How do you choose a tennis stringer, and what should you ask?

In short: a good stringer is judged on three things. Advice first: before recommending a string and a tension, they should ask you about your game. The machine next: its type and how regularly it is checked. The service last: a clear price, a stated turnaround and careful work when you collect. A certification (ERSA in Europe) is a plus, not a prerequisite, and nothing replaces a few well-chosen questions.

Where to get your racket restrung in Belgium

Three broad families of shops coexist, presenting themselves in very different ways. The table below gathers what Belgian shops state publicly (as of October 2026), which gives an idea of what you can check before you travel.

For these shops' prices and turnarounds, see our survey restringing cost and turnaround. Here the focus is on judging the quality of the service, not its price.

First criterion: the advice

RacquetTECH, the website of the American stringers' association (USRSA), puts it simply: on a first visit, a good stringer should ask you several questions. The most obvious ones:

• What is your level and playing style?
• What surface do you play on, and mostly singles or doubles?
• How often do you break a string?
• Do you have any arm problems?
• Are you satisfied with your racket?
• Are you looking for more power or more control?

A stringer who asks none of these and sells you the most common string isn't taking your game into account. A good one tries to match string, gauge and tension to your style and physique. If you have arm or shoulder discomfort, say so: it isn't medical advice, but it's information that can steer the choice of string and tension.

To arrive prepared, see which tennis string should you choose and our comparison monofilament or multifilament.

The machine: what to know without being a technician

You don't need to know a specific model, but the type of machine deserves a question. According to Wikipedia's page on stringing machines, the main families differ like this:

The same source notes that electronic machines are the most common in racquet sport shops. Another useful benchmark: a skilled stringer strings a racket in about twenty minutes, and up to an hour for a novice. So it isn't the stringing time that explains a turnaround of several days, but how busy the shop is.

More important than the model is the checking. RacquetTECH recommends that a stringer check the accuracy of their machine every 25 to 30 string jobs, at least. It's a good question to ask, and a precise answer is reassuring. Sportline, for example, publicly names its stringers and the machines they use, which makes that kind of conversation easier.

Thinking of stringing it yourself? See the payback calculation and prices: stringing your own tennis racket: is it worth it, is it hard.

The tension: ask for it in kilograms

Racket manufacturers state a recommended tension range, which according to Tennis Warehouse Europe generally sits between 22.5 and 27 kg. Your stringer should be able to tell you which exact tension they'll apply, in which unit, and why. Give them your starting point too: the string and tension from last time, what you liked or didn't.

RacquetTECH adds a question that sets attentive stringers apart: do they have a way to measure the tension loss in your current strings? According to that source, strings that have lost 25 to 30% of their original tension should be replaced, even if they aren't broken. It's a benchmark cited by the trade, not an absolute rule, and it fits with what we detail in our article on restringing frequency.

To settle on your starting tension: what tension should you choose for your tennis racket. To know when to replace your strings: when should you restring your tennis racket.

The questions to ask

• Which string and which tension do you recommend for me, and why?
• What type of machine do you use, and how often is it checked?
• Which exact tension, in kilograms, will you apply?
• Can you measure the tension loss in my current strings?
• What is the all-in price, and what is the pick-up date?
• Do you hold a stringer certification? (useful, but not essential)

These questions aren't an interrogation: a passionate stringer is happy to answer, and how they answer is often how you recognise a good professional.

When you collect your racket: what to check

RacquetTECH suggests three simple checks when you pick the racket up: no missed weaves in the string bed, no strings crossed over outside the frame at the top (sometimes unavoidable at the bottom), and a frame that hasn't been deformed or cracked by the stringing. If the frame was already damaged before stringing, the stringer should have pointed it out. Also check that the string and tension match what was agreed.

A stringer may also recommend replacing the grommet strip or the bumper guard. According to the same source, that is normal maintenance, which extends the life of the frame and the strings.

Certification: useful, not essential

Stringer certifications exist: the USRSA in the United States, the ERSA in Europe, which presents its own as a way to demonstrate professional standards in racket preparation, stringing technique, equipment knowledge and customer service. We found no requirement to hold one in order to string in Belgium: it's one signal among others, alongside the quality of the answers and of the work returned.

Why choosing a stringer is still complicated today

Judging a stringer today means travelling, asking questions, comparing price lists published in different formats, and remembering from one visit to the next which string and tension you used. Nothing brings that information together.

That's exactly what Tension wants to simplify: find an available stringer near you, compare their prices and turnarounds, book, and keep the history of your restrings so you no longer have to remember. Tension is coming to Belgium in late 2026, and you can already get notified at launch.

Are you a stringer or a shop? Tension Pro is designed to manage your orders, customers and stringing jobs, while letting new players find and book you. For the big picture, see our tennis stringing guide.