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How Often Should I Re-String My Tennis Racket ?
It depends on numerous factors:- The type and diameter (gauge) of the string, how often the racket is used, the length of time the string has been in the racket and the level and style of play, and temperature. Some tennis players will notice that a racket string becomes less playable after about 20 hours of play. They start losing control and assume that the problem is their own and begin to change their game strokes to accommodate the loss of tension and elasticity in the strings. Some players will continue to play with a dead racket until a string breaks. Even if a racket is not used the strings will gradually lose tension and elasticity over a period of several weeks.

The problem has always been that the loss of tension-elasticity is so gradual that many players do not realise that their racket needs restringing. Replacing strings at the right time and at the correct tension will not only improve a player's performance but may also prevent wrist, elbow and shoulder problems. A broken synthetic string is a sign that you have not re-strung at the correct time.

If we take a professional tournament player, we would often string about 8 rackets up in the day before the tournament. The professional would change his racket usually after the first 7 games and then every nine games when the balls are changed usually after 35 to 45 minutes of play. However a club tennis player may only hit the ball with a third of the power so would need to replace monofilament strings after 6-20 hours of play, multifilament after 15 to 30 hours of play depending on the level and style of play. Strings in Junior rackets may last longer when they are not generating so much power and spin. Tension is also lost the longer strings are kept in a racket. Even if the racket has not been used , re-string a racket with monofilament strings every 2 months, multifilament strings every 3 months and natural gut every 6 months. If you have a pocket computer, eg the ERT 300, restring after 10% of the dynamic tension has been lost.

If you plan to buy a new racket, it is best to buy one unstrung. Many strung rackets purchased from shops and on the internet may have had strings in them for many months and by the time they reach the player, they need replacing.

 

Buying Antique and Collectors Rackets
The Best Rackets to Buy for Investments: These can be divided into 5 groups:
 1. Rackets made before 1890. These rackets sometimes have Lopsided and or Flat-Heads. Very sought after depending on the condition.
 2. Rackets made between 1890 to 1920. They need to be in good condition. The "Fishtail", "Bobtail" and "Fantail" racket handles are some of the most sought after by collectors. Many antique dealers suggest that any warp and the keeping of the original broken strings add to the character of the racket and during the last couple of years we have seen many of these rackets selling for several thousand pounds. If you are buying an expensive antique violin you would not expect to buy it with broken strings, and therefore if you are buying an antique racket you should also not have broken strings in it. The reason that many rackets are sold with broken strings is the expense of restringing them to their original condition. It is now very difficult to obtain the original natural gut and there are very few stringers that know how to correctly string antique rackets. Whilst a couple of small string breaks may not affect the value of the racket, gaps in the centre of the racket will.
 3. Hazells made in the 1930s, famous triple branch racket. Very sought after and very good investment. They very easily warp and beware of cracks or breaks in the wood.
 4. Wood rackets produced between 1930 to 1980. Mass produced rackets hold little value although they interesting for collectors. The famous racket is the Dunlop Maxply that was played with at Wimbledon at one time more than any other racket. They were mass produced in such large quantities that only rackets that are new or in pristine condition could be considered as an investment.
 5. Modern Unique rackets that were produced in just small quantities and are very rare. There are just a small number that appear on the market every few years.
Dating: Many wood rackets are difficult to date precisely. Some rackets were manufactured and sold over a long period of time. The Dunlop Maxply Fort was manufactured almost unchanged from 1932 to 1985

FEATURES THAT AFFECT THE VALUE OF THE ANTIQUE RACKET
1. The Age Of The Racket: Older rackets are more scarce and therefore more valuable
2.  Make : Is the makers name, badge, logo or model intact?
3.  Wood : Check that there are no brakes or warps in the frame.
4.  Stings : A 100 year old racket may have had many re-strings. Strings were normally made from natural gut and have a limited life. It is important that any restringing is kept to the original stringing pattern using the original natural gut materials and colours. 

 

The development of Tennis
Tennis is the adaption of an ancient sport once played in Greece. It was developed by European monks when the game was played in monasteries in the 12th century. It became known as the jeu de paume with the ball being hit with the hand. The racket was introduced in the 16th century. This game continues today known as Court, Real or Royal Tennis. The game became popular with royalty and in the 1530s, King Henry 8th built an indoor tennis court at Hampton Court Palace. In the mid-19th century, "Field", "Long" or "Garden" Tennis began to evolve on grass courts. This new game of tennis, later known as "Lawn" Tennis, was due to the inventions of the lawn mower in 1830 and the vulcanised rubber process in 1844 that enabled rubber tennis balls to be manufactured. Lawn tennis started to become popular in gardens and croquet lawns in the 1860s and by 1879 tennis clubs had been established. Lawn Tennis became popular with both men and women and the 1920s and 30s were often described as the golden age of Lawn Tennis. In 1932, Dunlop introduce the iconic Maxply rackets which would become famous for 50 years. In 1976 the first graphite and fibreglass rackets gradually replaced the wood. These lighter rackets together with improved tennis balls now produce a greater velocity. However the improved technology could also be the downfall of the game. The purpose of the serve was to start the rally, but now with the high speeds of over 120 mph, the serve has now dominated the game in mens' tennis on a fast surface without a rally taking place. The solution may be to introduce a slightly larger ball with a 6% increase in diameter into the game. Known as class 3 balls by the International Federation.

 

What string should I choose ?
Most people put their priorities of choosing a racket first and the selection of string as secondary. Too often the string is chosen for its colour or price. It is however the string plane that is in sole contact with the ball when it is hit and therefore is of considerable importance in racket sports. There have been considerable developments in the production and manufacture of natural and synthetic strings during recent years. Sheep intestines were originally used, but now nearly all natural gut is made from beef intestines. "Synthetic gut" does not indicate that it will perform like natural gut, it is simply a name given by some manufactures to a soft synthetic string.

Their are two main choices natural gut and synthetic string:-

NATURAL GUT
This is the choice of many professional tennis players. There is not a synthetic string that has the same performance. Natural gut has more elasticity (power) and will retain its tension for longer than any synthetic string. New improved production and coatings on natural gut has improved its durability in recent years. The main disadvantage with a natural string is the cost. The cost of stringing a racket in natural gut could be twice the cost of stringing using a synthetic string.

SYNTHETIC STRING
With over 600 synthetic strings on the market it can be a bewildering choice which can be divided into a few groups. Most professional stringers keep a few popular synthetic strings in stock from each group and it is always best to obtain the best advice as to the string that is most suitable for your game. Synthetic string roughly falls into two categories.
Multifilament:
A soft string is is made of synthetic micro fibres giving more power, comfort and helps to absorb the shock on the arm.
Monofilament:
Made from a single strand of synthetic material e.g., polyester. Provides control and spin, although harsh on the arm and loses tension quickly and is not recommended for recreational players.

Some companies that produce synthetic strings have introduced strings that has an uneven edge that is claimed will generate more spin.

HYBRID STRINGING
Many players order Hybrid Stringing which maximizes the benefits of two types of strings, usually natural gut and monofilament. providing comfort, power, durability and spin.

 

What racket should I choose ?
There are now many superb rackets on the market to suite different types of players. Professional players tend to play with a racket with a small to medium size head and often customize the weight. Recreational rackets tend to be lighter with a larger head. Choosing a racket by holding and swinging a racket in a shop is very different to hitting a ball and could be an expensive mistake. The best way to choose a racket is to take several on court and spend a few minutes hitting the ball with each racket. Some shops allow you to do this and some good clubs arrange open days to try out different rackets. However there are other considerations to take into account including the type and tension of the strings, the type of the grip and the size of the handle. At Surrey Tennis we will be able to advise you.

 

Tennis-Squash Elbow  Lateral Epicondylitis
Tennis elbow is a condition that causes pain around the outside of the elbow caused by strained muscles. You should avoid playing tennis until your symptoms improve. There is no magical cure for tennis elbow and most people who regularly play racket sports suffer from this problem at some time during their life. If the the problem causes distress it is advisable to seek help from a doctor or sports clinic. Tennis Elbow can last between 6 months and two years until the damage to the muscle repairs itself.

SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT MAY HELP PREVENT TENNIS ELBOW

  • Choose natural gut strings
    Although more expensive than synthetic gut, this string is still preferred by many professionals. Natural gut consistently provides more power and absorbs shock during impact with the ball. Natural gut will also hold its tension for longer than synthetic strings.
  • String rackets frequently
    Strings start to loose their elasticity and tension as soon as they are strung in a frame.
  • Change to a thinner string
    Some manufacturers produce their string in different thicknesses. A thinner string will produce more elasticity than a thicker string and will absorb more shock. The higher the string gauge number the thinner the string. e.g. a 17 gauge is thinner than a 16 gauge.
  • Choose a flexible racket frames
    Rackets that flex on ball impact reduce the shock load on the arm.
  • Choose a large headed racket
    A large headed racket has a larger sweet area. A larger area of strings provide more power with less effort and greater shock absorption. A staggered stringing system will also increase the size of the sweet spot.
  • Use as large a grip size as possible
    Use the largest grip that is comfortable to play and hold the racket with.
  • Use a soft cushion grip
    There are many new cushion grips available that can absorb some of the shock every time the ball is hit.
  • Use a lower string tension
    This generates a little more power with less shock and vibration on the arm. (Unfortunately the lower tension can reduce the control of the ball)
  • Warm up gently before you start hitting the ball hard.
    After a warm-up and stretching exercises, start by hitting the ball gently and gradually build up the power.
  • Choose a slightly heavier racket
    A heavier frame generates more power.
  • Good stroke production
    Always aim to hit the ball in the centre of the strings. Hit the ball off centre, the racket will twist and add extra strain on the arm and elbow. Try to take the racket right back on ground strokes to produce more power.

We know of several tennis players who developed tennis elbow problems after they started playing badminton. The badminton stroke is different to the tennis stroke and may sometimes be the direct cause of 'tennis elbow' injury. There are many arm-elbow supports to alleviate 'tennis elbow' available from sports shops. Sometimes they may help. For players who cannot afford the cost natural gut strings, choose a soft synthetic string that is more elastic such as a multifilament.

www.SurreyTennis.com    e-mail: info@surreytennis.uk

Tel.  07871 552551,  Leatherhead 01372 453135, 

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