What Tension Should a High School Tennis Player String At?

If you are a high school player (or the parent of one) and you have no idea what number to give the stringer, here is the short answer: start at the middle of the tension range printed on your racket, usually 55 lbs on a 50 to 60 lb frame, and if you are using polyester string, go a few pounds lower, roughly 2 to 5 lbs (Tennis Warehouse's guide suggests 2 lbs below the middle as a starting point). Then adjust a couple of pounds at a time based on how the ball comes off the strings.

That is the whole answer for most players. The rest of this post explains why, and how to know when to move up or down.

Your racket already tells you where to start

Look on the inside of the throat or along the frame. Every modern racket has a recommended tension range printed on it, usually something like 50 to 60 lbs, and lower on some control frames. That range is the manufacturer's tested window for the frame. Starting in the middle is not a cop-out. It is the best neutral reference point you have, and it is where almost every stringer will put you if you say "I don't know."

If your racket is an oversize (105 sq in or bigger), the strings are longer, so the same tension plays a little softer and livelier, and many stringers go a few pounds higher on those frames. If it is a dense 18x20 string pattern, the bed already feels firmer than an open 16x19 at the same tension, so many players run a couple of pounds lower.

What tension actually changes

Lower tension gives you more power, a bigger sweet spot, and more comfort. The ball sinks into the bed and launches a bit higher.

Higher tension gives you more control and a crisper, firmer feel. Most players also find it a bit harsher on the arm.

Spin is the one people argue about. Lower tension lets the strings move and snap back, higher tension gives more bite. In our experience, spin comes from your swing far more than from 3 lbs of tension either way.

The poly question, honestly

A lot of high school players are on full polyester because that is what the pros use. Poly gives you the most control and spin and it will not break for a long time. It is also the stiffest string type, it loses tension faster than anything else, and it "goes dead" (loses its playability) long before it snaps, roughly 10 to 20 hours of play for most players.

The coaching guidance here is not unanimous, and there is no official USTA rule on it. The coaches quoted in Solinco's junior equipment guide put competitive players on poly or a poly hybrid from about age 13, while starting younger kids on a thin multifilament at low tension. Mark Kovacs, a high performance coach who has worked with USTA Player Development, recommends waiting until the late teens, after the big growth spurt, and starting with a hybrid because it is safer for the arm. Both agree on the important parts: if a young player uses poly, string it low (mid 40s to low 50s), restring it often, and never use it to fix technique problems.

So if you are a strong varsity hitter with a full swing who breaks strings, poly or a poly hybrid at 45 to 52 lbs makes sense. If you are a JV player, a doubles specialist, or anyone with a sore elbow or wrist, a multifilament or synthetic gut at the middle of the range will play better and treat your arm better. And it will not need restringing as often.

New to hybrids? Our guide to hybrid tennis stringing explains how to set one up and what tension to use.

A simple decision guide

Balls flying long and you feel like you have no control: go up 2 lbs, or move from a multi toward a hybrid or poly.

Balls landing short, arm feels tired, sweet spot feels tiny: go down 2 lbs, or move from poly toward a multi.

Everything feels fine: do not touch it. Write the number down so every restring feels the same.

One thing to know: not every stringer's 55 is the same 55. A crank lockout machine typically produces a bed a few pounds looser (around 3 lbs in a common example) than an electronic constant pull machine at the same setting, depending on the string and the stringer's technique. If you switch stringers and the racket feels different, that is usually why. Tell your new stringer what machine your old one used, or just describe the feel you want.

That is one reason consistency matters. At A1 Stringing every racket goes on the same machine, so if you string with us each time, your tension feels the same each time.

Heading into the playoffs? Use our checklist for when to restring before a tennis tournament.

How A1 Stringing can help

When you book, tell us your string, gauge, tension, and racket model, or tell us how you play and we will recommend a starting setup and adjust it at your next restring. We stock premium strings only from Wilson, Luxilon, HEAD, Solinco, Babolat and Yonex, and every job includes a free overgrip. Coaches, we also bring the machine to teams and groups for on site stringing.

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.

Get dialed in for the season: book your restring online, or text (909) 334 2676.

Keep reading: how often to restring a tennis racket 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