for a tennis racquet.