A: A strings power comes from its flexibility. The softer and more flexible a string is, the more powerful it will be. This is because the string will flex and spring back faster, providing a catapult effect that will launch the ball off the racquet with greater speed.

Conversely, a stiffer string will provide more control than power. This is because a stiffer string will not flex as much. This makes the ball stay on the string for a longer period of time, providing more control for the shot.

A: The gauge of a string is a measure of how thick it is. The larger the gauge number, the thinner a string is. The three most common gauges are 15L, 16, and 17. 15L is the thickest and 17 is the thinnest. 16 is a medium thickness and is the most commonly used. The thicker a string is the more durable it will be, however, a thicker string will also be the least playable and the hardest to generate spin with. On the other hand, a thinner string will be more playable, and easier to generate spin with. It will also be less durable than a thicker string.

A: A monofilament string is a string with a solid core. These strings are typically less flexible and tend to have more control. A multifilament string has a multiple string core. These strings are typically more flexible and will have more power. Multifilament strings will also absorb more shock than a monofilament string. Examples of each are shown below.

A: String tension is very important in determining how a racquet will play. The lower the tension on a string, the more power and the less control it will provide for you. This is because a string pulled at a lower tension will flex more, creating a catapult effect that will launch the ball off the strings at a faster speed. Conversely, the higher tension on a string, the more control and the less power it will provide for you. This is because with a higher tension, the string will not flex as much. This makes the ball stay on the string for a longer period of time, making it easier for the player to place the ball where he or she wants it.

String tension will also affect how long the strings will last. A string under higher tension will last longer than one at a lower tension. This is because a higher string tension will allow for less flex in the strings. The more flex there is in the strings, the faster they will wear down. So while a lower tension will provide more power, it will also cause the string to wear down faster.

A: Yes, there are certain strings that are longer lasting than others. There are actually two types of durability when it comes to a tennis string. The first type is how durable a string is in regards to breaking. Certain strings are made for players who break strings very quickly. These strings tend to be very stiff and not very shock absorbent. These are generally made of polyester, aramid, kevlar, or some other break resistant material.

The second type is how durable a string is in regards to holding its tension. After a string is played with a few times it will start to loose its tension. This will decrease the amount of spring back the string will have, which will in turn start to decrease the amount of power the string will generate for you. The best strings for holding their tension are solid core strings with an outer wrap.

A: A racquet with an open string pattern will generally provide a player with more spin and power. The racquet will be powerful because there is less force to hold the strings in place allowing them to flex more. This will provide a catapult effect that will push the ball off the strings faster. An open string pattern will provide more spin because the wider the strings are apart, the more grab they will have on the ball. A racquet with an open string pattern will also cause the strings to break faster than a dense string pattern. Since there is less force holding the strings in place, the strings will move around more and tend to cut each other. This will eventually cause them to break.

A racquet with a dense string pattern will provide more control and will help the string in the racquet to last longer. This is because there is more force holding the strings in the racquet and they will not flex as much. This causes the ball to stay on the strings for a longer period of time, giving you more control. Also, since there is more force holding the strings in place, they will not move around as much and cut each other as an open string pattern racquet.

A: The reason some strings have texture is to provide more spin. A string with texture will grab or “bite” the ball making it easier to apply topspin or backspin. However, textured strings also tend to break down a little faster since the roughness of the string will cause it to cut into itself more than a non-textured string.

A: Yes, certain strings are designed to absorb more shock and feel better on the arm than others. Generally, a multifilament string will be softer and easier on the arm than a monofilament string. However, the softer strings will wear down and break faster than other strings and may have to be re-strung more often.

A: A hybrid string job is when two different strings are used in one racquet. One set of strings is used for the main strings (the vertical strings) and one set is used for the cross strings (the horizontal strings). Generally a hybrid will consist of a stiffer, more durable string on the mains and a softer, more playable string on the crosses. This type of stringing will allow for a good balance of softness and control as well as increased durability.