Tennis String Gauge Explained: Guide + Chart
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- Tennis string gauge is a worthy consideration when purchasing a new set for your racquet, but which should you choose?
In this video, I explain what it means, review different sizes available (including a helpful chart with mm measurements), discuss its impact on performance, and cover how to select the right size gauge.
Last but not least, I touch on tension considerations when moving from one gauge to another.
String gauge: tenniscompanio...
String Tension: tenniscompanio...
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Video Recap & Timestamps
0:27 - Definition & Sizes
1:06 - String Gauge Chart (mm included)
2:13 - Gauge & Performance
3:38 - Finding the Right Gauge
5:17 - String Gauge & Tension
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![Types of Tennis Strings [Detailed Explanation + Examples]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OflCsTM6y8w/mqdefault.jpg)
Absolute quality. Surfer here that just picked up tennis a month ago. Your videos and guides are extremely helpful, especially for a kook like me. Thank you and proud to say you're my very first tennis related channel I've subbed too. Stay easy brah!
Thanks, Stephen - that means a lot! Great to hear you're enjoying my content, and I appreciate the support.
I love YT videos like this. Super informative and well produced. Thanks!
Great to hear you found it helpful, and thanks for taking the time to share!
Once again a perfect video.
Thank you 😄
Excellent, clear and concise. Thank you
Nicely clarified, thanks...
Well done and great job!
Great Video!
Say you have Head Hawk in 1.25 at 54 lbs, and Hawk 1.30 at 52 lbs. How would they compare?
Wow you have a lot of links but couldn't find tension video. So my question is will lower tension like 50lbs prevent 17 gauge strings from breaking?
Very informative, thanks. Does the gauge affect how long the initial tension is maintained? Shouldn't that be a factor in assessing durability?
Hi there,
Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for the thoughtful question.
Unfortunately, the relationship between string gauge and tension maintenance, both rate and total tension loss, isn't cut and dry.
In some strings, higher gauges result in more significant tension loss, while in others, the opposite is true with lower gauges.
Here's an example from TennisWarehouse University, showing the percent tension loss for two different strings at lower and higher gauges:
Babolat Pro Hurricane 16: 40%
Babolat Pro Hurricane 18: 37%
Babolat RPM Blast 15L: 33%
Babolat RPM Blast 18: 36%
Of course, these measures do not describe the rate of tension loss, as you've mentioned. However, anecdotally, I've experienced instances where I've seen faster declines in tension loss with higher and lower gauges of the same string as measured by tools like the Tourna String Meter.
I think part of the challenge is that there are many variables at play:
- Consistency in a strings makeup
- How we string from one racquet to another
- Temperature, and other environmental factors like humidity
- The number of times we strike a ball in a given period and the force exerted on different occasions
- Accuracy of tension loss measurements
However, despite all of this, the differences in tension loss between gauges of the same string are often negligible and not something I've ever been able to detect (at least consistently) in how they feel, which is most important to me.
With that in mind, I'd be more inclined to focus on the type of string vs. the gauge in a scenario where maintaining tension is a priority.
I hope that helps.
All the best,
Jon
@@TennisCompanion thanks for the detailed reply! I've been experimenting to find the best value with all these factors so all this info is food for thought!
You're welcome! Happy to help.
I’m using an extreme tour and will get the auxetic version. This racket gives good spin. I generate good topspin . I use Grapplesnake m8 and game changer strings and will try black code. All these strings are sided.
I have a one sided backhand and generate topspin and slice in this side. My forehand is mainly jalea y spin.
I’m an advanced player.
Would you use 16 or 17 based on the information given?
Thanks.
Hi! what is the ideal string and string gauge for flat hitters?
have an inquiry about stringing . i have seen a local stringer at our city always pulls the string at the required tension from the racket throat side . not one time from throat and one time from head,my question how this would affect the tension , racket stability and sweet spot ?
hI I want to know wich string and tension is better for my daughter ...9 years old.. she play 6 day for 2 hour a day: Luxilon Smart ,Luxilon element Hyper G soft ...or Confidential ..I want to buy a raquet: Wilson blade 26 jr v7 vs wilson pro staff 26 jr v13 wich raquet i buy?.thx you.. best regards sorry for my english
Hi Danila,
Before I dive in too far, I wanted to back up slightly and share some thoughts you might find helpful.
Most nine-year-olds won't be quite ready to bump up to a 26-inch racquet. For reference and additional context, I'd encourage you to check out my guide on children's tennis racquets:
tenniscompanion.org/kids-tennis-racquet-sizing/
The ideal size racquet for your child is a combination of their age and height, which without knowing your daughter's height, would likely put her in the 25-inch bracket for a tennis racquet. Most 25-inch tennis racquets come prestrung with inexpensive synthetic gut tennis strings, which are more than sufficient for a nine-year-old.
With that said, I'm happy to get into the specific questions you asked because it sounds like your daughter is playing a lot of tennis, and she may be progressing faster than many other children.
Both the Wilson Pro Staff 26 and Wilson Blade 26 usually ship prestrung, so in most cases, you won't have to worry about strings for a little while. If you and your daughter's coach have determined that she's ready to bump up to a 26-inch racquet, then both are great options.
The Pro Staff 26 is a premium children's racquet that will feel and perform closer to that of a full-sized 27-inch adult racquet because of its full graphite construction, so it costs more but would be an excellent option for a skilled junior. The Wilson Blade 26, on the other hand, is more than sufficient for most kids your daughter's age, but the materials are graphite and aluminum, which makes it less expensive.
Moving on to strings, those you noted, Luxilon Smart, Luxilon Element, Solinco Hyper G Soft, and Solinco Confidential, are all stiffer polyester tennis strings. Generally, I encourage parents to steer clear of these types of strings to protect their child's health and longevity.
If you're looking to string your daughter's racquet with a higher quality string, then a premium synthetic or a multifilament is a terrific option. Two worth checking out are Gamma TNT2 17 and Tenfibre NRG2 17 - both offer excellent performance with slightly different price points.
As for tension, I'd encourage you to check out my video no the topic:
czcams.com/video/dNabsAmlLOw/video.html
Hopefully, you find these notes helpful.
All the best,
Jon
@@TennisCompanion Thank you very very very much....
All the best ,
Stefan
You're welcome, Stefan! My apologies for mixing up your first name 😄
Is there a substantial difference in swingweight if you have a full bed of 17 gauge vs 16 gauge of the same string same racket?
i noticed the 16 feels heavier because it doesn’t feel the ball as nicely. Just my experience. I use 18 x 20 Btw
Yes, there can be a 3-5g difference between 17 and 16 gauge strings which can be several swingweight points. For Solinco Confidential, a reel of 16 gauge is 25g and 17 gauge is 21g. You can see this video by Tennis Spin for more info: watch?v=wcncD_Hm98o&t=587s
I have a question
What type of string do i use if i want to throw back something much MUCH heavier (like a rock) and want multiple use, do i use thicker string? A lot of small string? And what tension do i put it?
And don't worry its just for a test (to see how far a rock can go and if it get deviation from its shape)
Hey I'm currently using the rpm blast(1.30 mm) with 50 pounds as the tension, and they don't last more than 3 to 4 hours. Any suggestions as to which string or how much tension should I be using to increase my string life as this is costing a lot?
Do they break or lose "pop?"
Try signum pro tornado. The feel is similar, maybe not as great as a new set of rpm blast, but they last longer and their feel lasts longer aswell, even at 17 gauge, can't even imagine at 16. And maybe you're constantly hitting near the top of the string bed, which is causing the strings to break faster
what is your ideal string for pure aero?
Pros red devil 1.24, thank me later
40 dollars for a full reel