Stringing My First Racquet

I received my Klippermate tennis racquet stringer in the mail and went right to work. It came with 5 sets of string, so that was a great bonus. For my first string job I chose to use Klippermate's synthetic gut. It's easier to handle and cheaper than polyester strings. I expected a few mishaps, so the synthetic string was the perfect string to start with.

To the right you'll see all the racquets I have to string. Seeing as I never strung a racquet previously, I had my work cut out for me, but I was ready to learn.

The stringer came with a handy set of instructions for first time stringers. I didn't have to tackle this beast alone. There are a few things to look out for before stringing a racquet. Here are some things I learned:

• There are two methods (one-piece and two-piece stringing). I read that two-piece is the universal method, so I immediately chose that method
• The number of holes in the throat of the racquet determines where you insert the strings first (top or bottom)
• Be ready to spend at least an 1-2 hours stringing for the first time...

Here's how the stringer looks and the progress I made on the main strings of the racquet. This may look simple, but believe me I messed up a few times and this is the result of an hours work. It was a tad bit more difficult than I had anticipated.

The large metallic cylinder you see there is the weight you use to set the tension of your racquet. You have to clamp the string and then lower that weight so it lays horizontally. I had a few scares where I thought I dropped it too far and my racquet broke. Luckily I finished the thing in one piece.

Along the way I learned a few things to look out for while stringing the racquet. Make sure to increase the tension on the last main and cross strings. They lose tension quickly when you have to tie off the knots that keep the string on. Also, pay attention to the weaving of your cross strings. Up and over!

From afar the racquet looks like a success, but, of course being my first time, I was bound to screw up. If you take a look at the picture on the right you can see I didn't weave the cross string through all the main strings. Looking at it just annoys me. I have since played with the racquet and it seemed fine, but I won't make that same mistake.

Overall, I would say this stringer was well worth the total $200 price tag (includes shipping). I had fun stringing and didn't have to wait a week to get my racquet from someone else. Granted I am in no way good yet, I'm already onto my other racquets. I'd recommend this to anyone seeking a convenient and cost effective approach to stringing your racquets. 

Buy the Klippermate here.

Choosing the Right Tennis String

Your choice of string can greatly impact your performance on the tennis court. This is why it's important to know what options are available. There are strings that cater to the needs of all types of tennis players. It's only a matter of testing out what works best for you.

To begin there are four main string types. These are synthetic gut, multifilament, polyester and natural gut.

Synthetic

Synthetic gut strings are the most basic string on the market. They are low cost and will be the most common string when purchasing pre-strung racquets. Synthetics are considered an all-around type of string. They offer a solid hold of tension, crisp feel and a decent amount of spin. This is achieved with a solid core that is surrounded by smaller synthetic filaments. I would recommend these strings as the go to string for beginner through intermediate player. They aren't the greatest in terms of durability, tension holding, spin and feel, but they give a decent performance in all areas.

Multifilament

Multifilament strings are as the name states. Many single filaments are taken and intertwined to form the multifilament string. These are also nylon-based, but offer improved comfort and can add power to the racquet. Multifilaments are great for players who suffer from tennis elbow or who wish to have a similar feel to natural gut without the high cost. Some things to look out for though are that these strings lose tension rather quickly and tend to break much faster than synthetic guts. A good indicator of when the string is close to breaking is when you see the strings begin to fray from hitting.

Multifilament fraying

Polyester

Polyester strings are monofilaments, that is they are a string composed of one solid core. Typical monofilament strings are made with polyester, but less popular strings are also made of kevlar. Polyester strings offer greater durability than the previous strings, but lack power and can be uncomfortable. These strings are geared more toward players who can generate their own power and utilize the spin potential of polyester. Many pros on tour utilize a full or hybrid set-up of strings using polyester.

Natural Gut

Natural gut strings are made of single strands of cow intestine, hence the name "natural". These strings are the most expensive you can buy and for a good reason. They offer the greatest feel in strings and give a very lively hitting experience. Natural gut is also known for holding tension quite well. Be weary though, these strings aren't the most durable strings out there. Pros can afford to break them on a daily basis, you may not be able to. I certainly couldn't.

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There are numerous tennis brands that sell their own strings, so test out different strings and see what works best for you. Check out Tennis Warehouse or Tennis Express for a selection of hundreds of different strings. I personally use Technifibre NRG2 multifilament strings.