How often should you restring your racquet?
The rule of thumb is pretty simple: you should restring your racquet per year as many times per year as you play per week.
For example, on average, I play about 4 times a week, counting a private lesson or doubles drill. So that means I should restring about four times per year, or once per quarter. I probably do it a little more often though, because on many weekends, I do a 1-1/2 hour long group drill and then play 3 or 4 sets afterward.
You can also take a look at your strings and see just how worn and fuzzy they’re getting. That’s a good indication it’s time to restring – especially if it’s been a while. You’ll be surprised at how much better you hit the ball with a newly strung racket 🙂
I get mine done at Tennis Express because they’re cheaper than my club, and they’re fast! I can usually drop it off at lunch and pick it up on my home from work. But if their Westheimer/Walnut Bend location isn’t convenient for you, definitely take it to your club’s pro shop, or nearest Academy location. Or you can visit http://www.racquettech.com to find a stringer near you – anywhere in the US!
A NOTE: If you have a backup racket (which is good to have in case a string breaks mid-match), Daniel at Tennis Express says that without restringing at least every 4-5 months, the tension would definitely change, and probably enough to mess with your game when you finally do use it. He also says that temperature also affects the tension – in hot conditions, the strings loosen, and in cold, they tighten, so be sure and keep the backup indoors as often as possible.
