When is the right time to change your tennis strings? Restringing your racquet depends more on your skill level and how often you play rather than the amount of time you’ve had the strings. Even some of the most regular players don’t always know when’s the ideal time for racquet stringing.

Tennis strings go bad over time. Racquet strings wear down relatively quickly from regular use. If you leave them too long, they’ll lose their elasticity and ability to hold tension. Worn-out or old strings can negatively affect your game.

So, is it worth restringing a tennis racquet? Here’s a more in-depth look at why and when you should consider updating your racquet stringing.

A quick online search of “how do I know if my tennis racquet needs restringing” will tell you the old rule of thumb is to restring your racquet as many times a year as you play in a week. So if you play four times a week, you should restring around four times per year. On the other hand, if you play once per week, you may be able to restring once every year.

This rule is usually good for recreational players, but it’s not always that simple. Consider the following factors as well if you’re wondering if it’s worth restringing a tennis racquet.

- How hard is your hit?
- Your level of play
- How much spin do you usually have on your shots?
- Do you play singles or doubles?
- What kind of racquet string are you using?
- Frequency and duration of play
- Budget
- Comfort

You’re the best judge. If you feel like your racquet isn’t performing as well as it should, it’s probably time to cut the strings.

It’s important to be aware of common clues that indicate when to restring your tennis racket for optimal play.

Whether you play tennis three times per week or once a month, over time, your strings will lose their tension and power from use and sun exposure. Here are a few telltale signs that it’s time to change your tennis strings.

Of course, a broken string will send you into your local sports shop for a repair, but less obvious physical signs can also be an indication it’s time to refresh. When strings become worn out, you can’t get as much spin or power when you hit the tennis ball.

Take a look at your strings. Do they look frayed or shaggy? Are the strings starting to come apart? When your strings look like they need to be replaced, most of the time, that means they do.

The sound when you hit the ball, that is. If the strings make a “thud” sound at contact or make a sound that’s not what you’re used to when you hit the ball, it’s probably time to restring. Do your racquet strings make a screeching sound when you move them? Strings should be able to glide without much friction or noise.

Listen to your strokes the next time you play. A change in sound is a typical red flag that it’s time to replace your strings.

When strings get old or worn out, the loss of tension can cause you to feel like you don’t have as much control over the ball. Loss of control is a huge sign that your tennis strings are no longer serviceable.

Another thing to watch out for is the feeling when you hit the ball. Worn strings lose their springiness, so you might experience a dull feeling when you hit the ball. If the ball doesn’t have as much snapback off the racquet as it should, that usually means you have to hit the ball harder to generate the same amount of topspin and make it go the same distance.

When was the last time you changed your tennis strings? Even if you don’t play regularly, the life expectancy of your strings won’t be forever. So if you have a racquet you haven’t used in a while, or it’s been a long time since your tennis racquet has had fresh strings, it’s probably time to update.

Our brick & mortar storefront, The Tennis & Golf Company offers curbside racquet stringing! Visit us at our Royal Oak, MI location during shop hours. We’ll restring your racquet within 1-3 business days and call you when it’s time to come and pick it up.

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