Why Don’t New Rackets Come with Strings?

If you’ve ever walked into a tennis shop, stared at the wall of rackets, and wondered why so many of them aren’t strung, you’re not alone: it’s a common question we get from new players.

The answer is simple: strings aren’t one-size-fits-all. Strings are what make direct contact with the ball, so they play a huge role in how your racket performs. They affect power, control how much spin you can generate, how connected you feel to the ball, and even how comfortable your racket feels on contact. No single string suits every player so high-quality rackets are sold unstrung so that you can customize them based on your playing style, preferences, and level.

Now some rackets do come pre-strung, but they tend to be lower-tier models, often with basic strings that don’t perform particularly well. These factory strings might be okay for the occasional hit, but if you’re looking to improve as a player, choosing your own strings is definitely worth it.

A Quick Note on String Tension

Before we dive into the types of strings, let’s quickly talk about string tension. Tension is measured in pounds or kilograms, and it has a significant effect how your racket feels.

• Lower tension (e.g. 45 lbs) = more power and a softer feel
• Higher tension (e.g. 55 lbs) = more control and a firmer feel

For most beginner and intermediate players, the sweet spot is right around 52 lbs — a great middle ground that offers the ideal blend of power, control and comfort. From there, you can always adjust up or down depending on how your shots feel. Too powerful? Try 54 lbs. Lacking some depth? Drop to 50.

Strings for Beginners

It’s important to understand that there are two types of beginners in tennis:

1. Players who are picking up a racket to play casually a few times in the summer.
2. Players who are taking lessons or want to stick with tennis and improve steadily.

If you’re in the first category, you might want to look at rackets that already come strung. These are usually more affordable and convenient which is great for occasional play.

However, if you are hoping to take tennis a little bit more seriously, like I said earlier, it’s absolutely worth getting a better racket and choosing your own strings. That’s where the real performance benefits start.

Synthetic Gut: The Best All-Rounder for Casual Beginners

The best string to start with for casual or new players is synthetic gut. It’s been around forever, and with good reason:

• It’s soft and elastic, so it gives you decent power.
• It enlarges the sweet spot, making your racket more forgiving.
• It’s durable enough that you won’t need to restring it too often.
• It’s very affordable.

Synthetic gut also maintains it’s playability well over time and through various changes in temperature which is important if you leave your racket in the garage over the winter and want to play in the spring without having to immediately restring.

Now the slight drawback to synthetic gut is that it’s not exceptional in any one area. That’s actually a good thing for new players because it helps you explore your style without overly influencing your game. You will eventually want to take a step toward a more playability-specific string, but for now, syn-gut is great!

Another benefit is that it comes in lots of colours. If you want strings that match your grip or frame, or just a colour you really like, odds are you can find it.

Popular synthetic gut options:

• Prince Synthetic Gut Duraflex (a classic)
• Wilson Synthetic Gut Power
• Head Synthetic Gut PPS

What Tension Should Beginners Use?

Again, we don’t need to overthink this. Most 100-square-inch beginner rackets recommend a tension range of 45 to 55 lbs. Middle plus a couple pounds is perfect: 52 lbs.

This gives you just enough control so that you’re not launching balls out of the court, but still enough power and comfort to hit confidently.

Multifilament Strings: A Step Up for the Committed Beginner

If you’re a beginner who’s taking lessons, playing regularly, or just wants to get better quickly, multifilament strings (aka "multis") are worth considering.

Multis are made from hundreds (or even thousands) of microfibres woven together. This makes them:

• Softer than synthetic gut
• More powerful
• More comfortable on the arm
• Better at providing feedback — meaning they help you learn what a good vs. bad shot feels like

This feedback is critical for players who want to improve their technique because it helps you feel what’s working and what isn’t.

Multis are also excellent for players who have experienced arm discomfort or are recovering from injury — especially elbow or shoulder issues. They're the softest and most arm-friendly string type available, (other than natural gut, but look at the price of a set of that string to understand why I’m not recommending it).

The drawback to multis is that they don’t last quite as long. Because they’re softer, they tend to break down faster — both from play and over time. Now that’s not necessarily a bad thing; learning that strings need to be replaced regularly is part of becoming a better tennis player.

As a general rule of thumb, you should restring your racket as many times per year as you play per week, so if you play twice a week, restring twice a year. This helps keep your strings fresh and responsive so that they maintain optimal playability.

Some Great Beginner Multis:

• Wilson Sensation
• Head Velocity MLT
• Babolat Excel

 

If you’re willing to spend a bit more, Wilson NXT and Tecnifibre NRG2 offer even better power and comfort, but for beginners, you’re totally fine sticking to that introductory multi price range.

Tension-wise, stick to 52 lbs, just like with synthetic gut.

Strings for Intermediate Players

Once you’ve been playing for a while, you’ve probably started to figure out a few things:

• Do you generate a lot of power yourself?
• Do you struggle with control?
• Do you struggle with power?
• Are you starting to add topspin?

This is where string choice gets a bit more interesting.

If You Struggle With Power: Stick With a Multifilament

If you’re still working on generating pace, there’s no reason to move away from a multifilament just yet. In fact, at this stage, it might be worth upgrading to a more premium multi for better feel, responsiveness and power.

This is where those strings I mentioned earlier (Wilson NXT and Tecnifibre NRG2) are a great step up from those introductory multis.

Which string goes where?

In a hybrid, you’ll put the polyester string in the mains to maximize that control and spin, and the multifilament in the crosses for softness and comfort.

Recommended Tension for Hybrids

Because polyester is much stiffer than multi, string it a little looser:

• Polyester mains: ~50 lbs
• Multifilament crosses: ~52 lbs

This balances the difference in stiffness between the two strings and creates a more cohesive feel — you get the control benefits without losing all your comfort.

What About String Gauge?

String gauge refers to thickness. The lower the number, the thicker the string:

• 16 gauge = ~1.30 mm
• 16L gauge = ~1.25 mm
• 17 gauge = ~1.20 mm

Thicker strings last longer but offer less feel. Thinner strings give you more bite and touch but may break faster.

• For synthetic gut and multifilament, go with 16 gauge — it lasts longer.
• For polyesters, go with 16L or 17 gauge — thinner strings bite into the ball more for better spin, and they’re more comfortable and forgiving which is important as you keep developing.

Strings matter. A lot.

While it might seem like a minor detail when you’re just starting out, choosing the right string can make your tennis experience much more enjoyable — and help you improve faster.

Whether you're brand new to the sport or just looking to take the next step, getting the right string setup can truly elevate your game.

We are here to help!

If you're in Vancouver, come visit us at Rackets & Runners on Oak and 23rd — we'd be happy to help you pick and string your perfect setup. And if you're ordering a racket online, just let us know what you want and we'll string it exactly to your liking.