KEEPING YOU
ON THE COURT
We specialize in innovative hybrid stringing with natural gut
-like synthetic strings so you can continue to enjoy tennis without pain
How I got here
Here’s a secret no one is telling you: Polyester strings are only playable for 3-8hrs. You may not be able to tell (because they are so darn stiff) but after that short amount of time time they lose their spring and can really damage your joints.
So why do the pros use them? Well, the pros can afford to re-string every time they play but not all of us muggles can. I’ve played with polyesters and while they may be amazing at first, they also really hurt my joints and tendons. They might be doing the same to you.
There are alternatives to getting a polyester-like performance out of strings that are much easier on your joints. Many I’ve chosen are even playable until they break.
I’m a huge fan of a new material called PEEK. That’s why I gave my service it’s name. It’s short for PolyEtherEtherKetone. It’s also known by name brand as Zyex. It’s more than just another synthetic because it has some amazing dynamic properties extremely similar to natural gut AND polyester. It’s soft as natural gut but can create just as much ball spin as polyester and, in my option, much more durable. I really like the monofilament version of it. Not all stringers are patient enough to work with this fussy string but I’ve made it a point to master its properties and quirks.
Take a look at the fun hybrid combinations I’ve come up with below that don’t use ANY polyester strings. If you’re looking to tame the power of that Pure Aero or alleviate your arm issues, my hybrids might work. It’s worth a try.
Our services
We don’t offer much but we do the following:
Racquet Restringing
Racquet Customization
Talking
Ultimate solutions
Why Do We Use Two Different Kinds of String?
Our String Hybrids
There are a million types of tennis strings out there. We’ve done the work and figured out which non-polyester strings work really well together to maximize the best characteristics of each.
And we’ve created fun names for the strings we’ve combined. They’re even paired to LOOK like your favorite tennis player’s string setups.
Terminology:
Whenever you see a slash: Main strings/cross strings
Monofilament: a single extruded untwisted synthetic filament
Synthetic: typically a monofilament core and a layer of outer wrap
Multifilament: a string composed of hundreds or thousands of multiple man-made filaments/fibers that are usually bonded or twisted together
Natural Gut: comes from the cow. specifically, the part of its intestine called the serosa. It is produced by drying the serosa fibers which contains collagen designed to withstand the stretching and contraction of the intestine. It is this elasticity that makes the fibers useful for tennis string.
Gauff For It!
COLOR: Silver/Silver
This combo packs a punch. The power synthetic crushes the ball and the slick monofilament (non-polyester) allows it to snapback and impart plenty of spin to control the point like players twice your age. Maybe you’ll even beat your tennis idol with this setup?!
POWER
70%
SPIN
70%
DURABILITY
70%
TOUCH
50%
STIFFNESS
80%
Read more
Rafa Reinvented
COLOR: Black/ Black
Spin+spin+durability. The durable crisp synthetic cross allows the main monofilament strings (PEEK) to whip those 3,000,000 RPM winners. This hybrid is best for powerful racquets with very open string patterns like the Pure Aero.
Max tension: 60lbs
POWER
70%
SPIN
90%
DURABILITY
90%
TOUCH
50%
STIFFNESS
70%
Read more
Stan the Man
COLOR: Black/Black
Power. Stan is powerful. That’s why he’s the man. This setup more suited for flat hitters with serious bludgeoning power.
I, like many of you, would like to think I hit with a ton of spin. But honestly, most of us recreational players hit flatter than we would like to admit. Try it out, you might be surprised how this setup will really help you control the power of your Pure Drive or Pure Aero and keep those balls in play.
Stringer’s notes: best suited for open string patterns (ie. 16×18 or 16×16 and Wilson Spin effect racquets). Max tension 60lbs
POWER
60%
SPIN
60%
DURABILITY
90%
TOUCH
70%
STIFFNESS
70%
Read more
Almost Ostapenko
COLOR: Gold/Natural
This hybrid puts the control synthetic in the mains and gut-like monofilament (PEEK) in the cross. If you’re not as concerned about spin but want to focus on controlling the direction of the ball, this is the hybrid for you. Kinda like how Ostapenko controlled every opponent during her 2017 French Open championship run. Do you remember it? It was spectacular.
Stringer’s notes: best suited for open string patterns (ie. 16×18 or 16×16 and Wilson Spin effect racquets). Max tension 60lbs
power
70%
SPIN
60%
DURABILITY
70%
TOUCH
70%
STIFFNESS
80%
Read more
Similar to Serena
COLOR: Natural/Gold
How could I not name a hybrid after one of the greatest female players of all time? This may look like Almost Ostapenko but the hybrid is slightly tweaked which allows you to put much more spin on the ball. Gut-like main strings (PEEK) slide so nicely over the control synthetic cross string. This could help you take your spin game to the next level!
Max tension: 60lbs
POWER
80%
SPIN
80%
DURABILITY
90%
TOUCH
60%
STIFFNESS
70%
Read more
Finding Federer
COLOR: Natural/Silver
If only we could afford to play with a fresh set of natural gut and Luxilon ALU Power (Rough) every day… that’s what Roger puts in his racquet. For the rest of us muggles, this is the next best thing. I’ve found a multifilament as powerful as natural gut and put it in the mains and a non-polyester cross that plays very similar to ALU Power but a fraction of the cost. It’s super durable, it still plays well in the cold and won’t swell and break with humidity & moisture like natural gut is prone to do.
Stringer’s notes: these strings, like Federer’s setup, deadens after a few weeks of play but it’s oh so sweet when it’s freshly strung.
POWER
80%
SPIN
70%
DURABILITY
80%
TOUCH
70%
STIFFNESS
70%
Read more
Agassi Again
COLOR: Gold/Natural
bulletproof… it’s also what bulletproof vests are made of. Kevlar is actually stiffer than polyester but this combo is tried and true since Agassi first started using it in the 1990s. He used natural gut in the crosses but we’ve substituted it with a gut-like monofilament cross (PEEK). It is an amazing combination. The overall stiffness is similar to a full bed of a stiff synthetic gut but the Kevlar fibers help absorb vibrations better than you would think.
Stringer’s notes: best suited for softer racquets with a max stiffness of 60RA. Not suitable for those who have sensitive joints and get tendinitis from anything stiffer than synthetic gut.
Power
50%
SPIN
80%
DURABILITY
100%
TOUCH
40%
STIFFNESS
90%
Read more
More Murray
COLOR: Silver/Almost Clear
Power and feel. Power comes from the synthetic in the mains and feel from the thin gut-like multi in the cross. These specific strings were chosen to play better at higher tensions around and above the 60lb range. Just like how Muzzah likes it.
POWER
80%
SPIN
70%
DURABILITY
80%
TOUCH
70%
STIFFNESS
80%
Read more
Duplicating Djokovic
COLOR: Almost Clear/Silver
Control. Control. Control. Djoker’s actual setup is quite close to Federer’s (natural gut mains with polyester monofilament crosses) but he uses thinner strings and strung at much higher tensions. As for the rest of us earthlings, the strings I’ve selected in this hybrid also really sing at higher tensions around or a little above the 60lbs range. Did I mention it’s best for control?
Stringer’s notes: these strings, like Finding Federer, deadens after a few weeks of play but it’s oh so sweet when it’s freshly strung.
POWER
80%
SPIN
80%
DURABILITY
60%
TOUCH
80%
STIFFNESS
80%
Read more
Now Naomi
COLOR: Black/Milky White
Now’s the time to crush those baseline winners. Naomi’s setup changes all the time but when this hybrid was created, she had a polyester in the mains and a multifilament in the crosses. We’ve replaced Naomi’s stiff polyester main with our black monofilament (PEEK) and used a crisp multifilament cross to create a MUCH more comfortable experience. This may have the same black monofilament (PEEK) main string as Rafa Reinvented but the multifilament really softens the response and ultimately creates a more powerful hybrid.
POWER
80%
SPIN
70%
DURABILITY
70%
TOUCH
80%
STIFFNESS
50%
Read more
Tsitsipas-ing Shot
COLOR: Dark Natural/Gold
Power, touch and feel. You need this when you’re an all-court player. Yes, another hybrid with uncoated natural gut. That’s because I really like the stuff. Especially when it’s paired with a stiff yet slightly dampened synthetic cross to control the power of the gut. It’s another amazing combination.
Contains animal fibers
Stringer’s Notes: Performs best in dry environments. Humid conditions can cause premature breakage. Don’t store this racquet in the trunk of your car, the strings will feel like rubber bands if you do.
power
90%
SPIN
80%
DURABILITY
50%
TOUCH
90%
STIFFNESS
60%
Read more
Legends Blend
COLOR: Dark Natural/Light Natural
Natural gut has a reputation for being expensive. However, our hybrid is very affordable utilizing the original kind of natural gut: uncoated. Legends have been made with this stuff. Typically it’s used in both the mains AND crosses but I’ve tweaked it by hybriding it with the softest multifilament in the cross. It takes advantage of the characteristics of natural gut but the multifilament cross brings the cost down so you and I can afford it. Gut plays like nothing you’ve ever used before. Plus it keeps those tender joints and tendons nice and happy. Ever since it was invented in 1875.
Contains animal fibers
Stringer’s Notes: Performs best in dry environments. Humid conditions can cause premature breakage. Don’t store this racquet in the trunk of your car, the strings will feel like rubber bands if you do.
POWER
80%
SPIN
50%
DURABILITY-I presonally think it’s higher
50%
TOUCH
100%
STIFFNESS
30%
Read more
Premium PEEK
COLOR: Clear/Natural or Black
Coated Natural gut mains. Gut-like monofilament crosses (PEEK). This hybrid feels like a full bed of natural gut but capable of more spin. It is my personal favorite and is what I use. It’s like butter and pockets the ball so nicely. Mmmm. The gut-like monofilament crosses help the mains snap back every time. Like. EVERY. TIME. I can’t believe it’s not a full bed of gut but it plays better than that. Mind blown. Best suited for racquets with denser string patterns (ie. 18×20, 18×19 or 16×20).
Max tension 60lbs.
Contains animal fibers
Stringer’s Notes: the advanced coating on this gut allows it to be used in humid weather. To keep this hybrid feeling fresh, I recommend rubbing beeswax on it before and/or after every time you play.
power
100%
SPIN
90%
DURABILITY
90%
TOUCH
90%
STIFFNESS
30%
Read more
Pricing
Labor for re-stringing if you buy the strings from me
$17
+cost of the strings
Labor for re-stringing for strings you purchased
$20
no warranties because I don’t know how they were stored or how old they are.
Re-stringing Policy:
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I cannot guarantee these strings will fix your problems but finding the right string setup for you is a process of discovery and I enjoy the journey. You ultimately may need to switch racquets to suite your needs.
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Your racquet will be returned unstrung if it has more than 3 cracked/damaged/missing grommets. I do not stock grommets but if you bring me the ones made for your frame, I can install them for $4.
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I’m just an enthusiast of the game of tennis and I do this on the side. Not a brick and mortar shop.
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I cannot pick-up or deliver your racquets.
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Despite my whole mission, I do re-string with polyester but I strongly recommend you re-string after 3-10hrs of play on them.
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These hybrids I’ve created are not an exact replication of the dynamics of polyester strings nor the dynamics of what the pro’s use. They are merely an approximation that happens to not use polyester. Some ask what they feel like. I would say the first 6 hybrids have a medium-high stiffness and a dynamic response similar to a co-poly. The rest of the hybrids have a much softer stiffness and less dynamic response.
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Will you even string polyester in a racquet? Answer: yes, I will and yes I do. I have nothing against polyester (when it is used properly). I have strung it for players before tournaments and I keep in stock the one most pro’s play with: Luxilon ALU power 16L.