The short version

The simplest rule in stringing: restring every 30 hours of play. Here’s why it works and how to track it.

Where the number comes from

Stringing pros have used the 30-hour rule for decades, and it’s not arbitrary. A string bed loses a meaningful amount of tension over roughly 30 hours of actual hitting — not 30 hours of sitting in a bag. After that point, you’re playing on a racquet that no longer feels like it did the day it was strung.

How to track your hours

You don’t need a stopwatch. A rough guide: a serious club player who plays 2–3 times a week hits roughly 30 hours every 3–4 months. If you play more, you’ll hit the number faster; if you play once a month, you might not need a restring for a year.

The other signs

Hours are a guide, not a law. Restring sooner if you notice the string bed feeling soft and spongy, the coating fraying or glazing over, or the crisp ‘ping’ you had at first fading away. Any of those means you’ve effectively passed your 30 hours.

With next-day turnaround, the 30-hour rule is easy to follow: book a pickup, and your racquet is back fresh the next day.

Have a question about your racquet or your strings? Get in touch — we pick up, we string, and we return it the next day.

The short version

Tension is the single biggest variable in how your racquet feels. Here’s how to pick the right number.

What tension actually does

Tension is the force applied to each string when it’s strung, measured in pounds. It’s the main lever you have for tuning feel: lower tension = more power, higher tension = more control. At low tension the string bed is more like a trampoline — the ball sits on the strings longer and launches off with more energy. At high tension the bed is stiffer, so you have to put in more of your own power but you can place the ball more precisely.

The sweet spot

Most racquets are strung between 45 and 60 pounds. If you’re not sure where to start, use the middle of your frame’s recommended range (printed on the frame) and adjust from there. Players who swing fast and generate their own power often drop a few pounds; players who need help getting the ball over raise them.

Tension is not set-and-forget

Every string relaxes over time — this is called ‘tension loss.’ A racquet strung at 55 pounds will play at 50 or lower within a few weeks, which is why a fresh restring restores the feel you lost. That’s exactly what our next-day service is for: when the tension has drifted, we bring it back to spec and hand it back to you tomorrow.

Have a question about your racquet or your strings? Get in touch — we pick up, we string, and we return it the next day.

The short version

The three main string families, what each is good at, and which one fits your game.

Polyester — spin and control

The workhorse of competitive tennis. Polyester is stiff and rough, so it grips the ball and generates huge spin, and it holds tension well. The trade-off is comfort — it’s the least forgiving on the arm. If you play aggressively and live in the baseline, poly is probably your string. Popular options: Babolat RPM Blast, Luxilon Big Banger, Yonex Poly Tour Pro, Solinco Hyper-G.

Natural gut — the premium feel

Natural gut is still the benchmark for feel, comfort, and power. It’s the most expensive option and the least durable, but if you want the racquet to feel like it was designed to, this is it. It’s the string of choice for many tour players and for anyone with arm sensitivity.

Multifilament — comfort and feel

Multifilament strings are made of many thin filaments, which makes them softer and more comfortable than poly while still giving good feel. They’re a great middle ground for club players who want comfort without giving up too much performance. Head Lynx and Wilson Sensation are the classics.

Not sure which fits your game? Tell us how you play and we’ll recommend the right one — and have it on your racquet the next day.

Have a question about your racquet or your strings? Get in touch — we pick up, we string, and we return it the next day.

The short version

Every string relaxes over time. Here’s the physics behind it and how it changes your game.

Tension loss is inevitable

When a string is first strung, it’s at its maximum tension. From that moment, it begins to relax — a process called tension loss. The first drop is the steepest: most strings lose the bulk of their tension within the first few hours of play, then settle into a slower decline. This is why a freshly strung racquet feels so much better than one that’s been in rotation for a month.

How it changes your game

As tension drops, the string bed becomes more like a trampoline. That means more power (the ball launches off easier) but less control (the ball is harder to place precisely) and less spin (the strings can’t grip the ball as effectively). For most players, the net effect is a racquet that feels ‘dead’ — mushy, unpredictable, and harder to work the ball with.

The fix is simple

You can’t stop tension loss, but you can reset it. A fresh restring brings your racquet back to its original spec, and with our next-day turnaround you’re never without a properly strung racquet for long.

Have a question about your racquet or your strings? Get in touch — we pick up, we string, and we return it the next day.

The short version

Your racquet tells you when it’s time. Here are the seven signals to watch for.

The signs

• The string bed feels soft. If the strings feel spongy instead of crisp, tension has dropped.
• The coating is fraying or glazing over. Worn string surfaces lose their ability to grip the ball for spin.
• You’ve lost the ‘ping.’ That crisp sound a fresh string makes? It fades as tension drops.
• The ball sits on the strings too long. A dead string bed lets the ball dwell, which kills control.
• You’re hitting more off the frame. A loose string bed is less predictable, so you’re mis-hitting more.
• You’ve passed 30 hours of play. The classic rule of thumb — if you’re past it, restring.
• The strings are visibly frayed or broken. A broken string changes the tension across the whole bed.

If you’re seeing any of these, it’s time. Book a pickup and your racquet comes back fresh the next day.

Have a question about your racquet or your strings? Get in touch — we pick up, we string, and we return it the next day.

The short version

The thickness of your string changes power, feel, and durability. Here’s how to choose.

What gauge means

Gauge is the diameter of the string, measured in millimetres. The three common ranges: thin (1.20–1.25mm), mid (1.25–1.30mm), and thick (1.30–1.35mm). The trade-off is simple: thinner strings are more flexible, so they give more power and feel but wear out faster; thicker strings are stiffer, so they’re more durable but less lively.

How to choose

If you want maximum spin and feel and don’t mind restringing more often, go thin. If you want durability and a stiffer, more controlled feel, go thick. Most players land in the mid range as a balance. Within a single string, the manufacturer will tell you the gauge — for example, a 1.25mm poly is a mid-gauge.

We carry every gauge from every brand. Tell us what you’re after and we’ll have it on your racquet the next day.

Have a question about your racquet or your strings? Get in touch — we pick up, we string, and we return it the next day.

The short version

Pairing two different strings in one racquet. When it makes sense and when it doesn’t.

What a hybrid is

A hybrid uses one string for the mains (the vertical strings) and a different one for the crosses (the horizontal strings). The most common setup is a stiff, spin-friendly poly in the mains and a softer, more comfortable string in the crosses. The idea is to get the spin and control of poly where it matters most, while the softer crosses absorb some of the harshness on the arm.

When it makes sense

Hybrids are a great option if you love the spin of poly but find it a little harsh on your arm, or if you want the comfort of a multifilament without giving up too much control. They’re also a way to extend the life of an expensive string — putting your premium string in the mains, where it takes the most impact, and a cheaper string in the crosses.

When it doesn’t

If you’re happy with a single string, a hybrid adds complexity and cost for marginal gain. And if you’re a beginner, a single multifilament or synthetic gut is almost always the right starting point. Talk to us about your game and we’ll tell you honestly whether a hybrid is worth it for you.

Have a question about your racquet or your strings? Get in touch — we pick up, we string, and we return it the next day.

The short version

A few simple habits keep your strings fresh longer and your racquet in better shape.

The basics

• Don’t leave it in a hot car. Heat breaks down the string’s coating and accelerates tension loss. A racquet left on a dashboard in summer can lose tension dramatically.
• Use a racquet cover. A simple cover protects the strings from being crushed in a bag, which causes permanent deformation.
• Wipe it down. Sweat and dirt build up on the strings and the frame. A quick wipe after play keeps everything in better shape.
• Store it flat or in a bag, not leaning. Leaning a racquet against a wall can warp the frame over time.
• Don’t over-tighten your grip. A grip that’s too tight can damage the overgrip and the handle over time.

None of this replaces a fresh restring — strings still lose tension no matter how carefully you treat them. But good habits mean you get the most out of every restring, and our next-day turnaround means you’re never without a fresh racquet for long.

Have a question about your racquet or your strings? Get in touch — we pick up, we string, and we return it the next day.

The short version

New to tennis? Here’s how to choose your first string without overthinking it.

Start with comfort

If you’re new to the game, the last thing you need is a stiff, unforgiving string that makes every hit feel harsh. Start with a multifilament or a synthetic gut — both are comfortable, durable, and affordable. Head Lynx, Wilson Sensation, and Babolat Synthetic Gut are all excellent first strings.

Tension: start in the middle

For your first restring, use the middle of your frame’s recommended tension range. If your frame says 45–60 pounds, start at 52 or 53. You can always adjust up or down once you’ve played a few times and learned what you like.

You don’t need to spend a lot

A good beginner string costs $7–$17, and a full restring is one of the most affordable ways to make your game feel better. You don’t need natural gut or a premium poly to play well — you need a comfortable string at the right tension, strung properly. That’s exactly what we do, and we’ll have your racquet back the next day.

Have a question about your racquet or your strings? Get in touch — we pick up, we string, and we return it the next day.

The short version

The most underrated upgrade in tennis isn’t a new racquet — it’s fresh strings. Here’s why.

The biggest bang for your buck

A new racquet costs $200–$400. A fresh restring costs $15–$90. And yet a fresh restring will do more for your game than a new racquet ever will. Your racquet’s frame is designed to work with a string bed at a specific tension — when that tension drops, the frame can’t do what it was built to do. Fresh strings restore the feel, the spin, and the control your racquet was designed for.

The compounding effect

Playing on fresh strings also helps you play better, which means you hit cleaner shots, which means you wear your strings more evenly, which means they last longer. It’s a virtuous cycle. Players who keep their strings fresh tend to play better, feel better, and even play more — because the racquet feels good.

Next-day makes it easy

The old excuse for not restringing was the hassle: driving to the shop, waiting in line, not knowing when you’d get it back. With our pickup & next-day drop-off service, that excuse is gone. Book a pickup, and your racquet comes back fresh the next day.

Have a question about your racquet or your strings? Get in touch — we pick up, we string, and we return it the next day.