Tennis String tension is one of those grey areas that every beginner struggle with and even though the right tension is the result of trying out different strings and different tensions, there’s a simple benchmark starting point.
Every manufacturer sets an optimized tension range for each one of their tennis racquets, this means that they have tested the frame in game play, collecting data from player’s experience, graphite and fiber’s performance, string composition among other data in order to fine tune the racquet’s behavior. The recommended tension range is how low and how high tension can be without sacrificing the racquet’s intended performance. For most tennis racquets it’s a 10 digit span (45 – 55 lbs, 50 – 60 lbs, 55 – 65 lbs, etc) and the closer to the lower number, the more power you’d get out of the racquet and vice versa; The closer to the higher recommended tension, the more control and accuracy you’d get out of it. As I mentioned before you’d have to go over several different configurations of strings and tensions to find the tension that suits your game. For example you could have 3 racquets strung at 3 different tensions (with a difference of 2 lbs between each racquet) that you can start interchanging through the game, starting with the tighter racquet when you feel strong and fresh and then as the game goes by you’d use the lower tension strings to help you keep a powerful swing using the natural trampoline effect that loser stringbeds allow for.
Beginners should start using the mid recommended tension by the manufacturer and then as they develop their technique and performance start increasing or decreasing it until the right tension is achieved by trial and error.
Note: as Stephan mentioned on the last post on strings, if you are moving from soft to hard strings the tension should be lowered by 5%
When you buy a racquet on our website you have what we call ‘the racquet builder’, there you can choose your grip size (European and standard measures), what strings you’d like (some of them 
come free with your racquet), tension required and if you’d like the logo of the manufacturer on the strings (so you can show the world what racquet you are using). Remember that strings, stringing labor and shipping are free* for most of our performance racquets. For recommended tension and full racquet specs you can check out the ‘specs tab’ that’s on the right hand side of every item we carry and sell on our website www.tennisplaza.com
For more information contact us at info@tennisplaza.com or toll free at 1800-955-7515.
*free ground shipping on orders over $50, every racquet has a selection of free strings to choose from, not all strings are available.
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