Tennis String Friction Rankings

String-to-string friction is one of several equipment-related influences on spin production. The lower the friction (measured below by the coefficient of friction), the more the main strings will stretch, slide and snap back tangentially to the ball's motion across the stringbed, thereby creating spin-producing torque on the ball. Different materials and combinations of materials differ in inter-string slipperiness. String orientation also matters. The coefficient of friction can vary dramatically for any two strings in a hybrid setup depending on which string is the main and which the cross. The string stiffness and energy return (both measured at 62 lbs. tension and high impact speeds) are listed because they too have been speculated to influence spin (though we have not yet tested these relationships). See some Observations below the table. Also visit the following links for more extensive explanations of the role of inter-string friction, string movement, and string material in spin:

Instructions: Click control buttons and dropdowns to limit/expand data and to find combinations of strings and materials.

Setup Brand String
*Choose string to highlight*
 Material
*Choose to highlight*
Stiffness
(lb/in)		 Energy
Return
(%)		Coefficient
of
Friction
Main BabolatTonic + 16M—Gut96.6 97.00.059
Cross MSVHepta-Twist 17X—Polyester214.3 88.7
Main PrinceRecoil 16M—Nylon200.6 94.10.062
Cross LuxilonBig Banger Original 130/16X—Polyester250.3 88.9
Main PacificPrime Natural Gut 16M—Gut86.3 94.50.064
Cross BabolatRPM Blast 16X—Polyester274.3 89.1
Main BabolatTonic + 16M—Gut96.6 97.00.066
Cross BabolatPro Hurricane Tour 17X—Polyester251.5 88.2
Main PacificPrime Natural Gut 16M—Gut86.3 94.50.066
Cross SolincoTour Bite 17X—Polyester205.2 88.4
Main BabolatTonic + 16M—Gut96.6 97.00.068
Cross SuperStringNikita Soft 16LX—Polyester224.0 88.9
Main BabolatTonic + 16M—Gut96.6 97.00.069
Cross SuperStringViper V2 Rough 16LX—Polyester214.9 89.5
Main AshawayCrossfire II KevlarM—Kevlar703.5 87.20.069
Cross PrinceTournament Poly 16X—Polyester252.0 86.7
Main WilsonNatural Gut 16M—Gut99.4 96.60.07
Cross LuxilonBig Banger Original 130/16X—Polyester250.3 88.9
Main BabolatTonic + 16M—Gut96.6 97.00.071
Cross TournaBig Hitter Blue Rough 17X—Polyester239.5 89.1
Main BabolatTonic + 16M—Gut96.6 97.00.071
Cross MSVFocus HEX 17LX—Polyester208.0 87.4
  MSVFocus HEX 17LPolyester208.0 87.40.071
Main BabolatTonic + 16M—Gut96.6 97.00.072
Cross TopspinCyber Blue 17X—Polyester199.5 87.6
Main BabolatTonic + 16M—Gut96.6 97.00.072
Cross Signum ProPoly-Plasma 16LX—Polyester254.9 88.7
Main PacificPrime Natural Gut 16M—Gut86.3 94.50.072
Cross BabolatHurricane Feel 16X—Polyester272.6 92.9
  GosenPolymaster II 16Polyester206.9 89.10.074
Main BabolatTonic + 16M—Gut96.6 97.00.074
Cross TopspinCyber Flash 17X—Polyester172.0 86.5
Main TecnifibreX-One Biphase 18M—Nylon168.0 94.90.075
Cross MSVHepta-Twist 17X—Polyester214.3 88.7
  GosenPolymaster I 16Polyester224.6 88.50.075
Main BabolatVS Touch 16M—Gut101.7 96.20.076
Cross PrinceRecoil 16X—Nylon200.6 94.1
Main MSVHepta-Twist 16M—Polyester223.5 87.60.078
Cross MSVFocus HEX 17LX—Polyester208.0 87.4
Main PrinceRecoil 16M—Nylon200.6 94.10.079
Cross PacificPrime Natural Gut 16X—Gut86.3 94.5
Main BabolatTonic + 16M—Gut96.6 97.00.08
Cross SuperStringNikita Original 1.25X—Polyester228.6 89.3
Main TecnifibreE-Matrix 17M—Nylon162.9 95.30.082
Cross LuxilonBig Banger TiMO 17L (1.17)X—Polyester228.6 88.0
  LuxilonBig Banger Original 130/16Polyester250.3 88.90.082
Main BabolatVS Touch 16M—Gut101.7 96.20.083
Cross LuxilonBig Banger ALU Power 125/16LX—Polyester248.0 88.7
Main BabolatXcel Premium 17M—Nylon163.4 93.70.084
Cross PrinceTournament Poly 16X—Polyester252.0 86.7
  SuperStringNikita Soft 16LPolyester224.0 88.90.085
  MSVHepta-Twist 17Polyester214.3 88.70.085
Main BabolatVS Touch 16M—Gut101.7 96.20.086
Cross LuxilonBig Banger TiMO 17L (1.17)X—Polyester228.6 88.0
  MantisPower Poly 17Polyester230.3 88.40.086
Main PacificPrime Natural Gut 16M—Gut86.3 94.50.088
Cross LuxilonBig Banger ALU Power 125/16LX—Polyester248.0 88.7
  BabolatHurricane Feel 16Polyester272.6 92.90.089
  BabolatRPM Blast 16Polyester274.3 89.10.089
Main BabolatAddiction 16M—Nylon197.7 94.70.089
Cross SuperStringViper V2 Rough 16LX—Polyester214.9 89.5
  TopspinCyber Blue 17Polyester199.5 87.60.09
Main AshawayDynamite 17M—Nylon_Zyex144.6 92.20.09
Cross TopspinCyber Flash 17X—Polyester172.0 86.5
  PrinceTournament Poly 16Polyester252.0 86.70.09
  Boris BeckerBomber 16Polyester233.7 88.00.09
Main BabolatAddiction 16M—Nylon197.7 94.70.09
Cross SuperStringNikita Soft 16LX—Polyester224.0 88.9
  GosenPolylon 17 (1.24)Polyester240.0 85.90.09
  MantisComfort Poly 16Polyester246.3 88.40.092
Main TournaQuasi-Gut 16M—Nylon181.7 93.90.092
Cross TopspinCyber Blue 17X—Polyester199.5 87.6
  PolyfibreHexablade 16L (1.25)Polyester221.2 84.50.092
  PacificATP Poly Power Pro 16LPolyester228.6 86.90.092
  KlipHardcore 16/1.30Polyester218.3 87.00.092
Main PacificPrime Natural Gut 16M—Gut86.3 94.50.093
Cross GammaZo Ice 16X—Polyester240.6 87.6
  MSVHepta-Twist 16Polyester223.5 87.60.093
  KlipK-Boom 16/1.30Polyester262.3 90.40.093
  LuxilonBig Banger TiMO 17L (1.17)Polyester228.6 88.00.094
  KirschbaumP2 17 (1.25)Polyester258.3 89.10.095
  AlienBlack Diamond 16Polyester223.5 87.80.095
  SuperStringViper V2 Rough 16LPolyester214.9 89.50.097
  LeopardPlus Control 16Polyester249.7 87.40.097
  Weiss CannonScorpion 1.22Polyester211.5 87.00.097
  PolyfibreTCS 16LPolyester205.7 85.70.098
  Signum ProPoly-Plasma 16LPolyester254.9 88.70.098
  MSVFocus Evo 17Polyester237.7 88.70.098
  PrinceRecoil 16Nylon200.6 94.10.098
  PacificPoly Force Xtreme 16LPolyester239.5 87.00.098
  PacificPoly Force 16LPolyester238.3 87.20.099
  VolklCyclone 17Polyester216.0 88.00.099
  HeadSonic Pro 17Polyester203.5 87.00.099
Main LuxilonBig Banger Original 130/16M—Polyester250.3 88.90.1
Cross PrinceSyn Gut Original 17X—Nylon204.6 95.1
  DunlopExplosive 16Polyester248.6 89.50.1
  KirschbaumPro Line II 17 (1.25)Polyester227.5 88.00.101
  GammaZo Ice 16Polyester240.6 87.60.102
  HeadFXP 17Nylon194.3 94.90.102
  PolyfibrePoly Hightec 16/1.30Polyester210.9 81.20.102
  LuxilonBig Banger ALU Power 125/16LPolyester248.0 88.70.102
  TopspinCyber Flash 17Polyester172.0 86.50.103
  PacificPrime Natural Gut 16Gut86.3 94.50.103
  KirschbaumCompetition 17 (1.25)Polyester253.2 88.70.103
  KirschbaumTouch Turbo 16L (1.275)Polyester222.9 86.90.103
Main LuxilonBig Banger Original 130/16M—Polyester250.3 88.90.104
Cross PrinceRecoil 16X—Nylon200.6 94.1
  VolklSynthetic Gut 16Nylon195.5 94.10.104
  PrinceBeast XP 16Polyester228.6 89.50.104
  GosenPolylon PolyBreak 17 (1.24)Polyester227.5 88.70.104
  GammaTNT2 Rx 16Nylon187.5 93.30.105
  GosenPolylon SP 16 (1.30)Polyester219.5 87.40.105
  LuxilonBig Banger XP 15L (1.38)Polyester269.7 90.10.106
  Signum ProPoly-Plasma Pure 17 (1.23)Polyester227.5 86.50.106
  SolincoTour Bite 17Polyester205.2 88.40.106
  DunlopBlack Widow 16Polyester168.6 86.10.106
Main BabolatVS Touch 16M—Gut101.7 96.20.106
Cross LuxilonBig Banger ALU Power Rough 125/16LX—Polyester225.2 87.8
  KirschbaumSuper Smash Spiky 17 (1.25)Polyester253.2 88.40.107
  PolyfibreBlack Venom 16 (1.30)Polyester217.7 85.40.107
Main VolklPower-Fiber II 17M—Nylon176.6 94.70.107
Cross TournaBig Hitter Blue Rough 17X—Polyester239.5 89.1
  Weiss CannonSilverstring 1.25Polyester209.7 88.90.108
  Weiss CannonMatchPower 1.25Polyester242.3 86.90.108
  WilsonK-Gut 16Nylon202.9 93.90.108
  TecnifibrePro Red Code 17Polyester242.3 89.10.109
  SuperStringNikita Original 1.25Polyester228.6 89.30.109
Main BabolatAddiction 16M—Nylon197.7 94.70.109
Cross TopspinCyber Blue 17X—Polyester199.5 87.6
  BabolatPro Hurricane Tour 17Polyester251.5 88.20.11
  KirschbaumPro Line I 17 (1.25)Polyester245.2 87.40.11
  GammaZo Black Ice 17 (1.23)Polyester237.2 89.70.11
  Signum ProPoly Megaforce 16Polyester252.6 90.10.11
  Poly StarClassic 16 (1.30)Polyester209.7 83.00.111
  YonexPoly Tour Pro Yellow 16 (1.30)Polyester200.6 88.50.111
  PacificPremium Power X 16LNylon201.7 94.10.111
  WilsonEnduro Pro 17 (1.25)Nylon_Polyester245.7 89.70.111
  Signum ProPoly Speed Spin 1.28Polyester276.6 88.00.112
  PrinceSyn Gut Original 17Nylon204.6 95.10.112
  GammaZo Tour 17 (1.25)Polyester239.5 85.90.113
  PolyfibreHightec Premium 16/1.30Polyester207.5 84.10.113
  Poly StarStrike 16L (1.30)Polyester224.6 85.70.113
  MantisComfort Synthetic 16Nylon172.6 93.70.115
Main SolincoVanquish 16M—Nylon184.6 95.30.115
Cross PacificPrime Natural Gut 16X—Gut86.3 94.5
  Poly StarEnergy 16 (1.30)Polyester231.5 84.60.115
  HeadUltratour 17Polyester240.0 88.90.116
  LuxilonMonotec Super Poly 1.25/16LPolyester266.3 89.10.116
  Weiss CannonTurbotwist 17L (1.18)Polyester236.0 88.00.117
Main IsoSpeedProfessional Classic 17M—Polyolefin133.7 92.40.117
Cross PacificPrime Natural Gut 16X—Gut86.3 94.5
  LuxilonSavage 16/1.27Polyester271.5 89.30.117
Main KlipLegend 16 UncoatedM—Gut104.6 95.60.117
Cross KlipExcellerator 16/1.30X—Nylon182.9 92.9
  KirschbaumSpiky Shark 17Polyester238.3 87.60.118
  TecnifibreBlack Code 17Polyester270.9 90.20.118
  KirschbaumSuper Smash 17 (1.25)Polyester256.6 87.60.118
  IsoSpeedAxon Mono 16LPolyester230.9 91.20.119
  BabolatXcel Premium 17Nylon163.4 93.70.12
  KlipExcellerator 16/1.30Nylon182.9 92.90.121
  PacificPower Line 16LNylon197.7 93.70.121
  HeadFXP Power 16Nylon198.9 94.50.122
  KlipScorcher 16/1.30Nylon193.7 92.90.122
  FortenSweet 16Nylon221.2 94.10.122
  PrinceSyn Gut Original 16Nylon214.3 94.10.124
  WilsonSGX 16Nylon190.3 94.30.124
  WilsonStamina 16Nylon210.9 94.30.124
  BabolatVS Touch 16Gut101.7 96.20.124
  DunlopJuice 16 (1.31)Polyester249.2 89.90.126
Main LuxilonBig Banger ALU Power Rough 125/16LM—Polyester225.2 87.80.127
Cross BabolatVS Touch 16X—Gut101.7 96.2
  LuxilonBig Banger ALU Power Rough 125/16LPolyester225.2 87.80.127
  TournaQuasi-Gut 16Nylon181.7 93.90.128
  DunlopS-Gut 17Nylon_Polyurethane187.5 94.30.129
  LuxilonAdrenaline Rough 16L/1.25Polyester247.5 89.10.13
  TournaBig Hitter Blue Rough 17Polyester239.5 89.10.13
  GammaWearGuard Synthetic Gut 16Nylon186.3 94.90.13
  PacificX Force 17Polyester246.9 89.30.131
  LuxilonAdrenaline 17/1.20Polyester245.7 89.30.131
  WilsonSynthetic Gut Extreme 17Nylon206.9 94.70.131
  GammaZo Power 16LPolyester243.5 86.70.132
  Poly StarTurbo 16 (1.30)Polyester225.2 85.70.136
  WilsonRed Alert 16Nylon225.7 94.50.137
  Signum ProTornado 17 (1.23)Polyester250.3 90.10.139
  GosenOG Sheep Micro Super 16LNylon183.5 92.00.145
  WilsonNXT 16Nylon196.6 94.10.145
  GammaLive Wire 16Nylon_Zyex177.7 92.70.145
  SolincoBarb Wire 16Polyester246.9 89.30.145
  BabolatPro Hurricane 17Polyester215.5 88.50.145
  IsoSpeedAxon Multi 16LNylon_Polyolefin136.0 92.00.146
  BabolatVS Natural Team Gut 17Gut97.7 96.00.147
  WilsonNXT Control 16 (1.32)Nylon_Polyester201.2 92.70.149
  PacificClassic Natural Gut 16Gut89.2 96.00.149
  BabolatAddiction 16Nylon197.7 94.70.15
  VolklPower-Fiber II 17Nylon176.6 94.70.15
  VolklV-Pro 16Polyester273.2 89.30.15
Main PacificPrime Natural Gut 16M—Gut86.3 94.50.152
Cross IsoSpeedProfessional Classic 17X—Polyolefin133.7 92.4
Main BabolatTonic + 16M—Gut96.6 97.00.152
Cross AshawayDynamite 17X—Nylon_Zyex144.6 92.2
  KirschbaumTouch Multifibre 17 (1.25)Nylon190.3 94.90.155
  WilsonSensation Supreme 16Nylon167.4 92.20.157
  TecnifibreXR3 17Nylon_Polyurethane180.6 94.90.159
Main BabolatHurricane Feel 16M—Polyester272.6 92.90.159
Cross AshawayDynamite Soft 17X—Nylon_Zyex135.4 93.5
  KlipVenom 16/1.30Nylon189.2 94.50.169
Main LuxilonBig Banger ALU Power 125/16LM—Polyester248.0 88.70.17
Cross BabolatVS Touch 16X—Gut101.7 96.2
  PacificPower Twist 16LNylon182.3 92.40.171
  LuxilonMonotec Supersense 16L/1.25Polyester241.7 89.50.172
Main BabolatTonic + 16M—Gut96.6 97.00.174
Cross VolklPower-Fiber II 17X—Nylon176.6 94.7
  WilsonReaction 16Nylon170.3 92.40.177
  WilsonShock Shield 16Nylon180.6 92.20.178
  DunlopHexy Fiber 16Nylon170.3 92.70.179
  WilsonNXT Tour 17Nylon198.3 93.50.18
  PacificTough Gut 16Gut78.3 97.80.18
  WilsonNXT OSNylon190.3 94.70.181
  TecnifibreE-Matrix 17Nylon162.9 95.30.184
  DunlopDNA 16 (1.30)Nylon173.2 94.30.188
  WilsonHollow Core Pro 16Nylon174.9 92.40.19
Main PrincePoly EXP 17M—Polyester243.5 86.30.191
Cross AshawayCrossfire II KevlarX—Kevlar703.5 87.2
  DunlopSilk 17Nylon157.2 93.70.191
Main PacificPrime Natural Gut 16M—Gut86.3 94.50.191
Cross AshawayDynamite Soft 17X—Nylon_Zyex135.4 93.5
  PacificPMX 16LNylon168.6 93.10.192
  KlipArmour Pro 16/1.30Gut105.2 96.60.194
  HeadETS 17Nylon165.7 92.70.198
Main BabolatPro Hurricane Tour 17M—Polyester251.5 88.20.201
Cross BabolatTonic + 16X—Gut96.6 97.0
Main GammaZo Ice 16M—Polyester240.6 87.60.201
Cross PacificPrime Natural Gut 16X—Gut86.3 94.5
  AshawayDynamite Soft 17Nylon_Zyex135.4 93.50.204
  IsoSpeedProfessional Classic 17Polyolefin133.7 92.40.207
  TecnifibreNRG2 16Nylon177.7 92.90.208
  TecnifibreX-Code 16Polyester215.5 88.70.21
  TecnifibreX-One Biphase 18Nylon168.0 94.90.224
  TecnifibreDuramix HD 17Nylon_Polyester192.0 92.40.231
  WilsonK-Gut Pro 16Nylon194.3 92.90.234
  TecnifibreTGV 16Nylon_Polyurethane174.9 92.40.239
  TecnifibreMulti-Feel 17 (1.25)Nylon_Polyurethane173.7 93.90.242
  WilsonNatural Gut 16Gut99.4 96.60.245
  AshawayCrossfire II KevlarKevlar703.5 87.20.257
Main KlipExcellerator 16/1.30M—Nylon182.9 92.90.268
Cross KlipLegend 16 UncoatedX—Gut104.6 95.6
Main BabolatTonic + 16M—Gut96.6 97.00.276
Cross TournaQuasi-Gut 16X—Nylon181.7 93.9
  AshawayDynamite 17Nylon_Zyex144.6 92.20.278
Main LuxilonBig Banger ALU Power 125/16LM—Polyester248.0 88.70.296
Cross WilsonNXT Tour 17X—Nylon198.3 93.5
Main Signum ProPoly-Plasma 16LM—Polyester254.9 88.70.299
Cross TecnifibreX-One Biphase 18X—Nylon168.0 94.9
  TecnifibreX-One Biphase 16Nylon_Polyurethane184.6 95.60.314

Observations:

  • Material combination: A string can go from a low COF combination to a high combinations depending on which string it is paired with (including itself).
  • Orientation: A string can go from a low to high COF combination depending on whether it is a cross or main.
  • Hybrids are slipperier: Strings tend to be slipperier in combination with other strings than with themselves.
  • Material rank: COF trends from low to high in the order of polyester, gut, nylon.
  • Best crosses Polyester is generally the slipperiest cross string.
  • Best mains Gut is generally the slipperiest main.

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