COACH SHELBY'S TENNIS NOTES

What String Is Actually in Your Racket?

"What kind of string are you using?"

I get asked that question a lot. But before you order what I use, let's talk about what's already in your racket.

Do you know its name? Its gauge? The tension your stringer used?

Those details give you a starting point. Without them, it's harder to understand what you like or what you want to change.

Gauge means thickness.

In the usual U.S. numbering system, a higher gauge number means a thinner string. A 17-gauge string is generally thinner than a 16.

But companies don't always label thickness the same way. Look for the measurement in millimeters too. That tells you more precisely what you're comparing.

I use thin Cyclone string because I like the response it gives my game. That doesn't mean everybody needs my string or my gauge.

Within the same model, a thicker version will generally resist breaking better. A thinner version may feel different, but thinner does not automatically mean better or more spin.

Tension is a separate choice.

Gauge tells you how thick the string is. Tension tells you how tightly it was pulled during stringing.

The same string installed at different tensions can respond differently. And the same tension number with a different string or racket may not give you the same feel.

I can feel changes between fresh and older strings, and between tensions. That's why I pay attention to what goes into my racket.

You don't have to notice every little difference right away. Start by knowing what you have.

Give your stringer useful information.

Instead of saying, "Give me something good," explain what happens when you play.

"I like this setup, but I break it too quickly."

"I'm struggling to get depth."

"The response feels different from when it was fresh."

Now you have something specific to discuss.

Coach Shelby's Quick Tip

After your next string job, save four things in your phone:

String name
Gauge and millimeter thickness
Tension
Date strung

Then add one sentence after you play: what you liked or what you want to change.

That's how you start choosing your setup for a reason.