A simple rule of thumb: Restring your racquet as many times a year as you play, on average in a week.

When you tap a strung frame against your hand, dead strings will produce a “thud”, while fresh strings produce a resonant sound or “ping”. So if you don’t hear a pin, it’s time to restring.

Even if you don’t hit one shot, your racquet will lose tension. So if, say, you haven’t played for a few months, you should restring. Even a great racquet won’t perform if your strings have lost tension. After all, your strings are the only thing that touches the ball.

When your strings lose tension, you have less control. So missing that cross-court shot by four feet doesn’t necessarily mean you are worse than you were last week. It could easily mean that your racquet needs new strings.