Know Your String

There are 5 main groups of strings on the market today, and each has strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, the best string type for you will depend on a variety of factors and the only way to find what's best is to try some different string and tension setups.

Natural gut

Natural gut is the softest, and typically the most expensive string type. Made from cow intestines (hence the name natural gut), it provides a soft, forgiving feel due to the composition and the slick outer coating. Because of the coating, the string can slide or glide against itself, so at contact the strings move and snap back to generate more pace and spin with less effort. Although it’s the most expensive, it also has the shortest life expectancy of all strings, which is why you will see or hear it used in a hybrid setup (usually with a monofilament) more often than a full racket. Natural gut is also more difficult to string, requiring more patience and caution to avoid ruining the string before a ball is struck. Overall, if money isn’t a concern, natural gut is worth a go either as a hybrid or full string bed setup.

Multifilament

Multifilament is in many ways designed to replicate the soft feel of natural gut. This string type is made up of many tiny polyester strings bound together. As multifilament strings wear down, some of the filaments break resulting in a “frayed” look over time. These strings are quite soft and forgiving on the body, but can break relatively quickly. Additionally, they are inferior to natural gut because they lack the slick coating, which is why you’ll see multifilament strings almost never lined up straight in a racket like natural gut or monofilament; basically, the strings move and don’t snap back as much which results in less power and spin. Overall, multifilaments can be a good option for players needing a forgiving feel and who hit relatively flat, as the strings won’t provide much spin for you.

Synthetic gut

Synthetic gut is typically the least expensive string. Simply put, it is an inferior version of a multifilament. The strings will typically last slightly longer than most multifilaments, but will be less forgiving on the body and provide a stiffer, less playable feel. Synthetic gut is significantly cheaper than most multifilaments, so if you’re a flat hitter looking for a budget-friendly soft string, this could be a good option to try.

Co-Poly Monofilament

Co-Poly Monofilament, typically just referred to as Poly, is a single strand (monofilament) of polyester string. Typically, this string type is known for it’s stiff feel and longevity. While this can be true, this description is not 100% accurate. Poly is actually designed to slide against itself, like natural gut, and snap back faster, but because it is a single filament, it does not break as easily as natural gut. When strung at a lower tension (less than 50 lbs), poly will result in greater access to power and spin with less effort, because the strings do the work for you. Although the strings may not break, it’s good to replace poly regularly, as it can stretch and lose the elasticity to snap back. How regularly you should replace it depends on your style and how often you play, but once you see the strings no longer lining up straight is when they have lost their benefits. Poly is a great option for almost any player out there if strung at the correct tension.

Kevlar

As you might expect, kevlar is the longest lasting string option, but also the least playable. Kevlar will be stiff on the body. Honestly, the only reason I could think of putting kevlar in a racket is for someone who never wants to have that racket strung again.