Like in any other court game, your racquet is the most important tool in racquetball. Unfortunately, while the racquet plays a vital role in hitting and absorbing the power from the returned balls, its string becomes gradually weak. And for which, stringing the racquetball racquet is a common occurrence you must carry out all the way.
Even for an infrequent player, strings stretch and become loose after some time or die. However, most players don’t know how to string a racquetball racquet. If you’re not among the few, this article guides you through everything you need to know about restringing a racquet.
What is a String
A string is the only part of a racquetball racquet that gets into contact with the ball. They form a pattern inside the racquet head. They are made with various materials to serve different functionalities like texture, thickness, and tension retention.
What is Racquetball Racquet String Made Of
The strings in racquetball racquets are made of nylon. For decades of material renovation, they have remained the dominating material in racquetball, tennis, badminton, and squash. For racquetball, it has been nylon since racquetball became popular in the 70s.
What is a String Pattern
A string pattern is several strings going vertical and those going horizontal. In these, there is a dense and open pattern. Have you seen the tiny gaps inside the strings? That’s a dense pattern. Gaps in the available pattern are more spacious.
Does String Matter in Racquetball
There is no racquetball racquet without strings. Racquet strings serve many purposes, and here are five main ones:
- String length determines the power of the shots. To give you an idea, the longer and denser strings can create more power. For experienced players, it is easier to get good control and accuracy.
- String provides tension for power and control. For example, high tension provides more control. In contrast, low tension, created when there is no string movement, provides more power.
- String elasticity creates power because it doesn’t absorb the ball’s energy but releases it at a high speed.
- Thinner and less dense strings mean more powerful shots than thicker ones which create less power.
- Harder and tighter strings have more vibrations that make you feel comfortable when maneuvering.
Racquetball Racquet String Types
There are three types of racquetball racquet strings on the market; kevlar, monofilament, and multifilament strings.
- Kevlar is the most durable and strongest material on the market. Therefore, it is suitable for strong players who keep breaking their strings.
- Monofilament strings are usually heavy and made of single nylon fibers that are stiff and durable. It’s the best option for players who use their power in the match.
- Multifilament strings consist of thin nylon fibers crossing each other to create a more dynamic soft elasticity with a resilient feel. So, even with high tension, it still creates good power with maximum control.
How to String a Racquetball Racquet
Stringing a racquetball racquet entirely depends on the machine you’re using—the recommended one whose swivel clamps are fixed. Flying clamps can be a little challenging, but it’s still doable.
If your set allows 40 ft, you don’t have to take the string off the reel. However, make sure the remaining tag to cut off is not too long. If the tag is too much, readjust the length after unclamping.
- After setting the mains, start the crosses at the throat towards the head.
- Tension and clamp the first cross, which is usually the second-lowest.
- Work towards the throat for your first lowest cross with no tension
- Work toward the head, which becomes the third-lowest
- Now tension the first cross and third cross and clamp them
- Use the same process for the other crosses
- Sometimes, it becomes tough to tense and clamp the last cross. So, you can cross similarly to the third cross.
- Cross the second cross to the last, tension, and clamp them, then tie it off.
How to Choose a Good Racquetball String
New players should consider string performance rather than durability. Beginners strike off the center, which makes strings break easily. The best string for this level is 16 gauge for durability. The player can opt for 17 gauge after getting more skills for playability.
Powerful players that frequently hit hard and break strings can opt for 16 gauge strings. On the other hand, more experienced players who hit softly, have sound control, and hardly break their racket strings can opt for 18 gauge strings. Note that, 18 gauge is not suitable for recreational play since it’s not durable.
How Much String is Needed for a Racquetball Racquet?
Racquetball racquet restringing is correct with a string approximately 12 meters long so that you can include some margin. The main reason you need a margin is that some machines need extra tensioning mechanisms during stringing. Also, you will need the average number to tie the knot correctly.
How much string you need depends on the racket type, however. For example, there are racquets with small heads, while others are oversized.
How Long Do Racquetball Strings Last
Tournament players frequently hit hard and play, so their strings will have less duration than recreational players. For example, the racket strings of a tournament player may last up to three to four months, while recreational players can expect their racket strings to last for four to six months.
This is the approximate duration so that it’s time for racquetball racket restringing;
- Beginners (mostly play a few times a week)– 6 months
- Intermediate players (mostly play once or twice a week) – three months
- Advanced players (mostly lay three to four times a week) – every week
- Recreational layers – every season
How Often Should You Restart a Racquetball Racquet?
Generally, you should rest your racquetball racquet each year as many times as you play in a week. For instance, if you play 3 days a week, you might need to rest your racquet three times a year. Even if you play once a month, strings lose their elasticity. That means you will use your power to string the racket and grip the racket tighter to get better results.
Control gets complicated when you grip tightly and swing harder. As a result, the player gets fatigued earlier and may get racquetball injuries.
How Long Does It Take to Restart a Racket?
How long it takes for racquetball racket restringing depends on your stringing experience and the type of machine. It can take between 30 and 50 minutes to string a racquetball racquet. It’s worth noting that stringing faster doesn’t make the best stringer, but stringing within a decent time.
How Much Does It Cost to Restart a Racquetball Racquet?
Racquet restringing costs range from $15 to $18, excluding shipping services and the cost of the string. If you are not stringing the racquet yourself, the price will increase due to the cost of labor. Also, the string tension and string type may affect the cost of stringing.
How Do I Know If My Racket Needs Restringing
As mentioned earlier, if you play three times a week, you should replace the strings three times a year. In addition, all strings have a life expectancy. So even if they look good after some time, they still have reduced performance.
However, you may check for these signs to know your racket needs restringing:
- Fraying or broken strings
- You don’t have the same control as before
- You can’t feel the racquet; you’re using too much energy to hit the ball
- The game feels off, but there is no visible problem
- Your racket produces a thud sound instead of a ping sound
- Too many string movements and appears bent
FAQs
Are Tennis and Racquetball Strings the Same?
When Should I Replace My Racquet Strings?
Does Higher String Tension Give More Control and Spin?
What String Tension is Best for a Spin?
What Tension is Good for the Natural Gut?
Do Multifilament Strings Go Dead?
Are Synthetic Gut Strings Good?
Does Higher String Tension Mean More Power?
Final Thoughts
Racquetball strings are designed to enhance the players’ performance. So, to maintain the performance, you must visit a stringer frequently. Now that you know how to string a racquetball racquet, why not replace your racquetball string today?