Poly vs. Multifilament vs. Natural Gut: Which Tennis String Is Right for Your Game?

Walk into any tennis shop and you will see a wall of string packets that range from under $5 to over $60. They are not all the same product at different prices. They are four different materials that do four different jobs, and picking the wrong one is the most common reason a good player ends up with a racket that feels wrong.

Here is the one rule that explains almost everything: softer string gives you more power and comfort, stiffer string gives you more control and spin. Every string type sits somewhere on that line.

Synthetic gut (nylon): the value pick

A solid nylon core with wraps around it. Synthetic gut is the middle of the road on every measure: decent power, decent control, decent comfort, decent durability. At the time of writing, Tennis Warehouse lists most sets at about $4 to $6. For a beginner, a casual weekend player, or anyone who just wants a racket that feels normal without thinking about it, this is the right answer and there is nothing wrong with it. Prince Synthetic Gut Duraflex has been the standard for decades for a reason.

Multifilament: comfort and power

Hundreds of tiny fibers bonded together, built to imitate natural gut. Multis are soft, powerful, and easy on the arm, which makes them the best choice for recreational adults, most juniors, and anyone with elbow or wrist pain. The tradeoff is durability: they fray and eventually break rather than going dead, and they give you less control than a poly if you swing hard. At the time of writing, Tennis Warehouse lists roughly $11 to $24 a set, with Head Velocity MLT at the low end and Tecnifibre X-One Biphase and Wilson NXT at the top.

Polyester (poly / co-poly): control and spin for big hitters

A single solid strand of polyester. Poly is the stiffest common string. That stiffness is what gives it its two big advantages: it keeps a fast, full swing under control, and it slides and snaps back to generate spin. It is also the hardest string to break, which is why string breakers love it.

Here is what the packet does not tell you. Poly has the least power and the least comfort of any string type, it loses tension faster than anything else, and it "goes dead" well before it breaks. For most players that is roughly 10 to 20 hours of play. After that you have a stiff, dead bed that is harder on your arm and gives you neither the control nor the spin you paid for. If you never break strings, poly's durability does nothing for you.

Poly is the right choice for experienced players with fast, topspin heavy swings who will restring regularly. It is the wrong choice for beginners and for anyone nursing tennis elbow. At the time of writing, Tennis Warehouse lists sets of Solinco Hyper G, Luxilon ALU Power, Babolat RPM Blast, or Yonex Polytour Pro at about $14 to $23 before any sales.

Natural gut: the best string money can buy

Made from cow intestine, and still widely regarded as the gold standard. Gut has the most power, the best feel, the most comfort, and it holds tension longer than any other string. The catch is price (about $65 a set for Babolat Touch VS at Tennis Warehouse at the time of writing) and it is sensitive to moisture. For a player with arm pain who still wants performance, or a player who simply wants the best feel available, nothing else compares.

Hybrids: the best of two worlds

A hybrid uses one string in the mains (the vertical strings) and another in the crosses. The two common setups:

Gut or multi in the mains, poly in the crosses. Comfort and power with a bit more control. This is the setup Federer made famous and Djokovic still uses.

Poly in the mains, multi in the crosses. Most of the spin and control of full poly with a softer feel. This is the standard bridge for a strong junior moving toward poly, and a smart choice for any hard hitter whose arm is complaining.

Round or smooth polys (ALU Power, for example) tend to be gentler on soft strings in a hybrid than sharply shaped ones like Hyper G, which will chew through soft crosses.

Want the details on mains, crosses and tension for each setup? Read our guide to hybrid tennis stringing.

Quick pick

Beginner or casual: synthetic gut, middle of the frame's tension range.

Recreational adult, or any arm pain: multifilament, or a multi/poly hybrid if you want more control.

Strong junior or club player who breaks strings: poly hybrid, strung a few pounds low.

Advanced big hitter who restrings every few weeks: full poly at 44 to 54 lbs.

Feel player, or arm pain plus performance: natural gut, alone or in the mains of a hybrid.

Not sure where you fit? Tell us your racket, your level, and any arm soreness when you book, and we will narrow it down to two choices.

How A1 Stringing can help

We stock all four string types in premium brands only: Wilson, Luxilon, HEAD, Solinco, Babolat and Yonex, including natural gut and hybrid setups. Tell us how you play, how often, and whether your arm ever gets sore, and we will recommend a string and tension for your game. Every job includes a free overgrip.

Book a day ahead and your racket is strung while you wait. Need it today? Same day rush slots are available. Drop offs at the 24/7 drop box are ready in 24 to 48 hours. Pickup and drop off is available in nearby zones, and teams and groups can book mobile on site stringing.

Current prices for every service, from stringing and rush slots to pickup, mobile visits and the 3 Pack, are always up to date on our Book Online page. Prices do not include sales tax.

Ready for the right string? Book your restring online, or text (909) 334 2676.

Keep reading: best tennis strings for tennis elbow and tennis string gauge explained.

Follow A1 Stringing on Instagram at @a1_stringing for stringing tips and shop updates, and share this post with a teammate who needs it. New posts go up every Thursday.

A note on this post: this is general information based on our experience as stringers and on the sources referenced above. It is not medical or professional advice, and the right string, tension, and equipment for you depend on your racket, technique, and physical condition, so results vary. Always check your racket manufacturer's recommended tension range, confirm current prices and specifications with the retailer or manufacturer, and see a qualified medical professional for any pain or injury.

Nathan Lee | Owner, A1 Stringing