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Does your tennis racquet need a LBD? New string for your stick.

Black string is dressing many a tennis racquet these days and with its popularity has grown a number of new game-improving releases. The color has nothing to do with performance, it just looks tougher.

Take a look at a few new-to-market strings. Mitchell Lvovsky, managing director of ALM Sports Group offers a quick peek at some stand-out lines you might want to consider:

Select by Still in Black from France. The company makes a variety of polyester-based string for the competitive player. It's newest release offers feel, tension retention and power in a co-polyester string. The brand is the official string of the ITF Junior Under 10 Club as well as the official string for a number of top ATP Touring pros. Select comes in a very cool looking deep steel blue as well as black. $13  per set.

Hexonic by Genesis is a third generation hexagonal shaped co-poly string. This string offers solid tension maintenance and long lasting performance with a softer string. The six edges bite the ball, offering what they call impresssive spin potential (especially with the thinnest one). Hexonic is available in 16L, 18 and 18L Gauge (1.09mm) making it the thinnest co-polyester string on the market today. $7.

Genesis also makes a string called Twisted Razor , a co-poly with "tri blade technology" (it has a bit of a kinked look to it when out of the package) a triangular shaped profile providing excellent ball bite. This string provides the combination of spin, power, and control. Used by ATP Touring Pro Wayne Odesnik and many top colleges and junior players worldwide. $10.

Find a Genesis or Still in Black retailer at ALM Sports Group. Read write ups on retailer sites for more info on each. 

New from Tourna. Big Hitter Black 7 tennis string for spin junkies.

Tourna's newest tennis string is the Big Hitter Black 7, a co-poly (meaning a blend of poly with other elements) that is shaped with 7 sharp angles which bite into the ball for what Tourna calls "massive spin production." I'm hearing it recommended for higher level players with a strong baseline game.

"This new Big Hitter Black 7 is pretty cool," said playtester, Jonathan. "It's very elastic for a poly - which gives it comfort and pop and dwell-time, but it also has the spin, control, and durability of a poly. It bridges the gap between poly and multi in a very interesting way, IMHO. I really like it. I knew I'd like it from the second I did the elongation test on it."

MAP is $8.95 for a set (enough for one racquet). Take note, In the world of tennis string, that's a great price; worth a try for sure if it's got what you are looking for.

Tip: If you've got any elbow issues, best to avoid or string more loosely.

Find it at UniqueSports, Tennis Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.