10.  How do I know when I need to restring my racquet?

There is a typical rule...the number of times you play a week is the optimal number of times to restring your racquet in a year.  So players that play 3 times a week should look to restring every 4 months or so. 

Other signs are that your strings are deeply notched at the cross sections or that you hear a loud crunchy sound when you try and move them. 


9 What's the deal with tension?

What I'm going to tell you may sound backwards...but it's the truth...the tighter your strings (higher tension) the better control you'll have.  The looser your strings (to a point) the more power you'll get. 

For all you doubting Thomas's out there think of it this way..

The tighter your strings, the less flex there is and the less time the ball sits on your string bed.  Less flex means that you get less energy springing back off the strings...less time means that the ball will be directed at the angle the ball contacts the string bed and that the arc of your swing as it changes the angle will have less impact on the direction of the ball. (mouthful...reread)

The opposite is true for power...think of a trampoline...a very tight trampoline doesn't allow you to bounce that high...but loosen it up to the right point and you're bouncing higher than a house.  Same holds true for a string bed.  The loss of control is due to the fact that the ball sits on your strings longer.  As you swing through your arc, you don't know exactly when that ball will release from your string bed....thus you have less control.

8 What are factory string specs for a racquetball racquet?

All the racquets today have a range of 28-34 lbs for tension.  The problem is that when you pull a racquet off the shelf you have no idea what the tension actually is.  Most racquets are strung with a simple synthetic monocore string.  The strings are 16 or 17 gauge.

7 Is there a warranty on strings?

None of the manufacturers offer a warranty on strings...if they break during your first week...they basically say tough.  I would call them and ask from a free set of strings though..most understand and at least send you that.

If you get a restring upgrade from us at the time of purchase or if you send your racquet in for a restring we have a limited 2 week warranty on all our work.  After 2 weeks, take good care of those babies!

6 What the heck is string gauge and should I care?

String gauge refers to the thickness of the string.  As mentioned before, typical people use 16, 17 or even 18 gauge.  As the number increases the thickness decreases.  Thicker, 16 gauge string, offers better durablity...it's a little stiffer and thus offers less playability.  17 gauge is the most common racquetball thickness.  It allows you decent durability coupled with very good playability.  For example, we can string 17 gauge string at a a slightly higher tension so that you have very good control upfront...in addition, even at the higher tension the strings flex and respond very well when you need more power on a full shot from the back court. 

An 18 gauge string enhances playability as referenced by the 17 gauge string but the durability factor makes playing with this string much more costly for most.

5 Is there a big difference between strings?

In general, I put strings into two groups (outside of gauge).  Monocore and Multicore.  Monocore strings are usually much cheaper.  They have a simple outer casing that you sometimes see wear off.  They can pop any time their main center core breaks.  They offer good pop and in general don't stretch that much.  They can dry out.  Most of the factory strings are this kind of string.

Multicore strings (Technifibre) have a center made up of hundreds and sometimes thousands of smaller indivdual strings.  They tend to be softer.  They tend to stretch more.  They usually don't just break...they tend to fray.  They offer much more springiness.  However, the strings that live fast and flex better do die a quicker death. 

4 I'm a notorious String breaker...what can I do?

If you find yourself breaking your strings much more frequently than what #10 above has outline for optimal stringing...you my friend are a string breaker...but there's nothing wrong with that.

I run through a few option when I get a NSB (notorious string breaker).  First, if he's playing with 18 gauge...we thicken his string.

When that doesn't work we move to a polyester string.  These are tougher, stronger strings...they don't play as well but the durability is much higher.  I would still use regular strings for the crosses to add some playability.

If you're still ahead of the breakage curve with polyester, you may have to go to Kevlar strings.  These strings are extremely tough.  However, they have no spring in them whatsoever.  You can still string better cross strings in place...but Kevlar has the worst playability of any string out there.

A couple side notes...you may just need new grommets or you may be able to change your stringing pattern to aleviate some breakage...

3 My strings move out of place...why? Can I make them stop?

All strings stretch.  In the beginning, your new strings were full of life with a joyful spring in their step....well springs wear out with repeated use and continued stretching.  Snapping back becomes rare.  The tension in the strings decrease and they begin to move...as they should...however now they don't snap back.  You find yourself fixing them after each rally. 

There are two things you have to ask yourself...is the racquet still playing fine...in most cases it is...it's just annoying.  In some cases, if you're over your time frame outlined in #1...you're ready for new strings. 

When I play tournaments or play for fun...I look at and fix my strings if necessary before each point.  I've made it part of my "rythum".  Once you understand that the strings are still playing well because they are still moving...it shouldn't bother you as much.

Take the alternative...your strings are notched into place....now you have no response from your strings at all....you might as well be hitting with a two by four.

Once your strings start to move....there is little you can do.  There is a product called stringeyes...they are like little mini washers that you insert at the crosses.  They will work temporarily...but as the strings stretch further...these little washers go flyin'.

2 How does stringing my mains and crosses at different tension affect my racquet's play?

The only time using different tensions should even be considered is if you use a 2 piece stringing pattern   A one peice stringing pattern will just work it's way to average out the tensions.  While different tensions do change the feel slightly...you're still dealing with an overall string bed at close to the average tension of the different strings.  The two tensions can't really vary by that much or you'd have a great deal of breakage and I'm not sure the racquet would even play well. 

The only time I've really used varying tensions is when I have a string breaker and the mains are Kevlar (to get any response the tension needs to be lower) and the crosses are normal 17 gauge at a higher tension.

Lately we have been experimenting with increasing the tension on the mains of long string racquets (with strings through or around the handle) and then less tension on the crosses.  Next month I should have some results.


1.  Why are there 4 knots on my racquet?

Many racquets today have complicated patterns.  These pattern help cut down on breakage and in many cases offer more power or offer more control.  As a result, more racquetball racquets lean toward the 2 piece stringing method over the older 1 piece method (2 knots).

The two piece method cuts down on extra string that would be on the outside of your racquet.  This in turn cuts down on tension loss.  It also eliviates overlapping problems in the grommet string channel. 

Bonus: What the hell is a grommet anyway?

Grommets are the plastic pieces around your racquet that protect the top of your frame from the wall.  They are also the little pieces you see coming through the holes of your frame that the string actually comes through. They keep your strings safe.

Good grommets are essential for good string life.  When your grommets are cracked they can easily nick your string and it's over.  In addition, repeatedly scraping the wall (especially at 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock) will cause your grommets to wear down on the outside of your frame.  If you wear them down enough the channel they create to protect your strings will become bear.  When that happens, one good grazing wall shot and "Pop" it's over Johnny!

Friction is the biggest problem...so put some grommet tape on your racquet and extend your outside grommet life by 4 times.

RacquetWorld Restringing Services

Copyright 2005 RacquetWorld. All rights reserved.