ML.stringingStarter
£16Students
£18 standard
Comfortable, all-round and great value. Best if you're newer to tennis or play now and then.
Strings: Tecnifibre Synthetic Gut
Book Starter
Tecnifibre stringers · Since 2020
Tennis & squash restringing in Lancaster and the Wirral
Premium Tecnifibre strings, honest advice on string and tension, and weekly handovers at Lancaster University Sports Centre. Student restrings from £16, and you pay on collection.
- 1,000+ rackets strung
- Run by LTA-accredited coaches
- No deposit, pay on collection
- 1,000+rackets strung
- Since 2020family-run
- 20+strings tested
- 500+hours on the machine
Prices
Simple prices. Tecnifibre string included.
Every restring includes the string, fitting and a quick chat about tension. You pay on collection, and there's no deposit.
Tennis
Most players pick Spin & Control.
Spin & Control
£20Students
£22 standard
What most team and club players use: spin, control and a string bed that doesn't snap every week.
Strings: Tecnifibre Black Code 1.24 (our RPM Blast) · Ice Code 1.20 / 1.25 · 4S 1.25
Book Spin & Control
Premium Comfort
£26Students
£28 standard
Soft, powerful and kind to your arm. The closest you'll get to natural gut.
Strings: Tecnifibre Triax 1.33
Book Premium Comfort
| More options | Students | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| MultifeelMultifilament: soft, powerful and easy on the arm. Our budget comfort string. | £19 | £21 |
| HybridPoly mains + Multifeel or Triax crosses: spin with comfort | £22 | £24 |
| Labour onlyBring your own string | £14 | £16 |
Squash
The strings squash players actually ask for.
Dynamix VP
£22Students
£24 standard
Tough and consistent. Great if you break strings often.
Strings: Tecnifibre Dynamix VP 1.20
Book Dynamix VP
305
£22Students
£24 standard
Tecnifibre's pro squash string: feel, control and touch. The one squash players ask for.
Strings: Tecnifibre 305 1.20
Book 305
| More options | Students | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Labour onlyBring your own string | £14 | £16 |
Overgrips £2 each or 3 for £58 colours, fitted free before pickup.
Refer a mateBring a friend who's new to ML.stringing and you both get a free overgrip.
LU Tennis playersHand your racket over at training, too.
Need it sooner?Lancaster: next-evening express from £30 extra · Wirral: same-day +£15
Loyalty card: every restring earns a stamp
Your card starts with your first restring, and that first stamp is already on it when you get your racket back. Every restring after that earns another, and your rewards arrive on your 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th.
- 3Free overgripFitted free with your 3rd restring.
- 6£7.50 offOff the price of your 6th restring.
- 9Free overgrip + £5 offBoth with your 9th restring.
- 12Free restringYour 12th restring is on us, string included, up to £20.
- One stamp for every restring you hand in, whoever's racket it is: a friend's or partner's counts too.
- Money-off rewards can't be combined with other discounts. On your 6th and 9th restring you pay the standard price less the reward, so the student price doesn't stack on top.
- The free overgrip on your 3rd goes with any offer.
- Your free 12th restring covers up to £20 of string and fitting. If yours costs more, you pay the difference.
String guide
Not sure which string? Start here.
There are four types of string. Pick the one that fits how you play, or leave it to us.
Polyester
A stiff string for fast swings. It gives the most spin and control and rarely snaps, but it goes "dead" after roughly 10–20 hours of play and it's the firmest on your arm.
Best for: team players, big hitters and string breakers.
Ours: Black Code 1.24 (our RPM Blast), Ice Code 1.20 / 1.25, 4S 1.25
Multifilament
Hundreds of fine fibres twisted together. It's soft, powerful, easy on the arm and holds tension well, though it frays faster if you hit heavy topspin.
Best for: beginners, elbow or wrist trouble, and touch players.
Ours: Triax 1.33, Multifeel
Synthetic gut
A solid nylon string. It's comfortable and cheap, but it loses its feel sooner than the others.
Best for: newer players and anyone who plays now and then.
Ours: Synthetic Gut
Hybrid
Polyester on the mains and multifilament on the crosses. You get the spin and control of poly with more comfort.
Best for: intermediate and team players who want spin without the arm pain.
Ours: any of our polys + Multifeel or Triax crosses
Know a string by name?
We're an exclusive Tecnifibre stringer. These are our closest matches, not identical copies.
| Babolat RPM Blast | Black CodeBlack, shaped for spin. The closest match. |
|---|---|
| Luxilon ALU Power | Ice CodeSmooth, fast poly with plenty of power. |
| Solinco Hyper-G | Black CodeShaped poly for heavy topspin. |
| Wilson NXT / Babolat Xcel | Multifeel or TriaxSoft multifilament on a budget. Premium multifilament. |
| Squash: Ashaway SuperNick | Dynamix VP or 305Tough and durable. More feel and touch. |
| "Whatever's normal" | Tell us how you playWe'll pick it at handover. |
What tension?
Don't guess. We'll set it for your game at handover.
Lower 45–52 lbs · 20–23.5 kg
More power and comfort, and a bigger sweet spot. Great for beginners and sore arms.
Higher 55–62 lbs · 25–28 kg
More control and a crisper feel. For advanced players with fast swings.
Squash rackets are strung much lower, usually around 24–28 lbs.
How often should you restring?
How many times a week do you play?
Multifilament or synthetic gut: about every 5–10 weeks.
Polyester: about every 3–7 weeks.
Worked out from string life in hours (poly about 10–20, multifilament or synthetic gut about 15–30) at roughly 1.5 hours a session. Poly goes dead before it breaks, so don't wait for it to snap.
How it works
Hand it over at the weekend. Play at the next one.
Book
Pick a slot on the calendar or message @ml.stringing_ on Instagram. Tell us your string and tension, or ask us to recommend one.
Hand it over
In Lancaster, at the Sports Centre car park, Saturday to Monday. On the Wirral, we'll arrange drop-off with you in Meols.
Play
Collect it at the next handover and pay on collection. That's it.
Lancaster University
Weekly handovers at the Sports Centre
Hand your racket over any weekend, Saturday to Monday, at the Sports Centre (gym) car park. It comes back at the next weekend's handover.
- Student prices for every uni student
- You'll also find us at LU Tennis training
- BUCS on Wednesday? Hand it in the weekend before
The Wirral
Drop off in Meols, back within 48 hours
Serving Meols, Hoylake, West Kirby, Greasby, Moreton, Heswall and the rest of the Wirral. Drop-off and collection are arranged around you.
- Usually back within 48 hours
- Same-day restrings +£15
- Great for club, league and junior players
Snapped a string? Don't sit out the next match.
Book this weekend's handover and you'll be back on court at the next one, with fresh Tecnifibre strings at the tension that suits you.
About us
Two brothers. Six years. 1,000+ rackets.
We're Luka and Matthias (Matty) Matellini. ML.stringing started on the Wirral on 12 February 2020 with one stringing machine and a handful of friends' rackets. Since then we've spent 500+ hours at the machine, tested 20+ strings and strung for WTA top-500 players.
- Both LTA Level 2 accredited coaches. Matty is also an RPT National Instructor (top grade)
- Both county players, through Hoylake juniors. Luka won the Cheshire U16 county tournament
- ITF tournaments played in Liverpool, Peru and Bolivia (Luka) and Liverpool (Matty). Matty has also competed in LTA Grade 3 and 4 tournaments
- Lancaster University: Luka captained the first team, Matty played No.1
- Both unbeaten in singles against York at Roses (3–0)
So when we recommend a string or tension, it's what we'd put in our own rackets. We only use Tecnifibre, and we'll always tell you honestly what your racket needs, even when that's the cheaper option.
- 2020Founded on the Wirral
- 2021Exclusive Tecnifibre stringer
- 2024Came to Lancaster University
- 20251,000+ rackets strung
Reviews
What players say
“Brilliant service, dropped my racket off on the Saturday and had it back the next weekend. The tension was spot on and I noticed the difference straight away.”
“New racket just arrived! Shoutout to ML.stringing for stringing the racket quickly for a decent price.”
“I've been using ML.stringing since they started. Always reliable, always professional, and honestly great value for money.”
“Needed a restring before a tournament and the emergency return got it back to me the next evening. Absolute lifesaver!”
“The advice on string tension was incredibly helpful. They really know their stuff and genuinely care about your game.”
Played with one of our restrings? We'd love to hear how it went.
FAQ
Questions, answered
How does it work?
Book a slot or message us, hand your racket over, and collect it restrung. Lancaster handovers run every weekend, Saturday to Monday, at the Lancaster University Sports Centre car park, and your racket comes back at the next weekend's handover. On the Wirral we arrange drop-off and collection around you.
Where exactly is the Lancaster handover?
Lancaster University Sports Centre (gym) car park, by the main entrance, between Saturday and Monday. You'll also find us at LU Tennis training, and other spots on campus or in town can be arranged in advance. Just message us.
How long does a restring take?
Lancaster: you get your racket back at the next weekend's handover, so within seven days. Wirral: usually within 48 hours.
Can I get my racket back faster?
Yes, for an extra charge on top of the restring. On the Wirral, a same-day restring is +£15. In Lancaster, a next-evening return starts at £30 extra. It's a special trip just for your racket, so we'll confirm the exact price before you book, and it's subject to availability.
Tip: if you have a BUCS fixture midweek, hand your racket in the weekend before.
Who gets student prices?
University and college students save £2 on every restring. Show your student card or uni email at handover. Everyone else pays the standard price.
What strings do you use?
Tecnifibre only. For tennis: Black Code 1.24 (our RPM Blast), Ice Code 1.20 / 1.25, 4S 1.25, Triax 1.33, Multifeel, Synthetic Gut. For squash: 305 1.20, Dynamix VP 1.20. Want a Tecnifibre string that isn't listed? Ask and we can order it in.
Do you have RPM Blast?
We're an exclusive Tecnifibre stringer, so we don't stock Babolat. Tecnifibre Black Code is the closest match: a black polyester shaped for spin, with great control. If you use Luxilon ALU Power, try Ice Code. If you use Wilson NXT or Babolat Xcel, try Multifeel or Triax.
Which string should I choose?
Newer player or sore arm: synthetic gut or a multifilament. Big hitter or team player: polyester. Want spin and comfort: a hybrid. Not sure? Tell us how you play at handover and we'll set it up for you.
What tension should I use?
Lower tension (45–52 lbs / 20–23.5 kg) gives more power, more comfort and a bigger sweet spot, which suits beginners. Higher tension (55–62 lbs / 25–28 kg) gives more control and a crisper feel, which suits advanced players with fast swings. Squash rackets are strung much lower, usually around 24–28 lbs. We'll recommend a number for your game at handover.
How often should I restring?
Go by hours played, not the calendar. Strings lose tension the moment they're strung, and they keep losing it as you play. Polyester is at its best for roughly 10–20 hours and multifilament or synthetic gut for roughly 15–30 hours. At about 1.5 hours a session, twice a week is roughly every 5–10 weeks on a multifilament and every 3–7 weeks on polyester. Poly goes dead before it breaks, so don't wait for it to snap. Squash strings are thinner and are usually changed every 2–3 months if you play 2–3 times a week.
Can I bring my own string?
Yes. Labour only is £14 for students and £16 standard, for tennis or squash.
How do I pay?
On collection, by bank transfer, cash, Monzo or Revolut. There's no deposit.
Do you have a referral offer?
Yes. Refer a mate who has never used ML.stringing before. When they get their racket restrung, you both get a free overgrip fitted. Just tell us who sent them.
Is there a loyalty card?
Yes. Your card starts with your first restring, and that first stamp is already on it when you get your racket back. Every restring after that earns another stamp. Your 3rd restring comes with a free overgrip, your 6th is £7.50 off, your 9th gets a free overgrip and £5 off, and your 12th restring is free, string included, up to £20. One stamp for every restring you hand in, whoever's racket it is: a friend's or partner's counts too. Money-off rewards can't be combined with other discounts. On your 6th and 9th restring you pay the standard price less the reward, so the student price doesn't stack on top. The free overgrip on your 3rd goes with any offer. Your free 12th restring covers up to £20 of string and fitting. If yours costs more, you pay the difference.
Do you sell overgrips?
Yes, Tecnifibre overgrips are £2 each or 3 for £5, in 8 colours, and fitted free before pickup.
Is there a freshers' offer?
Yes. If you're new to uni this year, just say “FRESHERS” when you book or when you hand your racket over, and we'll fit a free overgrip with your first restring. There's no code and nothing to fill in: saying it is enough.
How do I book?
Pick a slot on our calendar, message us on Instagram (@ml.stringing_, the fastest way) or text 07305 214466.
Book
Book your restring
Instagram is the quickest way to reach us. Pay on collection by bank transfer, cash, Monzo or Revolut. No deposit.
Pick a handover slot
Choose a time in the Saturday to Monday window at Lancaster University Sports Centre.
Calendar full, or after hours? Message us on Instagram and we'll sort you out.
Message @ml.stringing_Quickest reply, any time
Text 07305 214466UK numbers
Email uscontact.ml.stringing@gmail.com
Lancaster University Sports Centre car park
By the main entrance