Face it, we’ve all let our racquets sit in storage for a little longer than they were supposed to. When you pick them back up after all that time alone, though, your strings might look a little . . . different. Or, maybe, you still play all the time- and you’re dreading the day that your worn-down racquet strings finally snap. We’ve all been in situations like these- but when is the right time to change your racquet strings?

How Do Tennis Strings Go Bad?

Tennis strings are actually, surprisingly enough, a common piece of gear to replace. Over time- both as you play and as your racquet sits unused- the strings gradually lose their tension, and they begin to harden up. This causes them to lose their ability to bounce, which alters your tennis game immensely. If your tennis strings are bad, you’ll notice a definite ‘dead’ feeling in your racquet, which some players have described as loss of ‘pop’ or ‘bite’ in their shots.Different strings will last for different amounts of time, so check with the manufacturer to know how long your strings might keep their positions. 

Signs Your Racquet Needs To Be Restrung

The general rule of thumb for tennis players is that if you play twice a week, you should restring your racquet every twice a year. If you play four times a week, you should restring your racquet every four times a year. However, this doesn’t always hold up for every player. If your strings are beginning to fray, take on a crooked appearance, begin to make a ‘thud’ noise on contact, or you feel like you’re beginning to lose control of your balls, it might be time to restring your racquet. 

Knowing When To Restring Your Racquet

Most experienced players will tell you that it’s easy to know when to restring your racquet. If you’re on the fence about whether or not it’s time, though, there are several easy warning signals to look for. Different strings will hold their tenseness for different amounts of time, so always stay tuned in to your equipment and ensure that there are no frays, crooked strings, and that you have easy control of your game.