Natural Gut Tennis String
Why is Natural Gut, a 150+ year-old string, still one of the most popular strings not just on the professional tour but also prevalent in almost every skill level? And is it really made out of guts? Let's dive not just into Gut’s history and why gut is still used as a string on tour, but also consider how it's prepared and whether it's worth putting in YOUR racket.
First, what is Natural Gut, and how is it prepared? The natural gut is a tennis string made from strands of serosa (the smooth outer membrane) of animal intestines, which initially came from sheep, but today, it is predominantly from cows. It is prized, valued, and used commonly for its uniquely elastic lattice of collagen fibers, which stretches and snaps back more efficiently than any synthetic string, giving exceptional power, comfort, and tension stability and maintainability. Here is a quick and simple overview/breakdown of the manufacturing process:
High-quality cow serosa strands are cleaned, UV-inspected, combined, twisted, dried, polished, coated & cured—a meticulous weeks-long process.
Up to four weeks and extensive handcrafting go into each set, reflecting Gut’s status as the “living legend” in tennis stringing.
Now for Natural Gut’s history. Natural Gut first originated in 1875, in the region of Lyon, France, when pioneer Pierre Babolat (You may recognize his last name, and yes, he was the founder of Babolat Tennis!), originally a string-maker for musical instruments in Lyon, crafted the first natural gut tennis string from sheep intestine, just a year after lawn tennis (standard tennis rules) rules were established in 1874. This innovation quickly became the gold standard for early players and was one of the most popular options amongst most. In the 1920s, Albert Babolat introduced the VS (“Viscosité Supérieure”) string, tested and approved by the legendary “Four Musketeers” of French tennis—Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon, Henri Cochet, and René Lacoste. Their early French Open successes solidified Natural Gut’s elite reputation. By the time the 1950s came around, cow intestines had replaced sheep as the preferred source for improved durability; Babolat also introduced a black-coated version to appeal to more players. The primary reason for this switch was that cow serosa yields longer-lasting, more robust strings than sheep’s. Since natural gut was more of a premium option, costing quite a lot of money at the time, around the same time as the switch to cow serosa, synthetic nylon “synthetic gut” strings were introduced as a cheaper alternative. Today, polys (polyester strings from the 1970s/1990s onward-think solino Hyper-G, RPM blast, or any toroline string) dominate due to spin and durability, though natural gut remains preferred for comfort and feel. Many pros have also switched to hybrid setups (Gut in the mains, poly in crosses, or vice versa). Some of the most notable of these players are Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and many more. Some reasons for Natural Gut’s remaining dominance on the market is because of multiple key reasons:
Exceptional Elasticity & Power - Gut strings stretch and rebound, offering a trampoline-like effect that enhances power while softening impact.
Superior Tension Retention - Unlike synthetics that lose 15–18% tension in the first day, natural gut loses only 5–8%, keeping play consistent longer.
Unmatched Feel & Comfort - Gut is known for plush, arm-friendly response and notable “ball pocketing,” which gives precise control and connection with the ball. This also makes it a popular choice for players managing tennis elbow or joint discomfort.
These unique benefits, combined with the string's continued reliability, provide a compelling explanation for Natural Gut’s continued dominance across all skill levels. Whether it's the exceptional tension maintenance, the unparalleled feel and softness, or the exceptional power and sensations it provides, natural gut strings are unique and reliable, for whatever type of player you might be. So, the final verdict? If you are willing to pay a little extra but value the qualities above, Natural Gut is definitely worth a try, whether in a full string bed or hybrid setup!
Links Used + image credit:
https://www.babolat.com/us/news/tennis/innovation/2022/03/23/the-story-of-babolat-vs--from-natural-gut-to-tennis-icon.html
https://tennisnerd.net/gear/strings/string-type/natural-gut-tennis-strings/25110
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gut_string
https://www.tenniswarehouse.com/learning_center/strings/stringperformance.html
https://tennisnerd.net/gear/strings/string-type/natural-gut-tennis-strings/25110
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/LC/String/StringReference.html
https://www.perfect-tennis.com/roger-federer-tennis-string-tension-racquet-spec/
https://www.tennisexpress.com/info/tennis-strings-buyers-guide
https://www.racquetdepot.co.uk/blogs/news/a-complete-guide-to-natural-gut-tennis-string
https://www.perfect-tennis.com/what-are-string-savers/
https://www.babolat.com/us/news/tennis/innovation/2022/03/23/the-story-of-babolat-vs--from-natural-gut-to-tennis-icon.html