7 Best Tennis Strings for Control in 2023 (Buyer’s Guide)

When it comes to playing tennis, every detail matters, from the racket to the shoes, and even the strings.

Strings are an essential part of a tennis player’s equipment, and choosing the right one can make a significant difference in your game.

If you’re looking to improve your control on the court, then finding the best tennis strings for control is crucial.

With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But fear not, as we’ve done the research and put together a list of the top tennis strings that will help you control your powerful strokes.

So get ready to enhance your precision and dominate the court!

Quick Summary

Reviews of the 7 Best Tennis Strings for Control

1. Luxilon ALU Power

Price: $$$ | Type: Polyester | Gauge: 16L

The Luxilon ALU Power is one of the most iconic tennis strings of all time, and it’s my pick for the best tennis string for control.

Luxilon ALU Power was first released in 1994 but didn’t become popular until a few years later when Guga Kuerten became the first player to win a Grand Slam using Luxilon ALU Power. To this day, it is still a very popular string on the pro tour with the likes of Andy Murray, Borna Coric, and Sebastian Korda all using it.

This string has a very firm construction, allowing you to add control to your big swings. Plus, these Luxilon strings provide incredible touch and feel to the ball despite being a firm string.

I found that the Luxilon ALU Power is extremely durable and surprisingly powerful for a polyester string. The only downside I have is that it isn’t the most arm-friendly string due to its firm composition.

If you’re looking for feel and control, it doesn’t get much better than the Luxilon ALU Power.

2. Babolat RPM Blast

Price: $$$ | Type: Polyester | Gauge: 16

The Babolat RPM Blast is a great choice if you’re an aggressive baseline player that’s looking to add more spin to their game.

The Babolat RPM Blast features a unique octagonal-shaped profile that rips the ball on contact and adds more spin. This spin helps you control your big swings and allows you to hit heavier groundstrokes that will push your opponent off the court.

If you’re someone, like me, who likes hitting their big groundstrokes, you know how annoying it is when you’re constantly breaking your strings. Well when it comes to the RPM Blast, this isn’t something you have to worry about. The durability was excellent, with these strings lasting over many hits.

However, I did find that the RPM Blast wasn’t very powerful, which is understandable seeing as the main focus is control and spin. I also found that these strings weren’t the most comfortable.

It is no surprise that the Babolat RPM Blast is Rafael Nadal’s string of choice.

3. Solinco Confidential

Price: $$ | Type: Polyester | Gauge: 16L

Released in 2020, the Confidential is one of Solinco’s newest polyester tennis strings.

Solinco has been a top tennis string brand for many years due to their excellent quality, and it is no different when it comes to the Solinco Confidential.

When testing this string, I found that it offered exceptional control giving me the confidence to accelerate on the ball without worrying about missing. With its shaped profile, it also means that this string generated a lot of spin.

However, the Solinco Confidential’s stand-out feature has to be its durability. If you’re a hard-hitter that’s looking for a string that will last a long time, then you can’t go wrong with the Solinco Confidential.

Like most polyesters, this string lacks power. But, if you can easily generate your own power, then this won’t be a problem for you.

4. Solinco Hyper-G

Price: $$ | Type: Polyester | Gauge: 16

Another excellent string made by Solinco is the Solinco Hyper-G.

The Hyper-G delivers plenty of control, as well as a crisp and responsive feel which I found very pleasant to play with. Because of its square-shaped profile, it’s also great at producing spin, which is one of the reasons why I rated it as the best tennis string for spin in a recent guide.

However, my favorite feature of this string is its comfort. Polyesters have a history of being very uncomfortable to use due to their firm nature. However, the Solinco Hyper-G has to be up there as one of the most comfortable polyesters on the market.

5. Head Hawk

Price: $$$ | Type: Polyester | Gauge: 16

Head not only makes fantastic tennis rackets, but they also create excellent strings.

The Head Hawk is a very stiff polyester string designed for players who want to improve their precision. It is also created using a one-of-a-kind manufacturing process that combines various chemical substances to give this string great touch and comfort.

However, I did find the Head Hawk extremely low-powered. I’d only recommend it to players who already have powerful, explosive strokes and want to control them.

It’s no surprise that this is Taylor Fritz’s string of choice.

6. Tecnifibre Triax

Price: $$$$ | Type: Multifilament | Gauge: 16

If you’re looking for an alternative to a polyester string, I’d recommend the Tecnifibre Triax.

In terms of control and durability, the Tecnifibre Triax outperforms all other multifilament strings. While it may not compare to a polyester string, you will still have excellent control over your strokes.

Plus, you also get all the added benefits of a multifilament string. The Tecnifibre Triax provides a good amount of power and is very comfortable to use, making it ideal for players who struggle with arm injuries.

If you’re considering switching from a polyester to a multifilament, give the Tecnifibre Triax a go.

7. Yonex PolyTour Pro

Price: $$$ | Type: Polyester | Gauge: 16L

Used by Nick Kyrgios, the Yonex PolyTour Pro is a much softer polyester string.

The Yonex PolyTour Pro is a very spin-friendly string that is great for aggressive players looking to add more control to their game. However, what I love most about this string is its excellent feel and comfort. It’s not very common for a polyester string to be comfortable.

Surprisingly, I also found that this string could produce easy power if you found the sweet spot. 

The Yonex PolyTour Pro has been my string of choice for many years now. It is a good all-around string that offers a balance of control, spin, and power.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Tennis Strings for Control

When it comes to choosing the best string for control, there are a number of factors to consider:

Skill Level

Skill level can be split into 3 categories:

• Beginner: You’re new to tennis and are just starting to learn the basics of the sport.

• Intermediate: You have some tennis experience and have a better understanding of the game.

• Advanced: You’ve been playing tennis for many years and have developed advanced skills.

Control strings are best suited to advanced or intermediate level players since at this skill level you have the ability to produce enough power to get the ball over the net and may want a string that can help enhance your precision.

As a beginner, you’d be better suited to a string designed for power it is more comfortable on the arm and can help you get the ball over the net.

See my guide on the best tennis strings for power to learn more.

Playing Style

Before deciding on new tennis strings, An important factor to consider is your playing style.

If you’re an aggressive baseliner who already generates lots of power and spin, then using a tennis string made for control can help you be more precise with your shots. On the other hand, if you prefer to be more creative and hit lots of volleys, a string that gives you more feel would be better suited.

This is why players like Rafael Nadal use a firm polyester string and players like Roger Federer use a softer natural gut and polyester combination.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference, as no two players are the same. Experiment with different strings to see which one works best for your game.

Type of String

Here are the 5 different types of tennis strings:

• Polyester: A stiff string that provides a lot of spin, control, and durability, but lacks comfort and power.

• Multifilament: They offer a good balance of power and control. While not as durable as polyester strings, they are much easier on the arm.

• Natural Gut: They provide the best power, feel, comfort, and tension maintenance of any type of tennis string but lack durability and control.

• Synthetic Gut: A budget-friendly type of string that provides a good blend of power, durability, and comfort. Perfect for beginners.

• Hybrid: A combination of two different types of tennis string.

If you’re looking to add more control to your game, then the best type of tennis string would be a polyester.

However, if you’re looking for a more comfortable alternative that provides more power, you may want to consider a multifilament string.

Gauge

String gauge can also have an effect on how much control you get from a tennis string.

Gauge refers to the thickness of the string and it is measured on a scale of 13-22, with low numbers representing thicker strings and higher numbers representing thinner strings. The most common gauge sizes are 15L (1.35 mm), 16 (1.30 mm), 16L (1.25 mm), and 17 (1.20 mm).

The chart below shows all the different gauge sizes:

The thicker the string, the more control and durability, while the thinner the string, the more spin, and power.

I’d recommend starting with a 16 or 16L gauge size when starting out, so you get a good balance between control and power. As you progress, you can experiment with different gauge sizes to find the one that best suits you.

String Pattern

String pattern refers to the total number of main and crosses strings on the tennis racket.

Here are the two types of string patterns:

Open: An open string pattern is where there are fewer strings on the racket head, creating larger gaps between the strings. This causes the strings to move more, resulting in more power and spin. The most common open string pattern is 16×19.

Closed: A closed string pattern means there are more strings on the racket head, creating smaller gaps between the strings. As a result, the strings move less and you get more control over the ball. The most common closed string pattern is 18×20.

If you prioritize control, then I’d recommend a closed string pattern such as 18×20.

String Tension

String tension is another important factor worth considering.

Tension refers to the amount of pressure that your strings are strung at and is measured in pounds, ranging from 35 to 70 lbs (15.88 kg to 31.75kg).

Lower string tensions allow the strings to move more freely, resulting in more spin and power on your shots. Higher string tensions cause the strings to move less, resulting in more control.

On the side of your racket, it will show the recommended string tension range you should stay within. This is usually between 50 and 60 pounds. If you want to add more control to your game, you may wish to string your racket on the higher end of this tension range.

Price

Price is always a factor you should consider when buying new tennis strings as some can be very expensive.

Fortunately, many of the best tennis strings for control are polyester which means they are a lot cheaper. Also, they are far more durable, which means you won’t have to replace them as frequently.

That being said, I’d recommend considering how often you play before you set yourself a budget. You don’t want to invest a lot of money into a premium reel of tennis string if you’re not going to use it.

FAQ

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions related to the best tennis strings for control:

What is the Best Tennis String for Control?

My pick for the best tennis string for control has to be the Luxilon ALU Power.

Not only does it have a very special history, but it also allows you to control your explosive shots, which is why it’s very common on the ATP Tour. Plus, it has incredible feel for a polyester string.

What is the Best String Pattern for Control?

There are many factors to consider when choosing a string pattern.

If your primary focus is control then I’d recommend a closed string pattern such as 18×20. But it’s worth noting you are sacrificing spin and power when choosing a closed string pattern.

What Tennis String Does Federer Use?

Roger Federer uses a combination of Wilson Natural Gut and Luxilon ALU Power in a hybrid string setup.

A hybrid string setup consists of using two different strings in the same racket, with one string in the mains and another in the crosses.

Federer uses the Wilson Natural Gut in the mains and the Luxilon ALU Power in the crosses. This allows him to get the benefits of both strings in the same racket.

Final Words

Hopefully, now you have found a tennis string that will help you improve your control.

Ultimately, choosing the best tennis strings for control depends on your playing style, personal preferences, and skill level. So, take the time to experiment with different options, and find the one that works best for you.

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