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When to restring your racquet, and what dead strings cost you

Tennis · 4 min read · Updated August 2026

Strings lose tension from the moment they go in, whether or not you play. Most club players wait far too long, then buy a new racquet to fix a problem that was fifteen pounds of lost tension.

The rule of thumb

Restring as many times per year as you play per week. Play twice a week, restring twice a year.

It is crude and it holds up, because it counts the two things that matter: how much you hit, and how long the string has been sitting there.

What actually happens as strings age

• Tension drops fastest in the first 24 hours after stringing, then keeps falling steadily.
• The stringbed loses its snapback, so the string stops returning to place between shots. That is where spin goes.
• The ball starts flying long, and most players respond by swinging slower, which makes it worse.
• Natural gut and multifilaments hold tension best. Polyester holds tension worst and goes dead well before it breaks.

Polyester is the trap

Poly is stiff and durable, so it often outlasts its own usefulness by months. Waiting for a poly string to break is the most common mistake in amateur stringing, and a dead poly transmits far more shock to your arm.

If you play with poly, go by time and hours, not by whether it has snapped.

How to tell without guessing

• Push the stringbed with your thumb. New strings feel springy and snap back; dead ones feel dull and stay put.
• Look at the crossing points. Notching and flat spots mean the string has stopped moving.
• Listen. A dead stringbed sounds duller than a fresh one, and most players notice the sound before they notice the feel.
• Watch where your normal rally ball lands. If your usual swing is suddenly finding the baseline, check the strings before you change your technique.

The string log here

Every racquet on this site has a string log. Record the string, the tension and the date, and it reminds you before the strings go dead rather than after. Paddles are in there too, for grips and for replacements.

Common questions

Do strings go dead if I never play?

Yes. Tension falls with time regardless of use, so a racquet strung a year ago and left in a bag is not fresh.

Should I drop tension as I get older?

Lower tension gives more power and is generally kinder on the arm. If you have any elbow trouble, lower tension and a softer string are the first two things to try.

Is it worth restringing a cheap racquet?

Usually yes. A fresh string in an ordinary frame plays better than a dead string in an expensive one.

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