Every restring starts with a question: how do you play? Flat ball-striker, heavy topspin, arm sensitivity. All of it changes the recommendation. We talk through it before we string, and we log your preferences so every future visit starts from exactly where you left off.
Read our tension guide →We talk through how you play, pace, spin, and arm history, before a single string goes in the frame.
String type and tension matched to your game and your frame, not the manufacturer's printed midpoint.
Strung on professional-grade equipment with calibrated tension and consistent technique, every time.
Your string, tension, and setup logged, so the next visit starts exactly where you left off.
It comes down to four families. Here's how each one plays and which players it suits. Not sure where you land? Take the quiz below, or talk it through with us at the bench.
String and customize in one visit →The tour standard. Firm feel, high durability, and excellent spin potential. Best suited for big hitters and players who string frequently.
Polyester vs. natural gut →The benchmark for tension maintenance and arm comfort. Used by many tour players, often in a hybrid, for a reason.
Dealing with arm pain? →Softer feel than poly, affordable, and forgiving. A solid choice for players who prioritize comfort and aren't looking to overthink it.
Does string gauge matter? →Gut in the mains, poly in the crosses. Or the reverse. The most versatile setup on tour. We dial the combination to your game.
How hybrid setups work →Pricing varies by string and setup. Visit or call (646) 669-8444 for a quote. String often? Stringing Packages save up to 25% on labor, and we'll pick up and return your racquet if you can't make it in.
A restring is more than running string through a frame. The difference is in the details most shops skip, and in the hands doing the work.
Tour-level is a résumé, not a slogan. Between the people at our bench: all four Grand Slams, four decades of craft, and frames prepared for some of the biggest names to ever play the game.
Meet the full team →
Has strung for Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Jim Courier, Jennifer Capriati, Gabriela Sabatini, Yannick Noah, Andres Gomez, and NYU's Men's and Women's varsity teams. Leads stringing education at the Lab, training every stringer to the same tour standard.
Member of the Wilson Stringing Team at every US Open since 2006 — including every final. Has worked all four Grand Slams, the Laver Cup, and the Cincinnati Open, stringing for Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Aryna Sabalenka, Maria Sharapova, Elena Rybakina, Mirra Andreeva, and Andre Agassi. Brings the same precision to every racquet that comes through the Lab.
Has strung for Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Maria Sharapova, Jim Courier, Tommy Haas, Tomáš Berdych, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and Christina McHale across nearly two decades on the professional circuit. Sets the standard for precision and consistency at the bench.
Polyester, natural gut, multifilament, and hybrid setups from the brands the tour actually uses. Bring your own string if you prefer, or pick from the wall and we'll talk you through it.
Answer a few questions about how you play and we'll match you with the right string from our in-store inventory. Along with the reasoning behind each pick.
The questions we answer most about stringing. Still wondering about something? Come by the Lab or send us a message.
A good rule of thumb: restring as many times per year as you play per week. Play three times a week, restring about three times a year. Poly players and big hitters go more often, since polyester loses tension and feel faster. If the strings feel dead or you're losing control and spin, it's time, schedule aside.
Most players land between 45 and 60 lbs, but the right number depends on your string, frame, and game. Lower tension gives more power and comfort; higher gives more control. Poly is usually strung 10 to 15% lower than gut or multi. We recommend based on how you actually play, not the frame's printed midpoint.
Natural gut is the gold standard for arm comfort and tension maintenance. A soft multifilament is the next best if gut is outside the budget. We steer arm-sensitive players away from stiff full-poly beds, or string them lower. A gut-mains, poly-crosses hybrid is a popular middle ground.
Most are done same day or within 24 hours. Walk-ins welcome Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM at 235 East 51st Street. On a deadline for a match or tournament? Tell us and we'll work around it. Preferred Members skip the line.