Most players wait until their strings break before restringing. That means they spend weeks — sometimes months — playing with strings that have already lost their best feel, tension and performance.
Strings do not suddenly go from good to broken. They degrade gradually. Knowing the signs helps you restring at the right time, before your racket starts costing you points.
Here are the signs to look for, what they mean and when to act.
The 8 Signs Your Racket Needs Restringing
1. Your Shots Are Flying Long
This is the most common first symptom. As strings lose tension over time, the string bed becomes more powerful — it launches the ball further with the same swing. If you are consistently hitting long without changing anything about your technique, your strings have probably lost significant tension.
What to do: Book a restring. Fresh strings at the right tension will restore your depth control.
2. The Racket Feels Dead or Boardy
A racket that once felt lively and responsive can start feeling flat, dull or harsh. This happens especially with polyester strings, which lose their elastic response before they break. The ball just thuds off the strings instead of springing.
What it means: The string has lost its elasticity. No amount of grip changes or technique adjustments will fix this — you need fresh strings.
3. Your Strings Are Notching
Run your finger along the strings where the mains and crosses intersect. If you can feel grooves or notches where the strings have been sawing against each other, the strings are worn.
How serious: Light notching is normal wear. Deep notches mean the string is close to breaking and has already lost significant performance. Restring before it snaps mid-match.
4. The Strings Are Fraying
Fraying is most common with multifilament and synthetic gut strings. You will see small fibres peeling away from the string surface, especially at the contact points.
How serious: Light fraying is cosmetic. Heavy fraying — where the string looks fuzzy or has visible fibre separation — means the string is weakening and will break soon.
5. The Strings Move and Do Not Snap Back
Fresh strings stay in their pattern. Worn strings slide out of position during rallies and do not snap back. You might find yourself straightening your strings between points.
What it means: The string coating has worn off and the strings are no longer gripping each other. This reduces spin potential and consistency. Shaped and textured polyesters are particularly affected — see our best strings for spin guide.
6. You Have Lost Spin
Related to string movement: if your topspin shots are not dipping as much, or your slice is not biting, your strings may have lost their snapback ability. This is especially true with polyester strings that rely on snapback for spin.
What to do: A fresh poly set will restore your spin. Consider a shaped or textured poly for even more spin access.
7. Your Arm Hurts More Than Usual
Worn strings — especially dead polyester — become stiffer and transmit more shock. If your arm, wrist or elbow feels more feedback than usual, old strings could be contributing.
What to do: Restring with a softer string or lower tension. If arm pain persists, consult a doctor.
8. It Has Been More Than 6 Months
Even if nothing feels obviously wrong, strings lose tension sitting in the racket. Most recreational players should restring at least once or twice a year, regardless of whether the strings break. For a detailed frequency guide, read how often you should restring.
Quick Diagnostic Checklist
| Sign | Severity | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Shots flying long | ⚠️ Moderate | Restring soon |
| Dead / boardy feel | ⚠️ Moderate | Restring soon |
| Visible notching | 🔴 High | Restring before it snaps |
| Heavy fraying | 🔴 High | Restring before it snaps |
| Strings moving / not snapping back | ⚠️ Moderate | Restring for spin and consistency |
| Lost spin | ⚠️ Moderate | Restring with a spin-friendly poly |
| Increased arm discomfort | ⚠️ Moderate | Restring with softer string or lower tension |
| 6+ months since last restring | ℹ️ Routine | Schedule a restring |
How Different Strings Show Wear
Polyester
Polyester’s biggest problem is not visible — it is tension loss and dead feel. Poly can look perfectly fine while playing terribly. The strings may not be fraying or notching, but the response has gone flat.
Rule of thumb: If you play 2+ times a week with poly, restring every 2–4 months regardless of how the strings look.
Multifilament
Multi shows wear visibly through fraying. The tiny fibres start peeling away, and eventually the string thins at the contact points until it snaps.
Rule of thumb: Restring when fraying becomes heavy or you notice inconsistent depth.
Synthetic Gut
Synthetic gut is relatively durable but loses tension gradually. You may not see dramatic wear, but the racket will feel less responsive over time.
Rule of thumb: Restring every 6–12 months for weekly players.
The “Before the Match” Question
If your strings show any of the signs above and you have a match coming up, restring sooner rather than later. Ideally, get it done 2–3 days before so you can hit with the fresh setup before competing.
We offer turnaround options to fit your schedule:
| Turnaround | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Within 7 days | Included |
| Fast | Within 4 days | +£2 |
| Urgent | Within 24 hours | +£6 |
| Same day | When available | +£10 |
View all options on our prices page.
Do Not Wait Until They Break
The worst time to restring is after a string breaks mid-match. You lose your racket, potentially forfeit the match, and you are forced into a rushed decision about string choice and tension.
The best approach: learn to recognise the signs above and restring proactively. Your racket will feel better, your shots will be more consistent and your arm will thank you.
Book a Restring
If you have spotted any of these signs, book a drop-off or message us on WhatsApp. We will help you choose a fresh string and tension.
- View stringing prices — from £20 with your own string
- Use the string calculator for a setup recommendation
- How often should you restring?
Drop-off at Distillery Building, 11 Hart Yard, E3 2AL — serving Bow, Stratford, Hackney, Mile End, Victoria Park and East London.
