Unstrung vs Strung Tennis Rackets in India: Which Should You Buy?
Factory-strung rackets are cheaper and ready to play. Unstrung frames cost more once you add stringing but let you choose everything. Here is how to decide which suits you.
Unstrung vs strung tennis rackets: what the labels mean
Walk through any Indian tennis listing and you will see the same frame offered two ways: strung and unstrung. A strung racket arrives with factory string already installed and is ready to hit with. An unstrung frame arrives empty, and you pay a stringer separately to fit the string of your choice at the tension you want.
The choice sounds like a pricing question. It is really a question about how much you care about feel — and at what point in your development that starts to matter.
When factory-strung is the right buy
If you are learning, playing socially, or buying for a child, a factory-strung racket is almost always the better deal. The string fitted at the factory is usually a synthetic gut or basic multifilament at a moderate tension, which is a perfectly sensible setup for developing players. More importantly it is included in the price.
The Wilson Tour Slam Lite at ₹3,055 and the Wilson Impact at ₹3,055 are typical of this category — light, forgiving, ready to play the day they arrive.
Junior rackets are the clearest case of all. Children outgrow frames every couple of years, string tension is close to irrelevant at that stage, and nobody should be paying stringing charges on a racket with a two-year lifespan. The HEAD Novak 21 at ₹2,449 and HEAD Radical Junior 26 at ₹2,975 cover the common age brackets.
When unstrung makes more sense
Buy unstrung once any of these is true:
- You know your preferred string type — polyester for control, multifilament for comfort, a hybrid for both.
- You have a tension you like and can name it. "Around 55 pounds" is enough.
- You have had arm trouble and need a softer string setup than any factory job provides.
- You break strings often enough that the racket will be restrung within weeks anyway.
At that point paying for factory string you intend to cut out immediately is money burned.
The real cost comparison in India
| Strung | Unstrung | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront price | Higher for same frame | Lower |
| Stringing cost | Included | ₹800-₹1,500 typical |
| String choice | Fixed | Complete |
| Tension choice | Fixed | Complete |
| Ready to play | Immediately | After stringing |
| Best for | Beginners, juniors, casual play | Intermediate and above |
One India-specific point: access to a good stringer varies enormously by city. In Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai you have real choice. In smaller towns you may have one machine within reach, and its calibration may be a mystery. If that is your situation, a quality factory-strung racket such as the Wilson Pro Staff Precision 103 at ₹8,449 removes a variable you cannot control.
Does factory string hurt your arm?
Not inherently. Most factory strings are soft synthetics, which are gentler on the arm than the stiff polyesters advanced players choose. The arm-comfort problem usually comes later, when a club player copies a professional's polyester setup at a high tension without the technique to justify it. If your elbow complains, the fix is usually a softer string at lower tension, not a new frame — and if pain persists, see a physiotherapist rather than a stringer.
A simple decision rule
If you cannot state a string and a tension you prefer, buy strung. If you can, buy unstrung. That single test resolves the question for the vast majority of Indian players, and it costs nothing to apply.
Shop the gear
- HEAD Novak 21 Junior Tennis Racquet — ₹2,449
- HEAD Radical Junior 26 Strung Tennis Racquet — ₹2,975
- Wilson Tour Slam Lite Strung Tennis Racquet — ₹3,055
- Wilson Impact Strung Tennis Racquet — ₹3,055
- Wilson Pro Staff Precision 103 Strung Tennis Racquet — ₹8,449
Related reading
- How to Choose a Tennis Racket: Beginner's Guide
- How to Restring a Tennis Racket: When and How Often
- Tennis Racket Grip Size Guide
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to buy a tennis racket strung or unstrung?
For beginners and casual players, factory-strung is better value — it is cheaper, ready to play, and the string quality is adequate for the level. Intermediate and advanced players usually buy unstrung, because string type and tension affect feel and arm comfort more than most people expect.
How much does it cost to string a tennis racket in India?
Stringing labour typically runs ₹300-₹600 at a club or pro shop, with the string itself from around ₹500 for a basic synthetic gut to ₹2,500 or more for premium polyester or natural gut. Budget roughly ₹800-₹1,500 all-in for a reasonable job.
How long does factory stringing last?
The rough rule is to restring as many times per year as you play per week. A twice-a-week player should restring roughly twice a year even if nothing breaks, because strings lose tension and feel steadily. Factory string in a beginner racket often survives longer simply because the swing speeds are lower.
