The Complete Handbook of Tennis Racquet String
A Practical Reference for Players, Stringers, and Retailers
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
A comprehensive, practical reference for selecting, installing, maintaining, and selling tennis racquet string. No fluff, just measurable outcomes.
About this book
The Complete Handbook of Tennis Racquet String is a practical resource for anyone whose game or livelihood depends on a few hundred centimetres of tensioned filament. Unlike marketing materials that promise "more power" or "better feel" without qualification, this book defines those concepts in measurable terms: stiffness, energy return, coefficient of friction, and tension loss. You will learn what the numbers on a string package actually mean, and how they translate to ball speed, spin, and joint comfort on the court.
Inside, you'll find a step-by-step process for choosing string by playing style, injury history, and racquet head size, as well as detailed procedures for correct installation, tensioning, and knot tying. The book also covers routine maintenance and troubleshooting: what to do when strings snap at the tie-off, why a string bed loses tension faster than expected, and how to identify a bad stringing job. A dedicated chapter on the business side covers retail pricing, wholesale purchasing, servicing costs, and private-label manufacturing.
Written for professionals, serious hobbyists, and businesses, the handbook is a neutral reference, not a sales pitch. It uses plain language, real-world examples, and comparative data to help you make informed decisions and solve practical problems. Whether you are stringing for yourself or managing a pro shop, this is the operational manual you need on the counter.
Reader Reviews
Karen Anderson
★★★★★I've been stringing for a local club for a few years, mostly learning from YouTube videos and what the manufacturers tell me. This book is more systematic. The chapter on tension loss and how it relates to stiffness actually explained a few durability issues I've been seeing with polyester strings. It's not exciting to read, but it's exactly what I needed as a practical reference. I docked one star because the chapter on brand positioning already feels dated in a few places, but the core technical content is solid.
Jennifer Harris
★★★★★As a pro shop owner, I deal with customers who believe one magical string will fix their game. This handbook gives me the language to explain trade-offs clearly, without the salesmanship. The installation chapter is worth the price by itself: I applied the recommendation to tie off at the same tension as the reference string, and my breakage complaints dropped noticeably. It's rare to find a reference that's this specific and this neutral. I keep it behind the counter and I've already recommended it to three other local stringers.
Robert Jackson
★★★★★I'm a 4.5-level player, and I've always just picked whatever string was on sale. This book changed how I think about what I'm buying. The first chapter's breakdown of energy return versus control made me understand why my stiff poly setup was hurting my elbow. I read the whole thing in two evenings, then restrung with a hybrid setup using the book's guidelines. The differences were immediate and measurable in how the ball felt off my racquet. Wish I'd had this years ago.