The tension of a tennis racket is the number of kilograms which are being placed on the tennis string at the moment they are strung into the tennis racket.

Stringing and power are reversibly related, just like power and control. The more tension on a tennis racket, the less power, the more control. The table below clarifies this:

Stringing	Power	Control	Lifespan	Feeling	Comfort
harder	-	+	-	-	-
softer	+	-	+	+	+

To get more power out of the same tennis string, you have to string the tennis racket with less tension (this causes the so called trampoline effect), but that also means that your control will diminish. A tennis string with a higher elasticity, has more power.

A tennis racket has to be strung at the number of kilograms that are indicated by the manufacturer. This number can usually be found on the inside of the tennis racket.

You don't know which tension suits you best?
Then string your tennis racket in the middle of the recommended stringing range. If for example this is 22 - 28 kg, then choose 25kg. After testing your tennis racket with this tension, there are three scenarios:

• you have sufficient control and power. In other words, the tension is just fine!
• you do not have enough control: raise the number of kilograms by 1 kg
• you do not have enough power: lower the number of kilograms by 1 kg. Because of the lower tension, you will create a kind of trampoline effect, which means more power can be generated, but you will have less control!

The more kilograms that are put on a tennis string, the less elastic the tennis strings will become. Consequence: less playing feeling and less power and vice versa. A lower tension generates more power and feeling, but less control.

Do you want more power, without changing your tennis string?
Lower the tension in steps of 1 or 2 kg every time and see if the result gets better (or not).

Do you want more control, without changing your tennis string?
You can't keep the tennis balls in the court? Raise the tension by 1 or 2 kilograms. You will probably loose some 'depth', but you will gain more control. If it is possible, you can also lower the thickness of your tennis string.

Do you want more comfort?
Change your tennis string to gut or multifilament tennis strings.

Are you a tennis racket stringer?
Ask your customer if the tennis string provided gave the desired playing comfort. Where they satisfied with the power they could use in their game. Try to avoid 'same tennis string & same tension'. How happy was he with the feeling, spin and lifespan? With these questions, you can improve your clients performance. By giving the appropriate advice to your customers, they can improve their playing pleasure , while you will be their stringer in the future!

More information:
Stringing guide
Stringing video
Why are tennis strings important?
Types of tennis strings
Tennis string thickness
The lifespann of a tennis string
The ideal tennis string
Why string yourself?