What String Tension Do Pro Tennis Players Use?

A question that is often asked by beginners and recreational players is, “What string tension do the pros use?.

Introduction

In general, professional tennis players use a racquet with a string tension that is between 40 and 60 pounds. This range of tension provides the player with the necessary power and control to compete at the highest level. However, there is some variation among players, and some may use a slightly higher or lower tension depending on their individual playing style.

The Three Main Types of String Tension

Low Tension

Low tension strings are generally recommended for players with arm injuries, or those who want to reduce stress on their arm and shoulder. Low tension strings are also a good choice for beginners, as they are easier to hit and provide more power and control. Low tension strings typically have a thickness of 16 to 18 gauge.

Medium Tension

Around 54-60 pounds of string tension is considered medium string tension. This is a good range for players who want a good balance of power and control. With medium tension, you’ll be able to hit the ball hard without sacrificing too much control. Many Tour players use this range of string tension.

High Tension

High string tension produces less ball bounce, so balls hit with a high-tension racket tend to die in court. This can be an advantage for players who want to come to the net more often, since it’s easier to control the direction and speed of a lower-bouncing ball. High tension also gives the ball more spin potential — important for players who rely on slice and topspin shots. All of these factors make high-tension rackets popular among professional players.

Low Tension vs. Medium Tension vs. High Tension

If you’re a competitive tennis player, you know that string tension is important. The right string tension can make all the difference in your game. But what string tension do the pros use? Low tension, medium tension, or high tension? Let’s take a look.

Low Tension

Most players on the ATP Tour string their racquets at low tension, between 40 and 60 pounds. (Pro players typically have their racquets strung by someone else.) Low-tension string jobs allow for a trampoline effect when hitting the ball, providing more power and spin. But they also mean that there is less control over where the ball is going. As a result, low-tension stringing is more popular with aggressive baseline players who rely on power and spin to win points, rather than those who play at the net or use a lot of variety in their game.

Medium Tension

When it comes to tension, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The string tension that works for one player might not be ideal for another. It all depends on your individual playing style and preferences.

That said, most pro tennis players use a medium string tension, somewhere in the range of 50-60 pounds. This gives them a good balance of power and control. If you’re just starting out, you might want to experiment with different tensions to see what feels best for you.

If you find that your strings are breaking frequently, it’s probably a good idea to increase the tension. This will make the strings less likely to break, but it will also make them less forgiving and easier to miss-hit.

Conversely, if you find yourself information frequently or struggling to generate power, you might want to try a lower string tension. This will give you more forgiveness and help you get more spin on your shots.

High Tension

High string tension results in less trampoline effect and the ball loses less energy upon impact, translating into more power. As a result, high-tension strings are often used by professional tennis players who have strong strokes and who hit the ball with plenty of spin. High-tension strings also last longer than lower-tension strings because they don’t stretch as much.

Conclusion

After analyzing the data, we can see that most of the pro tennis players use a string tension that is between 50 and 60 pounds. There are a few outliers, but the vast majority of players use a string tension that falls within this range.

So, what does this mean for you? If you are a recreational player, you might want to experiment with different string tensions to see what works best for you. If you are a competitive player, it is probably best to stick with a string tension that is within the range of what the pros use.