Often overlooked, a racquet’s string pattern can make a big difference in your game.

By Jon Levey
Photo by Getty Images

During the press conference following his semifinal victory over Andy Roddick at the Sony Ericsson Open in April, Nikolay Davydenko was asked for a reason behind his sudden surge in play. “Because I changed racquets,” said the world No. 4 and eventual tournament champion. “It’s the same Prince, just only 18 string. Little bit more string and I have more control.”

Davydenko was referring to the change in his string pattern. He went from the more open 16 main (the strings that go up and down) and 18 cross (the ones that go side to side) configuration of his Ozone Tour to the denser 18x20 pattern of the Ozone Pro Tour. While there are many characteristics to consider when selecting a racquet, such as head size, weight, and balance, string pattern barely registers in the minds of most recreational players. Still, astute competitors know the amount of string in a frame can have a huge impact on how the racquet performs. Here are three important criteria that are influenced by string pattern.

1. COMFORT

This characteristic is somewhat relative. If you associate comfort with minimizing shock, you’ll like an open pattern. Less string makes the string bed softer, which is generally considered more arm-friendly. This is particularly true when you strike balls outside the sweet spot and closer to the frame.

The forgiveness is also why many consider an open pattern to be more powerful.

Doubles great Mark Woodforde played most of his career with a specially made, highly unusual 12x14 pattern because he liked to use very thick strings (12 gauge) and needed the extra space to still get the feel of an open pattern. Other players may find they don’t get enough feedback from an open pattern. More strings woven together make the string bed stiffer, which provides more feedback at contact. Players who prefer that feeling will like a dense pattern.

2. SPIN

With more space between strings, an open pattern allows the racquet to bite the ball better. This helps players accentuate their spin. According to stringer Roman Prokes of RPNY Tennis and CityView Racquet Club in New York, several pros he works with will switch to a more open pattern for the clay-court season since dirt takes spin so well. The added surface area of a dense pattern doesn’t grip the ball quite as well. You can still apply spin on your shots, just not as easily.

“It’s like wearing cleats in soccer,” says David Bone, TENNIS technical adviser and executive director of the U.S. Racquet Stringers Association. “If you have a flat sole you just slide across the grass. Cleats bite or dig into the ground better.” The upside is that the added stiffness of a denser pattern can result in what Davydenko found: better control. Prokes says it’s like the difference between hitting with a board and a fishing net.

3. DURABILITY

The primary reason for strings breaking is friction. When strings move, the rubbing causes them to weaken and eventually snap. With less spacing, a dense pattern allows for less movement, adding to the life of strings. An open pattern gives the strings more freedom and therefore allows for greater shifting. Players with open patterns, particularly those who like to put heavy spin on their shots, have to constantly reposition their strings between points (unless they play with a very stiff string, like Luxilon) and make more trips to the stringer.