Most club players restring far too rarely — usually only when a string snaps. But strings go dead long before they break. Here's the rule of thumb.
The classic rule: restring as many times per year as you play per week. Play twice a week? Restring roughly twice a year. It's rough, but a good baseline.
Why restring if nothing's broken? Strings lose tension and elasticity with every hit. A "dead" string bed feels boardy or unresponsive, loses control and stops gripping the ball for spin — and the harsher feel can aggravate your arm. Polyester in particular can be dead within weeks of heavy play even though it looks fine.
Signs it's time
- The ball flies long or feels unpredictable (control gone).
- The strings feel dull, dead or "boardy."
- You notice notching, fraying or movement in the string bed.
- It simply doesn't feel as lively as when freshly strung.
By string type
- Polyester: loses tension fastest — restring more often even without breaks.
- Multifilament / synthetic gut: hold playability longer but still soften over time.
- Natural gut: holds tension best but frays with age and moisture.
Occasional players: even if you play rarely, restring at least once a year — strings degrade in the bag too.
Keep your racket playing its best — browse tennis strings at Central Tennis and check our string tension guide while you're choosing.
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