Tips to use Tennis Strings & Grips by Ryan Horn [Head Coach]

I have been part of the tennis industry for over forty years. There have been significant changes in the tennis balls, grips, rackets and strings. The two most important parts of the racket that are often overlooked by the junior and recreational players are -

• Tennis Grips
• Tennis Strings

Let us start with the tennis grips first

Tennis Grips

There are two types of grips, the original or under the grip and the over grip. The under-grip is forgotten about by most but is directly connected to the racket frame which allows feeling while striking the ball. The under-grip loses its cushion and comfort and should be replaced every three months. After traveling to two juniors MSLTA tournaments last month, I am happy to see all the junior players changing their over grips regularly, it’s simple any discoloration or tears the grip needs to be replaced.

Tennis Strings

Growing up there were only a handful of different types of strings, and your choice was driven by cost. If the stringer ran out of string and had to use the second set of strings to finish the racket, it became obvious to the player as there were four knots instead of the normal two knots. Arguments and debates ensued with players, stringers, parents and coaches. 

What was out of the norm has become the norm with over 500 types of strings on the market, players are experimenting with hybrid stringing (using two different types of strings or two different tensions) to maximize spin, power and feel for their game. 

Hybrid Stringing

The advantage of having your racket strung with a two-piece string over a one-piece string is simple. A one-piece string has two knots/anchor points, as you start to play the string (even stiff polyester) begins to stretch and you begin to lose tension quickly.  A racket that is strung at 56lbs can drop as much as 6lbs in the first hour of play, which drastically impacts your spin, power and ultimately your control of the ball. 

Stringing your racket with a two-piece string with four knots/anchor points will retain the original tension much longer, your string will still stretch but at a much slower rate and it will maintain the original tension longer.  All modern rackets have markings/dots to show where each knot/anchor should be tied off. 

I hope you enjoyed the article. Let me know if you have questions in the comments section below, will be really happy to answer.

Ryan Horn [Head Coach] 

Corvuss American Academy

Karjat, Maharashtra