String Selection for
Competition Players

Strings are part of your game plan

Competitive players hit with far more pace, spin, and intention than recreational players. That means strings wear faster, tension drops faster, and the consequence of playing on dead strings is far more severe — missed shots that should be in, loss of spin clearance, and accumulated arm stress.

The pros restring before every match. That's not viable for most club competitors, but it tells you something important: string freshness directly affects performance at a high level.

How often should competition players restring?

• Competing weekends + training mid-week: Every 4–6 weeks minimum. Before any important match or tournament, fresh strings should be standard.
• Full-time training (5+ sessions/week): Every 3–4 weeks. At this volume, tension loss is rapid and significant.
• Tournament play: Restring 24–48 hours before the event — strings settle in slightly after stringing and play at their best after a short break-in period.

What happens when a competition player ignores restringing?

• Inconsistent spin: Co-poly strings rely on their surface texture and stiffness to bite the ball. Once that breaks down, topspin generation drops sharply.
• Loss of depth control: Dead strings at low tension send the ball deeper and harder to control — groundstrokes land long, serves miss long.
• Shoulder and elbow injury: Heavy hitters put enormous stress on their arm. Dead strings amplify vibration and shock, accelerating wear on tendons and joints.
• Mental doubt: When strings aren't performing consistently, competitive players lose confidence in their shots. That's a mental burden you don't need mid-match.

String and tension recommendations for competitors

Most competitive players gravitate toward polyester or co-polyester strings for their control, spin potential, and durability under heavy hitting. The trade-off is they're stiffer — which makes regular restringing even more important for arm health.

• Solinco ($45 inc. labour): A premium co-poly that performs exceptionally well for spin-based players. Holds tension longer than many competitors and provides excellent bite and control.
• Tecnifibre ($40 inc. labour): A more arm-friendly option that still delivers good control. Ideal for players who hit heavy and want to protect their arm over a long season.
• BYO strings ($25 labour only): If you have a specific string dialled in for your game, bring it in. We'll string it to your exact tension spec, every time.

Tension for competitive players

Higher tensions (25–28 kg) give maximum control but reduce dwell time and feel. Lower tensions (22–25 kg) give better feel and spin, with a larger sweet spot. Most club competitors land in the 23–26 kg range — but it depends on your racket, string choice, and playing style. We'll advise when you book.

Stringing for a tournament?

We can accommodate same-day turnaround on request, which means you can drop your racket off before a weekend event and have it back in time. Let us know when you're competing and we'll prioritise your job.