The most common question recreational players ask when getting a restring: "Should I go with polyester or multifilament?" The honest answer is it depends on your game — but here's everything you need to make the right call.
Polyester (and its modern variant, co-polyester or "co-poly") is a stiff monofilament string. It doesn't move as much as nylon on contact, which reduces power — but it snaps back with a precise, controlled deflection that generates spin. It also holds tension poorly over time: poly strings lose 30–40% of tension in the first 48 hours and keep losing it. This is why pro players restring before every match.
Babolat RPM Blast or Luxilon ALU Power — both the most popular choices at intermediate and advanced levels.
Multifilament strings are built from hundreds of thin fibers twisted together. They mimic the feel and performance of natural gut (the best but most expensive string available) at a much lower price. They're soft, comfortable, and bouncy — great for players who need power assistance or are managing arm issues. The downside is durability: a heavy hitter can snap a multifilament set in a single session.
Beginner: Multifilament at 55–60 lbs. You need power and comfort while developing technique. Intermediate (3.0–3.5): Either works — try poly at low tension (48–52 lbs) if you're developing spin, or stay with multifilament. Intermediate+ (3.5+): Co-poly strung at 48–55 lbs. You now have the swing speed to benefit from string snap-back.
Natural gut is the gold standard — the most powerful, most comfortable, and best tension-maintaining string available. The catch: it costs $35–50 per set and can be damaged by moisture. Most club players use a poly/natural gut hybrid (poly in mains, natural gut in crosses) to get spin and control while retaining feel and comfort.
You can, but expect a transition period. Poly reduces power significantly — shots that cleared the net comfortably with multifilament may now drop into the net until you adjust your swing speed and follow-through. Drop tension 5–8 lbs from your usual multifilament tension to soften the poly and bridge the gap.
Stiffer strings do transmit more shock, which can aggravate existing elbow issues. If you have tennis elbow, avoid poly and use a soft multifilament at 50–55 lbs. The combination of a softer string and lower tension significantly reduces impact force on the elbow.
Poly strings are more durable against breakage — a co-poly set can last 3–6 months of regular play before snapping. However, they go "dead" much faster — losing tension and spin potential within 20–30 hours of play. Multifilament strings break earlier but maintain feel better up until they break.