I will regrip your racquet a certain way depending on whether you are right or left-handed.

The quality.

The Synthetic Gut string range is perfect for beginners, casuals and club competition players, providing a reliable stringbed for when you need to hit the courts over the weekend.

A great, affordable option.

The Hawk string range is perfect for the advanced tournament player, giving power and control when and where needed in the big points.

The option for players that take their game seriously.

Technically, yes, as there is data to support this…but the difference would be so minimal that it’s not worth considering.

The “Mains” refers to the vertical strings in your racquet, whereas the “Crosses” refer to the horizontal strings.

Absolutely.

In fact, it’s very common amongst the touring professionals.

Just be aware that the price for the stringing service will be based off the highest quality string used in the racquet, be it Mains or Crosses.

Note that you can also string your Mains and Crosses at different tensions, too.

A stencil job is where ink is applied to the stringbed in a certain shape (usually a tennis manufacturer brand) so as to mark the racquet with a professional, impressive visual.

Whilst I try and get all my racquets back to their owners as fast as possible…if the service is urgent, I’ll make sure to prioritise that racquet in the queue.

This is most often done so that players have their racquets ready for tournaments.

A vibration dampener does just that – deadens the amount of vibration felt when striking the ball, resulting in a different feel.

It also will alter the sound the strings make when striking the ball.

Dampeners do not improve performance per se…but it’s handy to try one on so that you know whether you prefer one or not when playing.

Whereas a replacement grip is wrapped directly onto the racquet handle (replacing the original), and overgrip is wrapped on top of the existing base grip*

*Note that base grips and replacement grips are the same thing.

The tension that your racquet is strung at refers to the amount of pulling force each string is put under when being strung.

So, a tension of 50lbs means that each string is pulled at 50lbs of pulling force.

Methylated spirits are applied to microfibre cloths and toothbrushes, which are then worked carefully along the racquet frame and inside the grommets to remove dirt, clay, grit, sweat and general marks.

This service caters for those that appreciate the little things, or those that really like to take good care of their equipment.

Completely depends on how much you hit the courts.

Touring pros break strings multiple times a day in some cases, whereas causal players can have strings last them for years.

Strings will often fray or lose tension before breaking and can be replaced at these times as well.

A grip should be replaced whenever you feel that the tackiness is gone or that you are struggling to hold the racquet properly. A visual clue is how dirty the grip is.

String gauge refers to the thickness of the string.

The higher the gauge, the thicker the string.

Thicker strings last longer…but have less feel as opposed to thinner strings.

A monofilament string is composed of a single strand or filament, whereas a multifilament string is composed of many individual fibres that are held together by a coating.

Each type have various particular characteristics.

I have been stringing since the start of 2025, becoming addicted to the service after purchasing the portable Pro Stringer.

A Pro Stringer is a brand of stringing machine that dominates the portable machine market. Often favoured by touring pros due to its portable nature and cheaper price tag, the new editions are incredibly accurate and feature greater protection for the racquet frame whilst under operation.

Not at all, and it can be a handy skill to have if you play regularly.

Making sure it’s done properly is key, though, and that’s where I come in.

Black, white or red.

I select the stencil colour based off what will show up best against the stringbed colour.

Black, white or red.

I select the stencil colour based off what will show up best against the stringbed colour.

Because I actually enjoy servicing racquets – I find it quite therapeutic and rewarding. Most stringers are tennis coaches who do stringing on the side because they either have to or need the extra money. I simply enjoy the work. In my experience, a job will always be done better by someone who is invested in it.

The String Doctor is not some little attachment to a larger coaching company or club – it is its own standalone business.