How String Tension Works in Tennis (And What the Pros Use)
String tension affects power and control. Here's how it works and which ATP and WTA players use notable tensions.
When picking a name for my website, I started with the name string tension because of the availability of the domain name. But the more I think about, the more I believe the name represents everything I love about the sport. Firstly, tennis is an intimate, isolating head-to-head sport. There is a lot of tension on the court, of course between the two competitors, but also between the player and herself, the player and her team, the player and the chair umpire, the player and the fans.
We get a few notable idioms from string tension, on one end of the spectrum you can be wound tight, meaning tense, anxious, or agitated. On the other hand you can be loose, relaxed, and comfortable. While the tightness of your strings might be a small part of the game (and over-optimizing this might add to winding you up), the string tension of your mental game is everything.
Low vs. High Tension
String tension is how tightly your racquet strings are pulled, measured in pounds (lbs). Most frames sit somewhere between 40 and 65 lbs. The number matters more than you'd think.
Lower tension (roughly 40–50 lbs): More power. The stringbed acts like a trampoline—the ball stays on the strings longer and launches further. Good if you need help generating pace or have arm issues.
Higher tension (roughly 55–65 lbs): More control. Tighter strings = stiffer bed = less deflection. The ball flies shorter and lands where you aim. Pros typically string high because they create their own power.
There's no universal "right" tension. It depends on your swing, arm health, and whether you're chasing power or control.
Notable Pro Tensions
Pro String Tensions (lbs)
ATP players average around 53 lbs. Here are some standouts:
Jannik Sinner—61 lbs with HEAD Hawk Touch, full poly. Among the highest on tour for a big hitter; he relies on tension for control.
Stan Wawrinka—58–62 lbs with full poly. One of the few pros who stays that high with no gut.
Andy Murray—62 lbs, gut/poly hybrid. High tension for maximum control off both wings.
Novak Djokovic—59 lbs mains, 56 lbs crosses with a gut/poly hybrid. Among the tightest on tour.
Roger Federer —59.5 lbs mains, 56 lbs crosses. Wilson natural gut with Luxilon poly crosses. Classic hybrid setup.
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz—Both around 55 lbs with Babolat RPM Blast. Mid-range for heavy hitters, plenty of control for topspin.
Iga Świątek—53 lbs with Tecnifibre Razor Code. Typical of current WTA top players.
Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton—Both around 52 lbs. Lower end for pros, more pop on their bigger swings.
Daniil Medvedev—50 lbs. Drops lower indoors on slow courts.
Frances Tiafoe—42 lbs. Very low for a pro; part of the trend toward mid-40s tensions.
John Isner—35 lbs. Ultra-low for maximum power on serve.
Adrian Mannarino—21 lbs. The lowest on tour, full poly. He’s gone as low as 11 kg (24 lbs) in the past and keeps dropping. Maximum power and pocketing.
On the WTA side, Serena Williams and Venus Williams strung at 66 lbs—among the highest on either tour. Pure control.
Finding Your Tension
Start in the middle of your racquet's recommended range (usually printed on the frame). If shots sail long, go up 2–3 lbs. If you're short or lacking power, drop a few. Most players stay within 48–58 lbs. Pros have the luxury of restringing every match; rec players usually find a number and stick with it.
You can track how today's pros match up on String Tension—our ELO ratings and head-to-head data update after every match.