Is your racket looking a little worse for wear? Are you a new player with hand-me-down equipment that’s starting to fray at the edges? Have you just bought a new racket, and you’re not sure how to properly take care of it? You’ve come to the right place. Here’s what you need to know about replacing your racket strings, and the best time to do it.

Timing Is Crucial

There are different schools of thought about when to restring your racket. If your strings are breaking, of course, it might be time for new ones, but in other scenarios, it can get more complicated. Many people say that you need to change your strings once every season, to ensure that they’re tight enough to bounce property. Still further, changing your strings every season ensures that they don’t wear thin, or get dry enough to break. Breaking a string in the middle of a match can be bad news for your performance, so make sure to keep your racket healthy by changing your strings at least once every season.

The Lifespan of Your Strings

When, though, should you change your strings? Once every season is certainly a way to look at it, but that doesn’t demonstrate when you should really swap your strings. The typical rule of thumb is that the number of times you should restring your racket every year is the same as the number of times you play in a week. That is, if you play tennis three times a week, your racket needs to be restrung three times a year. It’s not a difficult rule to remember, but it is one that can save your racket!

Knowing Your Racket Strings

When you’re a tennis player, you don’t want to be caught unawares when your racket finally snaps. Instead, make sure to know the lifespan of your strings and replace them regularly! Change your strings at least once every season, and make sure to keep an eye on how they bounce.