Top 10 Best Tennis Strings For Spin in 2022

While Maria Sharapova makes hitting flat, just barely over the net, winners look easy, truth be told, it is a low-margin style of play, and sometimes we just need a little help with spin. Nothing is more frustrating than bombing services out over and over again. Some strings just don’t help at all with rotation, while others create amazing friction to get the ball spinning.

Some of the strings will give a lot of power and break often, while others may feel stiff. The two aren’t mutually exclusive, which is why it is important to not just what are the best strings but also understand the different types of strings and what your options are. 

Some strings that offer spin really are meant to help with control. That doesn’t mean you have to give up power. Let’s talk about what makes certain strings feel and react in specific ways, and from there, we can fine-tune what makes a good spin-friendly string for us. 

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Breaking Down Different Types of String

Any string in comparison side by side is going to have a list of similar qualities and a list of major differences. This is true brand to brand or even within a brand manufacturer itself. To determine whether a string will be good for you, we need to figure out how much it breaks, how much rotation it offers, and what kind of power it gives off. With spin specifically, the shape of the string is important because the more edges or, the rougher it is, the more friction that ball and strings will create on contact making the ball itself rotate at much faster speeds. 

What happens far too often is that the string will be a great fit for the player but a terrible fit for the racket or the tension that the player chose to use. This is because they don’t understand what moving the tension up and down does as well as how to counter the qualities of a racket. This is why it is important to look at your racket’s defining characteristics first. 

So let’s start with classifying our tennis strings into four different sets of groups. They will offer some similar qualities from one another, and others will be entirely different for a player that really needs something entirely different. 

Types

There are four different types of tennis strings that a player can put in their racket. They are synthetic gut, multi-filament, natural gut, and polyester. These strings are made of different materials to produce different results in terms of spin, control, power, and more. 

Synthetic Gut

Synthetic Gut is made out of Nylon in most cases and comes in a variety of colors and textures. It is one of the most popular strings because it comes at a very affordable price. It is widely sold to all types of players and stores. Synthetic Gut can be wrapped once or twice to change how it will hold tensions and whether that type of string is more or less durable. The string itself will have a solid core instead of some hollow strings. This helps hold tension in general and makes it more of a control string than not. 

The angel in which the outermost layer of the string will determine how much rotation and spin comes off the ball. 

Multi-Filament

Synthetic gut and natural gut are multi-filament. While natural gut may feel great, it breaks often, and synthetic gut doesn’t always offer the most feel. Multi-filament, the middle man will offer a great feel for a reasonable price, making it the next best option to natural gut. It’s also an upgrade from the synthetic gut. Different from synthetic gut, multi-filament has thousands of tiny spiral fibers intertwined to make up its core. It resembles how licorice looks bunched up and tied together. This string can offer both a lot of power and spin-based quality elasticity. Without spin properties, the string may feel a little out of control once it loses tension. 

For those who look for strings that help out their elbow, wrist, and other joint pain problems, this is a great solution without breaking the bank. 

Natural Gut

Natural gut is the power of all power strings. It can be a great option when paired with spin-tactics because of how heavy a ball can be when coming off a racket strung with natural gut. This string is soft and also great for those who suffer from any arm injuries. Unfortunately, it is very expensive and can break very often. Spin is actually crucial when choosing this string because, without it, the ball will soar over to the next town. And for a string so expensive and made out of cow intestines, this is not ideal. 

Don’t knock this string yet because if it is paired right with a good racket and you find a spin-friendly option, it can be life-changing for your tennis. The best tennis pros in the world use this string because it provides the best feel when you contact the ball. Without giving up power and using the spin, this string makes hitting the ball effortless every single time. 

Polyester

Polyester is quite the opposite of natural gut. It offers a lot of control and can be quite harsh on the body regarding how the ball feels upon contact. It has great durability that allows players who hit big to do just that all the time. These strings, in other words, won’t break on you anytime soon, even for the biggest hitters. Polyester is considered to be a monofilament string to allow players to take full confident swings and not have to worry about the ball going out or losing any sort of control. It’s also a decent option for beginners because it offers them control that they won’t have in the beginning. 

Top Brands

What’s important when knowing what string will offer you spin, you should familiarize yourself with the brands that make the top string. Solinco, Babolat, Wilson, and more major companies offer premium string that has different levels of spin, control, vibration, and more. 

Solinco

Solinco has been a beloved string for players at the pro level all the way down to the beginner level. It’s recognizable for its bright green Hyper-G. Despite being a newer brand on the market, they have been very successful in the market for quite a while. Most of their strings are polyester or monofilament that offer great durability and excellent control and spin. But they love power, so they have a unique chemical makeup that has made their company one to be reckoned with. 

Luxilon

Luxilon is known for power as they are a great premium string company that has taken over more than 60 percent of the professional athletes on the ATP and WTA tours. Luxilon started making their strings back in 1959 in Belgium with sewing machines. They have been around for the same amount of time as some of the racket manufacturers, which is why they are deeply loved by many. They offer natural got and polyester, but most love their natural gut as their claim to fame. Players rave about the feel and feedback when playing with their strings, so players should give this brand a try if they are looking for quality control. 

Babolat

Babolat is one of the most popular brands. Rafa is one of the most well-known athletes that use athletes, so it’s worth taking a glance from that alone. Racket manufacturers often will make a string that works well with their rackets because they will sell the string with a specific model type of racket they have made. For instance, Babolat has RPM Blast, which is a string that works with almost all of their rackets because of the way they work with each other. Most of Babolats’ strings will offer a lot of spin-friendly tactics and control because their rackets are powerhouses. When it comes to strings that offer spin, this is a great option. 

Wilson

The same method Babolat uses will be the same for many brands like Wilson. Wilson has a few more options on the market that enjoy pairing up with their models. Wilson has alternatives, whereas some other companies may only favor one or two strings. Some of their strings are geared towards control, while others offer some serious bite and pop. Just like your other options, Wilson has long represented some of the best players in the game for quite some time. Roger Federer is one of the best examples here. 

Top Tennis Strings for Spin

Now that we can fully understand some of the string types and who makes them so well, then we can consider what the top strings for spin are. All the companies that are mentioned above are going to produce the strings that you will want to work with. Let’s review these strings in terms of spin but also in terms of durability and how they fair in some other categories. 

How long is the string going to last with the amount of rotation?

Is the string harsh on the arm or does every shot feel smooth and vibration-free? 

This can help us figure out whether the string will offer us a great string and how bouncy the ball will feel when it comes off the string. Some strings may offer great spin but then lack in other categories that outweigh the spin. When we compare these strings, we look at just that. 

Price is something that we list here but is not considered a good or bad thing as to whether it is expensive or not. It is a bonus, however if it is a good quality string that comes at an affordable price. 

You may see an automatic correlation between some of the strings here and some listed for control. That’s because these platforms cross into each other and go hand in hand. 

1. Yonex Poly Tour Spin

This Polyester has won many hearts over with the incredible snapback you can feel even in the mini tennis. This may be due to Yonex’s use of silicone oil that is infused in the filament. This somewhat arm-friendly string is meant to allow players to have big full swings from the baseline. 

Much like other strings from Yonex, the only complaint is after a few hours, the string can lose some tension which can make a player feel like they start to lose control of the ball. The string won’t fray or peel on you as some others do and rates particular high and durability and spin potential. Despite being a harsher type of string, users also found this to be relatively soft and offer good amounts of feel on contact. 

2. Solinco Tour Bite

Just as the name sounds, It offers a lot of Bite and is quite frankly used by many players on the women’s and men’s tours, respectively. How does it perform so well? The way that the string is designed creates incredible amounts of rotation due to its shape. . It’s a four-edge string which makes it unique in itself. The edges create a lot of friction upon contact and make the ball spin at a much faster rate making a player feel like they can never miss. 

This is a very firm string and not soft at all, which means that players who struggle to create their own pace will not have fun using this string. It also will be unenjoyable for athletes that struggle with any kind of arm or wrist injuries. 

For those who don’t feel they apply to the above, this string is durable and will not break on you often. 

3. RPM Blast 

One of the most popular co-poly strings on tour and easily recognizable for its midnight black strings and octagonal shape. The edges, just like the tour bite, creates an incredible amount of spin that comes from the friction. RPM blast will go great with any of the rackets that Babolat releases because those are generally high-power rackets. Just see how Rafa plays. He hits with so much power and so much spin from 10 feet behind the baseline sometimes, and the ball still goes in. He doesn’t hesitate to take some big swings at the ball. 

The string itself definitely produces little to no power, which is why players can take such big swings at the ball. It is much more of a control and spin type of string so players can feel confident in their shots. Unlike other polys, as time goes on, you get a minimal trampoline effect because it retains tension decently and overall is a durable string. 

4. Wilson Revolve Spin

Wilson has been a trusted racket brand for quite some time which is why their strings also do well. The Wilson Revolve Spin says it in its name. It is made for spin with its five-edge shape to create enough friction to rotate the ball enough to send even your back fence shots to the baseline. The strings displace to help with creating even more friction due to their actual low-friction surface. The friction strictly comes from the edges and the ball. This is referred to as a good snapback because the strings snap back into place.

It is a co-poly string that is particularly firm. You may be expecting the string to be automatically uncomfortable to the arm and joints, but this string rates rather well considering its firmness. Where it rates low is the power. This is a low-power string. So don’t expect to have major pop on the ball. 

5. Luxilon Alu Power Spin

Luxilon is a premium string that already gets a good rep for providing spin to most of their strings. This is because a lot of their strings give off insane amounts of power, and there needs to be a counter to that. Luxilon Alu Power Spin has a unique pentagonal shape that offers just as of an insane amount of spin as it does with power. Often players will combine this with another string for a hybrid combination. 

It’s a relatively durable string but doesn’t offer a lot of comfort to the arm, which is why it may be paired with a softer, more power offering string in the first place. 

6. Kirschbaum Xplosive Speed 16

Kirschbaum is a well-known name in the stringing world, and their latest offering is already proving to be a popular choice with players of all ages. It features a sophisticated design that allows the strings to grasp the ball with each stroke and load up on the spin. The firm invested a lot of work making sure that one of the most comfortable co-polyester multifilaments on the market was still available.

For those seeking Spain, Kirschbaum offers a variety of different alternatives, but this latest release seems extremely intriguing. They appear to have prioritized consumer input in the past, and they have put up one of the best solutions for individuals to use right now. The best part is that they are still priced below average for folks looking for a string that matches their game.

It is available in Black color and comes with a 1.30-millimeter gauge and at a length of 12 meters. Given its premium design features including the poly-sided profile and the softening agents, the Kirschbaum Xplosive Speed is a fine choice for beginners as well as players who are on the ATP, WTA, and ITF tours. Thermal Fusion Technology goes a long way in terms of providing the necessary comfort and reactivity for players of all skill levels. Not only that but it is also a handy choice if you are trying to prevent a tennis elbow or any other arm injury.  

• Comes with a five-sided profile for more control and spin
• Set at 12 meters in length 
• Affordable price
• Comfortable and with softening agents for easier use

7. Tourna Big Hitter Black7

For heavier hitters, the string’s seven varied edges provide for a rather spinny alternative. The firm is well renowned for its overgrips, but they’ve also created a low-cost string that’s suitable for every player. The seven sharper sides go a long way in terms of grasping the ball and resulting in a powerful and clean spin.

Spin is a natural reaction produced by soft tennis strings. Players who are hitting flat will find that it is pretty simple to get a nice spin with just a bot of adjustments to their shots. This is especially useful for those who need to add a new level to their plate. One thing to keep in mind is that the string performs admirably for players who want to thread their racquets at extremely low tensions. It will continue to work well, and comfort will never be compromised. Players should continually be playing with their settings in order to find the best match for them.

We are pretty happy that it comes with a medium construction which keeps the comfort while offering more control than you would normally get. In addition to that, the co-poly structure is essential in terms of preventing arm injuries and relieving the stress of your elbow. Overall, a versatile and reasonably priced set of tennis strings that you shouldn’t miss out on

• Set at an affordable price
• Comes with seven cutting edges which boost the spin
• Medium construction for enhanced comfort and control

8. Gamma AMP Moto

You’re looking for polyester strings that are reasonably priced. With the right tension, getting a terrific spin on the ball doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. The string is quite stiff, and it is not suggested for anyone who is currently experiencing arm pain. Every ball that is hit has a lot of bite because of the seven distinct sharp edges. It also does a fantastic job of decreasing tensions without sacrificing any of the game’s original fun.

It is available in a few different colors including the Classic Black and LIme. Furthermore, it comes in several variations allowing you to choose between strings that offer a 16 and a 17 gauge. While these may not be ideal if you are someone with a tennis elbow or another tennis injury, you shouldn’t have a lot of issues maintaining maximum tension while going for power shots with its heptagonal design.

This isn’t everyone’s first choice when trying out polyester strings, but it’s a smart decision to make if you want to save money and test a seven-sided string alternative. It outperforms many of the other strings on this list while costing a fraction of the price.

• Comes with a heptagonal design for maximum tension and power
• Features seven cutting edges
• Set at an affordable price
• Available in a few colors and sizes

9. Head Sonic Pro Edge 16

The string has some evident spin potential, but its primary selling point is that it must be managed. The Head Sonic Pro Edge 16 may offer the finest control on any sort of shot of any of the strings featured in this article. Another advantage for players of any skill level is the general level of comfort. Players may place the ball anywhere they choose, and their arms aren’t harmed as a result. Some players like maximizing the spin potential, while others prefer to focus on the control element. It is an excellent choice for a variety of reasons.

For any tennis player, switching to polyester is always a bit of a risk. Consider this choice to be an ideal method to begin your journey into the globe. Nobody wants to hurt their arm by doing the first sort of strain, but the milder choice is usually good. It is available in two different sizes and comes with a 16 and a 17 gauge.

It is great to know that the Sonic Pro Edge can be installed on a HEAD as well as any other racquet. With that in mind, you are looking at a long-term investment that will allow you to play with a powerful spin, maximum tension, and control.

• The Sonic Pro Edge can be installed on a HEAD or racquet from any other company
• Available in two different sizes including a 16 and a 17 gauge
• Made of premium polyester for long-lasting performance
• Five-sided profile perfect for players with an aggressive game style

10. Volkl Cyclone 16

These strings come at an extremely affordable price while being able to compete with high-end offers. In our opinion, it is a perfect choice if you are still looking for the perfect strings and don’t want to break your bank while trying different options. When it comes to rackets, the Volkl business has slept on it a lot, and the same goes for the string. They may not have the same high-profile presence as some of the other major brands in tennis, but they make a lot of wonderful things that people have come to rely on.

Volkl uses a somewhat unusual form of a string, with a gear-inspired aesthetic. It is ideal for people who are making the transition to a co-polyester multifilament for the first time. Players may sit behind the baseline all day and hit tremendous strokes without having to exert any effort. The strokes have enough strength to penetrate the court, and the spin stops the opponent from advancing without paying a high price.

They come with a 16 gauge and a length of 12 meters. Also, in a Classic Black that looks great on almost any tennis racquet. With a strain, the field is above average, and doubles players, in particular, appear to enjoy this choice. If you’ve been wanting to test out a new sort of string, now is the time to do it.

• Co-polymer strings which offer impressive speed and control
• Coming with a 16 gauge and at 12 meters in length
• Multifilaments for long-lasting performance
• Offer maximum tension and great comfort

Things You Need To Know

Beyond knowing the best brands and the top five strings that will offer you quality string and quality spin, you should know some of the other elements and factors that contribute to how the ball feels when hitting. Things like string tension and racket type, make, and model are important to consider when placing a certain string in your racket. Let’s talk about some of those things and how they will make a difference in how you reach your goal. 

String Tension 

What tension you string your racket at will dramatically change the projected path of the ball. Most racket companies will offer a range of string tension that your racket should be used at. However, this range is usually large, and what may feel best for you will be entirely different from someone else. The lower you go in your tension, the looser your strings will be, and the ball will go flying. The higher tension you have, the more restricted the strings will be, and you’ll get a great feel, but your arm could develop a soreness. It is always best to play around with the string tension to see what feels best. 

Racket Type

The first part is figuring out what the best string is for you will be figuring out what racket type works for your game. Strings are made to match their rackets and compliment them so that they can balance out the strengths and weaknesses between both the racket model and the strings inside the frame. 

The four different types of rackets that you can choose from will make a big impact on the way you play. Sometimes it’s confusing because a player may feel like the strings are a bad choice, but in reality, it’s the racket. This is a really bad option. 

Let’s get into the different types of rackets so you can familiarize yourself and consider what different types of specs are going to offer you. Some rackets will have more weight or more length than a racket, which will directly impact your access to control, power, and spin. When the right string is combined with your racket, it can make for a great combination. 

Four Types of Rackets

Let’s consider these different types of rackets and how they will have a different style of play. Each of them works with a specific type of player and will have overlap from one category to another. Other characteristics will be entirely different from one another. 

These four types of rackets are traditional, modern, tweener, and power players. Each of these categories is pretty different from the other and can really offer a player with that style a complimentary racket. 

Remember that each racket can be customized in dimensions to change some of the features, but the overall theme remains. 

Power Rackets: 

This racket choice is one of the more popular types offered on the market because it particularly works well with short compact swings. With big serves from bombers like Serena, a player will need to have a short tight, and compact swing in order to return it efficiently. Women and men have increased their power potential drastically in the last years due to working out in the gym and better training. Instead of the player having to supply all the power, now the racket can do a lot of the work for the player. 

These rackets will store the weight in the head of the racket rather than the handle. They need to be lighter overall, so the maneuverability doesn’t become too difficult to whip around. 

Modern Racket:

Modern rackets are also popular because everyone is trying to add more margin to their game with spin. Think more like Rafa. This racket type offers tons of spin and power. Rotation is the priority with these rackets and works particularly well with strings that amplify the same. 

This is a power racket and tweener racker. It is not the best of everything but does perform particularly well in a lot of different specs and categories. 

Traditional:

This racket will give off a little less power and works best for the most advanced players. This is referred to as the traditional type. It is a small frame that is very stiff which makes timing more difficult than working with a bigger frame. If you don’t have great technique and advanced footwork you will find yourself constantly mishitting. 

These rackets are more commonly found on professional tour, if at all. They aren’t a popular choice because of the difficulty players have trying to make clean contact. When you do, however, it is a beautiful feeling. 

Tweener:

Tweener is really the best of everything. Players who volley, serve, baseline, chip, and do it all really love these types of rackets. While it won’t stand out in one area, it has high playability and is an all-around great racket to work with. If you have strengths and weaknesses, this racket won’t really amplify either.  

They don’t necessarily come in a general spec as they can be headlight or head heavy based on the manufacturer or the specific racket type. These specs, in general, have a wide range. Also, the swing weight of the racket can differ just as much. It will entirely depend on whether the player wants to feel like the racket weighs a lot or not much at all. 

Frequently Asked Questions

There is still a lot of information to learn and a lot of questions to ask. This is an area that most people don’t give much thought to but can seriously impact your game, arm health, and more. These are the most frequently asked questions that will help you understand the last bit of information that’s been missing. 

Does it matter which strings I string my racket with?

This is an incredibly common question, and the answer is it definitely matters what strings you use with your racket. Because many racket companies design their strings with the intention that they will be used with their racket, it is important to figure out if your preferences are being met through that string. Certain strings won’t go well at all with a specific racket as it is meant to balance it out. 

Depending on your game style will depend on the type of string you choose to go for, and from there, you can pick the brand and the specific string. 

From here, you can ask yourself how much power you want the strings to give off and in terms of how much spin it will help you create!

How do I find the right string for me?

You can always head to a demo shop and speak to one of the pros there, who will likely be able to give you good recommendations. Often if you are considering buying from them, they may let you try one out on the house. Buying single packets yourself won’t break the break depending on what type of string you are going with. 

Testing string out for yourself is really important and can be extremely helpful in the process of picking out your string. The last thing you want to do is order a bunch of packets or a full reel to find out you dislike the string. 

Do I have to buy single packs all the time?

You do not have to buy single packets! Once you find out what kind of string you like, it will be much more effective and price-efficient for you to buy a reel of string instead. Reels can be offered in different sizes based on the number of strings they will give you. It could be 20, or it could be 40, depending on what you go with. This is a lot easier for you to buy string and can end up saving you quite a bit of money. 

Suppose you are talented in your own age division, then you may be able to obtain some sort of sponsorship opportunity with the brand. Some strings offer referral programs or will offer to give you string at a discounted price for the stencil of the logo on the racket strings. 

How do I know which tension to string my racket at?

Different players are going to prefer different tensions when it comes to stringing their racket. A player should try out different tensions for themselves to see what works for them and what doesn’t when it comes to control and power. A player that doesn’t produce power may want something looser, whereas something that has a lot already may need to tighten it up. 

Tension also changes with elements, so moving indoors to outdoors will change your tension. Also, something that has an impact on tension is an improvement. The better you are, the higher tension you may need, and you may feel your tension drops a little quicker than it used. Consider playing with the tension in different elements as you grow your game. 

Manufacturers will always give you recommended tension ranges somewhere along the racket. It’s always best to stay within these ranges so that you don’t end up warping or breaking the racket unexpectedly. 

Conclusion 

Don’t be overwhelmed by the information you just learned about how strings work. It’s understandable, but you can also use this guide to come back to, and the real education is testing the waters yourself. It allows you to fine-tune your game and what you need. 

String type, tension, and quality are important things to take into account when looking for your perfect match. You should always choose your racket first before choosing your strings because they will be a direct play-off of each other. Rackets are the most important thing. 

Now for all the big hitters out there, you should have all you need from this list. These are the best strings for control, and they are loved by the beginner to the best professionals.