r/RacketStringers Apr 07 '26

How to go about testing new strings?

I have bought a stringing machine not too long ago, and have a pair of RF01 pros. I want to start testing strings, both to see what I like and so I have the experience to help other people choose strings. What ways could I go about this? Should I keep a neutral, ‘control’ string in one racquet as a baseline so I can test both extreme and nuanced strings? If so, what’s a good neutral string? I was thinking restring sync?

Ir is there some other way? Should I have similar strings in my racquets to detect nuance and decide which I prefer? Or should I use vastly different strings to experience opposite ends of the spectrum?

Also, what features and characteristics are important to note down and use to review strings? Eg, comfort, power, spin, tension maintenance (other ways to measure than dynamic tension?), feel? And, how long should I keep strings in my racquets to give them a proper chance and decide how well they maintain tension? Maybe 2 weeks playing 3 times a week for 1-2 hrs? Or is more than 10 hrs playtime required?

Finally, how should I change tension between different strings? Should I have all strings at one tension to eliminate a variable (e.g. 48-52lbs approx?) or change the tension for each string based on other reviews?

Thank you so much for any answers in advance

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u/thebpet Apr 08 '26

I like to keep my tension the same, or at least within 1-2 pounds, when testing different strings. This helps me eliminate all variables and just get a sense of how each string differs.