There are many tennis players out there in the world, from beginners to intermediate to professionals. It does not matter at what level you play. Every player needs a tennis racket, and the strings in the racket need to be correctly strung in order to play well.Did you know that you can learn how to string your own racket?
The best courses that teach you how to string your racket are from The European Stringers Association (ERSA), Unstrung Customs, and Udemy. The company you choose depends on your experience with stringing a racket, your interests, what you want to learn, and how much you want to invest.
No matter how often you play and how good of a quality your racket is, stringing it now and again is necessary. When it’s time, you have two options. Either you can bring it to a professional company, let them take care of it for you, pay them money, and be okay with it taking some time until you have your racket again. The other option is to string it yourself. This will save you time and money. You can even help other players with their rackets if you enjoy doing it.
Do you want to learn how to do it yourself? Specifically, where can you learn how to do it? Then keep reading!
Top 3 Racket Stringing Courses
1. European Racket Stringers Association
The European racket stringers association is a well-known association that has helped many tennis racket owners worldwide. They offer different memberships starting with a year membership. This includes:
– 12 Issues of Pro stringer magazine
– Pro stringer guide
– Discounts on Symposiums
– International workshops
–Products from several brands.
Price: $122.-
The great thing about this course is that you can apply by emailing them. When applying and filling out the form, they will ask for your location and what you want to learn. This way, they can offer the best for your specific needs.
2. Unstrung customs
If you are looking for a more professional course, then Unstrung might be the company you are looking for. Unstrung was founded by the former professional tennis player Nikki Roenn. His carreer started at a young age. He started stringing his own racket at the age of 14. With all his knowledge, his goal is to share all the information that he has learned along the way.
You will be able to recognize his knowledge in the courses that he offers. He offers three different courses, including much more than just learning how to string a tennis racket.
- Master stringing course
This course contains all the basics you need to know to become a racket stringer. After completing this course, you will know:
– The correct foundation technique taught by the ERSA,
– How to string in one piece and around the world
– Learn to string accurately and consistently in under 15 minutes
– How to start a stringing business and use social media properly
-And much more!
Price: $870.-
- The Ultimate Customing Course
If you want to string as a pro, than the next course is the ultimate customising course. This course teaches you
– How to customise rackets to the exact specs as we do for the pro’s.
– Understanding the effects of customising and how to adapt the specs to best suit players
– Customise Grips; sizes, shapes and flares.
– All the little tricks, and nuances we use to make our rackets identical.
– How to start a customising business!
– And much more!
Price: $1.298.-
- UC super bundle
If you want to learn both of them, then this course combines them.
Price: $1.873.-
3. Udemy: how to string a tennis racket
If you are interested in a simple step-by-step guide to help you string your own tennis racket (link to check it’s current price at Udemy), then this course offers just that. All you need is a basic stringing machine, tennis strings, a tennis racket, small clippers, and small pliers.
This is a great course if you want to save money and time. You no longer have to bring your racket to a stringer!
Price indication: $13.99 – $19.99
Please note that Udemy has regular pricing deals on the majority of their course offers. Be sure to check their offers regularly to get the best deal.
How do I Become a Certified Racquet Stringer?
To set professional stringers apart from hobbyists. The certification for racquet stringer got introduced in 1986. In order to get this type of certification, it is necessary to be able to show your skill level of stringing, gripping, handle sizing, and grommet replacement. Apart from that, the knowledge of frame inspection, mounting, string technology, string installation, and customer service get tested as well by the United States Racquet Stringers Association (USRSA).
If you really want to set yourself apart from other stringers, getting a certification as a Master Racquet Technician (MRT) is also possible. Once you get this certification, you are known as being the best in the business. The standards of the above named technical skills are very high to get this certificate, including some other knowledge on making a racket play in the best way possible.
Taking exams will be necessary to be able to earn either of the certifications mentioned earlier.
Can you make money stringing rackets?
Yes, it is possible to earn money by stringing rackets. It depends on how good you are and what level of tennis players you are stringing for how much you will actually make.
Before you can start making money, you do need to make a few investments first though. These are:
- Racket stringing machine
Costs between $300 – $3.000 - Tools
Diagonal cutter +/- $20.-
Needle nose pliers +/- $10.-
Starting clamp +/- $30.- - Strings
The price depends on the amount of string and string quality. Average is $10 – $50.-
There are more expensive strings out there. They can even go up to $160.- - Tennis stringing course
If you don’t know how to string a racket then you will also need to follow a course (read above).
The investment does not have to be big. The chances of doing it professionally aren’t very big. So you won’t need a stringing machine of $3000.- to start with. Let the client pay for the string and for the time you spend stringing the racket for them, and you are making money.
Approximately stringers earn about $10 – $25 for each racket they string.
How much does it cost to get a racket strung?
As mentioned before, stringing your tennis racket is necessary for everyone that plays and owns a racket. You need to take into account that string costs approximately $10 to $50. Additionally, you will need to pay for labor which costs around $10 – $25. Depending on the string and stringer, you will pay anywhere between $20.- and $75.-
The amount of times that you need to string it depends on the amount you play. An easy rule to remember is that you need to string your racket the amount of times per year as you play with it per week. So do you play three times a week, then you will need to get your racket strung three times per year, for example.
How long does it take to get a racket strung?
Getting a racket strung does not need to take long. However, it requires some good focus and proper tools. Once it is on the racket stringing machine, it will take about 30 minutes.
This does not mean that you will have your tennis racket back in 30 minutes when you drop your racket off at a shop. The time it takes all depends on if the stringer has time and how many other rackets he has to fix before yours. Often you drop your racket off and pick it back up the next day.
How much does a tennis stringer make?
This is a hard one to define in numbers. It really depends on what level the stringer strings at, if it is the only job he has, or if he does the job on the side.
To give you an idea, an average American stringer earns anywhere between $19.000 – $50.000 a year. 50% of the racket stringers earn approximately $28.000 a year.
It is not something that will most likely get you rich, but it is a nice way to spend a few hours a day if you have a love for the game of tennis and the tennis racket.
Some Last Thoughts
If you like tennis and are interested in learning more about your racket’s techniques and working methods, then stringing it yourself can be a good first step. The great thing about it is that you can also learn to do this yourself from home. The three companies, the European racket string association, Unstrung customs, and Udemy, all offer different courses that will teach you how to string your racket at the desired level. It will not just teach you about your racket but can also help you during a tennis match, and it will save you time and money. We are interested in your experience with either of these three companies! Please let us know how you liked it. If you recommend a different course, we are eager to know which one it was and why you recommend it!
I am writing this email to ask you a few questions as I would like to be a certified stringer.
1. I can’t speak Finnish, is there a class in English?
2. How long does the course take? Please inform me of the class course period and the total amount.
FYI, I would like to join the course in January 2023
3. I want to know the location of the class and how many hours of the day it takes
Hi Jimmy,
Thanks for your message. For certifications, you can take a look at the courses and exams of ERSA or GRSA (International).
If you’re interested in a learning but do not seek certification, I can put you on the signup list for own video course. Is that something you’d be interested in?
Best regards,
Bob
Hi,
The International Alliance of Racquet Technicians (IART) just released a Basic Stringing 101 course. It’s offered for free to Premium Members. The yearly membership is $49 a year. You can check it out here.
https://gssalliance.com/about-our-courses/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=basic-stringing-101-course-now-available-107
I’m one of the Global Ambassadors at IART and I have included my email below. If you’d like to contact our Executive Director, Tim Strawn, his email is crazydiamond23.tim@gmail.com.
Thank you in advance for considering this course as a 4th option for those looking for an affordable stringing course.
Albert Murata
Hi Albert,
Thanks for the notification. We will definitely take a closer look! If we think it is a great fit, we’ll be sure to add it to the list.
Let me know if we can help with anything else.
Best regards,
Bob
Hallo!
My name is Mihails and Im interested to become sertificated stringer how that is possible?
My short CV:
– Coming from Latvia, city of Liepāja.
– Stringer with 6 years experience, mostly and only doing this job in my city.
– Last year I had good experience to string U12 and U18 international tournament J3 category in Latvia, Liepāja.
– Im interested to become more experienced.
Can you please note me have to do that, when and where are some stringing courses?
Best Regards,
Mihails Kostusevs
Hi Mihails,
Thanks for your message. Great to hear you have some experience and keep on learning. For certifications, you can take a look at the courses and exams of ERSA or GRSA (International).
If you’re interested in a learning but do not seek certification, I can put you on the signup list for own video course. Is that something you’d be interested in?
Best regards,
Bob
Hi there, is there a place near Kissimmee where l can learn how to string properly, when l was a young player l did it myself, now l will like to learn properly to be near the sport, l’m 61 now
Hi Felipe,
That’s a good question. Hopefully some stringer from your region will sign up here and I’d be more than happy to connect you. Something else: we’re actually working on an online course of our own, which you can easily follow at home. Is that something you would be interested in? If so, I can add you to the e-mail list.
Let me know, cheers,
Bob