Stringing
How to choose the right tension?
Tension changes two things at once: how much help the string bed gives you, and how much of the head you can actually hit with. Most club players pick a number they heard from someone who plays better than them. Here is how to pick one that suits your game instead.
What tension actually does
A string bed behaves like a trampoline. The shuttle lands, the strings deflect, they hold that energy for a few thousandths of a second, then push back.
At lower tension the bed deflects further, so more of the return comes from the strings and less from your arm. The area that behaves this way is also larger. That is why an off-centre hit at 22 lb still carries to the back of the court.
At higher tension the bed barely moves. Contact is shorter and flatter, so the shuttle leaves closer to the angle you gave it. You gain precision and you pay for it in two ways: the helpful area shrinks, and everything outside it feels dead.
Neither one is better. They suit different players, and the gap between them is wider than most people expect.
Where players actually string
These are working ranges, not rules. Two players at the same level can sit three pounds apart and both be right.
Why copying a professional's tension backfires
A 31 lb bed works for a professional because they make clean central contact almost every time, train daily, and restring every few matches. Take the tension without the contact and you lose power on every shot that lands off centre, which for most of us is most shots. If you are unsure, string two pounds lower than you think you want. A slightly lively racket is far easier to play well than one that punishes every small error.
Your frame has a limit, and it is printed on it
Every racket carries a maximum tension marked on the shaft or inside the head. It is not a suggestion. Past that number the frame is holding a load it was not built for, and a collapse is not covered by warranty.
The ceilings vary a lot by brand and model. Plenty of frames top out around 24 to 28 lb. Others, including several Apacs and Katana models, are rated well above that. Check your own racket before you name a number, and if the marking has worn off, ask us rather than guessing.
Your game should move the number
Start from the range for your level, then adjust by how you actually play. Two pounds either way is a real difference you will feel in the first rally.
What happens after you string it
A new bed loses tension fastest in the first two days and keeps drifting after that. A racket strung at 26 lb plays closer to 24 within a few weeks, which is part of why a fresh restring at the same number feels sharper than the racket you handed in.
A reasonable rule: restring as many times a year as you play in a week. Three sessions a week means about three restrings a year. When one string goes, the rest of the bed is already uneven, so replace the whole thing rather than patching it.
String gauge matters too. Thinner string around 0.61 to 0.66 mm returns more energy and feels crisper, and it breaks sooner. Thicker string lasts longer and feels duller. If you break strings often, gain durability there before you drop your tension.
We string in house
Pick your tension when you add a racket to the cart, with a choice of string and grip. Not sure? Tell us your level and how you play, and we will pick a number and explain why.
