Experienced players of tennis, badminton, and squash know the importance of racket strings. They acknowledge that strings affect their performance by providing control, spin, and consistency. Despite this awareness, many misconceptions about strings still persist. Most of them are based on outdated advice and assumptions, lacking factual basis.
These myths influence players’ equipment choices, not only compromising performance but also causing long-term injury. In this blog, we will debunk some of the myths about racket strings.
What Makes Players Trust the Myths About Strings?
Myths spread through word of mouth, such as the notion that a training partner uses a certain tension or a coach generalises a technique for every player. Over time, these ideas gain traction and begin to sound like facts.
Many experienced players fall into the trap of choosing string brands on brand names, price tags and what other players use. When players believe these myths, they fail to consider whether the strings suit their playing style. These myths can limit your performance, cause discomfort, or waste money and time.
Myth 1: Expensive Strings Guarantee Better Performance
A higher price tag does not always guarantee high performance. A high price often gives the impression of better quality, but that’s not always true. When one type of string works fine with one player, it might feel completely wrong for the other player.
Instead, a mid-range string can offer better playability, durability, and comfort—often at a lower cost. Such strings are most suitable for beginners to intermediate-level players. String performance is defined by how well the strings complement your game and interact with your swing, timing and feel.
Myth 2: Thicker Strings Are Best for Beginners
Thicker strings are durable, but claiming that they are the best match for beginners is totally wrong. Thicker strings often provide less spin and feel, making it harder for players to develop touch and control. For beginners, a balanced racket string setup is most helpful, which can forgive off-centred shots while providing moderate control. On the other hand, a thicker string is stiff and muted, and it requires more force, resulting in a powerful shot.
Myth 3: Only Restring When Strings Break
People wait for the racket’s string to snap so they can replace it, but before reaching that point, their performance is already suffering. Players may not realize that strings are losing tension with every session. The loss of tension in strings affects the shots, making them unpredictable. The decline in performance is gradual and often goes unnoticed at first. Eventually, you’ll notice your shot no longer go where you expect, and control is inconsistent, which are signs of worn-out strings.
To maintain an optimum performance, you must restring your racket as many times as you play in a week.
Myth 4: Higher Tension Means More Power
This is a common myth among beginner and intermediate players. In reality, the higher tension produces less power as it limits the string bed’s ability to flex. A racket with a high-tension string set gives less time for the ball or shuttle to stay on the strings, resulting in a more controlled shot with less rebound energy.
On the contrary, a string bed with lower tension has enough time to stretch and snap back more, generating more power, just like a trampoline. Choosing the right tension is about matching tension to your playing style. Power hitters might prefer tighter strings for more control, while others benefit from lower tension for added depth and arm comfort.
Myth 5: String Type Doesn’t Make Much Difference
Every string varies in its effect on performance offering unique levels of spin potential, comfort, tension stability and overall control. For example, polyester strings offer control and spin but tend to feel stiff and lose tension quickly. Multifilament strings provide comfort and power, often preferred by players with arm issues or those looking for a softer feel. Natural gut delivers unmatched touch and tension retention, but comes at a higher cost and lower durability.
Myth 6: All Racket Sports Can Use Similar Strings
Many people believe that strings are interchangeable across all racket sports, but this is not the case. Every sport demands a different string setup as they vary in stroke force, ball or shuttle weight and racket design.
Tennis strings are built to absorb heavy impact and generate spin across a larger, tighter string bed. Badminton strings are much thinner and more elastic, built for quick rebounds and precision with a feather shuttle. Squash strings, on the other hand, prioritise resilience and control in a fast, close-range game. Trying to use the same string type across these sports usually leads to poor response or premature snapping.
Myth 7: Strings Feel the Same After a Few Uses
Strings evolve with each use. Even high-quality strings lose tension and responsiveness gradually. A slow drop in tension or a shift in string response can throw off depth, spin, and consistency. With proper maintenance, such as storing your racket to avoid extreme temperatures, players can prolong the life of their racket’s strings.
Conclusion
Numerous myths surround racket strings, especially amateur players. Believing in myths limits the game and leads to poor equipment choices. These misconceptions are formed through word of mouth and have persisted for quite some time. It is better to choose the equipment based on the impact of string type, tension, gauge and condition. With this knowledge, you can make an informed decision and choose strings that improve consistency, reduce strain, and provide a more responsive, reliable feel.
