Strings for a beginner
 

A friend of mine is looking to get rid of his stock string and put in something a little better. He just start 2-3 months ago. I'd like to recommend a multifilament or synthetic gut, probably a syn gut, but I'm at a loss for what's good now.

He has an eastern forehand that he arms, and likes to run around the backhand to protect it. When he hits the backhand, it's a weird 1 hand / 2 hand thing. He brushes the ball and is able to hit with a little bit of topspin. I'm aware that form and technique need to be worked on, but he doesn't like the stock strings at all.

Any recommendations?

xCel Power 17?
NXT Tour 18?
Pacific Premium Power X 16L?
Pacific Power Twist 16L?
L-Tec Premium Syn Gut 16?

I would just put in Prince Orig. Syn. Gut w/ Duraflex. Remind him to restring in a month or two.

Any of the quality Syn Gut I use HEAD will work fine. The biggest difference will be a quality string job as compared to a stock string job.

Any nylon.

Prince Premier Attack will do better than synthetic guts, as it does not lose playability for a long time, especially for the beginner.

You did not mention what racquet he is using. I would second the opinions to just go with Nylon/Syn Gut in 16 gauge initially in middle of recommended tension range. Restring every 3 months minimum, but adjust tension up or down depending on what he wants out of the racquet.

Do multis have better longevity than synthetic gut?

If he doesn't want to restring frequently (once, at most twice, a year) is it advisable to go multi over syn gut?

syn guts typically hold tension better, so I would go with that.

I don't think so, a good multifilament should hold tension better than vast majority of syn guts. Not going to be a huge difference though.

Forten Sweet 16 or Gamma Syngut 16(not wearguard)

so a multi holds tension better than a syn gut?

Some do, some don't.
Most synguts are fairly similar to each other.
Multis, OTOH, come in a bewildering variety of configurations.

Is there a specific string, either multi or syn gut, that holds tension the best? Preferably in a higher gauge? i.e. is there an SPPP equivalent in multi / syn gut that is a tension maintenance monster?

Like I said, Prince Premier Attack 16.

How is the 17 gauge for longevity? (i.e. playability)

Also, has anyone used Prince Premier LT? What makes that one so much more expensive than Attack? I noticed it comes in an 18 gauge.

I used Premier LT 16. I usually don't pay that much for a multi, but it came free with my racquet as part of a special offer. I played well with it, but after about 6-8 hours I could feel it getting stiffer, then at about 10 hours I cut it because I didn't like it at that point.

Premier Attack is softer from the start. It gets stiffer also, but it keeps its playability for a longer time. Premier Attack has more pop, and it gives me more confidence to take full swings. I measure my tension with RacquetTune every time I'm done playing. Based on my measurements, Premier Attack holds tension as well or better than any other string I've tried. I also like that it doesn't move around much in the stringbed.

I really don't see a reason to pay more for Premier LT. Maybe Premier Softflex would be better, but I haven't tried it, and it also costs more than Premier Attack.

Thanks for the advice!

Premier Attack and RIP Control look like two decent choices.

What about the syn guts? Which one retains playability the longest? Is Prince Premier Attack more playable than any syn gut over the long run?