Natural gut tennis strings are made from high grade beef intestine, and they are the original tennis strings. They were first produced by Pierre Babolat in 1875, and they remain the choice of discerning tennis players — from Roger Federer to Venus Williams — today. Natural gut offers a very soft feel and incredible tension retention to tennis players, and even though it is much more expensive than synthetic string, it can provide value over time, provided that it isn't broken.
What Is Feel?
It is difficult to describe, but there is something about the way natural gut strings feel that makes it very hard to substitute for them. Dwell time, or the amount of time that the ball stays on the string bed during impact, is longer with natural gut strings, and this provides players with better control and a softer sensation when impacting the ball. "Natural gut is the best playing string available," wrote legendary U.S. coach Nick Bollettieri in his book "Bollettieri's Tennis Handbook."
How Long Will it Last?
Natural gut loses tension less quickly than other strings, such as nylon, synthetic multifilament or polyester. There is an immediate tension loss that occurs the moment a racket is strung, and while this loss does occur with natural gut strings too, it is far less significant. According to Bollettieri, synthetic strings will lose an average of 15 to 18 percent of tension within 24 hours, while natural gut will lose only 5 to 8 percent of tension. But the actual longevity of the string is dependent upon the characteristics of each player. The strings will retain playability as long as they are in the racket, but they will also break after fraying, so it is important to experiment with natural gut strings yourself to determine how they react to your specific game.
What About Elasticity?
Polyester strings have become very popular among professional tennis players of late, and as a result recreational players have also begun to use them. These strings are well known for the spin potential and trajectory control that they provide players, but they do not retain tension well and they also lose elasticity rapidly. So, while polyester strings rarely break, they tend to lose pop after a few sessions and, consequentially, feel. Recreational players who make the mistake of leaving the strings in past their prime will also run the risk of encountering arm and shoulder problems. This is not the case with natural gut, which is why it remains popular among pros and other players looking for good feel and arm-friendly characteristics.
Arm Friendly and Natural
The collagen found in serosa from a cow's intestine is designed to withstand constant stretching and contracting, according to Tennis Warehouse. It is this malleability and natural resistance to impact that gives natural gut string its softer feel and ability to be more forgiving at impact. If you suffer arm or shoulder problems at all, natural gut would help lessen the amount of impact that the body must endure while playing tennis. Naturally, the more you play, the more sense it makes to start thinking about ways to avoid the injuries that tennis players typically suffer from, and natural gut is something that all players suffering shoulder or arm symptoms should consider.
Member Comments