Comments on: Restringing Time?

By: Marty Judge

Marty Judge — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:08:53 +0000

I have a much simpler test. I keep my racquets in a tennis bag in the back trunk of my car and let them sit there all day in a hot parking lot and then overnight they cool back down. The usual effect if this is to deteriorate the tension appreciably by the next time I go out to play. The deterioration effect is even more noticeable when the temperature extremes are greater and, most especially, if there is a lot of moisture in the air.

So, you may ask, what has this got to do with when to restring? The answer is that, after doing this constantly over the course of a few weeks (or months) and always noticing a deterioration in the string tension the next time I go out to play, I know it it is time to restring when I grab a racquet and I notice that there seems to be no difference at all in tension from the last time I played with that racquet. When that happens, I know that the tension has gotten to its absolutely worst point, and it cannot get any worse. Then I know I need to get the racquets restrung and the pattern will start again.

Anyone who reads this who does not know me will think I am kidding. For the unfortunate few who actually do know me, you will no doubt conclude — as you should — that I am 100% serious (sort of).

- Marty

By: Bob Mazzola

Bob Mazzola — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:24:10 +0000

Based on Dag’s guideline, I should restring every 2 to 2-1/2 months — much more economical than every 2 weeks! I’ve noticed significant improvement since re-stringing 2 weeks ago and will now pay close attention to feel of racquet between 2 weeks and 2 months of use.

By: George

George — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:03:33 +0000

To amplify what Dag says: I played with a Boston teaching pro last weekend who said it this way… you should restring your racquet as many times per year as you play each week.

By: Dag Williamson

Dag Williamson — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:11:58 +0000

Bob,
More frequent stringing would give better performance (control, power) but economics and inconvenience come into play. I follow the general rule I’ve seen on other tennis pages, of restringing once a year if using a single racquet and playing once a week. If playing twice a week, then restring every six months. (I alternate two racquets and play 2x to 3x per week, so restring every nine to ten months).

By: Nick

Nick — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:35:10 +0000

Well, no wonder! I only restring when I break a string – which, these last few days, months, years, has been about once every 3 years!

By: Bob Mazzola

Bob Mazzola — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:19:54 +0000

George – clarify what you mean by notching – are you referring to the strings getting grooves from rubbing against each other?

bob – yes, exactly. geo

By: joe mcaleer

joe mcaleer — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:09:31 +0000

my experience has been whenever my strings (after a decent time of use), and racket are playing just perfectly (and i find myself commenting this observation in my mind), the strings will break on the next point or soon thereafter.
im always surprised when the string breaks before the thought pops into my head.

By: George

George — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:57:36 +0000

Bob – If you are playing that regularly on HarTru (first of all, congratulations!), and not using any of the new strings that last forever, i would think you would see significant
“notching” in five-six weeks. That is when i do; and that is when i restring. Do not know what the people who know something about strings/stringing feel….