CarlosAlpacas
New User
What's the best string for a beginner? I see so many different strings on this site and it's just too confusing to choose which one. Thanks for your help.
Best string for a beginner ?
- Thread starter CarlosAlpacas
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tele
Professional
go for a cheaper soft string to protect your arm and wallet until you know better what you want.
for multis, tecnifibre multifeel, wilson sensation, alpha gut, gosen multi cx, yonex super 850, or head velocity are lower cost options and generally positively reviewed by forum members or tw playtesters.
syn gut is even cheaper overall. i have not used a lot of syn gut, but others(@Brando ) have recommended forten sweet as a comfy and cheap option.
if you want a narrower range, try velocity or multifeel, as both come in a variety of colors
for multis, tecnifibre multifeel, wilson sensation, alpha gut, gosen multi cx, yonex super 850, or head velocity are lower cost options and generally positively reviewed by forum members or tw playtesters.
syn gut is even cheaper overall. i have not used a lot of syn gut, but others(@Brando ) have recommended forten sweet as a comfy and cheap option.
if you want a narrower range, try velocity or multifeel, as both come in a variety of colors
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konstantinos kalfountzos
Hall of Fame
@CarlosAlpacas check out Dyreex and talked to them on Instagram. They have a great customer support service and a vast string lineup. I'm sure you'll find something suitable for a beginner at a very competitive price. I've played their X-Star, Cube Max and Pro Player, but I wouldn't recommend them to a beginner.
I could make more suggestions if I knew if you're in Europe and what racket will you be using.
I could make more suggestions if I knew if you're in Europe and what racket will you be using.
Agree with @tele but would suggest syn gut over multi for a beginner. I am not a beginner but use Ashaway Liberty, which is one of the more durable soft strings I have found. $3.25/set. Forten Sweet is fine too. Really any syn gut should be fine. The ones with things like wearguard or duraflex will feel firmer if you like that. The Gosen MicroSheep is another firm syn gut people like if you prefer that feel.
Simplicius
Semi-Pro
.
Medium power, medium stiffness, medium everything.
Then you can choose the right path for you.
A perfect "mediocre"
and "affordable" string is Topspin Cyber Blue 1.25.
My advice is to going "medium" in the beginning.
Medium power, medium stiffness, medium everything.
Then you can choose the right path for you.
A perfect "mediocre"
and "affordable" string is Topspin Cyber Blue 1.25.
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Return_Ace
Hall of Fame
Best is always relative, but as a beginner, you're not going to be in the position of being able to make the most of what makes a particular string "best" at anything.
But i echo all sentiments of a cheap Synthetic Gut, from any brand, don't even need to care about multis, and absolutely no polyester.
But i echo all sentiments of a cheap Synthetic Gut, from any brand, don't even need to care about multis, and absolutely no polyester.
StringStrungStrang
Professional
Well, it depends on many things. I can agree that for cost and playability that a Syn Gut to start with would likely be ideal. Are you a 16 year-old beginner or a 60 year-old beginner? Are you a powerful player? What racquet are you using? When you play currently, what are your strengths / weaknesses and what would like to have more of power, control. In addition to string type you should also give thought to the tension and gauge of a string. You should be more concerned about developing your strokes and footwork now as string choices won't impact you until you develop these areas first. Generally, I'd also say NO poly strings either.
Brando
Professional
Drilling down on @StringStrungStrang ’s wisdom, choosing a string inevitably hinges on whether you want more power or control. More experienced players want control-oriented syn gut (extruded nylon) strings because they like to provide the power. Since beginners swing slower, they often prefer more powerful multifilament (woven nylon) strings. It also depends on your racquet; wide-beamed power frames beg control strings while thinner control racquets invite some added power. And in the likely event your frame's string pattern is 16x19 go with 16 gauge (1.30mm), 17 gauge (1.25mm) if you have an 18x20.
And @tele‘s right in post #2 that, as a syn gutter, I’d recommend Forten Sweet 16 as an ideal beginner’s string because it’s the most multi-like SG I know of, low-powered yet soft on the arm by virtue of its superior elastic quality. Meanwhile every multi offered above is a great option in power. Multifeel (natural) is my favorite, with Alpha Gut 2000 as a great budget option (another nice call @tele).
And I like @Simplicius' advice to initially string whatever you get at the medium tension recommended on your racquet. Only, I’d stay away from poly strings because they’re made for advanced players (who swing super hard) and can cause tennis elbow unless restrung far more often than you’ll want to restring as a beginner (because polys loose their elasticity faster than any other string material, translating harmful vibrations to your arm before you can even feel that it's happening).
And @tele‘s right in post #2 that, as a syn gutter, I’d recommend Forten Sweet 16 as an ideal beginner’s string because it’s the most multi-like SG I know of, low-powered yet soft on the arm by virtue of its superior elastic quality. Meanwhile every multi offered above is a great option in power. Multifeel (natural) is my favorite, with Alpha Gut 2000 as a great budget option (another nice call @tele).
And I like @Simplicius' advice to initially string whatever you get at the medium tension recommended on your racquet. Only, I’d stay away from poly strings because they’re made for advanced players (who swing super hard) and can cause tennis elbow unless restrung far more often than you’ll want to restring as a beginner (because polys loose their elasticity faster than any other string material, translating harmful vibrations to your arm before you can even feel that it's happening).
Aestheticsaboveallelse
Legend
Do you use the black color cause thats the only version the database says has good snapback and spin
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
It has got to be a soft string. I would go with an inexpensive 16 gauge gut. Before people say it is too expensive, gut will retain its playability more than twice as long as Multis. Beginners won’t break strings and they can play it for 60-80 hours without any significant tension drop that they will notice. Meanwhile they will get the best feel and power so that they don’t need a very powerful racquet - you can buy them a decent 100 sq inch racquet instead of an stiff, oversized racquet.
My wife in her first year of tennis needed only 2 gut stringjobs in the whole year even though she was playing 4 or 5 times a week.
My wife in her first year of tennis needed only 2 gut stringjobs in the whole year even though she was playing 4 or 5 times a week.
SlowTiger
Professional
Ehh gut can also easily snap in humid conditions and more prone to breaking on mishits. You know a noob is going to be shanking
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
They will break it once every six months. When you hit with no power as beginners do, they are ok even with a lot of mishits. Today’s gut has coatings that make it much less affected by humidity with Luxilon gut being the best version of coated gut to stand up to humidity.
CarlosAlpacas
New User
Thanks so much for all the helpful suggestions and ideas. I'll have a browse for synthetic gut or multifilament strings.
konstantinos kalfountzos
Hall of Fame
@CarlosAlpacas what racket do you use. I'd hope not a lightweight racket under 290grams. I started with a 275gr racket and right after 2-3 months I had to buy another one, heavier. A lightweight racket is good for a few practices till you get the feel of the strokes, then becomes unplayable for me.
Simplicius
Semi-Pro
.
tele
Professional
Even though cyber blue may be very comfortable before it goes dead, a beginner is unlikely to restring after 15 hours of hitting, when its comfort is going to be diminished. Also, that database seems to indicate Mayami Big Spin is easier on the arm than Isospeed Professional, which makes me wonder if the poly reviewers were considering their strings in relation to other polys..
Tranqville
Professional
Natural gut is ideal for beginners for the reasons mentioned by @socallefty - great tension maintenance plus comfort. it's very cost-effective and offers superior value to beginners, since natural gut does not lose playability until it breaks. As a beginner, you will be hitting many shots off-center, so comfort is important. I also believe natural gut will facilitate development of touch and feel, and is relatively powerful. Natural gut will give you very good feedback in terms of feel and sound. You will KNOW when you got it right. Natural gut makes playing tennis a happier, more satisfying experience.
Whatever you do, please stay away from polys.
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konstantinos kalfountzos
Hall of Fame
@Tranqville I couldn't agree more: Poly x light-weight? racket below 285gr will make off-center hits hurt like hell.
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
I have to add this. My daughter started playing league two years ago. She came in as a 2.5, her second year she's a 3.0. Her team went to state/sectionals/nationals the first year. She went to state the second. Toward the end of her freshman year, she wanted a new racket for Christmas. She worried more about the paint than the frame. Right before she went to state this year, she asked if her racket needed restringing. I said I could restring it no problem. Her very next statement was "Will it feel different?". My response was you might feel something. She said "No, I'll wait til after state".
Beginners are blessed in that they don't know/care about gear. They are just invested in getting started and having fun. We could all learn something from them.....
Beginners are blessed in that they don't know/care about gear. They are just invested in getting started and having fun. We could all learn something from them.....
g4driver
Legend
@Rabbit you need to come watch and learn from the 2.5 and 3.0 ladies here in Charleston who are all giving Solinco and Wilson all the free advertising with matching their Blade 98 frames and matching Hyoer G.
amazing how well that combo works for the lob festivals at 2.5 and 3.0they know the truth: it is all about matching gear
konstantinos kalfountzos
Hall of Fame
As much as i don't like playing with them, maybe start with a syn gut string. they're a soft string so if you have elbow issues, or you have bad technique that could put pressure on your elbow, this is a forgiving string type. it's also elastic so you will get more power out of the string if you can't generate the power from technique. They're also a lower cost string vs the wide range of prices for poly's. Later on you can start experimenting with stiffer strings, shaped strings depending on how a syn gut feels.
Brando
Professional
@g4driver, are you really beating the poly drum on a thread for beginners? I accept that you string for x-college team players ranked as low as 4.0 who need poly or poly hybrids because they’re string breakers. As well, I know from prior posts that you string for SC state championship competitors at the 3.0 to 4.0 level who also hit hard enough to beg poly.
Please consider that these players are lucky to have you stringing for them because, as you’ve said, they play injury free thanks to your knowledge of their playstyles. And I’ve no doubt that same care enables other sub-5.0s among your 300+ clients to safely play poly too.
But the average 3-4 player who doesn’t play 4 hours a week, much less 4 hours a day, doesn’t hit hard enough to: A) break syn gut in 20 hours, much less 12; B) move poly strings, let alone produce snapback; and C) have a stringer of your pedigree to advise them. Instead, they go to franchise sports stores, dropping their racquet off at a counter, never meeting their stringer, and not understanding that these under-paid slingers are less crafting string jobs than cranking them out.
I’m not trying to challenge you, @g4driver, or your expertise. You know I respect both. I’m only asking you to consider the context in which your advice is received by less experienced players at TT.
Please consider that these players are lucky to have you stringing for them because, as you’ve said, they play injury free thanks to your knowledge of their playstyles. And I’ve no doubt that same care enables other sub-5.0s among your 300+ clients to safely play poly too.
But the average 3-4 player who doesn’t play 4 hours a week, much less 4 hours a day, doesn’t hit hard enough to: A) break syn gut in 20 hours, much less 12; B) move poly strings, let alone produce snapback; and C) have a stringer of your pedigree to advise them. Instead, they go to franchise sports stores, dropping their racquet off at a counter, never meeting their stringer, and not understanding that these under-paid slingers are less crafting string jobs than cranking them out.
I’m not trying to challenge you, @g4driver, or your expertise. You know I respect both. I’m only asking you to consider the context in which your advice is received by less experienced players at TT.
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Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
My daughter had hit with and picked out the Head Boom OS. The pro shop owner got her a Radical OS instead (pandemic shortages). She didn't care. He gave me a set of Volkl Power Fiber in orange to string it so it'd match.@Rabbit you need to come watch and learn from the 2.5 and 3.0 ladies here in Charleston who are all giving Solinco and Wilson all the free advertising with matching their Blade 98 frames and matching Hyoer G.
they know the truth: it is all about matching gear
She loves it.And a buddy of mine plays 4.0. He was playing a match at the same facility my daughter was. She had asked me to watch her and I had come out for that. While watching, the 4 girls were laughing and having a blast, all of them had a large Ultra at the bench. They were saying stuff like "That was a great shot" "I can't believe I missed that!" "Oh, you're so good!" etc etc
From 4 courts over, I heard my buddy yell "Dammit! You gotta be kidding me! How could I miss that?"
It dawned on me that having fun does not equate to proficiency.
Charleston, huh? You lucky devil.....
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g4driver
Legend
Not at all.. hence the
and emojis after my comments. I have the clients I have due to the shear number of clueless pro shops pushing polys to beginners and telling them they need to restring every 3 weeks. It is literally selling yellow ice to Eskimos. They take advantage of those who don't know any better.
Definition of FACETIOUS
joking or jesting often inappropriately : waggish; meant to be humorous or funny : not serious… See the full definition
www.merriam-webster.com
@Brando
less experienced TT readers and beginner players need to read this:
Collaborative Effort By Bob Patterson: To all the parents of beginners who think their 11 year beginner needs poly. Please stop and read this
Collaborative Effort By Bob Patterson: When it comes to poly strings, we all need to make sure adult recreational players and juniors know the facts. I speak to many manufacturers, coaches, and racquet technicians, and the consensus is that recreational adult players and junior players are...
tt.tennis-warehouse.com
Tecnifibre Multifeel mains and Head Velocity crosses are my go-to setup for beginners. It lasts them for a year plus. It is one-third the price of Klip Gut which has been back ordered since the Magna Carta was signed in 1215, 1/5 the price of Babolat NG, and it will never cause TE, or GE.
Sure synthetic gut works also, and beginners then complain about strings sticking out of place. I offer beginner clients a choice of Babolat, Wilson, Prince, Kirschbaum syn gut for $4 a frame or MF/Velocity for $10 a frame and I tell them:
a) neither string will hurt them
b) MF/Velocity won't stick out of place nearly as much
c) If you don't like what I put in your frame, bring it back and I will redo your frame with something else for free and refund you fully for the labor and strings.
g4driver
Legend
It's the best combo for incessant lobbying by beginner women by far. The opponents can be heard muttering "I got get me some of that green string and a Blade 98"
Brando
Professional
Not at all.. hence the
The Simpsons Nevermind GIF - The Simpsons Nevermind Toons - Discover & Share GIFs
Click to view the GIF
tenor.com
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CarlosAlpacas
New User
I haven't decided what racquet to buy yet.
stapletonj
Hall of Fame
A cheap syn gut is good. start low tension and slowly go up. Don't be afraid to restring before it breaks, as you are learning to handle the game as well as your string. (every month?)
provide the string, pay for labor. IF you are def. int the sport, you might even buy a reel or shop around for a super duper sale and buy like 6 or seven sets.
Gut is not the Cadillac one thinks. Klip (if you can get it) is only $10 more a set than some higher price non gut options from Luxilon/Yonex/etc.
IF you get a stringer who will hybrid it for you, then the diff in price per string job drops to about $5.00.
provide the string, pay for labor. IF you are def. int the sport, you might even buy a reel or shop around for a super duper sale and buy like 6 or seven sets.
Gut is not the Cadillac one thinks. Klip (if you can get it) is only $10 more a set than some higher price non gut options from Luxilon/Yonex/etc.
IF you get a stringer who will hybrid it for you, then the diff in price per string job drops to about $5.00.
LOBALOT
Hall of Fame
I saw one suggestion for Velocity but wondering why no suggestions for cheap multi as a beginning player will get decent pop and comfort from the string?
I was thinking something like Wilson Sensation which is cheap enough. I am sure others can think of more brands in this category that would be a good fit.
I was thinking something like Wilson Sensation which is cheap enough. I am sure others can think of more brands in this category that would be a good fit.
tele
Professional
i suggested a few, including sensation, but i am sure there are others i did not mention
SlowTiger
Professional
Wait, I'm not supposed to be eating yellow snow???
There is a varying degree of opinions here, but for a beginner, a basic synthetic gut is a pretty safe bet because it has decent playability, is cost effective and a beginner really won't notice that much a difference assuming it's strung at some frame's midpoint tension. I assume you are going to a shop to get strings so they probably only have 1 brand in stock so really not hard to choose.
fuzz nation
G.O.A.T.
Agree with the recommendation for synthetic gut (SG). Although this string is often qualified as "basic" and "cheap", don't let that make you think that you're compromising when choosing it. Syn. gut has been around for a long time and it's still an ideal string for many players at many levels. If I'm stringing for a beginner, syn. gut installed near the middle of the recommended tension range is usually a smart place to start. If that first setup feels either too firm and harsh or too soft after one or two outings, it's easy enough to get a re-string done at a different tension. That first try is at least useful as a reference point.
A frame having what's considered a more "open" pattern will generally have 16 mains and 18-20 crosses. These open patterns often work well with a 16 gauge string in terms of getting a nice balance of performance and service life. A thinner 17 gauge string might offer a feel that some players prefer, but the thinner string can be less durable depending on the player (and the pattern in the racquet). I rather like 17 ga. syn. gut in my own frames - especially in a more dense pattern (18x20 perhaps) - but I'm spoiled with a stringing machine at home. I do get plenty of hours from a bed of 17 ga. string, but if durability in your string is important, a 16 ga. option is probably smart.
Gosen OG Sheep Micro and Prince SG w/Duraflex are both rather firm - I don't like them in full beds in my own racquets, but they can last a long time. Many other syn. guts are what I consider to be moderately soft - lately I've been keeping local players happy with Babolat SG, but there are many decent options out there. The softest of the family that I know of is Forten Sweet.
Depending on where you live and the courts you use, one thing that can be helpful if you play outdoors in colder weather is dropping tension by maybe 3-4 lbs. I have to play outside at the end of the winter with a high school team I coach and having my strings at lower tension feels substantially better when hitting in those conditions.
