Strings

The four types of string

One nylon core with a smooth wrap. Cheap, predictable, comfortable enough. The default for a reason.

Hundreds of tiny fibers bundled like a rope. The softest string short of natural gut — easy power, easy on the arm, wears out faster.

One stiff solid strand. Maximum spin, control, and durability — and the hardest on your arm. For big swings and string breakers.

The real thing, made from cow intestine since the 1870s. The best feel, power, and comfort there is. Priced accordingly.

The default: synthetic gut at the middle of your frame's tension range. Cheap, comfortable, predictable. Most club players never need more.
Sore arm: a full multifilament bed, strung a few pounds under the middle of your frame's range. Softness comes from the string first and the tension second.
String breakers and heavy spin hitters: polyester — strung low, and with eyes open. Poly goes dead fast and is the most common cause of club-player arm pain. If you don't break strings monthly, you probably don't need it.
Tension: every frame has its own range printed on the throat. Looser within that range = more power and comfort; tighter = more control. When in doubt, start at the middle.
Restring: strings go dead long before they break — less feel, more shock into your arm. Restring as many times per year as you play per week.