Natural Gut String
Also known as: gut string, natural gut, Babolat VS
Natural gut string is made from cow intestine and offers the highest elasticity, best tension retention, and greatest comfort of any string material, at a significant cost and durability trade-off.
Natural gut has been the benchmark tennis string since the sport's origins. Its multi-strand biological structure stretches and recovers elastically in a way no synthetic can fully replicate, providing exceptional power return, remarkable tension maintenance over time, and the lowest shock transmission to the arm. Professionals with arm conditions often play natural gut even in an era dominated by polyester. Roger Federer has used a Wilson natural gut main string with a Luxilon polyester cross string (a "hybrid" setup) for most of his career — a combination that blends gut's feel and arm-friendliness with poly's spin and control. Disadvantages are price (often 5–10 times the cost of polyester) and sensitivity to moisture, which weakens the strands.
Example
After switching to full natural gut, a 50-year-old recreational player with chronic elbow pain hits again without discomfort — the string absorbs shock the polyester was transmitting to the joint.
Why it matters
String comfort is a performance and health factor. Players managing arm conditions should consider natural gut or hybrid setups as a high-value equipment change before exploring technique adjustments.
Frequently asked questions
Is natural gut worth the cost?
For players with arm issues or those who prioritize feel and tension retention, yes. For those primarily seeking spin and durability who restring frequently, a quality polyester is more practical.
Related terms
- Polyester StringPolyester string is a stiff, low-elasticity monofilament string that provides superior spin potential and durability but transmits more shock to the arm compared to natural gut or multifilament strings.
- String TensionString tension is the tightness at which strings are pulled through the racquet frame, measured in pounds or kilograms, influencing the trampoline effect, control, and power of the string bed.
- String GaugeString gauge is the thickness of a tennis string measured in millimetres or gauge numbers, with thinner strings providing more spin and feel and thicker strings offering greater durability.
- Vibration DampenerA vibration dampener is a small rubber or silicone device inserted at the bottom of the string bed to reduce the high-pitched "ping" vibration and change the sound of the racquet at contact.
- RA / StiffnessRA is a racquet’s stiffness measured by how much the frame deflects under load. Higher RA (66+) means a stiffer, more powerful but harsher frame; lower RA (under 58) flexes more for feel and arm comfort.
Related guides & benchmarks
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