You might already have your racquet of choice. Perhaps one of our recommended racquets. But what are some recommended strings? Let’s look closer at some of the best tennis strings available today.
Recommended strings
The string jungle is vast and expanding. There are so many different types of tennis strings on the market and many more brands to consider than when it comes to racquets. You need to consider material, shape, gauge, and tension. It’s not always straight forward to recommend the best tennis strings. We will focus on the type of player you are. If you want to learn more about tennis strings, we recommend this video and post.
ERT300
Is it time to restring your racquet?
Get an ERT 300-string tension tester, a great tool to see how fast a string drops tension, when it is time to restring your racquet and get a better idea of what tension works the best for you. We use it all the time.
Jump to your preferred section: Beginner / Comfort Strings | Intermediate Strings | Advanced Strings | Lesser known strings
Strings for beginners and comfort strings
In my opinion, beginners should use multifilament strings. These are softer, more comfortable strings that give good power. The downside is a little lack of spin and control. I actually don’t see any reason why more advanced players cannot use multifilament strings either, especially if they put a premium on comfort or maybe have a history of tennis elbow.
I think a more control-oriented and durable multifilament string will give you better playability and will still offer good comfort. I think a tension around 55 lbs or 25 kg is useful as a starting point.
Below options are all good. You can also check a recent post about finding the best multifilament string.
Find all the mentioned tennis strings at our partners here:
- Tennis Warehouse (US, Canada)
- Tennis Warehouse Europe (10% off with code TNERD10)
- Tennis Only (AU)
- HEAD official website (USA)
- Wilson official website
- Racketspecialisten (Sweden)
HEAD Velocity MLT
I have always enjoyed the version with black coating, but a few players have pointed out that when the coating wears off, the strings start locking a bit. I have noticed at that a bit myself recently on hybrid string setups. But in a full bed, it plays great in either color. The price is also comparatively low.
HEAD Velocity MLT is a control-oriented multifilament string. You won’t get the power of like a Tecnifibre X-One Bi-phase, but it will you good confidence for playing with a multi. Recommended for players that like multis but want a bit more control. The comfort remains excellent.
Wilson NXT Control
NXT is a classic and now comes in many different shapes and sizes, power, comfort, control and Duramax (maximum durability). I haven’t tested all of them but generally recommend players to go for a more control-oriented multifilament in a thicker gauge.
If not the Duramax, I think the 1.32 NXT Control is excellent. If you want more power, you can go for the NXT Comfort, which, as far as I understand, is the new name for the ultra-soft multifilament that used to be called Wilson Sensation. Adjust your tension accordingly, depending on which type of multifilament you go for. Go higher tension for softer and more powerful strings and go slightly lower for the more control-oriented multifilaments.
Tecnifibre NRG2
Tecnifibre make a solid selection of excellent multifilament strings. For players looking for even more control and decent spin potential for a multifilament, I’d check out the 1.38 gauge Triax.
Tecnifibre X-One Bi-Phase is good for power and works well in hybrids with firmer polys, but NRG2 is a good blend of those strings. Tecnifibre has a strong reputation for making high quality multifilament strings and it is well deserved.
Prince Premier Control
Prince are known for making excellent tennis racquets (although not seen on tour as often anymore due to sponsorship budgets), but they are not famous for their strings. They do have some solid options for polyester and Prince Premier Control can compete with the best of multifilaments and also offer the possibility to go for a really thick gauge. This string works well on its own and in hybrids with poly strings. It is on the more control-oriented spectrum of multifilament strings.
Babolat Xcel
Babolat also have a solid range of multifilament strings and they have added the Xalt recently, which is more control-oriented. Babolat Xcel is more of a comfort and power-oriented multi, which is how multis should perform traditionally. A solid choice for players who want more pop from the string and do not put a premium on durability.
Yonex Rexis Speed
Speed is the name of the more control-oriented multifilament in the Rexis line-up. As with many multis, there is a comfort option which is softer, while Rexis Speed could have been called “Control”. Slightly firmer, holds tension well, not as powerful. A solid multi for players who like to try a hybrid or prefer a more control-oriented full bed.
You can purchase Yonex Rexis from
- Tennis Warehouse (US, Canada)
- Tennis Warehouse Europe
- Tennis Only (AU)
- Amazon.
Babolat VS Touch Natural gut
Natural gut strings are fantastic in playability (except for the spin potential) and hold tension much better but come at a more premium price point. The Babolat VS Touch is the Rolls Royce of natural gut strings, but Luxilon Natural gut and Wilson Natural Gut are also good.
You can purchase Babolat VS Touch natural gut from Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe, Tennis Only and Amazon.
You might want to try a softer polyester string when you pass the beginner and lower-level intermediate stages.
Intermediate strings
One thing to note about polyester strings over multifilaments (or gut) is that they give you better control and spin potential, but the tension drops quicker and will need a restring even if the string doesn’t break.
Softer polyesters are more comfortable on the arm than firm polys but drop tension even faster. So be aware that you need to restring after 8-15 hours of play depending on how hard you hit and what racquet you use it in.
Remember to not string a poly too high! A tension around 50 lbs is a good reference tension. Many players can go lower, down to 48, 45, or even 40 lbs. Try it and see how it plays.
Solinco Mach-10
This is a recently released softer poly from a company more famous for their firmer offerings like Tour Bite and Hyper-G. Mach-10 is, as the name suggests, more powerful and easier on the arm. Still, I would not call it a mushy string and it is used by Jenson Brooksby in hybrid with natural gut.
The tension maintenance of Mach-10 is excellent so check it out if you want a slightly softer, yet spin-friendly poly string. Here is our Solinco Mach-10 Review.
Yonex Poly Tour Air
It is a very arm-friendly poly with good spin potential. It’s even softer than Hyper-G Soft and drops tension a little quicker. The softer the string, the shorter the tension maintenance, usually.
You can purchase Yonex Poly Tour Air from
Isospeed Cream
Well, the name says everything! A creamy string in looks and feel. Not as spin-friendly as the strings above, but a bit more controlled and with a nice feel during impact.
Volkl Cyclone Tour
While Volkl Cyclone is an excellent string for players who hit big, Cyclone Tour is a lot softer and more springy but still retains good spin potential and a pleasant feel for a poly string. Might not be the one for control freaks, but if you need a little extra help and comfort while maintaining solid performance, this is a good choice.
Wilson Revolve Spin
This one is quite popular, but it is important to point out that according to tests, this one drops tension really quickly. Until it drops, it plays with great spin and control, but be prepared to restring often.
You can purchase Wilson Revolve Spin from
- Tennis Warehouse (US, Canada)
- Tennis Warehouse Europe
- Tennis Only(AU)
- Wilson
- Amazon.
Toroline O-Toro Spin
I enjoy Toroline strings and O-Toro Spin is a favorite. Soft, spin-friendly, and with a nice feel. For me, it works better in racquets like the HEAD Radical (check out other racquets we enjoy on our Recommended Racquets) than for example the Pure Aero 98. I also like the Wasabi and Caviar, which you can read about in our Toroline string review. If you like a firmer string with better control and tension maintenance, O-Toro Tour is a better choice.
You can purchase Toroline O-Toro Spin from their official website. Use the code TENNISNERD for a discount.
Tru Pro Pure Rush
Tru Pro used to be called Tier One. They have a new softer, six-sided, responsive and explosive string called Pure Rush, which we really enjoy. It is a budget-friendly string that can compete with high-end polyesters in performance and playability. Not too stiff, not too soft, spin-friendly, explosive, but offering good control. A very good string. Use the code TENNISNERD for 20% off.
Tru Pro offers several websites where you can check out their strings.
Toroline Strings
Want to try out some new high-quality strings?
Check out all the different variations from Toroline. Now you’ll get 10% off your purchase when using the code TENNISNERD at checkout.
Advanced strings
You don’t need to be an advanced player to use these tennis strings if you string them low, let’s say at 45 lbs or lower. That way you also open up some more comfort and power from the string. High-level players that hit big will likely go with higher tensions as they seek the bite and control these strings provide.
If you don’t have a fast swing speed, these strings might be too stiff.
Restring Vivo
This is a firmer hexagonal string that offers excellent bite and control. It plays really well at low tensions and we have tried it in loads of racquets with great results across the board. In more control-oriented racquets, we would recommend going down in tension towards 44 lbs to open up for more comfort and a larger sweet spot. But we also like it in the Babolat Pure Drive at 53/51 lbs.
Get 10% off using TENNISNERD10 on the Restring official website.
If you are in Europe, you can get it from our friends at Courtspin (get 10% off using the code TENNISNERD)
NordicDots TS 127
This is a firmer pentagonal string which offers excellent bite and control. It will be a little firm to some players, but in the right racquet and for the right player it delivers buckets of confidence and will free you up to take big cuts on the ball.
Get 15% off using TENNISNERD15 on the Nordicdots official website.
You can check out our written Nordicdots TS 127 review.
Solinco Confidential
This string has been growing on me ever since I created my Solinco Confidential review. It has excellent control and snapback, and it feels like your shots keep dipping in at the last second over and over again. For players that want it a little softer, I can recommend going for the thinner gauge (1.20) to as it is slightly less stiff and gives amazing spin. You can applaud Solinco for Hyper-G and Tour Bite, but Confidential is also an excellent choice for players who like to attack the ball.
HEAD Lynx Tour
Another relatively stiff string that offers brilliant spin potential and control. One of the most solid strings out there. It is quite heavy, so can add some swing weight to your racquet depending on which string you used before.
Check out our HEAD Lynx Tour review here. Many HEAD-sponsored pros on tour use this string.
You can purchase HEAD Lynx Tour from the HEAD website USA, Tennis Warehouse (US, Canada), Tennis Warehouse Europe, Tennis Only (AU), and Amazon.
Luxilon 4G
It is one of the stiffest strings on the market, but with an excellent responsive feel and fantastic control alongside top-of-the-line tension maintenance.
From the first impact, you feel that this is a premium string. Used by many pros like Grigor Dimitrov, and Alex de Minaur, but since it is so stiff, these players tend to use it as a hybrid with natural gut. We have an older Luxilon 4G review.
Babolat RPM Blast
Rafa Nadal’s string choice has ended up in many, many Pure Aero’s over the years. Not sure it’s a great idea if you are not swinging fast, though. It’s an incredible string for the right player with longer and faster strokes since it is very stiff but offers good snapback with its coating. Once the coating wears off, it is a little more dead, but this is a very durable string, so unless you hit like an ATP pro, you are not likely to break it. For a round string, this offers great spin potential.
For intermediate players, I would string it at 45 lbs or lower for better comfort, but it depends on the player’s style, level, and racquet. Check out our review.
Volkl Cyclone
Dependable and controlled with excellent spin potential. Relatively stiff, so sensitive arms should look away (which is true for all strings in this category), but if you string it at 45 lbs or lower, it could also work for more sensitive arms: good spin and control, and excellent price point.
Besides the usual places like Tennis Warehouse, it can also be found at Amazon.
HEAD Hawk Power
A relatively new string on the market that plays with great control and not too stiff of a feel. It’s very similar to Luxilon’s flagship, Alu Power. Good pocketing and feel for a poly. Check out our HEAD Hawk Power review.
Check it also at Amazon.
Luxilon Alu Power
Luxilon Alu Power is a legend and one of the most used strings on the ATP and WTA Tours. You can read some Alu Power history here (which started with Big Banger Original). It offers good pocketing and excellent control, which makes it popular among pros for a reason. This string drops tension relatively fast, but can be played also at lower tensions with good control thanks to the stiffness. Many brands have tried to imitate the formula of Alu Power, but not quite nailed it. The pocketing and feel for a stiff string is quite unusual.
Yonex Poly Tour Pro
This is Yonex’s most popular string on the tour with players like Nick Kyrgios, Marton Fucsovics, Ben Shelton and many others. It’s somewhere in the middle of a softer and a firmer poly and plays with a good blend of control, feel and comfort. Definitely not as stiff as the strings above, but won’t last quite as long as the firmer round polys like RPM Blast and Alu Power, for example.
Check out our Yonex Poly Tour Pro review.
MSV Focus Hex
MSV is a budget-friendly brand, and Focus Hex is a very popular string among advanced players. It’s firm, so not really for players with arm issues, but it gives you good control and spin potential. AND at a great price.
Lesser known tennis strings
There are some up-and-coming string brands that we want to shout out in this space. They make some excellent strings and are worth considering.
Grapplesnake
Grapplesnake offers some of the best strings strings like Tour M8 and Tour Sniper, both control strings with a medium soft response.
Check them out at Grapplesnake.
Restring Zero
Zero is a new string offering good spin potential and snapback in a slightly softer string than the ones above. Sync is a round and firmer string for players looking for ultimate confidence. Our favorite is Vivo, as mentioned above, which is like the perfect blend of these two strings.
Velociti
Velociti Catalyst is the first biodegradable tennis string (which I’m aware of) on the market. It plays with good control and spin, so it’s a solid choice.