How to Talk to Your Stringer
Short answer: Ask for a reference tension inside the range printed on your racquet, name the exact string and gauge for the mains and the crosses, and ask the stringer to keep the job repeatable. That number is the machine setting, not the tension your finished stringbed will hold, so write down what was done and measure the racquet fresh to set your own baseline.
Reference tension is a request, stringbed tension is a result
The number you give your stringer is the reference tension: the pull the stringing machine applies to each string as it is installed. The stringbed tension is what the finished racquet actually holds, and it starts dropping straight away. In Tennis Warehouse University’s laboratory tests, strings began losing tension the moment they were clamped, by up to 15 lbs (about 6.8 kg) within a minute on their test machine, and lost more again on the first few impacts. Polyester lost more than nylon, which lost more than natural gut.
The same reference number also produces a different stringbed in different racquets. The International Tennis Federation notes that wider string spacing and longer strings, for example in a larger head, lower stringbed stiffness, and Tennis Warehouse University found that stiffer strings make a stiffer stringbed at the same tension. So a reference tension is only meaningful together with the racquet, string, gauge and pattern it was used on.
That is why the most useful thing to ask a stringer for is not a perfect number but a repeatable job: the same settings, recorded, so that next time you can either repeat it or change exactly one thing.
What to tell your stringer
Bring these details in writing. Anything you leave blank becomes the stringer’s choice, which is fine, as long as you ask them to write down what they chose.
| Tell them | Example | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Racquet and pattern | 100 sq in head, 16x19 | Head size and string spacing change how stiff the same reference tension feels. |
| Mains string and gauge | Brand, model, 1.25 mm | Material and gauge change stiffness, durability and tension loss. |
| Crosses string and gauge | “Same as mains” or a second string | A blank could mean “same” or “unknown”; say which. |
| Reference tension, mains and crosses | 52 lbs / 23.6 kg both | Give units and stay inside the range printed on the frame. |
| Prestretch | Yes, no, or “your usual” | It changes the job, so keep it the same when you compare two string jobs. |
| What you want to change | “A little more control, nothing else” | One stated goal lets the stringer suggest one small change. |
Not sure which reference tension to ask for? Our tension calculator turns your racquet’s printed range and string construction into a starting range to test, and the tension chart lists the broad ranges by string type. For polyester, string makers often suggest the lower part of the range: Luxilon, for example, says its polyester strings perform well at lower tensions.
Using two strings? The hybrid tension guide covers orientation and split tensions, and it includes a printable stringer card for the mains and crosses.
What a stringing receipt or tag tells you
A good receipt or racquet tag is the record of the job. It should let you, or another stringer, repeat it. Check that it shows:
- The date strung. Strings relax with time as well as play, so the date anchors every later reading.
- Each string and gauge. Both sides, even when they are the same.
- The reference tension for mains and crosses, with units. “55” alone could be lbs or a rounded kg figure.
- Prestretch, and anything unusual. A note such as “knots moved” or “one-piece” helps explain a different feel.
- The stringer and cost. Useful when you compare string jobs or plan a budget with the string cost tracker.
What a receipt cannot tell you is the tension in your racquet today. It records the request, not the result. If you want to know whether a racquet is still close to how it felt fresh, you need a reading compared with that racquet’s own baseline.
Credentials can help you choose a stringer. The United States Racquet Stringers Association (USRSA) awards Certified Stringer and Master Racquet Technician credentials and lists members you can search by area. A credential does not replace a clear brief, though: tell any stringer what you want and ask for the details above.
After you collect the racquet
- Measure it fresh. Take a baseline reading soon after stringing, using the same routine every time. Our measurement guide explains a repeatable method.
- Compare later readings with that baseline, not with the reference number. The racquet tension checker shows the change in lbs, kg and percent.
- Note how it plays after comparable sessions, then use when to restring to combine hours, feel, wear and measured change.
- Change one thing next time. If you want a different feel, ask for one small reference change and keep everything else the same.
Talking to your stringer: FAQ
What tension should I ask my stringer for?
Ask for a reference tension inside the range printed on your racquet, with units, for the mains and the crosses. If you have no history to go on, start with a range from the frame and string makers and change one small step at a time. Tell the stringer what you want to change so they can suggest a sensible adjustment.
Is the tension I ask for the tension in my racquet?
No. The number you request is the stringing-machine setting. The installed stringbed starts losing tension as soon as it is strung, and the same setting feels different in another racquet, string or pattern. Measure the racquet fresh after stringing and compare later readings with that baseline.
Should I ask for prestretch?
There is no universal answer, so decide it with your stringer for the string you are using. What matters for comparison is consistency: record whether the job was prestretched and keep that the same when you compare two string jobs, or the difference will hide the effect of any other change.
What should I keep from each string job?
Keep the date strung, each string and gauge, the mains and crosses reference tensions with units, prestretch, the stringer and the cost. Add a fresh baseline reading and short notes on how the racquet plays. Together they let you repeat a good job or change exactly one thing next time.
What the sources support
The sources below support the difference between a machine setting and an installed stringbed, the factors that change stringbed stiffness, early tension loss, and what the USRSA certifies. The request checklist, receipt checklist and after-stringing steps are String Tension AI’s record-keeping method, not a stringing standard.
Accessed October 3, 2026
- International Tennis Federation — Rackets and Strings: Strings (November 2019) for tension and stringbed stiffness, string spacing, head size and gauge.
- Tennis Warehouse University — How Tennis Strings “Go Dead”, Part 1 for tension loss right after stringing and on the first impacts, and the order of loss by material (laboratory testing).
- Tennis Warehouse University — String Stiffness for stiffer strings producing a stiffer stringbed at the same tension.
- Luxilon — Common Stringing Mistakes to Avoid for the manufacturer’s note that its polyester strings perform well at lower tensions (manufacturer guidance).
- USRSA — RacquetTECH for the Certified Stringer and Master Racquet Technician credentials and the member locator.
Turn each string job into a baseline
Measure the racquet fresh after stringing, then compare later readings with that baseline to see how the same setup changes.
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