How often should I restring if I play twice a week?

About every four to six months on soft strings, and more often on polyester if the tension feels gone or the spin disappears.

Why do my polyester strings feel dead but never break?

Poly loses tension and elasticity while staying intact. The stringbed looks fine but launches the ball with less bite and more shock.

Should I restring before a tournament?

If your current strings are old or uneven, yes. Fresh, familiar tension is more predictable than a dead bed or a brand-new setup you have not played with.

How Often to Restring a Tennis Racquet

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Restring as often as you play per week, and sooner with polyester.

Quick answer & tips ▾

A simple rule of thumb is to restring as many times a year as you play each week: twice a week means about every six months. That is a starting point, not a law. Polyester strings lose tension and "go dead" long before they snap, so frequent poly players often need a fresh job every one to three months.

Soft strings (multifilament, synthetic gut, natural gut) keep a livelier feel longer but may notch and break sooner if you generate heavy spin. Restring sooner if the tension feels gone, the stringbed looks heavily notched, balls launch long with no bite, or your elbow and shoulder feel more buzzed than usual after play.

Key tips

Write the string date on the throat stencil or a piece of tape.
Polyester: restring on feel, not on waiting for a break.
After a fresh string job, give yourself a session or two to adjust.
Keep a backup racquet strung the same way for matches.

FAQ

How often should I restring if I play twice a week?: About every four to six months on soft strings, and more often on polyester if the tension feels gone or the spin disappears.
Why do my polyester strings feel dead but never break?: Poly loses tension and elasticity while staying intact. The stringbed looks fine but launches the ball with less bite and more shock.
Should I restring before a tournament?: If your current strings are old or uneven, yes. Fresh, familiar tension is more predictable than a dead bed or a brand-new setup you have not played with.