Restring Before a Tennis Tournament: A CIF Playoffs Checklist for High School Players
Playoff week is the worst time to find out your strings are dead. If your team made the CIF Southern Section playoffs, we recommend you restring before a tennis tournament a few days before your first match, not the night before, and with the exact same string and tension you have been playing with all season.
That is the short answer. Here is the full checklist we use at our stringing bench in Eastvale.
When do the 2026 CIF girls tennis playoffs start?
According to the CIF Southern Section's 2026 to 27 girls tennis season preview, league play ends Wednesday, October 28. Team playoffs start Wednesday, November 4 for Divisions 2 to 8 and Friday, November 6 for Division 1, with team finals on Friday, November 13 at the University of Redlands and The Claremont Club. Individual sectionals are Monday, November 23, and the individual championships run December 2 and 3, with the semifinals and finals on December 3, at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center in Claremont. Brackets are posted on cifss.org.
If you play for a school in Corona, Chino Hills, Eastvale or anywhere else in the Inland Empire, count back from your first match date, not from the day your coach posts the bracket.
When should you restring before a tennis tournament?
We recommend restringing two to five days before your first match. Two reasons:
Strings lose tension fastest right after they are strung. Tennis Warehouse University found that most of the drop happens in the first few minutes and the first hits, and then it levels off. A practice session or two on the new strings means your first real hits are not in a match that counts.
You get a practice or two to confirm it feels right. If something is off, there is still time to fix it.
Restringing the night before means your first hits on the new strings happen in a playoff match. That is a gamble we would rather you skip.
The CIF playoff restring checklist
Book a few days ahead. We recommend booking before a string breaks, not after, so you are not scrambling the night before a match.
Keep the same string and tension. We would not experiment during playoffs. If you liked your setup during league play, ask for exactly the same thing. Write it down or keep it in your phone.
Count your hours if you play polyester. Poly usually goes dead before it breaks. Tennis Warehouse University says that is generally described as happening after 2 to 20 hours of play, depending on the string and how hard you hit. If you practice five days a week, a poly job from the start of the season is probably done. Our guide on how often to restring a tennis racket has the signs to look for.
String your backup racket the same way. If a string breaks mid match, your second racket should feel as close to identical as possible. In our view, a backup with old strings at a different tension is not much of a backup.
Check the frame and grommets. Look over the whole frame for cracks, and check for cracked or worn grommets, which Tennis Warehouse notes can cause early string breakage. We check every frame before stringing and will tell you before we start if something is wrong. We do not string a cracked frame.
Put on a fresh overgrip. In our experience a slick grip makes players squeeze harder. A new one takes a couple of minutes, and every restring at A1 Stringing includes one free.
Plan for a long run. If you reach the team finals or individual sectionals, decide now whether you will restring again before them. Players who string often may want a second fresh racket ready for late November.
What tension should you use for playoffs?
The same one you used all season, if it worked. If you are still unsure, our post on what tension a high school tennis player should string at walks through it: start in the middle of the range printed on your racket and string polyester a little lower. Make any change small, a couple of pounds at a time, and make it before playoff week, not during it.
Our rule of thumb, and the one thing to tell a teammate: fresh strings, same setup, a few days early.
Quick answers
Should I restring the day before a tennis tournament? We do not recommend it. Restring a few days before so the strings settle and you get at least one practice on them.
Should I change my string for playoffs? In our view, no. Keep the string and tension you used during the season unless something was clearly wrong, and save experiments for the off season.
How do I know if my strings are dead? On a poly setup, push a main string sideways. If it does not snap back into place, or the ball is flying long and the strings feel dull, it is probably time.
How A1 Stringing can help
Tell us your string, gauge, tension and racket model when you book, or ask us to match your current setup. We stock premium strings only from Wilson, Luxilon, HEAD, Solinco, Babolat and Yonex, and every job includes a free overgrip. Players who restring often during the season can also use the Prepaid 3 Pack: three restrings, prepaid, good for 12 months and shareable within your household.
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.
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.
Can't get to us? In Zones A and B we offer pickup and drop off on route days: pickups Monday to Wednesday, rackets back within 24 to 48 hours, 2 racket minimum per address. For a whole family or team, a mobile visit brings the machine to your home, club or court and you get your rackets back the same visit (2 racket minimum in Zones A and B).
Get playoff ready: book your restring online, or text (909) 334 2676.
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
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