Synthetic vs. Natural Gut Strings

Tennis Strings can generally be divide into two categories: Synthetic and Natural Gut. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Synthetics encompass a very wide and diverse assortment of string varying in material, construction types, and cost.

The most common material used for synthetics is nylon, although many other materials are now used in modern strings. Basic nylon is constructed of a monofilament of nylon. This is the most basic and cheapest of tennis strings. You will NOT find this available at RACQUETMAXX.

More common are nylon strings consisting of a small monofilament core with smaller nylon wraps. These strings are commonly marketed as Synthetic Gut. However, their playing characteristics are far from that of a good natural gut string. These strings are generally considered a good compromise of durability and playability, as well as good value. They will usually range from $20 - $28. Check string pricing page for details.

Premium synthetics are strings that are on the upper end of the playability scale and consist of a wide variety of materials and construction types. Usually touted as "almost" like natural gut, these strings do take on many of the characteristics of natural gut but fall just short. Many of these strings utilize a multi-filament construction that mimics natural gut. New high tech materials have greatly improved the resiliency and the tension retention of these strings. You can expect to pay $30 - $45 for these strings. Check string pricing page for details.

If durability is what you need, you have several choices. You can go with a 15L guage synthetic. This will afford you decent playability with a bit of added durability due to the thicker diameter of the string. The next step up is a string with a coating that resists notching. Often players can get away with a thinner coated string , providing more bite on the ball, but still durable enough. The next step up is a POLYESTER string. These strings are constructed of a monofiliment of polyester. “POLY” strings are rapidly gaining favor on the college and professional circuits. Again, many players are opting for the poly strings in a thinner gauge to get more spin and feel, but still maintain good durability. Although some of the newer poly strings are better, there main draw back is the poor tension retaining properties. Pro players don’t mind this because they restring for every match. For average players however, pre-stretching greatly improves the longevity of the polyester strings. Many of the top pros use the poly strings in “hybrid string jobs” combining the poly with a soft multifiliment synthetic or natural gut. The ultimate in durability is a kevlar hybrid string job. These utilize kevlar strings on the main strings and a basic synthetic on the cross strings. Kevlar is a super durable fiber used in car tires and bullet proof vest, so it will stand up to heavy pounding on the court. It also has no elasticity, which is why it must be used in a hybrid to make it playable. If you have arm pain, or if you want to avoid arm pain, stay away from kevlar. Kevlar is tops for durability but the worst for comfort. Check string pricing page for details.

The epitome of the perfect string is Natural Gut, which is why it is the choice of the majority of top touring professionals. The string is made from beef intestines, not cats. Because it is a natural fiber it is naturally resilient and out performs every synthetic on the market. Not all gut is created equal. At player's Choice, we only carry one brand - BABOLAT. This French company has been in business for over 125 years making the finest gut and synthetics strings available. The reason for the exclusivity in our stores is simple: QUALITY. Because of the humid conditions in the south, no other gut string would hold up. Babolat utilizes a patented coating process called THERMOGUT, where thousands of fibers are coated during the manufacturing process to insure that the string will hold up in rigorous playing conditions. Babolat Natural Gut strings are available in a variety of gauges and range in price from $50 - $65. Check string pricing page for details.