We started the week by learning about the string families, we'll compliment that knowledge today with a discussion of string gauges. The gauge of a string refers to its width. In general, thin strings offer more "touch" on the ball while thicker strings can take more wear and tear and are less likely to break. The thickest, and thus more durable string is 15L. The "L" is an abbreviation for "light" and signifies this measurement as a half-gauge. Simply put, the 15L is thinner than a 15 but thicker than a 16. Whole gauges are referenced with a "g" at the end of their numbering. The most popular string is 16g, while the thinner ones (17-19g) give better feel for a player, and are easier on the arm. If you're more of a numbers junkie, the difference in string gauges is minuscule to the human eye. A 16g string has a diameter between 1.26 and 1.33 millimeters (0.0496-0.0523 inches) while the 19g string has a diameter between 1.00 and 1.10 millimeters (0.0394-0.0433 inches). For more on the different types and gauges of strings, make sure and check out our Buyer's Guide.