6 Best Durable Tennis Strings For Young Athletes That Protect Young Arms

You just invested in a great new tennis racquet for your child, and a few months later, the pro shop says it’s time for new strings. Or maybe your junior player is starting to complain about a sore elbow after practice. Suddenly, you’re faced with a wall of string options that seem more complicated than assembling Swedish furniture, and you realize the strings might matter more than you thought.

Why String Choice Matters for Young Tennis Arms

It’s easy to focus on the racquet frame, but the string bed is where the action happens. Every single time your child hits the ball, the strings absorb and return that energy. For a young player whose joints and tendons are still developing, the wrong string can be like hitting a tennis ball with a wooden board—it sends a jarring shock right up their arm.

Stiffer strings, often designed for adult power players, can be particularly harsh. They provide a lot of control but offer very little forgiveness or shock absorption. This is why choosing a string built for comfort and feel is not a luxury for junior players; it’s a critical component of injury prevention and long-term enjoyment of the sport.

A durable, arm-friendly string allows a young athlete to develop their strokes correctly without subconscious fear of impact. It helps them learn to swing freely and generate their own power, rather than relying on stiff equipment to do the work. This investment in the right string is an investment in their physical well-being and their fundamental skills.

Prince Synthetic Gut: A Durable, All-Around Value

If you’re ever unsure where to start, start here. Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex has been a go-to choice for decades for a reason. Think of it as the reliable family sedan of tennis strings: it’s not flashy, but it gets the job done safely and affordably.

This string is a "solid core" synthetic gut, which gives it a crisp, consistent feel that’s great for learning. It provides a wonderful balance of playability, comfort, and durability that’s perfect for beginner to intermediate juniors. It won’t break the bank, which is a huge plus when your child is still growing, developing their game, or might switch to a different sport next season. It’s the quintessential baseline string for players under 12 or those playing a couple of times a week.

Wilson NXT: Ultimate Comfort for Developing Arms

Is your child starting to play more, maybe joining a junior league or taking more lessons? If you hear any complaints about vibration or a "sore arm," it’s time to consider an upgrade to a multifilament string like Wilson NXT. This string is designed from the ground up for comfort.

Unlike a solid core string, multifilament strings are made of hundreds or thousands of tiny fibers woven together, much like a natural gut string. This construction is exceptional at dampening vibration and absorbing the shock of impact, providing a much softer, plusher feel. While it may not be the most durable option for a hard-hitting teen, for players aged 8-13 who are focused on technique, the arm protection NXT provides is second to none.

Tecnifibre NRG2 for Power and Arm Protection

When your intermediate player has developed solid strokes and is starting to look for a little more "pop" on the ball, Tecnifibre NRG2 is a fantastic next step. It’s a premium multifilament string that masterfully blends the arm-friendly comfort of Wilson NXT with a noticeable boost in power. It gives players the ball speed they crave without asking them to sacrifice their arm health.

This is an excellent choice for the dedicated junior player who isn’t quite ready for the stiffness of a polyester string but has outgrown the basic feel of synthetic gut. It helps them feel the ball on the strings, providing great feedback for developing touch and spin. Consider this for the 11-14 year old who is playing in local tournaments and is serious about improving their game.

Luxilon Element: A Soft Poly for Older Juniors

You’ve probably heard older players or pros talk about "poly" strings. Polyester strings are the top choice for advanced players because they offer incredible spin and control, but they are traditionally very, very stiff. For this reason, most polys are not appropriate for young, developing arms.

Luxilon Element is the exception that proves the rule. It is one of the softest polyester strings available, designed to offer the control and spin benefits of a poly with a much more forgiving feel. This is a string for an older, physically developed junior (think 14+) with solid technique who is starting to compete at a higher level. It’s a responsible way to introduce a competitive teen to the performance of polyester without putting their arm at unnecessary risk.

Solinco Hyper-G Soft for Spin and Comfort

Another excellent "soft poly" option for the advanced junior player is Solinco Hyper-G Soft. This string has gained immense popularity in the competitive junior circuits for its exceptional spin potential. Its shaped profile literally grips the ball, allowing players to generate heavy topspin on their groundstrokes.

Like Luxilon Element, this string is designed for the high-school-aged competitive player who has the swing speed to take advantage of a polyester string. The "soft" version offers a more forgiving response than the standard Hyper-G, reducing the harsh vibrations that can lead to arm fatigue. If your teen is a topspin-loving baseline player, this string provides the modern game’s tools with a crucial dose of arm protection.

Wilson Duo Power Hybrid for Balanced Performance

What if your player needs the durability of a polyester but the comfort of a multifilament? That’s where a hybrid setup comes in. A hybrid combines two different types of string in the same racquet, giving you a customized blend of characteristics. The Wilson Duo Power pack is a perfect example, pairing a soft poly (Luxilon Element) with a high-comfort multifilament (Wilson NXT).

Typically, the durable poly string is used in the main strings (the vertical ones) for spin and control, while the softer multifilament is used in the cross strings for feel and comfort. This setup is a brilliant problem-solving tool for the advanced junior who breaks softer strings too quickly but finds a full bed of polyester too harsh. It delivers the best of both worlds: performance where you need it, and protection everywhere else.

Choosing the Right Tension for Your Young Player

Choosing the right string is only half the battle; you also have to choose the right tension. Think of tension like the volume knob on a stereo. Higher tension provides more control but less power and comfort. Lower tension provides more power and comfort but less control.

For any young player, the rule is simple: err on the side of lower tension. A racquet will have a recommended tension range printed on it (e.g., 50-60 lbs). Always ask the stringer to use a tension at the bottom of that range, or even a pound or two below it.

A lower tension creates a more forgiving "trampoline effect," which helps absorb shock and is much easier on the arm. As your child’s game develops and their body matures, they can gradually experiment with slightly higher tensions for more control. But for the sake of their arm health, always start low and go slow.

Ultimately, the best string for your young athlete is one that protects their arm while allowing them to develop their skills with confidence. Don’t get caught up in what the pros are using. Match the string to your child’s unique stage of physical and technical development, and you’ll be supporting their love for the game for years to come.