Strings for spin, control or comfort
Most players want all three, and strings trade them off. Pick the one you care about most, then match family, gauge and tension.
Home / Guides / Spin, control or comfort
| Goal | Family | Gauge and tension | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spin | Polyester, often shaped | Thinner gauge, tension not too high | Stiffer feel. Thinner string breaks sooner. |
| Control | Firm polyester | Middle to upper part of the frame range | Less free power. Harder on sore arms. |
| Comfort | Multifilament, or a hybrid | Lower part of the frame range | More launch. Softer strings wear faster. |
Spin
Your swing makes the spin. Strings help when the mains can slide sideways on contact and snap back. Slick, stiff polyester tends to do this better than multis or synthetic gut. Some polys are made with edges, and their makers say the shape adds bite. A thinner gauge and a more open string pattern can also help.
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Solinco Hyper-G 16L
Square-shaped co-polyester, 1.25 mm, per the Amazon listing.
A shaped poly for players with full, fast swings. Our notes
Solinco Tour Bite 16
Square-shaped co-polyester, 1.30 mm, per the Amazon listing.
A shaped poly in a thicker gauge, for spin with a bit more life.
Control
Control mostly comes from taking power out: a firmer string, a higher tension inside your range, or a denser pattern. Control strings suit players who already generate pace and want the ball to stay down.
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Luxilon ALU Power 125
Polyester, 1.25 mm, per the Amazon listing.
Firm and low powered. For full swings, not for sore arms. Our notes
Comfort
Comfort comes from a softer string family and lower tension. Multifilaments are the usual pick. If you want some poly bite with a softer bed, try a hybrid. Arm already sore? Read sore arm first.
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Wilson NXT 17
Multifilament, 17 gauge, per the Amazon listing.
Soft and plush. A common first choice for comfort. Our notes
HEAD Velocity MLT 16
Multifilament, 1.30 mm, per the Amazon listing.
Soft with a little more control, for rec adults. Our notes
Will a spin string fix short, floaty balls?
Probably not by itself. Technique and swing speed matter more. A spin string helps most when you already swing up and through the ball.
Can I get spin and comfort at once?
Partly. Poly mains with multi crosses, strung toward the low end of your range, is the usual compromise.
More stringing guides
String types compared
Poly, multi, syn gut, natural gut and hybrid side by side.
Tension by player type
Where to start inside your frame's range.
How often to restring
Signs a set is done, even before it breaks.
Why strings break
Causes, and how to make a set last longer.
DIY or pro restring
What a restring involves and when to hand it off.