6 Best Tennis Strings For Power & Control

A lot of people put a huge focus on the racquet they purchase, but most tennis players agree that the string makes the racquet. A person can have the best racquet in the world for them, but if it is strung with the wrong string, it’s not going to play correctly.

The majority of people are looking for a versatile string that helps in all aspects of the game. A string that is both powerful, and provides control is best.

What are some of the best options out there? It depends a lot on what a person prefers to use as far as material is concerned, but there are some very good strings for people to consider. Here’s a look at the best strings for power and control. At the end, a final recommendation is given to help a person make the right decision.


1. Babolat VS Touch

The first thing people notice with natural gut when they go to a store or shop online is that it is pretty expensive. It is put together by weaving multiple strands of cow intestine to get the perfect string to work with. Because of how hard it is to manufacture, it’s one of the sets of strings that end up costing the most. 

Some people will try to save money by using a hybrid string setup. This means the natural gut is only used for half of the racquet, and blended with another type of string. Another option is to install string savers, helping to avoid early breaks.

Babolat VS Touch looks and feels a lot like other natural gut strings out there, but it performs at another level. It is the most powerful natural gut string out right now, and it has amazing comfort and feel as well. Players who have never used natural gut in their life will notice a difference right away.

Spin is also something Babolat VS Touch does as well as any natural gut. Most people recommend natural gut for flat hitters, so keep that in mind before trying it out.

Every tennis player should give natural gut a try at least once. It might not be something that a person can afford every single time they need re-stringing, but it’s hard to pass up all the benefits.

Pros

  • Some of the best power a person can ask for
  • Extremely comfortable
  • Excellent touch and control compared to other natural guts

Cons

  • Not very durable
  • Expensive

2. Wilson NXT

For the last few years, there has been no competition for Wilson NXT as far as a multifilament string is concerned. People like the way that it provides a solid amount of power, and the most control a person can ask for out of a multifilament. What makes people gravitate towards the string the most is that it has a comfort level that is hard to top, regardless of string type.

Wilson NXT is made of thousands of microfibers woven together to make a string. It’s considered to be very similar to natural gut in some ways, but a bit more durable and inexpensive. Even though it is more durable than natural gut, it’s still not considered a durable string by any means. A thicker gauge will allow for the string to last a little longer for people who are worried about breaking too often.

What Stands Out

It’s hard to find a string that is inexpensive, yet so comfortable to play with every single day. This makes it a great string option for older players who might have some aches and pains in their arm, because the last thing a person wants to do is deal with lingering issues.

People who love to hit with spin won’t fall in love with any type of multifilament, just because it is so hard to get that same type of rotation on the ball. This is another string that is mostly meant for flat hitters, but the NXT does just enough to help some players out.

Overall, Wilson has a multifilament that is a must-try for anyone who wants great value when buying string. It is not that much of an investment, and even though it’s not the most durable string in the world, most people feel like they get a good amount of value out of it before it’s time to go in for a replacement stringing.

Pros

  • An affordable option with great playability
  • Great comfort
  • Enough power for all levels of players

Cons

  • Not very durable
  • Spin is limited

3. Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex

For another very affordable option, a lot of tennis players who aren’t playing at a super competitive level will go with synthetic gut. It’s a nice, all-around string that doesn’t do anything particularly well, but it still performs at a high enough level that people will benefit from it. Prince makes the best synthetic gut right now, and they have done very little to tweak the recipe for success over the years.

Most people believe that synthetic gut is worth a try in the beginning, because it is one of the most affordable options a person can turn to. Instead of spending upwards of $40 for a set of strings, synthetic gut can be purchased for around five dollars in some cases. Players who are just getting used to a new performance racquet won’t notice a huge difference with their overall play.

What Stands Out

Another thing Prince Synthetic Gut rates well in, among other synthetic guts anyway, is comfort and durability. It’s important for players who might be starting out at first to get a string that is comfortable on the arm. New players are generally more susceptible to the potential of tennis elbow, and that’s the last thing anyone wants to deal with.

The strings are tough to break, unless there is a bad shank of some sort. Synthetic gut is built to be very durable and left in racquets for a long time. It also does a great job of holding tension, which is good news for people who just don’t feel like re-stringing too often.

For the price, Prince Synthetic Gut is one of the best values out there. Don’t expect the best string ever, but as far as synthetic guts go, you will not be able to find something any better.

Pros

  • Cheap
  • Comfortable for beginners to play with

Cons

  • Lacks good touch
  • Feels cheap to advanced players

4. Luxilon ALU Power

The modern game seems to really be gravitating towards polyester strings. And just the last decade, some of the best players in the world have moved to different polyester’s so that they can hit the ball with outstanding power and spin. 

Babolat RPM Blast is in many ways still considered one of the standards for polyester strings, but Luxilon ALU Power has taken off in its own right. In fact, right now it receives a slight edge for its overall playability, regardless of a player’s skill level.

Standard RPM Blast is not quite as durable and a little rougher on the arm, but Luxilon ALU Power is more beginner-friendly. The company has gained a strong reputation for its polyester strings, and they don’t seem to be slowing down at all. Even though the word “power” is in the name, this is a very control-oriented string people can rely on at nearly any tension.

What Stands Out

Unlike a lot of other polyester strings, this option delivers power and control without having to give up too much touch and feel. Usually there is a bit of a trade-off with polyester string in that regard, but Luxilon has figured out a way to avoid that.

Spin is obviously a huge drawing point for this string. The string bed can uniquely grab the ball, providing easy topspin that can explode off of the court. If a person wants added spin, they can also opt for a more textured option. A rough string to the touch is going to give the ball even more and allow for more rotations per minute (more on that below).

Polyester strings are as durable as they come, but people do need to realize that Luxilon ALU Power loses its tension very quickly. A lot of people are forced to cut the string out of the racquet before it actually breaks. Since it is not a very cheap string to purchase, this can become pretty costly in time.

Pros

  • Amazing spin potential
  • Excellent touch
  • Lasts a long time

Cons

  • Tough on the arm
  • Notches easily

5. Babolat RPM Blast Rough

Polyester string is so popular these days that some people are looking for just a little bit more bite with their string. Babolat RPM Blast Rough has a textured feel that grips the ball and allows people to add more rotations per minute on the ball with every stroke.

When it was first released, some people thought it was borderline cheating using a string like this. Spin is as good as a person can ever imagine, and there is a good amount of control and touch with the string as well. It’s also extremely durable, as long as the person can avoid the string notching too much. If the string notches consistently, it might be worth investing in string savers to help avoid that.

Players do need to provide their own power with any type of RPM Blast, but other than that, there is not a lot to complain about with playability. It is tough on the arm like any polyester, but most people know that going in. It’s not a string that is recommended for people who are just starting out, but it is a good option for a player who is trying to hit with better players. It’s a great way to step up any person’s game without having to sacrifice too much.

Pros

  • Extra texture for more spin
  • Nearly impossible to randomly snap a string
  • Ball goes where a player wants it to go

Cons

  • Notching is even worse, as rough strings cut into each other
  • A little underpowered for lower level players

6. Wilson Champions Choice Duo

As a person can tell from the string options above, there are a number of different options to go with. Some people end up deciding to go with a hybrid option so that they get the power and control they are truly looking for. It has become so common that Wilson actually offers Champions Choice Duo for people to use if they want. This saves people time and effort to buy separate sets and do it that way.

Endorsed by Roger Federer, Wilson Champions Choice Duo comes with Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power and Wilson Natural Gut 16. This combination is perfect for people willing to spend money to get a good balance of power and control. It is recommended to use Wilson’s Natural Gut in the mains, with polyester in the crosses. This allows for one of the most balanced setups a person can ask for.

Hard To Find Negatives

There is no negative to using this type of string set up, other than the cost. It is pretty costly, but the good news is that this is the most durable way to use natural gut. Durability shoots up quite a bit thanks to polyester being used with the string set up as well.

If a person wishes to, they can always make their own hybrid with any different type of combination of strings. It’s all up to each individual, as long as they have the string to mess around with. A lot of people who buy reels of string will do this type of testing to see if they can find something that really works for them in particular.

Another option is to go with different brands if a person really likes something from Babolat and something from Wilson (as an example). It’s not the cheapest thing in the world to do, but some people take tennis seriously enough that it is worth it to them to get the perfect set up that they feel comfortable with every time they take the court.

Pros

  • Best of two worlds
  • Increased durability
  • Play like a lot of pros with a hybrid set up

Cons

  • Expensive

Final Recommendations For Power & Control Strings

Every type of tennis string comes with its own positives and negatives, but some do better in the power and control categories than others. For someone who is open to any type of string, here’s a final recommendation on which option to go with, depending on skill level and budget.

Beginners on a budget – Wilson NXT

A multifilament is always a solid option for any type of tennis player. It provides a solid amount of power and control, and it’s not going to break the bank. It’s also pretty comfortable on the arm, so players who are just beginning won’t feel like they have to try too hard to hit the ball. You can check the current price on Amazon here.

Advanced players with a limited budget – Luxilon ALU Power

Most advanced players don’t need extra power to hit the ball hard. That is why polyester is the best to use for a combination of power and control against good players. It isn’t as cheap as some of the other string options out there, but it won’t break the bank either. On average, people don’t have to replace the string that often, which is an added bonus. You can check the current price on Amazon here.

Advanced players with a higher budget – Wilson Champions Choice Duo

Seriously, it’s worth a try. It is more than just trying to emulate Roger Federer, or anyone else who might endorse the string set up. It is going to cost around $40 for the hybrid option, but players really love the overall playability of the racquet once it is installed. You can check the current price on Amazon here.


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