How often to restring

Rough rule: restring about as many times a year as you play each week. Play twice a week? About twice a year. Poly dies faster than multi or gut, so go by how the bed feels and how often you break strings, not just the calendar.

What dead strings feel like

• Balls flying long with the same swing.
• Less bite. Control feels gone.
• Notches where mains and crosses cross.
• Arm feels more beat up than on a fresh bed.

Extra notes

• Hard courts and humidity (hello, NC) wear strings faster.
• After a long layoff, do not trust last season's feel.
• Write the string, tension, and date every job. Memory lies.

Mobile Racket does the labor. Sealed BYO sets: toptennisstrings.com ($25 labor, sealed package policy on those sites).

Amazon tag bigncsports-20. Prices and listings can change.