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Natural gut: why it costs what it costs
Tennis's most expensive string, what it is actually made of, why it is still the benchmark, and why almost nobody should buy it.
Natural gut is the oldest string in tennis and still the benchmark every other string is measured against. It is also by far the most expensive.
What it is made of
Cow intestine. It is cleaned, split into very fine ribbons, twisted and treated. One animal yields only a few sets, and the process is long and manual. That, not marketing, is what explains the price.
Why it is still the best
- It stretches further and returns better than any synthetic, so it gives power without forcing the stroke.
- It holds tension far better over time.
- It is by a wide margin the most arm-friendly string there is.
- Nothing matches the feel in the hand.
Why almost nobody should buy it
- It costs several times what a good multifilament costs.
- It hates humidity. In Puerto Rico's climate that genuinely matters.
- It cuts easily if something happens to the frame or you scrape it on the court.
- It does not give the spin or the control a modern polyester gives.
The reasonable alternative
A good multifilament chases the same thing gut does: braided fibers that stretch and absorb. It does not fully get there, but it gets close enough at a fraction of the price, and it handles humidity far better.
If you want comfort because your arm is warning you, start there. See polyester or multifilament.