Every winter I hear the same complaint: “My racquet feels like a plank.” The frame is the same, but the circumstances are different. Cold air makes the ball feel firmer and slower off the court, and it makes strings stiffer, particularly polyester strings. Less power, less pocketing, more shock up the arm and a sweet spot that suddenly seems a lot smaller.
It’s usually not a new racquet, it’s a different setup that’s the fix. Generally you want lower tension in winter, and that is most important for polys, which are noticeably stiffer in the cold. Lose 2 to 4 lbs (1 to 2 kg) of summer tension, or switch to a softer poly or a multifilament, and you get back much of what the cold has taken from you. So I’ve ranked the setups I’d actually recommend, from the most comfortable multis to softer polys for players who still want control and spin, with a winter tension range for each. Use those ranges as a starting point and adjust for your frame and arm.
| Rank | Setup | Type / Shape | Gauge | Winter Tension | Comfort in the Cold | Durability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tecnifibre X-One Biphase | Multifilament | 1.30 mm | 50–55 lbs (23–25 kg) | Very High | Low-Medium | Maximum comfort and a gut-like feel |
| 2 | Wilson NXT 17 | Multifilament | 1.24 mm | 50–55 lbs (23–25 kg) | Very High | Low | Moderate swingers wanting comfort and free power |
| 3 | Hyper-G Soft / X-One Biphase hybrid | Square co-poly mains, multi crosses | 1.25 / 1.30 mm | Mains 46–50 lbs (21–23 kg), crosses 48–52 lbs (22–24 kg) | High | Medium | Poly players needing more comfort in the cold |
| 4 | Yonex Poly Tour Pro | Round co-poly | 1.25 mm | 44–50 lbs (20–23 kg) | High | Medium | Staying on a soft full bed of poly |
| 5 | Solinco Hyper-G Soft | Square co-poly | 1.25 mm | 44–50 lbs (20–23 kg) | Medium-High | Medium | Topspin players wanting bite with more comfort |
| 6 | Babolat RPM Soft | Co-poly | 1.25 mm | 44–50 lbs (20–23 kg) | Medium-High | Medium-High | RPM Blast users and multi breakers |
| 7 | Head Lynx Tour | Hexagonal co-poly | 1.25 mm | 44–48 lbs (20–22 kg) | Medium | Medium-High | Advanced hitters wanting control all year |
1. Tecnifibre X-One Biphase (1.30 mm)
Tech & Specs:
Specs:
- Type: Multifilament
- Gauge reviewed: 1.30 mm, also available in 1.24 mm and 1.34 mm
- Feel: Soft, lively and responsive
- Winter tension: 50–55 lbs (23–25 kg)
X-One Biphase is the most comfortable winter setup I string. It is the closest synthetic to a gut feel you will find. A multifilament won’t go stiff when it gets cold like a poly will, so it keeps that bouncy, lively response when the ball feels like a bag of bricks. That restores a lot of the lost power and it’s comfortable and connected on volleys and touch shots. Tecnifibre’s Biphase treatment also helps it to hold tension better than most multis, so you only have to drop a pound or two from your normal setup.
You get great comfort and easy power, plus very good tension holding. On the flip side though, it frays / breaks much sooner than a poly, so heavy topspin hitters will chew through it. The extra power can feel a bit uncontrolled once spring rolls around.
Ideal for: All-court players and anyone with a sensitive arm looking for maximum comfort throughout the winter.
Get them here from Tennis Warehouse Europe (use code TNERD10 for a 10% discount) or here at Tennis Warehouse (North America).
2. Wilson NXT 17 (1.24 mm)
Specs:
- Type: Multifilament
- Gauge reviewed: 17 (1.24 mm), also available in 16 (1.30 mm)
- Feel: Soft, plush and powerful
- Winter tension: 50–55 lbs (23–25 kg)
NXT has long been a favorite for comfort and in winter it really earns its keep. The 17 gage is soft, very powerful and has a big forgiving sweet spot, which is just what you want when the ball comes off court heavy and slow. The difference is especially noticeable for players with shorter or more compact swings, as NXT does a lot of the work for you.
It’s one of the most comfortable strings you can buy and it gives you a lot of free power. The catch is durability. The thin multifilament frays quickly and will not stand the test of time for big hitters. It also loses a little bit of tension and crispness over time, plus the high power level can make the weapon a little lively for control oriented players.
Best for: Club players with moderate swing speeds looking for comfort and free power in the cold.
3. Hybrid: Solinco Hyper-G Soft Mains / Tecnifibre X-One Biphase Crosses
Specs:
- Type: Square co-poly mains, multifilament crosses
- Gauge reviewed: Hyper-G Soft 16L (1.25 mm) mains, X-One Biphase 1.30 mm crosses
- Feel: Medium-soft, grippy and comfortable
- Winter tension: Mains 46–50 lbs (21–23 kg), crosses 48–52 lbs (22–24 kg)
This is the best of both worlds for a lot of players in winter. You keep a shaped poly in the mains because that’s where most of the spin and control comes from, and put a soft multi in the crosses to take the rigid edge off the stringbed. It feels like a softer poly with more pocketing and power, which is exactly what disappears when the temperature drops. String the poly mains a little lower than the crosses to keep the bed lively.
You get good spin and control with way more comfort than a full bed of poly, and the multi will last longer as a cross than it would in the mains. The trade-offs are that it costs more and takes longer to string than a single string setup and the spin and snapback are a step down from full poly.
Best for: Poly players who want to keep the spin and control but need a little more comfort in cold conditions.
4. Yonex Poly Tour Pro (1.25 mm)
Specs:
- Type: Round co-poly
- Gauge reviewed: 16L (1.25 mm), also available from 1.15 mm up to 1.30 mm
- Feel: Soft, smooth and comfortable
- Winter tension: 44–50 lbs (20–23 kg)
If you’re a full bed poly player and don’t want to switch for winter, Poly Tour Pro would be my first recommendation. It’s one of the softer co-polymers out there, so it doesn’t get harsh in the cold like the harder polymers. Still feels smooth and pocketed, a few pounds lighter than your summer tension, with an easy launch that lets you find depth without having to swing out.
You’ve got a lot more comfort than most in maintaining control and spinning a poly. Good value too. The trade off is tension loss, it’s one of the quicker polys to go a little soft and mushy and that is more noticeable at lower tensions so you’ll want to restring more often. Big hitters might also feel it lacks the bite of a shaped string.
Best for: Poly players looking to stay on a full bed of poly through the winter without the harshness.
5. Solinco Hyper-G Soft
Specs:
- Type: Square co-poly
- Gauge reviewed: 16L (1.25 mm), also available in 1.15, 1.20 and 1.30 mm
- Feel: Medium-soft, grippy and controlled
- Winter tension: 44–50 lbs (20–23 kg)
Hyper-G Soft – The choice for the spin players who still want a full bed of shaped poly in the cold. It has the square profile and bite of regular Hyper-G, but with a softer feel that smooths the edge when the air is cold and the ball is heavy. The launch is a little higher too which helps when the ball isn’t flying out as far as it does in summer.
You get great spin and control for a softer poly and it is a fair bit more forgiving than regular Hyper-G or most shaped strings. It’s still a poly though so not as comfortable as the multis or the hybrid above and like most polys it loses some tension after the first few hours.
Best for: Topspin baseliners wanting shaped-poly bite with more winter comfort.
6. Babolat RPM Soft (1.25 mm)
Specs:
- Type: Co-poly
- Gauge reviewed: 1.25 mm, also available in 1.30 mm
- Feel: Soft, comfortable and stable
- Winter tension: 44–50 lbs (20–23 kg)
RPM Soft is Babolat’s answer to those who love the RPM family, but find RPM Blast too stiff, so it’s a natural winter swap. It’s built to absorb more vibration and soften the impact, precisely the thing a firm poly gets wrong when the temperature drops. Also works really well as a cross in a hybrid with RPM Blast mains.
It’s a nice comfort and a stable, predictable response, plus it’s durable enough for string breakers who go through multis too fast. The downside is that it’s not as spinny or bity as RPM Blast or Hyper-G Soft and it doesn’t have the lively feel of the setups higher on this list.
Best for: RPM Blast users and multi-breakers who want a softer, more durable option for winter.
7. Head Lynx Tour (1.25 mm)
Specs:
- Type: Hexagonal (6-edge) co-poly
- Gauge reviewed: 17 (1.25 mm), also available in 16 (1.30 mm)
- Feel: Medium, crisp and controlled
- Winter tension: 44–48 lbs (20–22 kg)
Lynx Tour is the stiffest string on this list and I have included it for the advanced player who still wants proper control and spin in the winter. The six edges give really good bite and it has a crisp, connected feel that is softer than a lot of the control polys out there. Because it’s firmer, this is the one where dropping tension matters most, and strung a good few pounds lower than normal it plays nicely in cold conditions without going dead.
You get great control and spin, good durability and solid tension hold, which is important when you’re playing less often in the winter months. The downside is comfort, a lot firmer than anything above, so arm problem players should go higher up the list.
Best for: Advanced players who like to hit hard and want control and spin year-round.
Get the Lynx Tour from HEAD here.
Other notables
Head Velocity MLT: A cheaper multifilament that gives you much of the comfort of NXT or X-One for less money. Good choice if you restring frequently during the winter.
Babolat RPM Blast mains / RPM Soft crosses: If you love the RPM Blast but find it plays like a board in the cold, this keeps the spin in the mains while softening the string bed. Try the mains at about 46-50 lbs (21-23 kg).
Your current poly, a few pounds lighter: If you don’t want to change the strings at all, dropping 2 to 4 lbs (1 to 2 kg) from your summer tension goes a long way to offsetting the more rigid feel and lower power in the cold.
Final thoughts
Winter tennis is all about getting back the power and comfort that cold takes away. The two biggest levers are a softer string and lower tension. If I was choosing based on what you want most, I’d say:
- X-One Biphase for the most comfort and a gut-like feel.
- NXT 17 for maximum comfort and free power on a compact swing.
- Hyper-G Soft / X-One hybrid to keep poly spin with multi comfort.
- Poly Tour Pro to stay on a soft full bed of poly.
- Hyper-G Soft for shaped-poly spin with more forgiveness.
- RPM Soft for a durable, comfortable poly or a hybrid cross.
- Lynx Tour for advanced players who want control and bite all year.
Whatever you choose, string a few pounds lower than your summer setup. Especially if you’re on poly. Keep your racquet out of a freezing car boot between sessions and you’ll be surprised how much better winter tennis feels.
