The Complete Handbook of Tennis Racquet Grommets

Chapter 1: Understanding Tennis Racquet Grommets

A tennis racquet grommet is a small eyelet or ring, typically 4 to 8 millimeters in diameter, that sits at the point where a string passes through the racquet frame. Its job is straightforward: to protect both the string and the frame from the friction and impact that occurs when thousands of pounds of tension pull string against wood, carbon fiber, or aluminum. Despite their small size, grommets are a structural component that directly affects how long strings last, how consistently a racquet performs, and how much wear the frame itself sustains.

Every tennis racquet has between 16 and 20 grommet holes—one for each string path through the frame. In some modern racquets, these holes are protected by discrete grommet pieces that can be replaced individually or as a full set. In others, the grommet function is built into the frame material itself as a molded or reinforced zone. Understanding which design your racquet uses is the first practical step in managing equipment.

What Grommets Actually Do

When a string is strung into a racquet, it experiences tension ranging from 50 to 70 pounds (sometimes higher for advanced players). That tension pulls the string hard against the frame at 16 to 20 contact points. Without a grommet, the string would cut directly into the frame material—or the frame would deform and become unsafe. The grommet sits between string and frame, absorbing both the lateral stress and the micro-movements that happen during play.

During a