5 Signs It's Time to Change Your Racket Strings

One of the most common questions among tennis players of all levels is: "How often should I restring my racket?" The answer isn't as simple as it seems, but there are clear signs that indicate when it's time to change strings.

Playing with worn strings or strings that have lost tension not only hurts your performance but can also increase injury risk. In this guide, you'll learn to identify exactly when your strings need to be changed.

The Golden Rule (But Not Always Accurate)

There's a traditional rule that says:

"Restring as many times per year as you play per week"

For example:

• Play 2x per week > Restring 2x per year
• Play 4x per week > Restring 4x per year

Although it's a good starting point, this rule doesn't consider important factors like:

• Intensity of your play
• Type of string used
• Playing style (flat vs heavy spin)
• Weather conditions
• Tension used

Let's go beyond this basic rule and learn to identify concrete signs.

The 5 Definitive Signs You Need to Restring

1. Visible Tension Loss

This is the most obvious and easiest sign to identify.

How to check:

• Press the strings with your fingers at the center of the string bed
• Compare with a freshly strung racket
• If the strings sink very easily, tension is low

What happens:

• Polyester strings lose 10-15% of tension in the first 10 hours of play
• After 20-30 hours, the loss can reach 20-25%
• With low tension, you lose control and the ball "flies" more than normal

Symptoms in play:

• Balls going long frequently
• Excessive "trampoline" feeling
• Difficulty controlling shot depth
• Less precision in slices and drop shots

2. Visible String Wear

Inspect your strings regularly looking for:

Signs of wear:

• Strings with "fuzzy" or peeling appearance
• Deep marks where strings cross
• Color change (especially in colored strings)
• Main strings displaced (not parallel)
• Deep grooves caused by friction

Special attention: If you play with a lot of spin (western/semi-western strokes), strings undergo constant movement and wear faster. Heavy spin players may need to restring 2-3x more frequently.

3. Change in Playing Feel

Your body knows when something is wrong, even if visually the strings look OK.

Signs to observe:

• Loss of "pop" or liveliness in response
• Dead or lifeless feel on ball contact
• Less feedback in your hands
• Strokes that were once comfortable now cause excessive vibration
• Need to hit harder to get the same result

Pro tip: High-level players restring well before strings break, precisely because they notice these subtle changes in feel.

4. "Dead" Strings (Even Without Breaking)

This is a concept many recreational players are unaware of: strings can be "dead" even without breaking.

What are dead strings?

• Strings that have lost their original elasticity
• Don't return to initial position after impact
• Lost the ability to store and return energy

How to identify:

• Do the sound test: hit the ball and listen. New strings have a sharper, livelier sound
• Dead strings produce a more muffled sound
• The ball doesn't "spring" off the racket like before

Especially critical for:

• Polyester strings (die faster than multifilament)
• Players who leave rackets in the car (heat accelerates degradation)
• Rackets that sit unused for months (strings degrade even without use)

5. Arm Discomfort or Pain

This is the most important sign and should not be ignored.

Warning symptoms:

• Elbow pain (tennis elbow)
• Wrist or shoulder discomfort
• Excessive vibrations traveling up the arm
• Need to use wrist or elbow bands

Why old strings cause pain?

• Strings that have lost tension vibrate more
• Loss of elasticity means less impact absorption
• Your arm compensates for performance loss, working harder

Immediate action:

• Restring with lower tension
• Consider switching to more comfortable string (multifilament)
• See a doctor if pain persists

Ideal Frequency by Player Type

Recreational Beginner (1-2x per week)

• Frequency: 1-2x per year
• Signs: Wait for strings to break or obvious tension loss
• String type: Durable multifilament

Regular Intermediate (2-3x per week)

• Frequency: 3-4x per year (every 3 months)
• Signs: Feel loss, less control
• String type: Poly or hybrid

Competitive Advanced (4-5x per week)

• Frequency: 6-12x per year (monthly or biweekly)
• Signs: Any subtle performance change
• String type: High-performance poly

Professional/High Performance (daily training)

• Frequency: Before each tournament, sometimes each session
• Signs: Preventive maintenance, doesn't wait for signs
• String type: Varies according to surface and conditions

Factors That Accelerate Degradation

Your strings degrade faster if:

Playing conditions:

• Extreme heat (above 30C/86F)
• High humidity
• Abrasive surfaces (clay court)
• New, heavy balls

Habits:

• Racket stored in car
• Direct sun exposure
• Not using racket cover
• Leaving racket on ground

Playing style:

• Heavy spin (western grip)
• Extreme power (serve > 110 mph)
• Many flat strokes
• Hitting with off-center ball contact

The Cost of NOT Restringing

Saving on restringing can be expensive:

Negative impacts:

• Reduced performance: Up to 30% less control and spin
• Injury risk: Tennis elbow and other compensation injuries
• Technical stagnation: You adapt to bad strings and develop bad habits
• Indirect cost: Tennis lessons without maximum benefit

A restringing costs on average $30-60. Compared to the cost of lessons ($50-100/hour), equipment ($300-800), and tournaments, keeping fresh strings is a small investment with great return.

How to Maximize String Life

While it's not time to restring, protect your investment:

Basic care:

1. Always use the racket cover when not playing
2. Avoid extreme temperatures (don't leave in car)
3. Loosen the strings if going 3+ months without playing
4. Clean the strings after playing on clay court
5. Rotate between rackets if you have more than one

Pro tip:

If you have two rackets, string one 1kg higher than the other. Use the higher tension one for intense training and the lower tension one for competitive matches (more comfort and power when you need it).

Record and Optimize Your Stringing

The best way to know when to restring is to keep a detailed history.

Record for each stringing:

• Date
• String type and model
• Tension used
• How many hours/games until the change
• Performance feedback

With this data, you identify patterns and optimize:

• Which string lasts longest for you
• Which tension offers best cost-benefit
• When exactly performance starts to drop

StringLab was created exactly for this: recording each stringing via QR code, tracking evolution, and receiving alerts when it's time to restring based on your playing pattern.

Conclusion: Don't Wait for the String to Break

The number 1 rule of restringing is: strings lose performance long before they break.

Recreational players often only restring when the string breaks. Serious players restring regularly to maintain consistent performance, even if strings are still intact.

Start paying attention to the signs your racket is giving. Your game (and your arm) will thank you!

Next steps:

• Choose the ideal string type for your style
• Set up the perfect tension for your level
• Record your stringings and evolve your game with real data