Cross String Tension…Yikes!
Cross-string tensions, or actually reference tensions, are the topic of this brief post.
First, every tennis racquet has a “natural” ratio, that is, if the reference tension (and machine setting ) is 50 for both the main string and cross string when the racquet is removed from the stringing machine, the tensions remaining will be in the area of around 50 for the mains and 37 for the cross.
The resultant tension is the natural ratio of that specific racquet.
The issue with changing cross-string tension either higher or lower than the main is that the racquet has changed shape. That is why we test for In-Plane stiffness for every racquet. The higher the In-Plane stiffness, the higher the cross-string tension will remain upon removal from the machine.
If the racquet has very low In-Plane stiffness, it has expanded in width with only the main string installed, so the cross strings need to pull the racquet back into a better (hopefully original) shape.
So, when deciding how much variation you want between the main and cross strings, please consider the racquet! In most cases, we suggest using the same string tension setting for both the main and the cross, since the cross string tension will naturally be lower.
Our True Tension Professional stringing equipment supports the racquet in such a way that we install the main string and cross string at the natural ratio, so the racquet does not change shape and the string bed is consistent.
If you are curious about In-Plane stiffness for a specific tennis racquet, please leave a comment below.
Posted on December 8, 2025 Mon, in Distortion, Dwell Time, Patterns, Stress/Strain, String Bed Stiffness, String Patterns, Tension, True Tension. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
Racquet Quest, LLC
Sounds like what you are saying is the cross string should be installed at a equal or higher reference tension than the mains based on maintaining the original shape of the frame? I have seen this, but most seem to string the mains two pounds tighter than the cross strings.
Roger, thanks for the message! This is an ongoing discussion, and it depends on how much the racquet distorts during the strinigng process. We suggest measuring the racquet before and after stringing and making a tension variance decision based on that amount. Most racquets have a natural ratio of about 67%, so if you install the main string and cross string at 50 pounds, for example, the cross string tensions in the racquet will be in the 33-pound range. In most cases we would not recommend end different string tensions.