How to choose arm-friendly strings
TenisRaketi Editör Ekibi · Updated October 2026
Short answer
Natural gut and multifilament are the easiest strings on the arm. If you want to use polyester, choose a soft model, a thin gauge and a tension at the low end of the range, and restring before it goes dead. A vibration dampener does not protect your arm.
In this guide
Strings decide how much load reaches your arm as much as the racket does. A stiff string passes more of the impact shock to the arm; a soft string absorbs some of it. This guide covers what you can do on the string side to look after your arm. If your arm already hurts, start with the tennis elbow guide; strings help but they are not a treatment on their own.
What makes a string arm-friendly?
- Elasticity: The more the string gives at impact, the longer the contact between ball and racket and the softer the blow.
- Tension maintenance: Some strings feel the same for weeks, others stiffen within a few weeks. A string that goes "dead" without breaking is harder on the arm every week.
- Tension: The same string plays softer at a lower tension.
Strings from soft to stiff
If your arm is sensitive, choose from the start of the list: natural gut or multifilament. If budget and durability matter, a good multifilament is the most sensible choice for most players. The types in detail are in the types of tennis strings guide.
If you cannot give up polyester
For players who break strings often or are used to polyester's control, dropping it can be hard. Ways to reduce the load:
- Choose a soft polyester. Makers sell them as "soft" or "comfort".
- Use a thinner gauge. 1.25 mm or 1.20 mm instead of 1.30 mm. More in the gauge guide.
- Lower the tension. Go to the low end of the range printed on the racket. The rule and the chart are in the tension guide.
- Switch to a hybrid. Polyester mains, multifilament or natural gut crosses. If comfort matters even more, flip it: the soft string in the mains, polyester in the crosses. The mains decide most of the feel.
- Restring on time. Polyester goes dead and stiffens before it breaks. If you play regularly you may need to restring every few weeks; see when to restring.
Common myths
- "A vibration dampener protects my arm." The small dampener on the strings stops the string bed ringing after impact and changes the sound. It does not meaningfully reduce the shock that passes from the frame to the arm.
- "If it hasn't broken, it's fine." Strings that do not break, polyester above all, lose their elasticity within weeks. A dead string feels harsher than a fresh one.
- "Durable strings are good for the arm too." The opposite: the most durable strings (aramid, stiff polyester) are the hardest on the arm.
The racket matters too
A stiff frame with a stiff string adds to the load on the arm. A soft string offsets a stiff racket to a degree but does not cancel it out. For the racket side, see the best arm-friendly rackets list; the Racket Finder also pushes stiff frames down when you tell it your arm hurts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best string for tennis elbow?
Natural gut or multifilament, at the low end of the tension range. Natural gut is the softest string and holds tension best; multifilament is a more affordable alternative. If the pain persists, see a doctor.
Does polyester cause tennis elbow?
Polyester is not a cause on its own, but it is the string type that puts the most load on the arm. Worn polyester in particular stiffens. If your arm hurts, moving to a soft type or a hybrid and lowering the tension reduces the load.
Do vibration dampeners help arm pain?
Not really. They stop the strings ringing and change the sound, but they do not meaningfully reduce the shock that passes from the frame to the arm. String type, tension and the racket matter more.
Is there an arm-friendly polyester?
Yes. Polyesters sold as "soft" or "comfort" are clearly softer than standard polyester. At a thin gauge and low tension they put less load on the arm. They are still not as soft as multifilament.
More guides on this topic
- How to choose tennis stringsFor most players multifilament or synthetic gut is a safe starting point. Hard hitters who break strings often go for polyester, and players who put arm health first choose multifilament or natural gut. A gauge of about 1.25 mm is a good balance.
- Tennis string tension: what should it be?Start in the middle of the range printed on your racket: the exact middle for multifilament, synthetic and natural gut, and about 1 kg (2 lb) lower for polyester. Lower tension gives more power and comfort, higher tension gives more control. Change it by no more than 1 kg at a time.
- Types of tennis stringsThere are four main types: natural gut (softest, most expensive), multifilament (soft and powerful), synthetic gut (cheap, all-round) and polyester (stiff, controlled, durable). Aramid is only used in hybrids. How fast you break strings and how sensitive your arm is decide the type.
- How to choose tennis string gauge1.25–1.30 mm is a good balance for most players. Thin strings (1.15–1.20 mm) give more feel and a little more spin but break sooner; thick strings (1.30 mm and up) last longer. Gauge numbers vary between brands, so always go by millimetres.
- How strings affect spinMost spin comes from your swing; strings make it easier or harder. On the string side the biggest effect is the mains sliding and snapping back: a slick polyester and an open string pattern increase it. A shaped cross-section has a smaller effect, and it fades as the string wears.
- When to restring a tennis racketThe practical rule: restring as many times a year as the days you play per week. If you play three days a week, three times a year. With polyester, restring more often; it goes dead within weeks even if it does not break. If the racket feels harsh, balls fly long or the strings stay out of place, it is time.