If you’re pretty new to tennis, you may not realize how crucial proper tension in the strings is. If you didn’t know, your racquet strings should be tuned optimally to help you deliver top-notch performance on the court.
But as you play and play with your tennis racquet, the strings lose tension. As this happens, you lose control and power.
This means that regular restringing is a must. However, how much does it cost to restring a tennis racquet? Find the answers below!
How Much Does It Cost To String A Tennis Racquet?
The cost of stringing a tennis racquet primarily depends on two factors:
The price of your strings.
Labor costs.
Let’s have a look at both of these more in-depth.
How Much Do Racquet Strings Cost?
The cost of tennis strings varies widely depending on quality, type, and length.
If you are willing to sacrifice quality and durability, then ~$8 strings like this set from HEAD might be a good option. At the other end of the spectrum, you have the $15 Wilson NXT Control string, the $18 Luxilion ALU Power string set, or even the $37 Wilson Champions Choice Duo string. The most expensive strings on the market get close to the $50 mark.
You may save a noticeable chunk of money by buying the right string set. I suggest that you don’t go too cheap – inexpensive strings break and lose tension quicker, so you may need to replace them more often. This could drive restringing costs up in the long term.
Likewise, don’t buy too expensive strings unless you need them. I feel that mid-range strings (probably around $20) would be just fine for most people.
Mid-end strings wouldn’t hit your pocket too hard while delivering decent durability and performance on the court. Only go higher if you feel that you aren’t getting what you want.
Which string to choose comes down to your needs and budget. If you aren’t sure what to buy, do more research on tennis strings.
How Much Does Labor Cost?
When it comes to labor, how much you will have to spend depends on where you are and who you address. In some areas, labor may cost more than in others. Besides, an experienced specialist will charge more.
All in all, expect to pay about $10 to $20 for the labor. So depending on your string choice, you may end up paying from $15 to $70 to have your racquet strung. But for most people, the costs will be in the $30 to $40 range, give or take.
Can You Restring Your Racquet Yourself?
Why pay for labor when you can do the job yourself, right?
Well, you probably won’t be able to restring your racquet on your own.
You see, tennis shops use special tools called tennis stringing machines. These machines are designed to maintain the string tension as you pass the string through the racquet frame. The video below shows how they are used.
A tennis stringing machine could cost you anywhere between $300 and $3,000, perhaps even more. Unless you are stringing racquets professionally, it makes no sense to buy a stringing machine. Though if you are curious and have the money to splurge, you could give it a shot.
You could try to string your racquet manually by using a bunch of weights to maintain tension, but the result will probably be garbage due to uneven string tension, and you will waste a big chunk of your time. Definitely not worth it, in my opinion.
If you want to save money on racquet stringing, do the following instead:
Find a good shop in your area that doesn’t charge an excessive amount of money.
Avoid cheap strings – these will give up sooner, forcing you to replace your strings more frequently. Buying more expensive strings less often may help you save money in the long run.
Unless absolutely necessary, don’t buy costly strings.
Where To Have Your Racquet Restrung?
Any local tennis shop should have the tools to restring your racquet for you. Call a few places first and see what they charge for the job. Don’t go for someone who is super-cheap – you will probably receive matching quality for the price.
Is It Worth Restringing A Tennis Racquet?
If you don’t want to play with a mushy mess of a racquet, you should restring your racquet every once in a while. How often this should be done depends on how you play and how often you play – more below.
One thing some people may be wondering about is whether restringing a racquet is better than buying a whole new racquet. Well, this depends – if your racquet frame allows you to get the right combination of control and power and is in good condition, then there’s no point in replacing it.
On the other hand, if you’ve tried many different strings and haven’t gotten the desired result, then perhaps switching to another racquet would be able to help you. A tennis racquet’s performance depends on both the frame and strings, and you’ll need to find the right combo for your needs, preferences, and level of play.
Besides, if the frame is damaged, your racquet may need replacing.
How Often Should You Get Your Racquet Restrung?
How often to replace racquet strings depends on how frequently you play, among other things:
If you are a competitive player, restring your racquet before the competition.
Within a year, restring your racquet as many times as you play tennis in a week. If you play three times a week, three replacements a year should be sufficient.
Try to restring your racquet at least once every six months.
Polyester strings should be replaced after every 10 to 20 hours of play. These strings have the worst tension retention among all string types.
Besides, you should replace your racquet if you feel that the strings have lost control or spin. Another good indicator is physical damage on the strings.
Is Stringing A Tennis Racquet Hard?
Restringing a tennis racquet isn’t too hard by itself. But to do a good job, you need to have a stringing machine – otherwise, you won’t be able to maintain a consistent tension in the strings.
If you are curious or want to try stringing a racquet on your own, go ahead. But you probably don’t have time to waste on this procedure. Plus, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you likely won’t do well.
Conclusion
So there you have it!
In the end, most people will probably need to spend $30 to $40 to have their racquets restrung. But depending on your needs, budget, and experience level, you may end up paying way less or way more.
