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Tennis Lab FX

Lab Notes from the shop floor.

The questions we answer every day at Tennis Lab FX. Written down so you can read them before you come in, or instead of coming in.

STRING

Pick what you need to know.

From string material and tension to swingweight, racquet matching, and full customization. No experience required, and most reads run five to eight minutes.

String Selection 01
Polyester vs. Natural Gut
What actually separates the two most talked-about string materials, and how to figure out which one belongs in your racquet.
Read, 7 min →
Arm Health 02
Best Strings for Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is often a string problem. Here's which materials reduce shock, which amplify it, and how to build a setup that actually helps.
Read. 8 min →
String Setup 03
What Is a Hybrid String Setup?
How gut mains and poly crosses work, why most tour players use this configuration, and whether it makes sense for your game.
Read. 6 min →
String Setup 04
How to Choose String Tension
What the tension range on your frame means, how lower and higher lbs actually change performance, and the polyester exception every player should know.
Read. 7 min →
Racquet Setup 05
How Swingweight Affects Your Game
Swingweight is more impactful than static weight or balance. Here's what the numbers mean, how different ranges feel on court, and when to adjust.
Read. 6 min →
String Selection 06
String Gauge: Does It Matter?
The complete gauge system explained. How diameter affects spin, feel, durability, and arm comfort, and which gauge to choose for your string type.
Read. 5 min →
String Maintenance 07
How Long Do Tennis Strings Last?
Dead strings cause more problems than broken ones. And most players are playing on dead strings. Here's how to know when it's time to restring.
Read. 5 min →
Racquet Setup 08
Racquet Balance, Calibrated
Where the mass sits in your racquet, head-light, head-heavy, or even, changes how the frame feels in hand and through the stroke. Here's what the spec means and when to recalibrate.
Read. 7 min →
Grip Maintenance 09
When to Replace Your Overgrip
Most players let their overgrip go too long. Here's when to swap it, what the wear is costing your game, and how to wrap a fresh one, plus the difference between overgrip and base grip.
Read, 4 min →
Racquet Setup 10
How Racquet Matching Works
Two frames of the same model are never truly identical. How we measure a set, match every frame to the heaviest one, and why all three specs have to land together.
Read, 7 min →
Racquet Setup 11
Should You Customize Your Racquet?
An honest guide to whether tuning your frame's weight, balance, and grip is worth it, what customization can fix, and when you're better off waiting.
Read, 6 min →
Racquet Care 12
When to Replace Your Tennis Racquet
Frames don't last forever, but they last longer than the industry suggests. The hard signs a frame is done, the soft signs worth watching, and what's fixable instead.
Read, 6 min →

Come talk to us in person.

The articles cover the fundamentals, but every player's situation is different. If you want a setup dialed to your game, your frame, your tension, your arm, walk in or book a consultation and we'll take it from there.

Poly vs. Natural GutHybrid SetupsTension · Gauge · Arm HealthString MaintenanceSwingweight & Your GameBuilt from the Shop Floor12 Articles · No FluffTennis Lab FX · New York