Equipment profile · Sources compared
Novak Djokovic String Tension & Setup
Natural gut mains, polyester crosses, changing reference settings, and the evidence behind his reported pro-stock frame.
By String Tension AI · Published · Research checked
This is a source-based equipment profile, not an official Novak Djokovic page. Professional setups can change between string jobs and tournaments.
Novak Djokovic is currently reported with a natural-gut/polyester hybrid: Babolat Touch VS (often listed as VS Touch) around 1.30 mm in the mains and Luxilon ALU Power Rough 1.25 mm in the crosses. One supported catalog snapshot is approximately 59.1 lbs (26.8 kg) mains and 56.0 lbs (25.4 kg) crosses. Current specialist reports also describe a broader 59.5–61.7 lbs (27–28 kg) mains / 57.3–59.5 lbs (26–27 kg) crosses range depending on conditions. HEAD officially associates Djokovic with Speed Legend, but his match racquet is reported as a customized 95 sq in, 18x19 pro stock, commonly identified as PT346.1 with PT113B lineage. That is distinct from the retail 100 sq in, 18x20 Speed PRO Legend. These are reported equipment snapshots, not permanent specifications, a later app reading, or a prescription for your racquet.
Evidence: HEAD · TennisCompanion · Racket Fit · Tennisnerd
Novak Djokovic’s setup at a glance
- Player
- Novak Djokovic
- Mains
- Babolat Touch VS / VS Touch
- Main gauge
- 1.30 mm
- Crosses
- Luxilon ALU Power Rough
- Cross gauge
- 1.25 mm / 16L
- Construction
- Natural-gut / polyester hybrid
- Catalog mains snapshot
- ≈59.1 lbs (26.8 kg)
- Catalog crosses snapshot
- ≈56.0 lbs (25.4 kg)
- Current reported mains range
- ≈59.5–61.7 lbs (27–28 kg)
- Current reported crosses range
- ≈57.3–59.5 lbs (26–27 kg)
- Reported pro frame
- HEAD PT346.1 / current post-2018 pro stock
- Brand family
- HEAD Speed Legend
- Evidence status
- Reported snapshots; settings vary
- Research checked
- 2026-09-07
View all 69 sourced pro string setups →
What strings does Novak Djokovic use?
The strongest synthesis is Babolat Touch VS (often listed as VS Touch) natural gut around 1.30 mm in the mains, with Luxilon ALU Power Rough 1.25 mm / 16L polyester crosses. TennisCompanion supplies the named gut and gauge; Racket Fit and Tennisnerd identify the Rough crosses.
Babolat’s current product name is Touch VS. Older and current gear guides often reverse those words to VS Touch. We clarify the naming here while keeping the existing public catalog name intact.
What tension does Novak Djokovic use?
The dated catalog snapshot remains approximately 59.1 lbs (26.8 kg) mains and 56.0 lbs (25.4 kg) crosses. That preserves the kilogram values associated with the familiar 59/56 lb report. Separately, current specialist sources describe 59.5–61.7 lbs (27–28 kg) mains and 57.3–59.5 lbs (26–27 kg) crosses.
These are stringing-machine reference settings. Our central conversions display pounds to one decimal; this does not imply that the sources measured tension to that precision. The catalog is one defensible snapshot, not a universal or permanent pair.
Why do sources show 59/56 and 60/57?
TennisCompanion and ProStrung give 59/56 lbs; Baseline Lab also reports that pair. Racket Fit displays approximately 60/57 lbs alongside 27–28 / 26–27 kg, and Tennisnerd describes the broader kilogram range with condition-dependent adjustment.
This is not merely a rounding disagreement. The exact pair and the broader reports describe different snapshots or reporting styles. The 60/57 label is a loose whole-pound display near the lower part of that range; 26 kg itself converts to 57.3 lbs. We do not turn that label into an exact kilogram pair, average the reports, or invent a tournament mapping.
Scroll the table sideways to compare all source details.
| Source | Mains | Crosses | String identification | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TennisCompanion | 59 lbs (26.8 kg); catalog 59.1 lbs (26.8 kg) | 56 lbs (25.4 kg); catalog 56.0 lbs (25.4 kg) | Touch VS 1.30 / ALU Power 1.25 | Specific snapshot; Rough omitted |
| ProStrung | 59 lbs | 56 lbs | VS Touch 1.30 / ALU Power 1.25 | Specific snapshot; Rough omitted |
| Baseline Lab | 59 lbs | 56 lbs | VS Touch natural gut / ALU Power Rough; gauges unstated | Additional snapshot corroboration |
| Racket Fit | ≈59.5–61.7 lbs (27–28 kg) | ≈57.3–59.5 lbs (26–27 kg) | Natural gut 1.30 / Rough 16L | Source also displays ~60/57 lbs |
| Tennisnerd | ≈59.5–61.7 lbs (27–28 kg) | ≈57.3–59.5 lbs (26–27 kg) | Natural gut / Rough 16L | Settings depend on conditions; crosses one kg lower |
Does Djokovic change string tension with conditions?
Current equipment reports describe Djokovic adjusting reference tension with conditions. Tennisnerd gives 59.5–61.7 lbs (27–28 kg) mains and 57.3–59.5 lbs (26–27 kg) crosses, with crosses one kg lower. TennisCompanion describes feedback from practice at tournaments.
The available reporting does not establish an exact clay setting, grass setting, humidity adjustment, or per-degree rule. It also does not identify which tournament used 59/56 rather than 60/57 lbs. Those details remain unknown.
Does Djokovic use natural gut in the mains or crosses?
Natural gut mains. Polyester crosses. TennisCompanion and Tennisnerd make that orientation explicit. This is a traditional gut/poly hybrid; “gut and poly” alone leaves out which string runs in each direction.
Orientation is part of a setup record. Reversing it describes a different job, without establishing that either orientation is universally better. See the hybrid string tension guide for how to keep mains and crosses distinct.
Does Djokovic use ALU Power Rough or regular ALU Power?
ALU Power Rough 1.25 is the better-supported current identification. Racket Fit and Tennisnerd explicitly say Rough; Tennisnerd’s August 2026 analysis also names the gut/Rough hybrid.
TennisCompanion and ProStrung instead list ALU Power without “Rough.” We preserve that disagreement. An omitted word does not prove a private switch, nor does it justify making those citations support the Rough model field.
What do the current sources agree on?
The equipment reports broadly support natural gut mains and polyester crosses. Their string naming, tension presentation and internal racquet terminology differ. The table separates first-party association from more specific reporting; agreement does not prove independent inspections.
Scroll the table sideways to compare all source details.
| Source | Mains | Crosses | Gauge | Tension | Racquet detail | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEAD | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Speed Legend association only | Official manufacturer |
| TennisCompanion | Babolat Touch VS | ALU Power (Rough omitted) | 1.30 / 1.25 mm | 59/56 lbs | Current PT346.1; 95 sq in; 18x19 | Equipment report |
| Racket Fit | Natural gut; brand unstated | ALU Power Rough | 1.30 / 16L | 27–28 / 26–27 kg | PT113B-derived; 95 sq in; 353 g strung; 32.4 cm; 360 SW; 18x19 | Equipment report |
| Tennisnerd | Natural gut | ALU Power Rough | Main not specified in current passage / 16L cross | 27–28 / 26–27 kg | Current 95 sq in; 353 g strung; 32.4 cm; 360 SW; 18x19 | Specialist report |
| ProStrung | Babolat VS Touch | ALU Power (Rough omitted) | 1.30 / 1.25 mm | 59/56 lbs | Not stated | Stringer’s equipment guide |
What racquet does Novak Djokovic actually use?
HEAD officially associates Djokovic with Speed Legend. Specialist reporting describes a customized 95 sq in, 18x19 pro stock. TennisCompanion calls it PT346.1, while Racket Fit calls the mold PT113B-derived.
The current pro-stock specification is a reported snapshot. Neither an internal identifier nor familiar cosmetics establishes the exact layup, factory process, or construction of every match frame.
Does Novak Djokovic actually use the retail Speed PRO Legend?
Current public evidence should not be interpreted as proving a stock retail Speed PRO Legend match frame. HEAD associates the series with Djokovic and explicitly warns that professional players may use different racquets from the model shown.
The current retail model’s 100 sq in / 18x20 specification differs from the specialist-reported 95 sq in / 18x19 pro stock beneath Speed cosmetics. “Speed Pro” in a gear guide may describe endorsement or paint context, rather than the personal frame’s geometry.
Is Djokovic’s racquet PT346.1 or PT113B?
The terminology varies across gear sources. TennisCompanion explicitly identifies the post-2018 current frame as PT 346.1 and PT 113B as the previous 18x20 setup. Tennisnerd likewise places PT113B before around 2018, followed by the lighter 18x19 configuration, without naming PT346.1 in the main current-spec passage.
Racket Fit uses “PT113B-derived” for the current mold. Baseline Lab retains a PT113b/Speed Pro label, which we do not use to establish current geometry. Our synthesis is a current post-2018 18x19 pro stock commonly identified as PT346.1, with PT113B lineage. This remains specialist terminology, not official HEAD consumer naming.
Reported Djokovic pro-stock specs
TennisCompanion, Racket Fit and Tennisnerd corroborate the current geometry and strung snapshot. Tennisnerd describes owning a personal racquet; String Tension AI has not inspected or weighed one.
Scroll the table sideways to compare all source details.
| Field | Reported value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Head size | 95 sq in | TennisCompanion / Racket Fit / Tennisnerd |
| Length | Approximately 27.10 in | TennisCompanion / Tennisnerd |
| Strung mass | 12.5 oz (353 g) | Racket Fit / Tennisnerd |
| Strung balance | 32.4 cm / 324 mm | Racket Fit / Tennisnerd |
| Strung swingweight | Approximately 360 | Racket Fit / Tennisnerd |
| String pattern | 18x19 | TennisCompanion / Racket Fit / Tennisnerd |
The catalog stores 12.5 oz (353 g) as a reported professional strung snapshot. The source mass of 353 g rounds to 12.5 oz in our one-decimal display. We do not subtract an assumed string mass to manufacture an unstrung value.
What changed in Djokovic’s racquet around 2018?
TennisCompanion and Tennisnerd describe a move from the heavier 18x20 setup to the lighter 18x19 configuration, with a lower balance point and slightly extended length. The historical mass differs between sources, so both older values are identified below.
Scroll the table sideways to compare all source details.
| Feature | Earlier reported setup | Current reported setup | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identifier | PT113B | PT346.1 / PT113B-derived terminology | TennisCompanion / Racket Fit / Tennisnerd |
| Pattern | 18x20 | 18x19 | TennisCompanion / Tennisnerd |
| Swingweight | Around 370 | Around 360 | TennisCompanion |
| Balance | Around 32.8 cm | Around 32.4 cm | TennisCompanion / Tennisnerd |
| Strung mass | Heavier; 361 g in TennisCompanion, 359 g in Tennisnerd | Approximately 353 g | TennisCompanion / Tennisnerd |
| Length | 27 in in TennisCompanion | Approximately 27.10 in | TennisCompanion / Tennisnerd |
This is equipment history. The change alone does not establish a medical effect or guarantee a performance benefit for another player.
Pro stock vs current retail Speed PRO Legend
Current retail Speed PRO Legend — context only is a manufacturer reference, not a link to buy Djokovic’s exact racquet. The table keeps measurement states visible.
Scroll the table sideways to compare all source details.
| Field | Reported Djokovic pro stock | Retail Speed PRO Legend | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model context | PT346.1 / current 18x19 pro stock | Speed PRO Legend | TennisCompanion / HEAD |
| Mass (different measurement states) | 12.5 oz (353 g) STRUNG | 10.9 oz (310 g) UNSTRUNG | Racket Fit / HEAD |
| Balance (different measurement states) | 324 mm STRUNG | 310 mm UNSTRUNG | Racket Fit / HEAD |
| Head size | 95 sq in | 100 sq in | Racket Fit / HEAD |
| Pattern | 18x19 | 18x20 | Racket Fit / HEAD |
| Beam | Not established by the pro snapshot selected here | 23 mm | HEAD |
| Exact layup / production details | Not established | Retail specifications do not establish the personal build | HEAD |
353 g strung and 310 g unstrung are not directly comparable mass measurements. Subtracting them would mix different physical states. We do not estimate the pro frame’s unstrung mass or suggest retail specifications establish his exact build.
What the string manufacturers say about Touch VS and ALU Power Rough
Babolat product context: Babolat classifies Touch VS as natural gut and emphasizes elasticity, feel and tension hold, including use in hybrids. Those are manufacturer product claims, not proof of Djokovic’s personal reason for choosing it.
Wilson/Luxilon product context: Wilson’s official regional product page describes Rough 125 as a 1.25 mm polyester-family string with a textured, dented surface, positioned around spin, control and flex. That positioning does not establish a quantified advantage for Djokovic or an endorsement of this profile.
Should an app reading equal Djokovic’s machine settings?
Use a fresh-string baseline and repeated readings from your own setup. See reference tension versus app estimates for the distinction.
Should you copy Djokovic’s string setup?
There is no reason to copy the setup solely because Djokovic uses it. His reported 95 sq in pro stock, very high reported swingweight, gut/poly hybrid and condition-dependent stringing are specific context. Your technique, preference, budget and stringing frequency may differ.
Start from your own frame and string guidance and compare your own jobs. The starting-tension calculator and hybrid tension guide help organize those choices without prescribing a professional’s exact numbers.
Track your own setup instead of copying a pro
A pro setup is context. Your useful number comes from your own history. In String Tension AI, save your racquet and string job, record mains and crosses separately, and save the reference tension for each direction.
Establish a fresh-string baseline, repeat measurements under similar conditions, record playing hours and feel, and compare string jobs over time. Follow the repeatable measurement workflow. This supports your own decisions and does not imply Djokovic uses String Tension AI.
Novak Djokovic string setup FAQ
What strings does Novak Djokovic use?
Babolat Touch VS (often listed as VS Touch) natural gut around 1.30 mm in the mains, with Luxilon ALU Power Rough 1.25 mm in the crosses, is the better-supported current synthesis. Some guides omit Rough.
What string tension does Novak Djokovic use?
The catalog snapshot is approximately 59.1 lbs (26.8 kg) mains / 56.0 lbs (25.4 kg) crosses. Racket Fit and Tennisnerd separately describe 59.5–61.7 lbs (27–28 kg) mains / 57.3–59.5 lbs (26–27 kg) crosses, with condition-dependent settings.
Does Djokovic use natural gut?
Current reports describe natural gut in the mains, paired with polyester crosses. It is not a full natural-gut stringbed.
What gauge natural gut does Djokovic use?
Around 1.30 mm / 16 gauge, according to TennisCompanion and Racket Fit. Babolat’s product facts alone do not establish his personal gauge.
What gauge ALU Power does Djokovic use?
Approximately 1.25 mm, identified as 16L in specialist reporting. Gauge names can differ between retailers; the metric diameter is the useful comparison.
Does he use ALU Power Rough or regular ALU Power?
Racket Fit and Tennisnerd identify Rough. TennisCompanion and ProStrung list ALU Power without Rough. We favor the current specialist Rough identification while retaining that disagreement.
Is Djokovic’s setup a hybrid?
Yes, a reported natural-gut/polyester hybrid with different string constructions in the two directions.
Are the natural-gut strings in the mains or crosses?
Natural gut mains; polyester crosses. Reversing the orientation would describe a different setup.
Is his tension 59/56 or 60/57?
Both labels appear in current sources. 59/56 lbs is a supported snapshot; Racket Fit displays approximately 60/57 lbs alongside a broader kilogram range. The difference is not merely rounding, and neither label is a permanent setting.
Why does his tension vary?
Tennisnerd and TennisCompanion report adjustment with conditions. They do not provide a quantified temperature or humidity rule, or a complete tournament log.
What racquet does Novak Djokovic actually use?
A customized HEAD 95 sq in, 18x19 pro stock is the current specialist synthesis. TennisCompanion identifies PT346.1; Racket Fit says PT113B-derived. HEAD establishes Speed Legend association, not those personal specifications.
Does Djokovic use the retail Speed PRO Legend?
Current public evidence does not prove a stock retail match frame. HEAD warns that pros may use different racquets from the model shown; specialists report different pro-stock geometry.
Does Djokovic use the Speed Pro?
Speed Pro appears in endorsement and paint descriptions. It should not be read as proof that his personal frame has stock retail Speed Pro specifications.
What is PT346.1?
It is the current pro-stock identifier TennisCompanion reports for Djokovic’s post-2018 frame. It is not an official HEAD consumer model name or proof of exact layup and production details.
What is PT113B?
It is the code TennisCompanion and Tennisnerd use for the earlier frame, associated with an 18x20 pattern before roughly 2018. Racket Fit describes the current mold as PT113B-derived.
Is his current racquet PT346.1 or PT113B?
Terminology differs. TennisCompanion says current PT346.1 and previous PT113B; Tennisnerd places PT113B before roughly 2018 without naming PT346.1 in its current-spec passage. Racket Fit uses PT113B-derived for the current mold.
What head size does Djokovic use?
95 sq in is the reported personal-frame head size. The current retail Speed PRO Legend has a 100 sq in head.
What string pattern does Djokovic use?
18x19 is the current reported pro-stock pattern: 18 mains and 19 crosses.
Why do retail Speed racquets say 18x20 while his reported frame is 18x19?
They describe different frames. HEAD publishes 18x20 for the current retail Speed PRO Legend; equipment specialists describe a customized 18x19 professional configuration.
How much does Djokovic’s racquet weigh?
Approximately 12.5 oz (353 g), reported strung. It is not an unstrung measurement and should not be directly subtracted from the retail model’s unstrung mass.
What changed in Djokovic’s racquet around 2018?
Reports describe a lighter setup, 18x20 changing to 18x19, balance around 32.8 to 32.4 cm, swingweight around 370 to 360, and slightly extended length around 27.10 in. Older mass reports differ.
Should I copy Djokovic’s tension?
There is no reason to copy it solely because Djokovic uses it. Frame, technique, string budget, preferences, conditions and stringing frequency differ; use your own setup history and manufacturer guidance.
Can String Tension AI measure a gut/poly hybrid?
For supported racquet and string setups, String Tension AI can estimate installed stringbed tension and track repeated readings. A gut/poly label alone does not guarantee support for every professional frame or combination.
Should an app reading equal 59/56?
No. Mains and crosses are separate machine reference settings. Their average, 57.5 lbs, is not an expected app value. An acoustic reading is a modeled estimate of the installed stringbed, with no universal machine-to-app conversion.
How often does Djokovic restring?
The sources checked do not establish a reliable exact current restring schedule. We do not invent a number of games, hours or racquets per match.
Does Djokovic change tension by tournament?
Current reporting describes adjustment with conditions, including feedback during tournament practice. It does not establish which tournament used 59/56 versus 60/57 lbs, or exact clay and grass settings.
Sources and methodology
Manufacturer association, product facts, specialist reports and catalog snapshots establish different things. Sources may share upstream information; agreement is not proof of independent measurements. The numeric catalog preserves 26.8/25.4 kg; the profile separately explains the wider condition-dependent range and the disagreement over Rough. One-decimal pound conversions add no source precision. See the parent catalog methodology.
All external evidence below was checked on 2026-09-07. Publication dates are shown only when supplied by the source; an access date is not a claim that an undated page was published that day. No personal racquet was inspected for this profile.
First-party manufacturer evidence
- HEAD: Novak Djokovic athlete page
Speed Legend association and professional-equipment caveat; no personal strings, tension or pro-stock specifications. Accessed 2026-09-07.
- HEAD: Current retail Speed PRO Legend
Retail context only: 310 g unstrung, 310 mm balance, 100 sq in, 18x20, 23 mm beam. HEAD warns pros may use different racquets from the model shown. Accessed 2026-09-07.
- Babolat: Touch VS 12M product specifications
Current Touch VS naming, natural gut composition, and manufacturer positioning around feel, elasticity and tension hold, including hybrid use. Accessed 2026-09-07.
- Wilson: ALU Power Rough 125 — official Indonesia product page
1.25 mm polyester-family string with a textured, dented surface; manufacturer spin, control and flex positioning. Product context, not Djokovic endorsement evidence. Accessed 2026-09-07.
Current reported equipment snapshots
- TennisCompanion: Verifying Novak Djokovic’s Gear
Touch VS 1.30 / ALU Power 1.25, 59/56 lbs and condition adjustment. Omits Rough. Identifies current PT 346.1 and previous PT 113B, with a current strung specification table. Accessed 2026-09-07.
- Racket Fit: Pro player tennis setups
Natural gut 1.30 / ALU Power Rough 16L, 27–28 / 26–27 kg; displays 60/57 lbs. Describes current PT113B-derived 95 sq in, 18x19 pro stock: 353 g strung, 32.4 cm, 360 SW. Does not name the gut brand. Accessed 2026-09-07.
- Tennisnerd: Novak Djokovic’s Racquet — updated July 7, 2026
Natural gut mains / Rough 16L crosses at 27–28 / 26–27 kg depending on conditions. PT113B until around 2018, then the lighter 18x19 configuration. Current specs are described as strung; author reports owning a personal racquet. Accessed 2026-09-07.
- Tennisnerd: ATP Top 50 String Setups · Published 2026-08-25
Further natural-gut / ALU Power Rough hybrid reporting, around 28 kg. Does not give a separate mains/crosses pair in the article passage. Accessed 2026-09-07.
- ProStrung: What string tension do pros use? · Published 2025-12-30
VS Touch 1.30 mains / ALU Power 1.25 crosses at 59/56 lbs. Omits Rough; no personal-racquet claim used here. Accessed 2026-09-07.
- Baseline Lab: Novak Djokovic equipment profile
Additional 59/56 lb gut/Rough snapshot; gauges unstated. Its PT113b/Speed Pro wording is preserved as a terminology difference, not adopted as current geometry evidence. Accessed 2026-09-07.
String Tension AI public data
- String catalog: dated numeric snapshot
- Racquet catalog: model context and uncertainty notes
- Editorial evidence and source links
The racquet record uses 12.5 oz (353 g), reported pro strung, with Racket Fit provenance. It corrects the previous retail-style model, head size and pattern. See the public racquet weight contract for weight basis and source definitions.