Squash String & Tension: A Practical Guide

Every racket has a "sweet spot" — the area on the string bed that gives you maximum power with the least effort. Tension directly controls how big that sweet spot is.

Higher tension shrinks the sweet spot but rewards players who consistently hit it dead-center with more control. Lower tension grows the sweet spot, making it far more forgiving — which is exactly why beginners and casual players get more power from lower tension, not higher.

That's counter-intuitive to a lot of new players who assume "tighter strings = more power," but for anyone still developing consistent technique, a looser string bed does more of the work for you.

The trade-off: tighter strings under high tension break more easily on mis-hits, since they're already stretched close to their limit.

For string type, synthetic gut is durable and a great all-rounder for social players. Premium multifilament strings (like those from Tecnifibre and Ashaway) give better feel and control and are popular with intermediate-to-advanced players who can justify the higher cost and shorter lifespan.

Not sure what tension your racket is currently strung at, or want to switch it up? Book a restring with us — it's often the cheapest performance upgrade you can make.