How to Choose the Right String Pattern?
It’s important to enter the tennis court with the right racquet and equipiment, but your string pattern will enhance or
limit your performance. Therefore, it is critical to make sure your string pattern complements your swing and
playing style. Racquet string patterns are defined by the total number of main (vertical) and cross (horizontal)
strings.
They are most often displayed as the number of mains X the number of crosses. For example:
16 mains and 18 crosses = 16 x 18
Racquets with more mains and crosses – e.g. 18 x 20 – are described as having a “dense” pattern, while racquets
with less mains and crosses – e.g. 16 x 18 – are considered to have an “open” pattern.
While a wide variety of string patterns can be seen on the tennis court, the following are most common:
16 x 18
16 x 19
16 x 20
18 x 20
To determine which string pattern is right for you, first you need to understand how differences in string pattern
affect on-court performance.
Power:
Fewer strings result in more power
Spin:
Fewer strings create larger “squares,” grip the ball more, and result in more spin
More strings create smaller “squares,” grip the ball less, and result in less spin
When it comes to string patterns, players assume that “control” and “spin” are the same and therefore that a
“dense” string pattern will generate more spin. This is incorrect!
Feel and Comfort:
Dense string patterns feel more firm and provide more feedback
Open patterns absorb shock better and are more comfortable
String Movement:
Dense string patterns stay in place better, result in less movement, and provide more control on shots hit with spin
String Tension:
Lower string tension will result in more power for all string patterns
Dense string patterns prevent string movement, even at lower tension
So what is the best string pattern for your game? As with all tennis Raquets, we recommend trying a few different
string patterns to find what works best for you. That way you understand exactly how each affects your
performance.